C.K., on his way to USA, Russia -> USA

becka_kate


Posted Apr 10, 2007, 4:24 am
Hello
My name is CK (short for Cheerful Koala) and I met up with Bec & Kalli at the Sydney Easter Show in the Showbag pavillion. When Kalli told me about this site, I decided that it was something I'd like to do too. Unlike Kalli however, I'm ready to go off and see the world on my own.


Between March 2008 and September 2008 C.K's temporary mentor will be Stef.
becka_kate


Posted Apr 10, 2007, 4:28 am
As you can see I love being outside in the sunshine (not sure how I'll take to dismal winters, but I'm willing to try anything!) I'm a bit of a tree climber (just comes naturally I guess!)

becka_kate


Posted Apr 10, 2007, 5:13 am
more shots of me in the garden. It's autumn here and after 4 days of rain  the sun has finally come out.
becka_kate


Posted Apr 13, 2007, 5:26 am
I'm very excited. I've had lots of people offering to help me on my travels and while I'm waiting for my tags to arrive so I can get on my way I've been getting ready for my journey.

Seeing as I'll hopefully get to not only go to England but the Canary Islands too (I did a google search! as neither Bec or I had ever heard of Lanzarote before when Drakie offered to take me there. It sounds like a very interesting and unusual place to visit) I thought it was important to make sure I have a hat. I don't have a lot of hair and here in Australia everyone is encouraged to wear a hat and sunscreen if they go out in the sun. I wouldn't want to ruin my holiday by getting sunburnt!

I also found a cool game to play where you have to try and dunk the teddy in the honey. A nice way to spend  a rainy day.

becka_kate


Posted Apr 13, 2007, 5:34 am
I also decided that seeing as I'll be visiting Germany and Austria on my travels I should try to learn some German. I dug out Bec's old high school text books, but had to admit it was probably not a good idea to start with the Year 11 book. A little tricky. Even Bec admitted that she'd forgotten how to understand most of it.

So, had a look for an easier text (which was a lot more helpful) and have learnt how to say "Hello" "Goodbye", "Please", "Thank You"  and some other words that will hopefully come in handy.
becka_kate


Posted Apr 13, 2007, 5:47 am
I also started some research on Texas. I never realised just how many different types of areas there are. When we see Texas here its really just oil fields and desert. Wow! Can't wait to get there!
becka_kate


Posted Apr 15, 2007, 9:42 am
I got to leave the house today and do some travelling. We went into Darling Harbour to go to the Sydney Bridal Exhibition with Bec's sister who is getting married. We went in by train to Town Hall and looked at the Queen Victoria Building and heard the bells at St Andrews cathedral (no photos due to technical difficulties!) before going to Convention Centre for the Expo. Very very uninteresting for a koala, especially as we had to stay undercover which got a bit stuffy once they started cramming brochures and stuff in with us.
becka_kate


Posted Apr 15, 2007, 9:57 am
After leaving the Exhibtion Centre and getting some lunch we walked around Cockle Bay to the ferry wharf to take the scenic route back home.

On the way we passed Wildlife World, which Kalli and I begged to visit to see the Koalas & the desert enclosure but there wasn't enough time, so we had to keep going.
becka_kate


Posted Apr 15, 2007, 10:06 am
It was a beautiful sunny day to be out and about on Sydney Harbour.

(Apologies now for some of the nose shots - my official photographer was having difficulty viewing the LCD screen because of the sun and was just hoping that the photos were ok)

We saw the (1)Tall Ships at the Maritime Museum, (2)the very expensive apartments where Russell Crowe lives when he's in Sydney and many of the other well-known attractions in Sydney - the (3)Harbour Bridge and the Opera House on our way back to Circular Quay (where the First Fleet came into and settled Sydney).

When we got to Circular Quay station we enjoyed resting and taking in the view(4) from our platform while we waited for our train. A very enjoyable day!

becka_kate


Posted Apr 23, 2007, 9:18 am
Yesterday CK said his goodbyes to Kalli & myself and hitched a ride with my sister to Annandale Post Office to begin his trip around the world!
His first stop will be with Drakie in the UK.
drakie


Posted Apr 27, 2007, 7:28 pm
I can breath again.... puff puff, been holding my breath since australia... help... Well I am here in Honiton, with Sylvia, Eddy Bears mum, and guess what Siti Smut arrived on the same day, two parcels wrapped with an elastic band... a bit tight mind you... we are now resting in our hosts home, she is looking after us....  getting excited about our adventures...  :D
drakie


Posted May 2, 2007, 9:56 pm
Hello Becka Kate

Here i am in Honiton, lovely sunny weather...  getting ready for the weekend to Durdle Door, the Unesco World Heritage Site,  and Lulworth Cove in Dorset lovely weather too.  Then we are going to have to pack to go to Lanzarote and Feurtenvtura for the day see the volcano`s.  Cannot wait week in the sun along with Henry the Adventure Hound,  Siti Smut, and and Taro.... yippee.. 


