Archibald, Novosibirsk, Russia

abstraite Posted Apr 18, 2007, 4:04 pm	Let me introduce you my friends... Today we had a tea party on the grass, it was absolutly delicious.
abstraite Posted Apr 18, 2007, 5:55 pm	This is the day I met King Babar and his wife. They were so kind to me... In fact they are people like you and me (well... maybe more like me !)
abstraite Posted May 11, 2007, 4:08 pm	During last holidays, I had a few days in Brittany. It is very peaceful  there, that's why I love to refresh my ideas and medidate facing the sea...
abstraite Posted Jul 24, 2007, 11:54 am	At laaaast I am leaving !!! My luggage is ready for weeks and I was about to desperate... But here is The "Postexport" enveloppe... hihihi :-) It looks like a kind of bed ! I'll try to have a nice trip with many pink dreams.... See you in Austria !
ChristinaB Posted Aug 16, 2007, 10:09 am	Today I savely arrived in Vienna! I'm staying with a funny family with 3 boys here and I'm sure we'll have alot of fun. Since I just arrived we haven't done any sightseeing so far but my host promised to show me some wonderful places soon!
ChristinaB Posted Aug 17, 2007, 11:34 pm	I spent a great day in Vienna today. My hosts had some visitors from Upper Austria and we went to see Schönbrunn Palace together. How beautiful! And the park is soooo large - we almost got lost. We went up a hill to see the point of view called "Gloriette" (Empress Maria Theresia loved this place!!!), then we saw the Palm house which has a really interesting architecture and afterwards we visited the zoo. How nice to meet all these different animals! I had my photo taken with a friendly rhinozeros and a pelican but when we finally met all my relatives the camera had a breakdown, so unfortunately there are no pictures of me together with other donkeys. But believe me - I had a funny time there!
ChristinaB Posted Aug 22, 2007, 6:46 am	I'm having a great time here in Austria. My hosts are very active people and there is always something to do here. On Sunday - since the weather was very hot - we went to their grandparents' garden. They have a swimming pool there and I enjoyed to play in the water alot.
ChristinaB Posted Aug 22, 2007, 6:54 am	Did you know that Vienna has a BIG artificial island? It is called "Donauinsel" and was built in the river Danube to prevent the city from high water. It is about 20 km long an divides the river into "Danube" and "New Danube". Danube is still used for ships and transport and New Danube "belongs" to the people so they can swim there, waterski etc. The island itself is very green with trees and bushes. Cars are forbidden there so people enjoy to walk, rollerskate or drive their bikes there. There are some bars at the longside of the river and many playground for the kids everywhere around. We went there yesterday and had a really great time. On our way there we also passed by the building of the UNO, Danube tower and a nice (but almost unknown) church. We had a beautiful view to the very modern part of the city just at the oposite side of Donauinsel.
ChristinaB Posted Aug 24, 2007, 11:46 pm	Today we really did alot of sightseeing and I had a great time with my hosts and my new friends here. We went to the city center of Vienna and had a looooong walk around. The weather was great, so it was a perfect day to take photos! First we got off the metro at the big Museum for historical arts. Just opposite is the museum for nature and the building looks exactly the same. There were tons of ball-shaped bushes in front of the museum and the cats and I had great fun to play hide and seek there. We went on to the Parliament then and arrived at the City hall afterwards. In front of it an open-air opera festival takes place at the moment and there were several little huts with delicious things to eat. I discovered a kind of "clock" there counting the days until the European Soccer Championship will start next year. It will take place in Austria and Switzerland and the people here are already very excited about that. Just opposite the City Hall we saw the Old imperial theatre and next to it we found the rosarium where we had a little rest (you can see the museum in the background again). Hmmm, what a nice smell everywhere around there!
