Chloe De Burgh
Appearances
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Each variety of flower, none of which you could confidently identify, seems to have an otherworldly quality. They seem to glow from some inner light that cannot be easily explained. You could even swear that as you walk by the flowers themselves, their heads incline towards you. enticing you to lean your head down to theirs and inhale deeply.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You do not often resist this temptation, but rather make your way through the garden with many pauses, tangents, and moseyings. Unlike a royal garden in the land of the waking, this garden shows no signs of manicuring or careful tending. The bushes, vines, and shrubs are given free reign to flourish. They grow around one another, with each colorful bloom bumping up against others.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
It is not until the flowers come to an end that you take your attention away from them. The unruly garden gives way to a wide set of stone steps. They lead up to the castle itself, which stands above you as if waiting for your next move. The white paving stones of the courtyard are smooth beneath your feet, as if worn away by innumerable steps over uncountable years.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The greenery is not to be left behind so easily, however. Here and there, moss grows between stones and vines of delicate little flowers creep up the walls. At the top of the stairs is a large courtyard. Bushes as vibrantly in bloom as the rest of the garden dot the open space in ornate, carved planters.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Stone benches are tucked away near the planters, creating a range of secluded spots, perfect for whispering sweet nothings in the ear of a lover. You are only certain that the benches and planters are stone because they are the same color as the courtyard and the castle. They are decorated with delicate designs of leaves and vines.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You cross this paved courtyard, your bare feet making no noise on the stones. Ahead of you is what appears to be an entire wall of clear glass. Two large, ornate glass doors are set into the wall, only differentiated by their golden frames. you gingerly place your fingers on the cool handle of one and find that it opens easily, despite being at least 12 feet tall.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You slip inside the building as softly as a summer breeze flutters through an open window. Once inside, You turn back around for another look at the garden and find that the wall of clear glass is now one of stained glass. The light of the smiling moon shines through the multicolored facets and highlights the most beautiful scene.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
As if made of shimmering jewels, the stained glass window portrays what appears to be the creation of the castle itself. Everywhere fairies stand or hover, their hands outstretched towards a green clearing in the middle of a lush forest. They are even more lifelike than the stone fairy in the fountain, and their wings glitter in the moonlight.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
In the clearing, the earth seems to be rippling like water, as the shimmering outline of a castle can be seen when you move your head slightly. You stare at the beautiful piece of art for another few moments, taking in all the details. You marvel at the way each stained glass leaf seems to move with the breeze, even as you watch. You have the urge to reach your hand out.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
and touch the glass to make sure the image that you are seeing is indeed a picture and not real life. After a few moments of wonder, you turn your attention to the room around you. It seems you have entered the ballroom. The floor is a swirling mix of pastel colored marbles that bleed into and out of one another. The stained glass wall is slightly curved and the entire room is a huge circle.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The walls are carved stone, dotted with delicate golden flower-like lanterns. You take a few steps into the room, peering up to get a look at the ceiling. As you do, the lanterns on the walls begin to glow, tossing a golden light around the space. The ceiling curves up impossibly high, meeting in a beautiful mosaic of the sun.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The warm lantern light causes each tiny jewel of the mosaic to burn with an inner light. To one end of the room is a large raised dais. An assortment of instruments rests there, some familiar and some strange. You see a harp, a lute, and a few hand drums. Other instruments look like strange bagpipes or ones made of reeds.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
They rest on wooden stands or cushioned stools, as if the musicians have just left them for a moment and will be back to once again take up the tune. It is not a stretch of your imagination to picture this place filled with dancing couples, each resplendent in fine outfits and gliding gracefully You make your way across the room to a set of carved wooden doors.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
They bear the design of musical notes hanging off the branches of a tree like fruit. The doors open silently and lead out to the entrance hall of the castle. Again, as you walk into the room, lanterns along the walls start to glow of their own accord and illuminate the space. The doors you have just entered from are to one side of a grand staircase.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Another set of carved wooden doors is on the other side of the room from you. Across from the staircase are huge doors that must be the main entrance. They are larger than anything you have yet seen and are made from oak. inlaid with jewels to create the scene of a great rainbow across a perfect sky. You take a moment to decide which direction to choose.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
While the stairs are enticing, you cannot leave this floor without exploring every nook and cranny. You cross the entry hall and approach the doors opposite. They are carved with the design of fresh fruits and vegetables spilling out from a cornucopia. Inside is the dining hall. Three long tables stretch the length of the room with benches on either side.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
One wall is taken up almost entirely by a huge fireplace. It looks large enough to fit a cart and horse comfortably. A huge bonfire crackles away. The dancing flames bathe the rest of the room in a comforting glow. Upon the tables are at least 200 place settings. The golden plates, goblets, and cutlery shine in the firelight.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Moonlight, cool and bright, shines in from large rippled glass windows on the wall opposite the fireplace. The mixture of cool and warm light creates an otherworldly atmosphere in the empty dining hall. Along the walls hang beautifully woven tapestries, each one depicting fresh food and harvest scenes.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Though the fire is comforting and entices you to stay curled up in front of its warm glow, your curiosity turns you away and back towards the door. As you turn, you hear a light tinkling, like cutlery against tableware. You turn around, but nothing seems out of place. Unable to stop yourself, you walk down the aisles between the tables, looking for a sign of whatever made the sound.