Durdle Door - world famous geological wonder.
Durdle Door in Dorset with its massive rock arch, set right on the Jurassic Coast between Swanage and Weymouth, is absolutely beautiful. There is a sloping beach for bathing or snorkeling from, caves and exciting rock strata.

Just along the coast path from Lulworth Cove with its thatched cottages, fishing boats, lobster pots, wild flowers, quaint little gift shops and tea rooms - the charm of the place is timeless and you will want to return over and again.

   
   
   

 
 
 
The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO is assessing the superb coastline for the award of World Heritage Site status because its geology and physical geography is of international conservation importance.

Don't miss it!

Don't miss seeing fabulous Lulworth Cove either, it's just along the coast path! 


Here are the 3 boys with the Monkey...  what a busy weekend and tomorrow going to see a Tag Rugby match which my host arranges with her "other boys" from the Police Station.


Photos:  CK with the gang, Lulworth Cove and CK at Rugby
drakie


Posted May 6, 2007, 7:53 pm
Well had lots to do.  We went to Durdle Dor and Lulworth Cover, My host couldnt walk down big cliff because bad knee but husband took us but he was too shy to take pictures because people were watching him!!! MEN!! 

Both were beautiful, White Cliffs, like Dover but this is natural as they have to paint White Cliffs of Dover now.  And wait for this, so exciting we went on a speedboat, it was wicked... so fast it was WONDERFUL.....  saw another side to Durdle Dor, and Lulworth cove... all the boys decided it was so nice to do boyish things.... 

Then went to Lulworth Castle, we all made for the canons and sat on top of them, again a man thing I thought, these were original canons. 

Lulworth Castle


Lulworth Castle is a dramatic early-17th century hunting lodge.
The mock castle was built in 1607 - 10 by Thomas Howard, 3rd Viscount Blindon.  He was a member of the huge Howard clan who were in great favour at the court of  James I and had his principal seat at nearby Blindon Abbey. 

The design of the grand hunting lodge was inspired by chivalric literature so loved by the Jacobean court.  During the Civil War Blindon Abbey was destroyed by fire and Lulworth Castle was badly damaged.  In 1643 the estate was purchased by Humphrey Weld, a wealthy Londoner, and it became the Weld family's principal home.  The interior was remodelled on several occasions during the 18th and 19th centuries removing all traces of the original interiors. 

The Castle was seriously damaged by a fire in 1929 and remained a shell until the end of the 20th century.  The property is still in the hands of the Weld family who run the estate but the Castle itself is cared for by English Heritage.  They have recently restored much of the building.


This is us looking through the windows, what lovely windows we thought.  It was a lovely sunny day too.


We then went into Lulworth itself and again lovely, there was ducks swimming in the ponds and rivers and we thought they looked cute.  They kept ducking .... ducking get it... down in the water we thought they had drowned but my host told us it was ok, they were looking for food.  phew.....  close shave or what.


drakie


Posted May 7, 2007, 7:11 pm
White Horse, Osmington
The white horse is carved into the side of Osmington Hill to the east of the town, overlooking Weymouth Bay. This horse, at 260 feet long, is the only example of a horse with rider. There are several stories surrounding its cutting; the most common view is that it was cut by a soldier in the early 19th century to commemorate the visits paid to Weymouth by King George III and his brother, the Duke of Gloucester from 1789. However, given the size of the site, covering nearly an acre, it is unlikely to be the work of one man! Another story says that the work was done by a group of engineers, stationed in Weymouth when the fear of a Napoleonic invasion was at its height. This is linked to the mention of the horse in Thomas Hardy's "The Trumpet Major", where it is said to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar.


See pictures the white horse is of chald as the hills.  Also you can see Horse in distance where toy voyagers are, the horse is in the background on the hills.
drakie


Posted May 8, 2007, 7:53 pm
Well tomorrow, Sylvia is taking me to the Police Station, maybe to ride in a Police Car and meet all her officers.. sound very nice men and a traffic warden... I will have to remind her to drive slowly incase he is about, but she tells me he is a nice man, little but nice.  If I am very good I might be able to buzz the buzzer on the Police car, now wont that be exciting!!!!  with my fellow muskateers.

But I am going to meet a Koala!!!  she wont tell me anymore only that it is from Australia!!! WOW  I know that is my mission but I dont think it is exactly how it sounds!!! 

Well today is 22nd May and we have just come back from my hosts workplace her Police Station;, well we played with her computer thats me and the boys, siti smut, taro and me, we had a great time, then my host took us to the Police Cars, we had to sit on the windowscreen for a picture or you would not see us behind the wheel as we are all quite small...  had a play with the blue flashing light, a great time had by the boys, wouldnt have been as exciting if we had had girlies with us.

We had a photograph at the keyboard, but we had a problem as the electrics went off for a few hours, I am sure it wasnt our fault.  I had a fit of the giggles when we sat outside on the Police car but they did not arrest me so that was good.