ChristinaB Posted Aug 24, 2007, 11:59 pm	Then we went on to Hofburg which was the emperor's residence in former days. Now it hosts the National Library, some museums, the Spanish riding school and the President's office. Have a look what we saw everywhere in the City Center! These horses with their carbages are called "Fiaker" in Vienna. After we had some ice-cream we reached the real centre of the city: Stephansplatz with St. Stephen's cathedral! I was very impressed by the roof - it was almost as colourful as I am!! We walked along Kärntnerstraße (which is one of the most expensive streets here in Vienna I was told...) and had a look at the opera which is really a beautiful building I must admit! I would love to go inside, too, but my host told me that I am too noisy to watch a play there! Then we saw Karlskirche which is very special, too. But to be honest - I also liked the playground in front of it alot!!!
ChristinaB Posted Aug 25, 2007, 12:05 am	The "highlight" today was the visit of "Sand in the City", a sculpture park made of sand. It's the first time that something like that is shown in Vienna and only for a short periode as I was told. It was very beautiful - have a look!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 5, 2007, 9:17 am	I've been in Vienna for quite some time now and imagine, I even learnt how to cook here! My friends Mila, Mini, Bestik and I helped to make these ball-shaped things called "Knödel". You know, Austrian always eat Knödel and there are many different kinds of them: Knödel filled with Apricots, Plumbs, Strawberries, with Meat, Saussages, Chocolate, Knödel made of Potatoes, Curd Chees, Rolls, whatever. We made Knödel filled with Peaches since there are sooo many in my host's garden at the moment - and they were really, really delicious!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 5, 2007, 9:22 am	One day our host took us to the big amusement park here in Vienna called "Prater". There we did a ride on the famous old "Giant Wheel" and tried some other, more modern but really scary rollercoasters. Unfortunately it was raining so we didn't stay too long (but otherwise I would maybe have got sick!!)
ChristinaB Posted Sep 5, 2007, 9:26 am	We also visited the house created by Hundertwasser. Isn't it beautiful? I'd love to live there! And that's not even sooo impossible because I was told that there is nothing special inside, just normal flats. And everybody who lives there has the right to great the "surrounding" of his/her window just as he likes - but only as far as he/she can reach with the arms. Interesting, isn't it?
ChristinaB Posted Sep 16, 2007, 8:59 am	Hello! I left Austria and I'm on the way to Moscow now. I hope my journey won't last too long. Tschüß, Vienna, es war sehr schön! Archibald
kristl Posted Oct 16, 2007, 8:10 am	Hi, I'm finally in Moscow with Kristl I'm happy to get here and ... do you know??? There's snow here!!! Not much, but it's everywhere and it's strange to see snow on green trees Here're some photos They are not very good cause Kristl had only her handy with her. Here I'm on my way from the post office: Everything looks a bit sad from the window.. Together with my envelope Kristl got another one where this charming lady was =) She came from Finland, not as ToyVoyager though, but as personal swap Her name is Finnii and I think we'll become friends Kristl said that today I probably will visit the school she went to. Sounds interesting! Let's see!
kristl Posted Oct 22, 2007, 2:18 pm	Today i visited Kristl's school. Though we had no time to make photos when we were inside, I made some nice shots at the schoolyard. Here's a playground: And this is the school. Kristl says that almost all the schools in Moscow look like this: Though there was snow, I found some flowers. It looked strange: It is a memory alley. It is written that it was established in 2007 - the year of the child. I asked Kristl, why such a strange thing - she didn't know too. Here I sit on a branch of a firtree. Kristl says, children planted it. On our way home we saw a nice monument - a monument for Pushkin's poem \"Ruslan and Ludmila\". Alexander Pushkin is the most famous Russian poet, he lived in the 19th century. It's he who created \"Eugene Onegin\". The most famous part of "Ruslan and Ludmila" is the beginning of the 1st song, a brief prologue, where the narrator describes a green oak by the curved seashore, and makes reference to several other elements common in Russian folktales, such as a hut on hen’s legs, Baba Yaga (an evil witch), and King Koschei (immortal evil king). Bound to the tree by a golden chain is a story-telling cat. The narrator remembers one of the cat’s stories in particular, namely the one that follows. You can see the heroes of the prologue: The green oak by the curved seashore, the mermaid that sits in the tree and a palace. Between the "waves" you can see some of 33 knights (bogatyrs): Here you can see more knights (bogatyrs): And here you can see the hut on hen’s legs and the learned cat: The monument is not old, but it's a bit frayed. Well, there're many vandalseverywhere..