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Halfway down the room, the tinkling comes again. You spin around and catch a glimpse of something. It is the glimmer of a golden goblet, wobbling slightly. As you approach, it stills, seemingly unremarkable once again. You peer inside and find nothing but the bottom of the cup. Whatever made the noise seems to have gone. You leave the room, wondering if you will meet the castle's inhabitants.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Back out in the entry hall, you turn your attention to the staircase. It is truly marvelous. It stretches up at least two stories before splitting and crossing back on itself to lead to the next floor. It is made of the same swirling multicolored marble as all the other floors. The oranges, pinks, purples, and blues meld perfectly, creating new shades between them.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Down the center of the staircase runs a carpet of pearlescent white. It looks so soft that you can hardly wait to feel it underfoot. The banister is pure gold, with a relief of climbing roses. The perfect gold roses are caught in that sweet moment between bloom and closed innocence. You place your foot upon the carpet and are delighted to find it as soft as it looks.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The feeling is a mixture of feather down, velvet, and kitten fur. It is far and away the softest thing you have ever felt. You run your hand delicately along the gold banister as you walk up the stairs. Though the staircase is long, you do not feel tired as you climb. It is several minutes before you reach the split in the stairwell and several more before you arrive on the next floor.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
This area seems to be much more comfortable and home-like in comparison to the grandeur of the bottom floor. You arrive in a dark paneled landing. The gleaming panels are inlaid with scenes of fairies tending to gardens and communing with animals of the forest. A long runner rug leads down either end of the landing
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
It is the same color and texture as moss, and once you set your foot upon it, you seriously wonder if it is. You turn left, drawn to a long gallery with frames hanging on the walls and a large circular window at the end. The window is stained glass, depicting the phases of the moon. The silvery light of the real moon through the glass makes the window look like a piece of painted water.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Along the walls of the gallery are dozens of framed paintings. They are some of the most beautiful things you have ever seen. A number of them show majestic landscapes and scenes. A tall ship rides the churning waves of the open ocean. While most of the sky is darkened by a storm, a beam of sunlight highlights the path forward to a safe haven. Another painting is of a forest.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The perspective is as though the viewer is lying on their back under the trees. Huge trees reach up from all sides of the painting, outlined by a perfect blue sky. Moss climbs up the trunks and branches, which seem to sway gently in the breeze before your eyes. The next painting is of dunes in a desert. The sand glitters like gold as it forms the peaks and valleys of the sparse landscape.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You have never seen a place so bare and brutally beautiful. Moorland, coastline, pastures, and so much more are represented in the collection of paintings. You go from frame to frame, mentally stepping in and out of each like someone dipping their toes in a crystal clear pool. For a brief moment, you are transported to these landscapes.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You can feel the wind of the moorland, smell the scent of the sea, and hear the bleating of sheep in the pastures. On the other wall of the gallery is a collection of portraits, yet they are faces unlike any you have ever seen before. They seem to be images of fairies. Some of them have hair like fluffy moss or blades of grass. Others have eyes in vibrant hues you only ever see in flower petals.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
They have skin in every color of the rainbow, and their wings are more lovely than those of any butterfly. you would think that this side of the hallway bore a dozen little windows rather than portraits for how realistic these paintings are. And surely, the fairy you thought you saw blinking at you was a trick of the light.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
At the end of the hallway, just to the side of the huge circular window, is a small unassuming door. You could easily have missed it if you were not paying attention. You open the door and find a staircase leading up. Something inside you urges you to explore and before you know it, you are starting to climb. You aren't sure how much time passes. It is as though you are in a trance.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Your mind is only curious about what you might find at the end of your journey. Finally you arrive at a small landing with another tiny door. You go through and find yourself at the top of the tallest tower. You can see for miles around. You look down on the grounds, admiring the way the flowers in the garden wave gently in the night breeze. You see the hedge maze behind the garden.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Even now, you cannot trace the journey from the entrance to the center. You wonder how it was that you managed to find your way out Beyond the grounds of the castle is a seemingly unending forest. Trees carpet the landscape for miles around, leading eventually to huge purple mountains with glittering snowcaps.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You turn to face the front of the castle and look down upon a long, dark drive that leads from the front steps into the dark forest. A river cuts through the forest on this side, and you can see it sparkling in the moonlight here and there through the trees. Far in the distance, you are certain you can see the dark mass of the sea. This place is the land of Faerie. You can feel it in your bones.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
It is a place of magic and beings only heard about in stories. It rests between worlds, only accessible in your dreams, as you are doing now. Before you even finish the thought of wondering where the mysterious inhabitants of this land might be, they appear. They look like the sparks of a firework, shooting up from the grounds, the castle, and the forest into the sky.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
They glow with every color of the rainbow, darting this way and that in the cool night air. After a moment or two, they begin to fly together. Yet it is not the perfect synchronicity of a marching band. This is free moving, constantly shifting and changing. Back in the land of the waking, we see birds do this. They fly together in flocks, but dance through the air in patterns that only they know.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The bright fairies do this now, putting on a show for you at the top of their castle. Perhaps it has a deeper meaning, for the sky in the east bursts into fire and light suddenly, as if drawn by the dance of the fairies. You close your eyes against the brightness for a few moments. The light recedes slowly and you gently blink your eyes open once again to find yourself back in your bed at home.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Silvery stars twinkle above you. Your sleepy mind is filled with a dreamy awareness, and you notice how the stars stand out like diamonds against the deep purple velvet of the unfamiliar sky. It slowly dawns on you that you don't know these stars, Where are the Big Dipper and Orion with his glittering belt?
