My son and I made our second trip to HillTop a few weeks ago, and, like the first time, the experience was a lovely one. The cottage was as cute, cozy and accommodating as before and Karl & Monika were, as expected, excellent hosts.
Upon our arrival, I said to my nine-year-old that, "It feels like I'm coming home from somewhere after being away a long time." There is just something about the spot that puts your everyday stress and nonsense on standby soon as you get there.
There were some new additions to the barnyard family, including one yearling calf and a spring-born calf named Junie; a nest of barn swallows (protected species). There was a great little farmstand on site where I loaded up on freshly harvested, organic veggies at a fraction of the cost you'd pay in a store. Monika even went so far as to provide me with extra beets for canning!
Karl took my son on a morning walkabout 'round the farm, the first morning, helping him to pick me a nosegay of sweetpea flowers while I slept in (I'm SO not a morning person, haha), showed him some of the newer plants they've introduced, changes to the greenhouses and how the irrigation/well system is set up. There was the usual visit with "Quack" the chicken, the new rooster and egg gathering, too, of course!
As if planned, the weather was perfect for trips to the nearby community shops, markets and white-sand beaches of the area.
Looking forward to a visit again next summer - maybe two! I have and would, again, highly recommend to anyone needing a break from the daily grind to stay here.