kristl Posted Oct 22, 2007, 2:31 pm	Hi-hi! Today I went with Kristl to her University - Moscow State University. The weather was terrible, so we made only few photos.. But we managed to see a special underground train that is devoted to the anniversary of the Red Arrow (Krasnaya Strela), express that runs between Moscow and St. Petersburg. In 2006 the Red Arrow was 75 years old. Near the University I saw the circus on Vernadsky prospect: We stayed at the University from morning to night and were very tired!
kristl Posted Oct 25, 2007, 5:47 am	My second visit to Kristl's university was funny!! We camt together with Bertold and Luffy and made a bit fun I climbed to the blackboard. Here's what were written there: And this is what I wrote:
kristl Posted Nov 27, 2007, 11:14 am	Hello-hello!!! I'm sorry that I did not write for a long time, but we had much to do!! I met many new TVs and visited Sweden with Kristl, that was very interesting And we had a Halloween Party!!! That was great!! I'll try to post the photos according the time they were made. First -- how we met Bertold and Luffy. It was a nice sunny day as they came here, sowe had a small photosession. Just to get good photos of us, print them, put in a frame and hang on the wall Here I'm with Luffy, he's a monkey too!! We're dreaming of our own Halloween Party cause we didn't manage to come to BunTraveler in time.. And it's the first time I met Bertold! We were very glad to meet each other We all together! Nice photos to print and hang on the wall
kristl Posted Nov 27, 2007, 11:29 am	I went to Sweden with Kristl and some other TVs Here you can see our nice company We're drinking tea)) We're in a cafe
kristl Posted Dec 2, 2007, 3:23 pm	I found a nice photo I made when we went for a walk here in Zheleznodorozhny where Kristl lives now. It's very strange to look at this photo now when everything is white.. It seems that so much time has passed ) I think it's time to travel further soon.. But I thunk I'll miss all the TVs and Toys here..
kristl Posted Dec 2, 2007, 6:33 pm	October 31, 2007 HELLOWEEN PARTY The time has come to tell you about the Helloween Patry 2007! On October 31 the Toys that live in this flat prepared a special Party for all the TVs that were visiting us here. They decorated the sofa with pictures from fantasy books to make the atmosphere more frightening Everybody had a costume: Luffy and CharityBear were pirates, Archibald and the Rose Bear were DragonLords (they weared many Dragon-symbols), Bertold was a Hawaiian and Finnii was a small witch. TVs were very surprised when they saw who were their guests at the Party! They were toy celebrities, but they exchanged their famous costumes so that it was more difficult to recognize them !! Do you recognize them all?) They are: 2 Winnie-the-Poohs, one in Roo's costume and one in TattyTeddy's costume, and Roo and TattyTaddy in Pooh's costumes. TVs and the Toys were very glad to meet them!! Archibald decided to make a photo with Winnie the Pooh and TattyTeddy who exchanged their costumes: [color=red]A then the wonders began!!! There came flying a real witch! Everybody was shocked to see the witch! But fortunately she was a very nice and kind witch Then in the middle appered a magic pool!! Everyone was very excited to see what will happen further. Suddenly a small Troll appeared in the pool!!! Though he was small, he had a long nose and an even longer sword. He looked very fearful. But TVs and Toys understood quickly that he was a very nice young Troll. Archibald wanted to get acquanted with him. Then in the pool appeared a Brownie!! Then something small but very dright appeared in the pool!! It was a small BRONZE DRAGON! But he turned out to be a kind dragon Luffy and Archibald wanted to become his friends. The Troll told that this Dragon was his best friend! Then a new character appeared in the pool - it was a bear dressed like a caveman - called Ryka. Finnii liked him so much that she gave him a kiss! First Ryka was surprised but then he stood up and gave Finnii a kiss too Then in the pool appeared a HUGE DRAGON!!! Everybody was frightened and even Luffy and Archibald who sat just by the pool moved away. The only one who was not frightened was the samll bronze Dragon who came to the big one and told that all the Toys are friends. Everyone was happy that the huge Dragon was their friend too!!! Everybody liked the Helloween Party and everyone was happy to find so many new friends!!! And what is very important -- Archibald managed to fulfil one of his mission at the Party - he met such celebrities as Winnie, Roo and TattyTeddy!!!