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Instead, the stars create strange new patterns and creatures that watch you as curiously as you watch them. A crescent moon so thin and sharp, it looks like it could be brought into the fields to cut wheat like a scythe, shines brightly. That, too, is strange. This crescent hangs like a silvery smile, grinning above you as you sit up. You are resting on soft grass.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Without the light of the sun, the normal green grass seems icy blue Around you stand bushy, dense hedges, much taller than the average person. They create a circular courtyard of sorts where you sit. Not far away, a white stone fountain stands, gurgling happily. The flow of water erupts joyfully from the tips of a stone fairy's wings.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
She is posed as if just about to land with one graceful leg, delicately extended to meet the water of the fountain. She is so expertly carved that she seems to be on the verge of breathing and moving and You get the impression that if you were to blink, she might fly away.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The crystal clear water from her wings arcs gracefully into the bowl of the fountain, which is shaped like a flower in full bloom. The petals stretch out from the center, creating a space for the water to gather, rippling gently. The entire scene is so peaceful that you are immediately overcome with a feeling of contentment and safety.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You watch the fountain for a while, losing yourself in its simple beauty. But then, your eye is caught by an opening on the other side of the clearing. A break in the hedges that you had not noticed before beckons to you. You cannot see what lies beyond the cool darkness of the gap. Unable to resist the call, you get to your feet.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The grass is cool and soft beneath you as you walk confidently towards the opening in the hedges. You turn back and take one last look at the courtyard. You are simultaneously surprised and yet not to see that the stone fairy is gone. leaving a still fountain behind. You turn towards the path through the hedges and head deeper into what you now suspect is a maze.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Your suspicions are confirmed when you get to the first break in the path. You can either go left or right. though both directions seem identical. You gaze down one path and then the other, while the moon continues to grin in the sky. Following some indescribable urge, you turn left. The maze goes on for an indeterminate amount of time, but you never feel tired or concerned.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
It is the unknowable effect of dream logic when time is folded back upon itself and also stretched out. When you reach the end of the maze, you cannot say for sure how long you were wandering its leafy corridors, nor how you completed the puzzle. If pressed, you would only be able to say that something or someone was leading you, and all you had to do was follow.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The entrance to the maze is canopied by a wooden trellis bearing bright pink flowers unlike any you have ever seen before. Even in the darkness of the still night, you can see the vibrancy of their color. They have five petals like a vine full of stars. At their center, each flower has a golden glow. It looks as though some tiny being sits at the heart of each flower and tends a warm fire.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
Before your very eyes, there appear miniscule sparks of gold that float out of each. The path below your feet transforms from grass to smooth stones filled with velvety moss. The stones, even at night, still feel warm under your feet. The winding path leads away from the maze and into the most luscious flower garden you can imagine.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
You take a moment to notice that flowers rarely bloom so fully at night, and yet this entire garden appears to be fully in bloom. The garden stretches out before you for a long way, but it is merely a precursor to the building that rises from the earth behind it. The flowers lay like a multicolored carpet at the feet of what you realize is a castle.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
The stones of the castle gleam under the moon, bathing it in a lavender light. Its many turrets and towers seem to be chasing one another toward the sky. Here and there, the light of the moon glints off one of the many windows and you can see they are all made of stained glass. Drawn by the magic of the garden and under the watchful eye of the castle, you make your way down the path.
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A Dreamy Night at the Fairy Castle
As you walk by each new bush or shrub bearing flowers, you are caught up in a new wave of sensory experience. Each one has a smell and aroma as enticing as the last. The heavenly smells are only second to the blooms themselves. Flowers droop heavily on overloaded branches in every color you have ever seen. Some petals seem to be handcrafted for how beautifully they blend one shade into another.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Her pleasant, dark eyes twinkle as she speaks, and her round, sun-browned face, etched like clay with laughter lines, is open and warm. The small russet terrier is less suspicious and more curious now. Mrs. Nancarrow introduces him as Rumor, or Mr. Rumor, for when he is being less well-behaved and needing reminding that he is a gentleman.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Mr. Rumour soon accepts Avery, sensing that he's a good person. The terrier leans against him and warms his side with his soft, gentle weight. Mr. Rumor is also hopeful that there may be a little second breakfast for him to snaffle, should the opportunity arise. But realizing that no breakfast is required for the new guest this morning, he resigns himself to the quiet comfort of Avery's company.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Whilst the dog settles in next to Avery on the large kitchen chair, Mrs. Nancarrow speaks animatedly in a soft Cornish burr. He listens to her speak in her local dialect, unfamiliar but lovely words she uses to describe the people that have lived here before. She tells of strange goings-on, hidden passages, secret rooms, and mysterious lights twinkling in the dead of night.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
She speaks of piskies, of brownies, and mermaids that lived amongst them in the fairy tales of times gone by. of selkies and beings who appeared and disappeared with the ever-changing tide and the ever-changing light. Avery asks Mrs. Nancarrow about the mythical mermaid apothecary.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
She tells him, with a flicker of a smile, that she's sure she's never seen it herself, as the shop only appears to those who have need of its magic. Avery feels lucky to have found Pulpero.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
With its intriguing history of smugglers and wreckers, flotsam, jetsam, and contraband, Avery indulges his imagination in conjuring up the possibility of discovering long-forgotten hordes of hidden treasure and feels a tingle of excitement.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Mrs. Nancaro tells him how he can find his way to the local smuggling museum and even to the nearby sandy Lancelot's Cove, just three miles on foot along the coastal path from Polpero. Avery is intrigued and wants to know more. And so, Mrs. Nancaro explains that Lancelot is a tiny hamlet with just a handful of houses and a little church.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Avery thinks that somewhere so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the modern world, would be a perfect place to spend the afternoon. He makes note of the directions to the cove and puts the note in his pocket. From the little church, she tells him, a track leads down the hill through a beautifully wooded valley to the cove. The beach there is remote, she says.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Its perfectly curving sickle of white sand was once a smuggler's paradise, and if you look carefully, you can still see and feel a trace of their presence. Mrs. Nancarrow describes that as you reach the coast, following a path edged with seagrasses and a small tumbling brook, something unexpected happens. The little stony track that leads down to the cove becomes sandier.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