I met another Koala, and it was from the Gold Coast in Brisbane, in Police Uniform, is that a completed mission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  dont think so, not as simple as it sounds..... watch this space for the photograph.....




watch this space.....

Then no writing for a week I am afraid, well I`m not but you might be, because we are going on our jollidays!!! yippeee to warmer climes,,,,,,  got to pack my essentials for Lanzarote, we will be stored in Sylvia`s very pink bag!!!  and it is certainly pink, not a manly thng to do, but there goes.  See you in a week




Well did you see the other KOALA.... in a Ladies Queensland Police Uniform too,,, but she was a bit stuffed.... if you know what I mean so I dont think that counts towards CK`s missions really.... what do you think?
drakie


Posted May 27, 2007, 8:15 pm
Welcome to Lanzarote, boy is it hot, we arrived quite late but great to be out of the bag all 3 of us.  It was about 80-90 degrees, that means hot.  We were at a place called Papagayo, Iberostar Papagayo hotel, very nice too and lots of food, we were all stuffed all week.... hot from first thing.

VOLCANO TIMANFAYA LANZAROTE

The Montañas del Fuego (Mountains of Fire), on the west side of Lanzarote, are the central feature of the Timanfaya National Park (area 5,107 hectares/20 sq.mi), which was established in 1974.

The Timanfaya National Park, in northwestern Lanzarote, is a center of volcanic activity. The lower part of the park consists of a large lava field out of which rise a series of cones and craters, like the Caldera Roja, near which is the only spring in this very hot and dry area, the Fuente de los Miraderos. These higher points, covered with volcanic ash, lapilli and "bombs", are a striking sight with their varied hues of black, yellow and red. Visitors can follow the Ruta de los Volcanes (14km/9mi) through the park. The inhospitable volcanic terrain is slow to recover a mantle of vegetation. The most resistant plants are the lichens, of which there are more than a dozen species. They are usually followed by succulents like Aeonium lancerotense Prager and various euphorbias (E. balsamifera Ait., E. obtusifolia Poir.); also common is aulaga maiorera (Zollikoferia spinosa Boiss.), which the local people set on fire for the benefit of tourists. A curious feature to be seen on the coast, where the lava has formed natural bridges, is the growth of rushes (Juncus acutus L.) in regular rows on the porous subsoil which stores up water. The only vertebrates are reptiles, the commonest and most interesting of which is the Atlantic lizard (Lacerta atlantica) or lagarto de haria, a species endemic in the Canaries.
The volcano is still live!!  and hot, if you pick up stones near the top just slightly a bit down they are very hot!! 

You will see the big spout of water, well a hole had been dug several metres down and then water poured on and only 3 seconds laters, this happened that is how alive it is.  We boys were so excited.l  WOW....

And we had a ride on a camel..... the man was laughing at us, we should be laughing at him, he is the one doing the walking with the camel not us!!!  ha ha ha













drakie


Posted May 27, 2007, 8:20 pm
Hi, well we are back in Honiton.  My host has been in hospital for a small operation on her knee.  Next week she is hoping to be well enough to travel in the car to PADSTOW.... YEAH... thats near where i live, well sort of ... near where I live in Australia!!!!!  so that would be good another Padstow...

Got photo`s of snowy to download and I went into the local church so I have postcards of that too.  We are going to the Tram museum in Seaton, they still run the old looking trams so hopefully we 3 can take an adventure on that. 

Then it will be off to pastures new, us 3 boys have had a great adventure, all for one and one for all....


Well Lila bun arrived today and expecting another bunny soon Cotton Candy and what with a really bunny Snowy we are being overtaken by G I R L S....not sure I am too happy about that BUT  she is pretty and very much a lady, having a tea party lady... I think gone are our boys days... all the boys seem to be hanging around her now...
drakie


Posted Jun 2, 2007, 6:12 pm
Well I have been reunited with my family, how wonderful, Cotton Candy has arrived, big hugs all round.  Now I feel homesick.  Soon I am going to Christina B in Vienna...

Well today us boys wanted to go out but Lila bunz (the posh lady) wanted a tea party on the lawn... very English I know and as she is a woman and bossy, we boys gave in for the quiet life as we do.  but it turn out to be fun fun fun

We sat there in the garden, the sun was out the birds were singing and the bunny hopping around.  We had chocolate biscuits with the tea in proper cups and saucers with tea with milk, strange idea but apparantly very English.