kristl Posted Dec 15, 2007, 5:34 pm	Today Archibald contunued his journey and was sent to Cosmica in Novosibirsk. Good bye, dear Archibald, we'll miss you! Have a nice journey!!
Cosmica Posted Dec 27, 2007, 7:42 am	I've just arrived from the post office and I'm now warming myself as there is a bit too cold in Novosibirsk. It's snowing and there are huge snow banks all around! I've met Tiger the Best who is going to a voage, too, and the other nice guys. I was welcomed and now I'm going to have some rest to prepare for sightseeing and the New Year Eve.
Cosmica Posted Jan 1, 2008, 2:56 pm	We've celebrated the New Year! Teddy was a Santa andwe all had much fun. We watched fireworks all night long and congratulated each other. We had the Mistress of the Year - Miranda the Rat who seems to be very nice. When looking at her you think the year will be quite fine. So I wish everyone happy New Year!
Cosmica Posted Jan 2, 2008, 6:30 am	On the 1st day of the New Year we went to a Birchwood. It was very quite all around, almost no cars and almost no people. And it was snowing heavily, snowdrifts were huge! The Birchwood is right in the city and it is very beatiful. There is a small church on the entrance:
Cosmica Posted Jan 2, 2008, 6:36 am	This is a merry-go-round. As it is winter it is all covered with snow but I'm sure, it's a fun to have a ride here in summer!
Cosmica Posted Jan 2, 2008, 6:43 am	Then we'be been to New Year celebration. It was rather cold but the children around were all very happy. I've seen a huge Snegurochka - she's a granddaughter of the Russian Santa Claus who's called Ded Moroz here.
Cosmica Posted Jan 2, 2008, 6:46 am	And then I've seen a toy on the Christmas tree - while some have a rest, the others work hard for us to feel the spirit of the Fest!
Cosmica Posted Jan 3, 2008, 7:15 am	This time we went to another park. It's in the center of Novosibirsk and it's very beautiful. It was snowing heavily and all the fir trees were covered with white fluffy snow. I've seen a birdhouse on a tree. I'm sure birds will love to settle down here in spring.
Cosmica Posted Jan 3, 2008, 7:21 am	Then I've seen a sample of the local urban art - there was a graffity stone in the park. You can see it in the first picture below. And there was a bench that declared that this city is the best on the Earth. Sometimes I believe this is true
Cosmica Posted Jan 3, 2008, 7:27 am	Here you can see a gift from Armenians to the Russian Orthodox Church. It's very beautiful. And below is my photo with a local fifing snowman. He was playing so nice, and his music was so vivid that I closed my eyes and listened carefully!
Cosmica Posted Jan 3, 2008, 7:39 am	And this is the Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet. It's huge.
Cosmica Posted Jan 9, 2008, 3:01 pm	Yeasterday we've been to a concert in Academgorodok (this is a district of Novosibirsk city).  The club is called Kapkan (A Trap) but is looks chinese inside. The atmosphere is rather good and I can say that I liked it. We've made several photos of me in the place.
Cosmica Posted Jan 9, 2008, 3:08 pm	As we were with a band that was going to appear before the footlights we had guitars with us and I was even allowed to play one. However it was too big for me and I just listened. Unfortunetely it was dark in the club to make photoes of the band so please enjoy photoes of me and this nice guitar and me with a boutle of champaign called Russian No. 1. I swear I didn't drink!
Cosmica Posted Jan 9, 2008, 3:11 pm	And after the club we went to a coffee house. It was absolutely empty except for us so I looked out of the window and watched sparks outside. It was bautiful as any other city at night.