taking you straight through the middle of a huge slate rock. This gateway opens to the soft sand curve of the bay, a promise of tranquility lapped by crystalline emerald waters. The sea merges here into a sparkling eddy of inviting turquoise. But where it is studded with rocks, the seeming calm breaks into mighty white surges.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
a reminder of the sometimes hidden power harnessed beyond the shelter of the bay. The craggy headland rises here from the sea in a protective and foreboding formation and is topped with lush greenery and the rolling hillside beyond The passageway hewn through the slate would have given easy and secluded access for people unloading extravagant, luxurious goods such as French lace and brandy.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Ruts in the ground, still visible to this day, are like stories carved in time by smugglers' wagons, she says. One lucky mine owner unearthed a large quantity of contraband by accident in 1825. A local gang of smugglers might have thrown their bounty overboard to avoid being discovered. Avery makes a silent wish that some of the luck of this magical place will favor him too.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Mrs. Nancarrow chuckles and tells him that he might be lucky enough to spot the local mermaid. She was said to have long, wavy, bright red hair, and if she liked you, she might grant you a wish. Avery laughs, but is secretly enthralled by his host's stories. She also gives him directions to see other local places of interest in Pulpero, such as the famously decorated Shell House.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Best of all, Mrs. Nancarrow recommends cafes where he can indulge in a traditional Cornish cream tea. This comprises fluffy scones, sweet, sharp raspberry jam, and rich, yellow-topped clotted cream. Feeling prepared for his outing, Avery shifts easily from his seat, and Mr. Rumor wakes with a mustachioed yawn, interested to see what's going on. Avery says goodbye to Mrs. Nancarrow.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
But Mr. Rumour decides to trot along for the adventure. Of course, the little dog is a welcome companion. And so, Avery takes his lead in his pocket, for when it's needed, and sets off down the steep cobblestone lane. into the brightness of the morning. Avery breathes in the sea air as its freshness greets him, cooling his face pleasantly and filling him with renewed exuberance.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The distant cry of chattering gulls is somehow familiar and nostalgic. The sound is reminiscent of Avery's happy childhood holidays by the sea. The distant, playful bark of a neighborhood dog carries from somewhere on the other side of the peaceful harbor. It echoes across the stillness of the little cove, and Mr. Rumor replies with a half-hearted gruff just to let the other dog know he's there.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Avery follows the path of the narrow cobbled streets. They wind together. silvery gray between huddles of whitewashed stone cottages nestled in the cliffside, rising to stands of pine trees, feathery and fanning against the clear blue of a pristine summer sky. Most of the cottages are roofed in the local dark slate.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Cobalt blue window frames contrast with terracotta pots, bright with red geraniums. Pink hot poker flowers rise from well-tended cottage gardens where clean white sheets billow on washing lines. As he turns a bend, he's surprised to see palm trees that thrive here in the gulf stream. fluttering in the steady breeze.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Traditional stone walls, topped with bright clusters of cornish daisies, flank the path either side of Avery, guiding his way with cheerful certainty. He has never been here before. And yet, in his heart, he feels at home and at peace. For the first time in a long while, Avery feels a sense of authenticity that has been lacking in his life.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Friendly locals nod and smile in greeting, and Avery feels welcome. As well as being a place steeped in smuggling history and fisherman's tales, the harbor village of Pulpero has a rich, modern cultural scene to enjoy, too. Avery soon learns that locals here love to host social events, such as a music festival and a water carnival.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Polpero also boasts one of the best firework displays in Cornwall. All good reasons to return later in the year. The architecture, surrounding countryside, and protected harbor breathe whispers of their storied pasts. There is an otherworldliness here, Avery thinks. It's an idyllic setting for this late morning walk. Avery feels as though he has stepped into a painting.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The light here has a unique quality, and he is inspired like the many artists, authors, and poets over the centuries who have visited and lived in Cornwall. Fish and chip shops scattered throughout the village offer the opportunity to sample the local fresh seafood, which Avery plans to do later. He enjoys watching the gulls wheeling over the sea further out in the bay.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
as one of the boats returns with its catch. This unassuming little fishing village has a timeless quality, and nothing else seems to matter for now. Avery feels a wholesomeness in this sense of being. fully present.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Time passes effortlessly in the warmth of the afternoon, and after strolling and exploring many of the places of interest that Mrs. Nancarrow told him about, Avery has worked up quite an appetite with all this fresh air. He follows his nose and decides to sample the recommended fish and chips. It takes a while to prepare, but is well worth the wait. It's served piping hot and wrapped
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
In brown paper, it smells of salt and vinegar. The chips, still sizzling, have a pleasing, crisp bite. They break open to reveal steaming, soft, fluffy potato inside. Avery smiles to himself, taking in the view of the pretty harbor, the colorful bobbing boats, and the gentle lapping of the water. The sun is warm, and the breeze pleasantly cool.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
He breaks through the perfectly crisp batter with the little wooden fork. The tender white fish flakes easily apart, releasing a fresh, steaming aroma that's truly a feast for the senses. The fresh air, the hot, satisfying food, washed down with a crisp, cool drink, and the view of the scenic little harbor quietly buzzing, have filled his heart, soul, and stomach.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Mr. Roomer, who is always hungry despite being well-fed, will have to wait a little longer for his usual mealtime back at the cottage. After finishing the meal, Avery decides it's time to continue their walk. He clips Mr. Rumor's lead on, and they head off. Before long, Mr. Rumor begins to pull at his lead. He seems intent on something up ahead. They turn a corner and come across a hidden row of
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
of ordinary, neat, modest cottages. The little dog pulls on, but Avery cannot understand why. There doesn't seem to be anything of particular interest here. Suddenly, Mr. Rumour stops, his little moustache quivering and his tail on point. He makes a muffled, inquisitive little gruff before straining on the lead once more. A cunning wind blows in from the sea.