Then disaster struck, we were introduced to Snowy the lady bunny, very pretty for a girl, but oh no she did not want that she dived into our tea party for the biscuits, oh dear, in the rush she knocked down Taro, the I must have had heat stroke cos I passed out right in front of Lila bunz!!!  ha ha ha  :cyclops:  and worse for her was I was right in front of her head when the picture was taken,  not a happy bunny, pardon the pun!!! 
drakie


Posted Jun 8, 2007, 8:59 pm
Well it was a lovely weekend and we went to Padstow in Cornwall, thats the leggy bit at the end of South West England, well actually the leg of UK.  We firstly went to the market, our host could only hobble so did not stay their much. We then found this Pizie sanctuary, it was great we were nearly as tall as them!!  ha ha ha

Then we boys spotted the sign saying "Padstow", which is where I and Cotton Candy come from but in Australia, amazing luck so we stopped so they could have a picture taken.  Then we continued to Padstow, lovely place with a lovely harbour, we were at the sea-side!!! yippeeeeeee.  We then went to the tea rooms, us boys were not that bothered so Lila bunz went on her own so we went exploring.  Then we went home to a roast dinner, yum yum,

Then it was time to be packaged up and sent to my next host!!!  how sad.... hope I meet the others again along the trail.
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 10, 2007, 10:25 pm
Hello!

I arrived in Vienna/Austria now. To be honest, my first impression of this place isn't sooo good because I had to stay in a very narrow (and crowded) mailbox for more than 2 days since my hosts were in the countryside during the weekend. Luckily Alfie Langer was in the same box, too, so I at least had somebody to talk with during that time. What a surprise when we finally also got to see each other now that we are both out of our envelopes!!

Well, my host told me that she is going to show us some nice places here in Vienna so I hope to get some new impressions of this city soon!!

Sleep well!
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 19, 2007, 10:52 am
Meanwhile I completely changed my first opinion of Austria: It's a great place here!! I'm really having a good time. My hosts already showed me alot and I'm in a great company with the other toyvoyagers. Last Wednesday also Alfie Langer joined us so we are a big group of funny characters.

Last Saturday we convienced our host to take us to lake Neusiedlersee which isn't far away from Vienna, only about half an hour. It was such a hot day so it was great to spend a refreshing day at the lake. Neusiedlersee is different to all the other lakes in Austria because it has no river bringing the water to the lake, it only gets it from rain. So it isn't deep, only 1,5 m at the deepest point and the water isn't as clear as in other lakes since there is hardly any movement in the lake. But it was nice and very warm!
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 27, 2007, 11:07 pm
Oh, what a busy time I'm having here in Austria! I really did a lot of sightseeing - so much that I didn't even find enough time to update my travellog. But now here there are some photos from last week when my host took me to the citycentre. You can see me in front of St. Stephen's Cathedral, St. Charles' Church, a very beautiful subway station and in front  of the opera.
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 27, 2007, 11:11 pm
But there was alot more to see: the Parliament, the Hofburg (that's the old castle where the Habsburg family lived in former times... are you surprised what I learnt about Austrian history, hm?), the City hall, Belvedere castle,... I had a looong walk through the city centre - and guess whom I met here?! Yeah - good old Mozart!!
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 27, 2007, 11:15 pm
I also saw the big Danube Tower (unfortunately we didn't go up; as you can see the weather wasn't very friendly so we thought that the view from the tower wouldn't be so nice...). When we entered the subway station nearby we also saw the building of the UNO. Interesting architecture, hm? Then my host took me to the Big wheel and we visited a very beautiful park full of roses.
ChristinaB


Posted Jun 27, 2007, 11:19 pm
Frida, Pooh, Taro, Alfie Langer and I were very helpful for our hosts - we really tried to show ourselves from our best sides!! One day it was time to pick the cherries from the tree. Oh, how much work we had!!! But it was very funny - and the cherries were really delicious!
ChristinaB


Posted Jul 9, 2007, 11:19 am
I spent a beautiful day in the park of Schönbrunn palace here in Vienna. Schönbrunn was the former summer residence of the Habsburg family and it is nowadays one of Austria's most popular tourist attractions I was told. And I really believed it because there were sooo many people there. The park is really nice with all the flowers. We even went up the little hill to visit "Gloriette" where we had an impressing view over the city.
ChristinaB


Posted Jul 9, 2007, 11:24 am
The previous weekend our hosts took me and the other toyvoyagers to lake Attersee in Upper Austria. That's situated between Linz and Salzburg very close to the Alps and it is very beautiful there. My host's grandparents own a flat there so we enjoyed some very nice days at the lake.

One day (it wasn't warm enough to go swimming) we also visited Gmunden a small town at lake "Traunsee", only about 30 km from there. Imagine that they have a castle there on a little island in the lake!!! That was nice! And the city hall of Gmunden has many, many bells and every hour they play a little melody! How nice!!!
ChristinaB


Posted Jul 11, 2007, 9:09 am
CK left Vienna yesterday. He is on his way to Germany now and we hope he'll have a good journey. Take care, little koala. We'll miss you!

Your Austrian host family
fam-united


Posted Jul 16, 2007, 2:55 pm
I happily landed here in sunny hot Bruchsal in Germany. After a little rest I will explore the surrounding.
fam-united


Posted Jul 22, 2007, 8:15 am
I was at my hosts school today. She showed me the silk paintings of her pupils. They had project days at school. I like these paintings, maybe I will try it myself one day. Can you believe, that those girls, who painted this pictures are only 10 or 11 years old?
fam-united


Posted Jul 22, 2007, 8:16 am
Today we drove to a horse ranch, because Sabrina had a lesson there. I took a look at some horses and saw, that they are really nice. What a pity, that the photo stopped working.

fam-united


Posted Jul 22, 2007, 9:40 am
Happy birthday to you, C.K.