Cosmica Posted Jan 12, 2008, 6:26 pm	It's very cold outside so when we go out we run very fast not to turn into ice! However we've been to a coffe house today. It's called Traveler's Coffee. I've tested the local variants of latte and cherry mocco. Very delicious!
Cosmica Posted Jan 15, 2008, 5:37 pm	It's still very cold outside, about 23-27 C below zero. So we don't walk very often or just run very quickly. However today we've been to an artist's studio. It was great - nice pictures all around, graphic art, wash drawings, pastels, oil paintings. I liked potraits most of all. Besides the artist (her name's Natasha) plays the piano. Here you can see a Russian piano named Berezka (Birch-Tree), it's old but rather honorouble and sounds wonderful!
Cosmica Posted Jan 15, 2008, 5:43 pm	Natasha teaches young (and not very young but willing) people to draw. My host is also in the group. Today they did wash drawings for the first time, it was an apple and a lemon. I was of great help for Vika, my host. Here you can see the result :0)
Cosmica Posted Jan 18, 2008, 3:25 pm	My host is very busy these days but yeasterday we've been to a concert. The club is called Rock-City and it's built in rock-music style. It's decarated with records, microphones and other things indicative to rock-music. The concert was given by a Russian rock-band from Saint-Petersburg - Animal Jazz. I'm not on the photo cause it was me who made it! Animal Jazz Then dances began! I've never thought that trance could be such a great music for dances! And there were batterfly girls dancing on the scene that made me feel even more dancer-like!
Cosmica Posted Jan 18, 2008, 3:30 pm	The disco was over, I was overwhelmed with emotions and sat down to have a rest. And you know what?! I'vw found myself on the bar counter leaning against ab ash-tray! Awful! I've always thought I was a decent monkey! Nevertheless I don't regret anything  After the club we walked a bit and I jumped onto a snowbank. I defenitely like this city at night!
Cosmica Posted Jan 18, 2008, 3:38 pm	There was a surprise for me today. I've met another toyvoyager - Isambard from Great Britain. We'll live at the same host for a while. First I was afraid that now I'll have less attention, but then I got to know Isambard better and now I know - we'll be good friends!
Cosmica Posted Jan 19, 2008, 3:03 pm	Today we've been to the artist's studio again. Did I mention Natasha (the artist) has a dog? Here she is - it's absolutely fantastic! I've never seen such an energetic creature before! And when Zlata the dog was finally sleeping and quite we managed to drink some tea with Russian traditional round cracknels. I should say they are crisp and delicious
Cosmica Posted Jan 26, 2008, 5:20 pm	Vika, mu host, has really much work this week, so today we diceded to have a walk. It was not really hot (-16C) and our walk was not very long. However we managed to visit the festival of snow figures in Pervomay Park: And here you can see an elk arc. We don't know what it means but it's rather interesting. And this is the House of Lenin. It's one of the two building of Novosibirsk Philharmonic Hall. And to the left you can see geographical center of Novosibisk which is marked with this Chapel standing just in the middle of our central road - Krasny Prospect. Many just-married come here to make photoes, it's a tradition. There is almost no snow on the last two picture so Vika says they look like it is spring here in Novosibirsk. Jowever we stiil have much time till spring.
Cosmica Posted Feb 2, 2008, 5:44 pm	This is my last sightseeing in Novosibirsk. I'm goingto continue my journey soon. But today we went to a winter bike-fest. First we arrived to the Children Railroad. Unfortunately it does not function in winter. These are the gates to the station: And this is the station itself: We arrived just in time for the start. There were many bikers and the start was a real mess. It was funny to see this: We were rooting for this or that biker and it was cold even to look at them! When the races finished I decided to have a rest on this very nice bench. The air was very clean in the park and there were so many excited people all around. The day was not wasted for nothing!
Cosmica Posted Feb 8, 2008, 8:28 am	Today I set off on a journey to Michigan. Masucci is already waiting for me and I'm looking forward to see her. Of course I will miss Isambard and Twitchy but I hope I will make many new friends. Goodbye, Cosmica!

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