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A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
strong enough to take Avery by surprise. The sudden gust sends an empty plant pot clattering across the cobblestones and billows his loose shirt. He closes his eyes for a moment. And when he opens them again, he sees that the row of cottages has parted to reveal a long, winding alleyway paved with cobblestones. The walls reach up as high as he can see, and are cast in shadow.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
But the afternoon sun throws shafts of light into the depths of the alley. It illuminates walls of brilliant purple amethyst that glint enticingly. Avery rubs his eyes with his free hand not quite believing the abrupt change in the scene in front of him. Avery hears a gentle creaking sound and looks up to see an antiquated wrought iron sign swinging in the breeze just overhead. The wind drops.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
and the sign grows still. It is painted a dark green, with curling gold lettering outlined in black. It bears the words, The Mermaid Apothecary, with an arrow pointing down the alleyway, Mr. Rumor echoes Avery's surprise with a short bark. Avery can't believe his eyes, but curiosity has got the better of Mr. Rumor. He barks again, pulling on his lead.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The walls of the alleyway on one side of them shimmer, opening to reveal a quiet country lane. In it stands the most curious little shop, whimsical and neat. with a shining curved window of dimpled, irregular panes of glass. Through the window, gleaming bottles and jars stand in orderly displays on dark wooden shelves, each container holding various tinctures. and herbs.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The door of the shop is painted dark green with a large leaded glass panel. The stained glass depicts a mermaid sitting confidently upright upon a rock. with curling waves forming around her in slices of green and blue. Her hair, red and wild, flows in the direction of the wind. Behind her, the glass is pieced together to form a fiery sunburst with rolling, stylized clouds edging the horizon.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The craftsmanship is exquisite, and the window seems to Avery to be almost enchanted. He could have sworn that the sea was moving in the stained glass. To both Avery and Mr. Rumor's surprise, the door swings open with a creak, and they hear the jingle of a shop bell. At first, Avery hesitates. But Mr. Rumour happily pulls on his lead.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The pair walk up to the doorway and peer into the shop, which is dimly lit by the pale late afternoon sun. The bottles and jars have been carefully polished and tidily arranged in rows upon shelves throughout the entire shop. They softly gleam where the light touches them. As Avery's eyes become used to the dim light, he can see that
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Many curios and beautiful leather-bound books also line the shelves. The walls are papered in subtly stylized designs of leaves, vines, and flowers. They are hung about with exquisite sketches and watercolors of botanical studies, each with a small brown price tag. A smoky, sweet, heady smell of frankincense fills the air.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
along with the rich earthiness of dried hops Avery sees hanging from a beam overhead. In the center of the apothecary, a large, old-fashioned glass cabinet stretches elegantly before them. Antiques and items of unknown use or origin glint beneath its curved top. Towards the back of the shop, Avery sees a polished wooden countertop with little labeled drawers beneath.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Various instruments, measuring spoons, scissors, weighing scales, and wrapping paper lay in readiness for the next customer. Beside this area, A large, fringed tapestry curtain, heavily embroidered in muted colors, hangs as though it's guarding a secret. Avery, overtaken by curiosity, takes a breath and steps into the shop alongside Mr. Roomer. The shop feels calm and peaceful.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Like a sacred space, capable of healing. A black cat saunters in, a little snootily. Mr. Rumor barks a greeting in its direction, and the cat... Sleek and very pleased with its own stealth, jumps expertly up onto a shelf, out of reach of the eager little dog. Mr. Rumour, excited to see the cat, inadvertently knocks over some displayed items. Just then,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The curtain pulls back in a blaze of bright daylight pouring in from a room beyond. And there, framed in the opening, is the silhouetted form of a young lady. She admonishes the cat, whom she calls Nicodemus. gently reminding him that they must make their customers feel at home. She then welcomes Avery and Mr. Rumor to her shop and introduces herself as Ember.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
She is tall and willowy, with large glasses that frame elfin features, dotted with freckles, and she wears a plum-colored headscarf. Her hair is bright red and looped into a messy bun on top of her head. Avery recalls Mrs. Nancarrow's words about the red-haired mermaid and, of course, the signage of the apothecary. He takes a surreptitious glance at her legs, but there is no sign of any fishtail.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
She wears denim dungarees and casual pumps. Avery apologizes for Mr. Rumor's clumsiness and offers to help clean up the display. But Ember shakes her head, saying not to worry. The cat and dog eye each other and agree to coexist in peace.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Ember calls Nicodemus, and he jumps to her shoulder, remaining perched there, regally, whilst she gives the visitors a tour of the apothecary, starting with the sun-drenched room. As well as herbal preparations and remedies, Ember says she also sells plants and flowers that she's cultivated in the orangery behind the shop. The orangery is well placed to receive every bit of sunlight.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
so Ember can grow all kinds of exotic plants that thrive in the warmth. Her green eyes shine as she proudly shows them her botanical collection. Trailing bougainvillea, luxuriant banana trees, and palms, ferns, and orchids. Oranges, lemons, vanilla, and cocoa beans fill the air with a fragrance that transports Avery to far-flung places.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
With this room being so full of light, Avery wonders why it's kept so much darker in the main and jests that Ember may have secrets. She twinkles almost imperceptibly, adding that perhaps she does. She explains that the curtain is to shut out the sun from the front of the shop. The darker room protects the contents of the bottles from spoiling,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The precious herbs, essential oils, tinctures, and preparations could be damaged or lose their potency if left exposed to the light. As the tour of the shop comes to a close, Ember suggests that perhaps there is something from her apothecary that she can prepare for Avery.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
If only he could bottle the feeling of tranquility that he's experienced today and take it back with him to his everyday life, he tells her. Ember has just the thing and asks Avery to give her a moment to prepare it. She takes a small vial and turns her back whilst she fills it with herbs that she grinds with her mortar and pestle.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
She utters some hushed words and taking a pinch of sand from a jar, blows it from her hand over the vial. She adds a couple of other items, a tiny shell and a piece of dried seaweed, and seals the vial with a small cork. She wraps the whole thing in brown paper. Ember tells him to open it and breathe in its fragrance whenever he feels the need to remember his time here.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
