Friedel with a wooden spoon

“Mahlzeit” – that’s how chefs greet one another, or so I’ve heard… Well, as a true Harz dwarf, known as Friedel vom Scholben, I’d be more likely to say: “Glückauf”, greetings, fellow dwarf! I’m glad you’ve spotted me. I’m standing here with a wooden spoon in my hand, because there are plenty of tasty treats waiting for you in the restaurant behind me. You’re standing in front of the venerable Kurhaus in Bad Lauterberg – it’s over 100 years old. It opened in 1912, making it one of the oldest spa halls in the Harz Mountains that’s still in use.

There have always been big dance and music events here, with many artists performing – and even today there’s still plenty going on. Just recently, the cultural society organised a literary reading. The author of the Harz witch crime novels was there, along with creatures from the Harz shadow world… That was quite spooky – good thing I don’t come across such creatures here in the forest! How do I know all this? Well, I was there. Not always, but I often sneaked in – luckily I’m small enough and wasn’t spotted. There was so much to see: pompous splendour and glory, soft red velvet and sparkling chandeliers…

What I liked best were the grand Christmas and New Year’s Eve balls, followed by fireworks in the spa gardens. Even today, you can still enjoy a good meal and a drink here in the restaurant. The big people celebrate parties or sit on the terrace and listen to the spa concert. Just imagine, some people even dance to it… twirling around in the middle of the spa gardens… Well, that wouldn’t be for me; I prefer to stick to our proper dwarf polkas. Still, I always enjoy watching and ‘spying’ a bit – as a guardian dwarf, I do have to keep up to date with what’s going on around the Scholben, after all…

But I really have to be very careful… The other day, the new innkeepers nearly spotted me… I accidentally bumped into a chest of drawers in the Blue Salon and it made a really loud rumbling noise. But, how funny, ever since then the landlady has believed there’s a house spirit… pah, as if spirits existed. But nice as she is, she’s been leaving a little glass of Harz herbal lemonade by the stage entrance ever since – “for the house spirit”. 😉 Oh, and it always smells so good in the pub! I’d love to have a nibble of some cakes, tarts and ice cream. The grown-ups love the Harz specialities like game currywurst, wild garlic cream soup or Harz smoked meat… Let them eat all that on their own… I’d rather stick to the mushrooms and berries I find in the forest… With that in mind: enjoy your meal!

Yours, Friedel