Zum Geburtstag viel Glück,
zum Geburtstag viel Glück,
zum Geburtstag alles Gute,
zum Geburtstag viel Glück
fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 8:51 am
I'm here with many other toyvoyagers right now and we have a lot of fun together. For the photo we had to sit and smile, of course.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1024/950660273_1ee06c52b7_m.jpg
fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 9:10 am
We had nice weather and so our host told us to get ready for a sightseeing tour. I hope, you will enjoy the photos.

Here you see some views over Bruchsal. The big tower behind me is the tower of the old castle. Right behind me you see the tower of the Stadtkirche (City Church).
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Here you see the two towers of the baroque church St. Peter and not far away from it is the house St. Maria. Both are close to the house, where my hosts live.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/959437721_371f41b4aa.jpg?v=0

On this photo you see the new and old part of the older people house just behind me and on the left. Far behind on the left side you see a grey building. This is the catholic grammar school St. Paulusheim. All children of my hosts are there next year.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1133/959437727_0fceba933c.jpg?v=0

When we turned around, we saw a nice park and went there. In this park is a Belvedere, a baroque hunting lodge.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1060/959437739_f11ff85e2f_m.jpg


I loved this fountain and this linden tree.
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Not far from this Belvedere is a big grammar school. You see a part of this building on the photo.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1236/959632511_409b3ff0d2.jpg

This is one of the streets next to the "Stadtgarten", that's what my hosts called the park.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1208/959448555_e955789ffa_m.jpg


fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 9:21 am
Then we went to the baroque palace and palace garden.

This is a view to the court house, which you see in the middle of the photo and a photo I'm in front of the court house.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1097/959448629_736a69c716_m.jpg  http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1421/959448839_b0e043dbe0_m.jpg

The Damiantor is a gate to the palace area.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/959448907_d46f4d9bc8_m.jpg

This is the mainbuilding of the palace
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1041/959448693_d9a5100c67.jpg?v=0

This part of the palace is the catholic church, in which my hosts go to join the service on Sundays. The tower is behind the building.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/959448687_dec6b484ed.jpg?v=0

On the wall of one building we found a sundial
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/959458007_4f05962763.jpg?v=0

Here you see a view into a street close to the palace garden
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1066/959458031_f24e7dd6ba.jpg?v=0

In the palace garden are many statues and Petra told us, that there are four statues for each season spring, summer, autumn and winter and four statues for each element water, fire, air and earth (ground). Here you see the fire statue.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1047/959458043_562a5a2c39.jpg?v=1185867872
fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 9:36 am
We drove to Untergrombach, on of the suburbs of Bruchsal. Bruchsal has about 27 000 inhabitants and with its suburbs there are about 42 000. Untergrombach is the biggest suburb.

Here we are on the Michaelsberg. Berg means mountain, but it is more like a hill and not a mountain. You have a nice view over the Rhine valley and far behind you see the Palatinate mountain. On the first photo you see a part of Bruchsal.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/959458047_1fa9143f3a.jpg?v=0

The town you see next to us is Untergrombach and then you see Büchenau.
My hosts parents live in Bruchsal, but close to the wood you see on the photo. Petra herself swam in the quarry pond, when she was a young girl.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1378/959458377_a408342989.jpg?v=0

The Michaelsberg is a nature reserve area and there are very special flowers and other plants.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1290/959458393_6513494839.jpg

We didn't take a photo of the nice chappel on the hill, because they put up a scaffolding.

Bruchsal is at the edge to the Kraichgau hill country. It's not so easy to take a photo of that, but maybe you can imagine, how it look like, when you see this one.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1287/959473677_fc3de95074.jpg

We found some grapes, but Petra told me, that I can't eat them, because they aren't ripe.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1168/959473699_fe8f33a58f.jpg
fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 9:40 am
We saw an old castle in Obergrombach, but we didn't go closer, we had been too tired.
Obergrombach is another suburb of Bruchsal. Büchenau, Heidelsheim and Helmsheim also belong to Bruchsal.


http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/959473731_d471917cf8.jpg
fam-united


Posted Jul 31, 2007, 9:42 am
The last place we saw, was the school, in which Petra works as a teacher. I was in the school a while ago, but we had no time to take a photo from outside before.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/952160151_8b117a4cc2.jpg?v=0
fam-united


Posted Aug 2, 2007, 8:22 am
Today we took photos of the grammar school St. Paulusheim

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/983122450_f96a9a50b1.jpg?v=0

the baroque church St. Peter
St. Peter is the church that is next to the graveyard and Petra told me, that normally she saw a lot of squirells there, but not this time :(

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1345/982253667_e73a2758d5_m.jpg  http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1044/982253659_4d3a2b4ee7_m.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1307/982253687_ba0aeb7792.jpg?v=0


and the house Sancta Maria

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/982253707_99568a7237.jpg?v=0

