Food Paradise Found...sort of

The Long Table

I went to an indoor 'convention' type event featuring what they call "slow food" I don't  quite understand it but it was a lot to do with organic food and actually a lot of organically grown wine and beer.
Either way it was loaded with specialty cheeses, wines beer, olive oil, mustard etc. Some of it I had to guess at but you get the point.
The event center was enormous. 9 large buildings for events. You pay one entrance fee and have access to whatever is going on there that day. Today there were about 5 other conventions going on. Not really conventions more like we would consider a garden show, there was a show about fossils and yoga. Totally random group but hey, i was busy eating ;)
At one of the tables I sampled some 'rustico' cheese from Switzerland. It tasted so fresh it was like you could imagine the meadow the cow ate in. I'm not kidding, the taste evoked an image. Every TV special you've seen about Switzerland and their high meadows and their cows and their large blocks of cheese...well wow. Anytime you get a chance, sample (then buy) some!
One amazing thing I wanted to share (well there are a few) about this big place was that I went to use the bathroom and there were stalls free. There were 10,000 people milling around and so many bathrooms you could just walk right in! Amazing! The picture above is of the Long Table. They set up on continuous table from one side of the room to the other and that is the seating for everyone. Ingenious. I love Europe! Always forcing strangers together. Though here the 'mingle' less than in the US it seems. They mind their own business where we would try to meet all our neighbors...Oh wait! Maybe that's just me?!! haha

Earlier today I went for a walk around the local 'hood' its called Zell (just outside Esslingen). Cute little place. Has a butcher, baker, beer hall, bank. The 4 b's haha.
I will take my camera next time, you should see all the great things, peoples gardens are so well tended. They all seem to really like their gnomes. All sorts of happy gnomes watching over the garden.
While I was walking I encountered a friendly local woman who thought I was a bit silly wearing capri pants (they seem to think its really cold here still). I understood she said something like winter is gone, I said I was happy. She laughed...trah lala no telling what the conversation was about but she was happy, waved at me and we went our separate ways. Ha! Fun.
I'll likely go for another walk tomorrow. Should be a nice day again. Its grey and rains occasionally but then the sun comes out its a nice day.