To think of it as a bottled memory that sets him free. She looks deeply into his eyes and he is quite transfixed. He laughs shyly and puts it in his pocket. As he does so, he finds the little note with the directions for Lancelot's Cove given to him this morning by Mrs. Nancarrow. He shows it to Ember, who says she is headed that way home. Together, they lock up the shop
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
And say goodnight to Nicodemus. The late afternoon is lovely. Their shadows grow long and tall. The third little shadow of Mr. Rumour trotting happily beside them as the evening draws in. They walk for a while in companionable silence, just listening to the sea and everything that was. As they reach Lancelot's Cove, Avery unclips Mr. Rumor's lead.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The little dog bounds towards the waves and runs and scampers on the sand. Ember says that her home is just around the next bay. She'll leave him here if he knows the way back to Mrs. Nancarrow's place. Avery thanks Ember But before he says goodbye, he turns to call Mr. Rumor from the water. The little dog runs back, and Avery stoops to clip the lead on his collar.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
As he kneels, he spots something glinting in the sand. a gold coin. Antique. Avery is incredulous. Could this really be smuggled treasure? He picks it up and slips it into his pocket. As he stands to say goodbye to Ember, he finds that the cove is empty apart from him and the little dog. He skims the horizon. The sun touches the sea now. The water is slate gray.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
And the sky is turning from lilac to a fiery orange. Everything it touches is lit with a golden glow. The light glints on the waves, breaking against the dark, jutting rocks. Further out, on one of those rocks, Avery almost thinks he sees the form of a woman, sat upright, dignified, and gazing out to sea. Long, bright red hair streaming behind her. He rubs his eyes, and she is gone.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
There is no one there. A chill cuts through the air now, rolling in from the sea, and Avery thinks of Mrs. Nancarrow's warm and cozy cottage. Turning, he gives the lead a gentle pull. But Mr. Rumor hesitates. Avery coaxes him. Come on, Mr. Rumor. We've had quite the adventure. Time to get you home. I think we'll both sleep well tonight.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Avery savors the place between sleep and wakefulness, swathed in dreamy, delicious comfort. Upon awakening, he is aware, but does not yet open his eyes. He can sense the brightness of the golden morning light. cast across the bed in a band of warmth. The bed is large and downy. Wiggling his toes and enjoying the pleasing smoothness of the freshly laundered cotton linen, Avery stretches out.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
He remembers that he's on holiday, Nothing requires his attention. The weekend lay spread invitingly before him to be spent at leisure, with no need to rush. The weekend is empty of obligations and full of possibilities. A pleasant sea salt tang drifts into the little cottage guest bedroom from the window, open just a crack.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Avery feels refreshed by the coolness of the gentle breeze dancing lightly across his face. The air carries the distant cry of seagulls and the banter of fishermen busily mending their nets and going about their business. Avery opens his eyes to see pale yellow curtains backlit with the diffused morning sun stirring in the sea air, enticing him to greet the day.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
He is well rested, having had a perfect night's sleep. Now it's time to get ready to explore his surroundings. It feels good to have the freedom of choosing how he will spend this day. He thinks he'll start by joining his host for a cup of tea. Avery had arrived the night before, in the half-light of a balmy summer evening.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
During a long drive from London, he left his cares and worries behind him, arriving at his holiday cottage for the weekend on the edge of the village, at the top of the hill. After the buzz of the motorway, the roads had quietened into a world of single-track lanes flanked by tall, brambly hedgerows.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
It felt good to leave the faster pace and obligations behind and move forward into the countryside. where simpler pleasures and expectations could be easily met and enjoyed. Avery loved folklore and was seeking adventure. A spark had been missing from his life lately. So the stories he had heard of a magical mermaid apothecary in Pulpero intrigued him.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
He wanted to find out if the stories were true. The winding road had risen steadily to the horizon, beckoning him on until he had reached the coast. where rolling green fields swept down in a patchwork to the cliffs and the cool, clear aquamarine sea beyond. Lush farmland opened to an expanse of blue skies
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
The fields were cut across with yellow ribbons of track which were being traversed by a tiny red tractor. It looked like a child's toy and was pursued relentlessly by a flock of determined crows.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Reaching the headland, the baked tarmac road had swept round and down into cooler wooded valleys, through leafy green tunnels of oaks and beech trees, where the warm golden evening sun painted the shady road before him in dappled, dancing light. He had driven on, the road leaving him higher once again, and the sun had lost its heat.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
It lay along the edge of the horizon and, done for the day, had finally dipped out of sight as the sea fog rolled in to blanket the land. The golden twilight had darkened under a silvery blue shroud as Avery approached his journey's end. Avery was finally welcomed by softly lit windows in the half-light, glowing under the beetling brow of a thatched roof.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
His host, a kindly lady named Mrs. Nancarrow, appeared, flanked by a small terrier. Mrs. Nancarrow had run him a hot, fragrant salt bath. Afterwards, she served him a freshly baked, peppery Cornish pasty for supper. Avery had been hungry, and the meal had been so satisfying that he finds he is still pleasantly full this morning.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Magical Visit to the Mermaid Apothecary
Now he decides that after his cup of breakfast tea, he will venture out to explore the delights of Pulpero. He is sitting at the scrubbed wooden kitchen table with Mrs. Nancarrow, who tells him more about this beautiful place that she's so proud to have lived in all her life. She comes from a long line of fishermen and holds the local culture in her heart. part and parcel of who she is.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
At the entrance to the forest, you find a map displaying its landmarks and facts about it. It's roughly 100 miles long and 50 miles wide. A vast expanse of nature. Somewhere nestled inside the forest is the chalet where you'll be spending the night. Next to the map is a list of animals and birds you may encounter during your walk.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Wildlife such as deer, rabbits and the western capybara, a species of game bird and symbol of the black forest. You choose to walk the eastern pathway and step inside the forest. The snow from earlier has gathered on the ground between the trees. A low lingering mist descends, creating an ethereal atmosphere. As you venture deeper into the forest, you see pine trees with frosted tips.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Their branches morph into different shapes, with long iced fingers that appear to point the way as you pass. A deer with an unusual coat of spots and stripes crosses your path. It pauses briefly, as if surprised to see you in its forest home. You both stand as still as statues. The deer gazes at you curiously, as if to ask, who are you and why are you here?
