Well, I couldn’t really … because the famous German author died sixty-two years ago.

But I did manage to visit the small town of Calw, where he was born in 1877.

Calw is a charming place with beautifully painted centuries-old buildings. It has a very walkable historic centre with hardly any cars and no other tourists! Perfect!

There’s a bridge and a river and a plaza named after the author.

Hermann Hesse had written many novels. I’m lucky to have read at least one of them.

Siddhartha is a fascinating novel and written in an achingly beautiful style. I really should read it again.

Calw is actually in the Black Forest in Germany.

And, yes, I did sample some Black Forest cakes … but that’s another story!