And we took some more photos with views over Bruchsal. I hope you like it.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1024/983122478_177bfe016f.jpg?v=0

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This is the street next to the house of my hosts. Their garden is behind that tree you can see here. You see that tree also on the photo of their (rent) house. You can see also the garage and a part of their car.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1111/982253743_e8d5e35724.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/982253751_98034c54b2_m.jpg

Then we said fairwell to Ballet Cindy and HolidayHarry. They will travel to Farmington, USA now. We hope they will arrive soon.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1248/974062763_4a1b81e10a.jpg?v=0
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 7:18 pm
Today I had a lesson in how to bake Lorrainese Cheesecake for tomorrow evening, when we will have many guests.
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 7:19 pm
I also helped to prepare the meal for lunch: spinach, mashed potatoes and fried eggs.

Later we baked a Zebracake and Petra took many step by step photos, but then we saw, that no photo was on the camera. So you only can see the cake without  chocolate icing.
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 7:26 pm
Because the weather was bad, Nuada and I sat at the African violet and looked at the little home fountain.

Later Petra showed me how to knit a pullover.
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 7:30 pm
Here are photos of the views from the balcony and from a room of my host's house. Maybe you detect the baroque church St. Peter and the house St. Maria?
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 8:48 pm
We were in Heidelberg today, but only visited the zoo for one hour. Then we had to go back to the car, because everyone was wet from the heavy rain. My hosts promissed us, that they would go back again next week.

Then I learned how to sew a curtain.
fam-united


Posted Aug 13, 2007, 8:59 pm
Finally we are back at Heidelberg to visit the zoo and the castle. The weather is fine, sunny and warm and so I believe, that we will come home dry today :)
fam-united


Posted Aug 26, 2007, 6:55 pm
What a big surprise!!! Tamalyn arrived today.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1260/1242307416_f2ef4530c4.jpg?v=0

Do you see, how we are smiling?? :D

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1001/1242307428_ac1cb64e21.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1367/1242307432_12ff36eec5.jpg?v=0

Later that day we played hide and seek. I found a nice place between the roses. Do you think, Tamalyn will find me???

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1134/1242307448_f48335b0aa.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/1242344624_f4c13a559e.jpg?v=0

After that play we hurried to go to our place on the oven again - without fire of course, because it is too warm. Bongo didn't feel fine and so we all took care of him.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1107/1241845888_eac53f3b88.jpg?v=0

fam-united


Posted Aug 26, 2007, 6:59 pm
Today another toyvoyager arrived and Tamalyn was very nosy, while we others stood around the envie and watched, what was coming out of it: Decker from England. We are a very nice round here.
fam-united


Posted Aug 26, 2007, 7:15 pm
It's time to say good bye. I read interesting things about Bruchsal and then about Russia, the country I will go to now. I'm jumping in my envie now and hope, my journey will be short.

Good bye, C.K
. We will miss your funny face. You always have been able to chear us up. Thank you for staying with us.
kristl


Posted Sep 9, 2007, 8:48 am
I'm finally here, in Moscow!! It's not sunny but not very cold. And so many interesting things and two Kristl's TVs. I've already made many photos but I'll post them a bit later. I just wanted to say that I'm safe and happy :)
kristl


Posted Sep 9, 2007, 7:06 pm
So, now it's evening here, we are at home and I have time to write and post my photos.

When my envelope was opened first what I saw were two funny guys - Kristl's new TV Tippi and her future TV PandaKopanda (all the photos are clickable)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200781_2e3a98f896.jpg?r=360

They were very glad to meet me and said that they waited for me for a long time. I liked them, I think we'll become friends  ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194412_71c64f4335.jpg?r=360

Then we drove from Moscow to a town Geleznodorogny ("Railway-town" in English), that is 10 km from Moscow. Here I am on the MKAD - the road that circles Moscow.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194388_221ef339a2.jpg?r=360

In the car I met a funny Cow who lives there. Here I'm with her and the MKAD goes through the forest reserve the Elk Island.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194389_27806c5f5e.jpg?r=360

But as soon as we left the highway we got to traffic jam :( Such jams are a big trouble in Moscow and nere it.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194391_c6299b7aed.jpg?r=360

When we @crept" in the jam we saw a playground that was transported on a car!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194386_b77e6c8f2a.jpg?r=360

That is what was yesterday and today we went for a walk to the central boulevard called Proletarian St. The weather was not w\very good, it rained and was a bit cold so I was surprised to see so many beautiful flowers.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194432_7dea19e79a.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3195040_354a97f903.jpg?r=360

I saw a fountain and the playground that looked like the Kremlin. It was nice so now I'm looking forward to see the Kremlin itself.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194443_987b986c2e.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194451_5ba2ce50b3.jpg?r=360

It was quite wet but I managed to play there a bit  ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3194397_403fa10d97.jpg?r=360

