Black Forest cake in the Black Forest (Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte in Schwarzwald)

Black Forest Cherry Cake actually. Here I am in lovely Triberg set in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest (schwarzwald). It’s very nice there. The Schwarzwald is thought to be the setting of the story of Hansel and Grettel. Ooohhh it’s a spooky place – who knows what other unspeakable horrors lurk there?

You can also see some coffee on the table there and apparently one shouldn’t ask for other hot beverages in southern Germany, lest your request be answered with a loudly incredulous "Tea? TEA??!!!?"

Triberg is a really beautiful place and had I known it "Black Forest Ham" is apparently famous (although in this part of the world we don't really distinguish between it and other smoked ham). After feeding some squirrels we hiked to an original, built-into-the-hill-style farmhouse, where we sampled said delightful ham (very tasty and smoky), some blood sausage (the farm cat wouldn’t eat any) and some very, very strong schnapps. For some reason can’t actually remember the walk home but I do remember the lady who seemed to own the place giggling as she held herself upright using the door frame.