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Before making the decision that you are no threat and continuing its journey. The soles of your boots crunch as you walk the snow-peppered trail. The scent of fresh pine drifts on the breeze, holding you in the present moment, enveloped in the natural beauty of the great outdoors. As you come to a fork in the pathway, you hear the sound of trickling water.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
It leads you to a small waterfall and freshwater spring. The stream is clear and free-flowing. There's no bridge to cross. Only three uneven, moss-covered stepping stones. You crouch down, removing your warm gloves and place your hand in the shallow waters. The water feels ice cold as you move your fingers back and forth, creating a ripple effect.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Stepping onto the first stone, it wobbles slightly. You manage to maintain your balance, putting your arms out to the sides, before safely crossing the stream to the other side. Up ahead, in a clearing, you hear a voice. As you approach, someone begins to speak of a magical presence that lives in the forest. You see a pretty log cabin with a small group of people gathered outside.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
It has hand-painted wooden furniture on the porch and twinkling lights around the roof. It takes you a moment to realize that here, in the heart of the Black Forest... A theater production is taking place. The organizer, a woman with a clipboard and badge, invites you over to watch. A young boy is standing in traditional clothing outside the cabin, reciting his lines from memory.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
The story is about a guardian of the black forest who led him to safety when he got lost in a snowstorm. You watch as he seamlessly completes the production before taking a bow. You clap along with the audience as the scene ends. bevor Sie langsam wegfliegen, um Ihr nächstes Destination zu erreichen. Als die Waldstraße steigt, erscheinen die Bäume näher zusammen.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Pineneedle spüren sich auf die Straße, als Sie passen. Und Ihre Schuhe steigen auf Schwäbchen, machen einen krankhaften Geräusch unter Ihren Beinen. The trail opens up and you catch a glimpse of a hillside covered in pure white snow. Ahead, a signpost points to a wooden chalet on top of the hill. This is where you'll be staying tonight. Slowly you make your way towards it.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
The snow is fresh and deep on the hillside, reaching as high as your ankles. You see that earlier travelers were wearing snowshoes, so you follow the markings. The Chalet is typical of the Black Forest region. The exterior is crafted with dark wooden logs. Window boxes are attached to balconies and atmospheric lights illuminate the entrance. The chalet name is appropriate.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Schöner alsicht, which translates as beautiful view. In the center, above the name, is a large wooden cuckoo clock. The detail is exquisite. Two fir trees stand as sentries, one at either side, and three pine cones swing on thick woven tassels beneath. The clock face is designed with Roman numerals, and above, a painted couple are poised to dance when the clock strikes the hour.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You notice the time. It's late afternoon, almost upon the hour. You would love to hear the cuckoo chirp as it pokes its head out from the nest. But as it's getting colder, you decide to head indoors. Rows of skis and poles have been plunged upright into the snow beside the entrance, with an old-fashioned wooden toboggan next to them.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Tables and benches are arranged on a snow-covered patio, which on a clear day would offer magnificent views. The warmth of the chalet envelops you as you open the door. And the delicate aroma of cherries and chocolate fills the air. Slowly removing your jacket, you place it on a wall hook and put your snowy boots onto a heated rack to dry. You look around the chalet.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
It's exactly how you imagined it would be. There's a long counter to your left with glass cases filled with the famous black forest ghetto. It's a type of cake made with chocolate, whipped cream, cherries... and cherry brandy. Square tables are covered in checkered tablecloths and topped with flickering candles in jars.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
A friendly older woman with blonde braided hair offers you a seat by the window. She has sparkling blue eyes and a kind smile. In the background you hear relaxing music playing softly from a speaker on the wall. Your table overlooks the snow-covered hill and forest. The scenery is beautiful. but you're happy to be in the warmth of the chalet. The woman brings you a piping hot drink in a mug.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You look around. A few people are sitting at tables enjoying drinks, dressed in ski pants and thick roll-neck jumpers. Behind the counter A young man chalks a menu on the board, ready for the morning. The candle flickers on your table, a light so mesmerizing that you begin to doze. You thank the waitress and make your way past the staircase.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
into a small room with two armchairs by an open fireplace. The room is empty. You have it all to yourself. And although you enjoy being around others, Sometimes you find it's nice to be present in total peace and quiet. The room is like an old library, lit by soft wall lights. Someone has recently placed logs in the fire. A warm glow emanates from it. As orange flames crackle and flicker.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
The logs and pine cones emit a fresh, earthy aroma. You close your eyes and breathe it in slowly. The scent reminding you of your earlier forest walk. A painting of a deer sits above the fireplace. It has the same unusual markings on its coat as the one you met earlier. In the picture, the animal stands outside the chalet, hooves embedded deep in the snow.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Die Wälder oberhalb des Feuerplatzes, an beiden Seiten der Tür, sind geschliffen mit Schalen, voll mit alten, leckerbauten Büchern. Als du vorwärts steigst, um näher zu schauen, siehst du familiarisierte Titel, auf den Spinen. Es sind klassische Fairy-Tales, Reisen und Geschichte-Bücher. Poems and illustrations, all arranged in no particular order.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You pick a book about the history of the Black Forest and sit down in one of the comfortable armchairs by the fire. A cozy plaid blanket has been placed on the arm of one of the chairs. You snuggle beneath it. A waiter delivers another mug of your favorite spiced drink and places it on a coaster on the table beside you. You clasp the mug between your hands, sipping the liquid slowly.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Wiggling your toes beneath the blanket, allowing them to warm with the heat of the crackling fire. You read the book for a while, finding it interesting, before dozing in the armchair. When you awake and look up, you realize it and completely dark outside. The moon is high in the sky and visible from the window. Something within you tells you to go and look outside.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Wrapping the blanket fully around you, you pad across the wooden floor in your socks towards the window You gaze out at the white snow on the hillside. The trees of the black forest are no longer fully visible, but you can see outlines illuminated by the full moon. In the distance you can make out the town from which you began your journey earlier in the day.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
As you turn to walk back towards the chair, you notice a movement by the window. A curious face appears, ears pointing upwards and big brown eyes staring in through the glass. You smile. A deer is looking right back at you. The lights outside the chalet highlight its rare markings, an unusual mix of spots and stripes.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You realize that it's the same deer you saw at the start of your journey in the black forest. The woman who served you earlier walks into the room, Sie sieht das Pferd am Fenster und grinst großartig. Sie erzählt dir, dass sie das Pferd, Protektor, im Deutschen genannt haben. Sie ist ein Gärtner der Black Forest. Die Frau sagt, wenn das Pferd dich auf deinen Reisen trifft und du ihr nichts tust,
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Sie wird immer beobachten, dass Sie sicher zu Ihrem Destinationen gekommen sind. Sie wird die Frau fragen, wie das Tier wusste, dass Sie hier kommen würden. Aber sie ist bereits weg. Dann realisierst du, dass Tiere nicht wie Menschen denken. They simply trust their instincts. The deer just knew.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
As if reading your mind, the deer nods her head and, satisfied that you've arrived safely, she turns to walk away. You watch as the deer bounds playfully through the snow. Illuminated by the light of the moon, she ventures down the hillside and back to her home in the forest. You fold the blanket into a neat square, lay it across the armchair and place the book back on the shelf.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Your room key is waiting in a tray by the reception desk. You take the key for room number nine. Climbing the staircase with your backpack, you stop to admire old black and white photographs of nearby towns on the walls. There's a huge cuckoo clock, pictures of medieval market squares and grand castles before they crumbled. At the top of the stairs, you turn right.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Your room is at the end of the passage. You turn the key slowly in the lock. und es schreit, als du die Tür öffnest. Schauend um die Raum, bemerkst du, dass es einfach veröffentlicht ist. Es gibt eine kleine Leslampe auf der Bettseite, ein großes, komfortables Bett mit Duvet-Kopfern, und ein Tapestry-Kuschel auf einem Schirm, neben dem vollgängigen Schirm.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Die Türen sind gedreht, aber Sie öffnen sie, um den Nachtschaum und die Sicht zu sehen. The town you will visit tomorrow is tucked away in the valley in the distance between a cluster of trees. You slide open the patio doors, stepping onto a small balcony, breathing in the crisp night air. The air is so cold. You can see your breath as you exhale.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
As you close the patio doors and draw the curtains, a shadowy outline weaves between the trees and you smile. You wonder if it's the deer checking on other travelers to see if they've arrived safely at the chalet. Leaving the curtains slightly open so the moon casts a spotlight on the floor, you turn off the lamp and climb into bed. The mattress is so comfortable.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
It feels like your body is melting into a giant sponge. It absorbs every inch of your body, relaxing your weary muscles from your head all the way to your toes. As you gently close your eyes, you begin to reminisce about your incredible day in Germany. Images of market stalls, cuckoo clocks and snow frosted trees flash before you. But there's one thing that stands out in your mind. The deer.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen!