It's 10p.m. already and I'm a bit tired.. So I and other toys here (there're very many toys in Kristl's house) decided to read a magazin and to go asleep. Here are some of my new friends (from left to right): BearRose (he wishes to become a TV too), Krol, PandaKopanda, Tom-cat, I, Tippi, Big B.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3195274_21f643e1cf.jpg?r=360

Till tomorrow! Good night!
kristl


Posted Sep 10, 2007, 10:28 am
The weather today is bad so we decided to stay home. But it is still very interesting. I got an apple-pie with honey from Altai and a cup of fruit drink for breakfast. Was tasty ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200739_a5192d6b05.jpg?r=360

Then I decided to take some photos of where I live. I live on the 8th floor and here in the view from the balcony:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200730_6c9ab9bd12.jpg?r=360

In the yard there's a very nice playground. Kristl says that usually many children play there but today it's cold and rainy so there's nobody there. I hope I have a chance to go and play there a bit.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200732_75f03a4428.jpg?r=360

I watched a bit Kristl playing LOTRO

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200727_ed23115944.jpg?r=360

and went to explore the flat. I found a big bookcase and some books in English there

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200734_0da115348d.jpg?r=360

With the round giraffe called Globus we decided to read a comics - Guards!Guards! by T.Pratchett.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200735_cf6383d0cd.jpg?r=360

I found many other toys, they live in the living room. Here I'm with the Russian broun bear who comes from Nizhni Novgorod:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200740_9281baf743.jpg?r=360

I also met a nice shy house-spirit who came here from Sochi and a clay mouse from the town Myshkin (it means the Mouse Town)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200745_431993095a.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3200726_d743f2ef4d.jpg?r=360
kristl


Posted Sep 11, 2007, 6:55 pm
Today I and Tippi went for a walk. Not far actually but I could see a bit around Kristl's flat. We walked with Tippi cause she's leaving tomorrow and she wanted to make some last photos at home.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3217663_5a57e1e9b2.jpg?r=360

So we found a BIG basket with flowers =) Just near the road and cars.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3217673_eef5d3aea1.jpg?r=360

And this big brick house is where we live - our balcony is in the 1st column on the 2nd floor from above  :)

Then we went to a shop and bought a little food =)) Chips and ryazhenka (it's leavened baked milk).

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3217688_2b39192df5.jpg?r=360

As we came home we decided to eat melon! It was juicy sweet and very tasty!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3217700_b52935a716.jpg?r=360

And now I'm going to taste ryazhenka, I think it must be good!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3217646_7cfc736a46.jpg?r=90
kristl


Posted Sep 14, 2007, 8:11 pm
Hello again! Now I'm ready to tell you about the places I visited the day before yesterday - on Thursday ;)

We had many things to do!! Tippi was leaving for the Netherlands and we had to bring her to the post office. But first we took a train to Moscow. Here I'm on the railway station:

towards Moscow:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250049_de50b3b21c.jpg?r=360

towards Vladimir:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250014_aa68a21ed7.jpg?r=360

Then we were in the Moscow Undergruond!! It's very beautiful there!! But the photos are not very good couse they are taken without light.. or you couldn't see the station, only me))

Kurskaya station:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250060_c51ef76b7a.jpg?r=360

The Revolution Square Station
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250068_109e47575a.jpg?r=360

There are many bronze statues here and some of them are lucky!! The nose of the dog:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250065_fe982beac8.jpg?r=360

The cock:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250077_a589136973.jpg?r=90

Then we came to the post office and said GOOD BUE TO TIPPI. HAVE A NICE JOURNEY!
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250088_139db8afc4.jpg?r=360

Soon it was the time for Kristl to go to the university. We came a bit earlier and could have a cup of tea outside.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250100_f164b937a3.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250117_5d6289812b.jpg?r=360

And here is the building Kristl studies in:
http://static.zooomr.com/images/3250108_9d369c23a7.jpg?r=360

Tomorrow we're going to go to the summer cottage. It must be interesting! ;)
kristl


Posted Sep 17, 2007, 5:14 am
Soooooo! This day we went to the summer cottage of one of Kristl's friends.

We went there by car but we didn't think that roads could be soooo eroded that when we tried to park the car stuck in the mud. I became a bit frightened cause we just couldn't get it out.. And the neighbours scolded us cause the car supposedly ran into their crops that were for some reason outside their plot! But soon came an off-road vehicle that nedded to pass through the road we blocked and helped us to get out. I was so impressed that could not make photos while the car didn't get out, but then I made a photo of the wheel to show how dirty it was!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270808_8b1938dc74.jpg?r=360

By the way in the car I met some more lovely toys. They are: Koala (she noticed something interesting behind us), Punya and Farmer-Rabbit:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270621_338e073da0.jpg

Here are the car, the house we lived in and my new friends. And I'm very happy!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270625_acbe071ace.jpg?r=360

There we many ineresting things to do: I could for examle climb on a tree with help of a roap:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270645_90852e318b.jpg?r=360

And I could travel in a pocket so I could take part in all the funs!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270661_b639bf8bae.jpg?r=360

The autumn is coming here, the trees begin to turn yellow and red

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270749_4036e72951.jpg?r=360

except the fur-trees of course! (this one is a blue spruce)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270755_304c3c53e5.jpg?r=360

And there were many tasty apples!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270760_400010cf70.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270775_0820e8246d.jpg?r=360

Some of them fell into the grass:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270784_6d188d18a8.jpg?r=360


And once more the house, it is very small but cosy:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270766_963bd441da.jpg?r=360

It's the veranda. When it's warm the windowsare open and everyone comes in and out through the windows, but that time it was quite cold..

