Thanstein, Germany

My friend Sandra spent her youth in the small village of Thanstein, in northern Bavaria. She lived in what some would call a castle, as it is one of the oldest houses in town and it is very big (and a bit scary at night!).

We visited her old home, which is now occupied solely by her father. The place is impressive; the sturdy, thick wooden doors, the spiral staircase, the long hallways with door after door. The whole house is heated by wood furnaces, which are built into the walls.

Sandra says that the whole town believes that the house is haunted, mainly due to the fact that the previous owner had told everyone that she often found her furniture moved around when no one had been there.

While Sandra said that she nor any of her family members experienced such a phenomenon, she did sometimes feel a presence around. She said that many people who've spent the night have said the same thing, and though I couldn't put my finger on anything specific, I had a very long sleepless night at that house. BTW, she told me after the long night about potential ghost, so I was unaware of any haunting when I went to bed that night.

Regardless of the possible presence of something strange, I really enjoyed my time at the house. During the day it's beautiful and cozy, in spite of its size. The house is filled with all kinds of interesting things that her father collects: tea canisters, retro advertising signs and antique furnaces.

On Sunday afternoon, her father made us a typical German meal: knudle with a roasted pork. Knudle is a potato dumpling that can be made with many fillings, and is usually served with a gravy and some meat.

Sandra's father made a simple but delicious knudle, each with a little bread crouton in the center. He served it with braised pork and a thin, savory gravy. The whole meal was perfect for the freezing weather and I enjoyed every bite. I'm hoping he'll send me the recipe!