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Vielen Dank für's Zuschauen.
Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories
A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
It's early afternoon in winter and snow is falling from the silvery sky. You're standing on a stone bridge in a pretty town which sits on the edge of Germany's black forest. It's cold, but you're all cozy today. A fleece jacket hugs your body as the winter chill nips your nose. You pull your woolly hat further down over your ears to keep them warm.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
The historic town sits in a valley surrounded by the oak, beech and fir trees of the black forest. Die Region ist für ihre dünnen, dunklen Landschaften genannt, die viele Mythen und Fairytales inspiriert haben. Heute sind die Bäume, die auf der Heide steigen, mit Schnee befestigt. Auf der linken Seite befinden sich Wohnzimmer mit Balkonen, die den dunklen, grünen Wasser eines Riesens überlaufen.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Auf der rechten Seite befinden sich 17. Jahrhundert-Halftimber-Bilder. Sie erinnern sich an Zimt-Häuser. Du stehst auf der Brücke, über dem Meer, wo ein Willow-Tree seine langen, langen Brunnen über dem Wassersteig streckt. Als die Schnee aus dem Himmel beginnt zu fallen, stürzen die Flügel die Brunnen leise. Sie stürzen leise in den Meer, and melt into the water.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You notice people sitting at tables in a cafe set inside one of the houses. There's a brief hint of chatter in the local dialect as the door opens. Then silence as it closes again. The customers laugh and joke as they sip steaming hot drinks. Next door, outside a riverside hotel, a young couple unload their suitcases from the trunk of a taxi cab. Behind you.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Stand the ruins of an old stone castle. You pause to take in the views and find yourself wondering what it was like to live there in centuries gone by. Hearing the faint sound of a train as it departs from the nearby station You decide to move on from the bridge. You follow a signpost eastwards towards the marketplace.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Fresh snow crunches beneath the soles of your boots as you slowly make your way towards the main square. Along the narrow street Shoppes boast wrought iron signs with pictures. You pass stores selling musical instruments, baked goods and outdoor clothing. There's a perfumery with different shaped bottles on display and a small delicatessen with local cuisine in the window.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Auf der Kante ist ein Museum in einem großen Gebäude. Ein älterer Mann setzt ein Zeichen draußen, um den Besuchern zu informieren, dass die Attraktion offen ist. Er wacht auf dich, sagt Guten Tag und lacht, bevor er zurück in die Wärme des Museums zurückgeht. Direkt vor dir liegen feste Chalet-Stühle auf dem Perimeter des Hauptquartiers.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Ein 12 Meter langer Fertig, erbaut mit Lichtern, nimmt das Zentrum an. You begin to walk clockwise around the square. As you do so, you notice a woman creating a display of gingerbread stars and giant iced hearts. They hang from tiny hooks on colored silk ribbons. A local glassblower displays handmade snow globes, vases and dishes in a kaleidoscope of shades.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You pick up one of the snow globes to take a closer look. Inside it, you see an intricately carved wooden cuckoo clock. are made in villages of the black forest. You shake the snow globe, observing as flakes cover the design. As you do so, the vendor, a young man, looks up from his book and smiles. The town's atmosphere is magical. Everyone is smiling and happy.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
Twinkling lights wrap around tree branches, emanating a warm, welcoming glow, bringing a further sense of cheer to the cold winter's day. Beside a chalet selling hand-carved puppets, A small dog sleeps on a comfy bed, curled up with a fleecy blanket draped on top. The dog is oblivious to the tinkling sound of bells coming from a wind-up organ across the square.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
The scent of nutmeg and vanilla fills the air, coming from a stall selling candles nearby. You stop for a moment and close your eyes, listening to the music and inhaling the heavenly fragrance, losing yourself. In the magic of this enchanting black forest town. A woman with short red hair hands out paper cups of hot spiced apple drinks to passers-by.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
And on the far edge of the square, several bistro tables and chairs are positioned next to an open-sided food truck, serving local treats. Behind the truck. As more people enter the market square, you decide to continue walking. Turning left along the street, you follow signs for the forest trail. The street is so pretty, like something from a movie set or a fairy tale.
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A Winter’s Day in the Black Forest
You look up at the three-story-high gingerbread-style houses. Between the wooden timbers, the paint colors range from deep red to yellow or green. Small narrow windows are framed by contrasting wooden shutters and some have flower boxes beneath. The skies darken slightly as the tall trees loom in front of you. The snow's feathery flakes disappear as you make your way towards the trail.