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270791_1f5c0c339e.jpg?r=360

On the veranda:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270839_a6a6f15e5a.jpg?r=360

In the room. Do you recognize this man? ;) It's Antinous! The hostess of this house is an architect and she had to sketch it :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270845_9ee6e2e5eb.jpg?r=360

And here are some paintings she made!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270848_2aff4c32f2.jpg?r=360

And some more views in the end. This is our campfire, it was small but we still could grill some sausages there

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270802_0315462b44.jpg?r=360

And this is the summer cottage of our neighbours, it a very typical summer cottage in Russia. Well.. to tell the trueth it was so some years ago but know people like to build stone cottages, but there still are very many such houses everywhere in the country. I liked them more than these huge brick cottages behind unapproachable fences

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270813_cf7d3d819a.jpg?r=360

And here is our fence  :p

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3270816_48e79e9b84.jpg?r=360
kristl


Posted Sep 17, 2007, 9:29 am
Finally I got some photos from Krist's friend who helped me to make them during a small party ;) We had some guests so I met a very nice little blue owl called Bobble! We didn't go to sleep for a long time so we could take part in the party too:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278296_d3a24dabd3.jpg

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278280_02b6a2d685.jpg?r=360

The party was on the previous weekends but I could get the photos only now.

And this Saturday we walked a bit in the centre of Moscow. Not Kremlin or Red Square, there we're going on Wednesday, but Kitay-gorod.

I'm in the Underground again! Look! I'll show you where we are exactly!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278410_4f6d68256f.jpg?r=360

And this one is a very nice building:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278412_bba1b756f8.jpg?r=360

And the next photo.. Do you see the plant on the gate? I wonder..  :p  :D

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278448_d47e1b4823.jpg?r=360

And finally some photos from the road as we went to the cattage in Zvezdny town.
Zverdny town means Star-town, it is called so in honour of Russian astronauts :) There is a railway station Bakhchivangy nere, it's called in honour of a pilot!
On this photo you can see a plane statue and direction sign to the station:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278418_a79d39a8b3.jpg?r=360

One more photo with the plane:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278407_f9000ec929.jpg?r=360

And here is a birch grove ;) They are very typical here. Looks beautiful, doesn't it?

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3278421_0633efbeaf.jpg?r=360

Kristl promised that our next trip will beto Kreml and Red Square, I'm looking forward for it!

kristl


Posted Sep 22, 2007, 8:58 pm
Dear Bec,

on Wednesday I visited inally the Kremlin! I made so much photos that I needed time to sort them and upload and now I'm ready to tell you about it.

The morning was fresh and clear and the day promised well :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324338_72c19941e5.jpg?r=360

We came by the undergroud to the Teatralnaya Station and first thing we saw was the Bolshoy Theatre! Unfortunately it is being restorated now and I couldn't see the whole building.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324345_2431f6bca6.jpg?r=360

Near it we saw the Cantral Department Store (it is pronounsed as TSUM):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324352_a066044955.jpg?r=360

Then we came to the Manegnaya Square and saw the Historic Museum:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324357_5373355b99.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324364_306421c3da.jpg?r=360

And now - the Kremlin Towers!

Arsenal Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324365_162474f6a7.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324374_a8e6275f2c.jpg?r=360

The Kremlin Wall, the Eternal Fire and the Arsenal (yellow building - built in 1736):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324381_e49bd4e245.jpg?r=360

View of the Troitskaya (= of the holy Trinity) Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324385_ccc1662880.jpg?r=360

The monument for those who died for their motherland:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324389_9d14838408.jpg?r=360

At the place where now there is the Historic Museum earlier was the building where Moscow State University was founded! And Kristl didn't know about it thougn she studies at the Moscow State University (MSU).

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324397_de7ce9ee95.jpg?r=360

The Sun shines from the wrong side but I hope you can see how beautiful Voskresenskie (= of Christ's Resurrection) Gates are!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324401_1883d5ac85.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324406_32664c91f8.jpg?r=360

By the way, they lead to the Red Square! And we went there throught them! But first Kristl showed me the Zero Kilometre - from here starts the counting of all the distances in Russia, so if you see - it's 500 km to Moscow, it means - to this place!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324416_e29d148c37.jpg?r=360

Voskresenskie Gates once more - from the side of the Red Square:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324424_4beb484869.jpg?r=360

Once more the Historic Museum - from the Red Square:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324433_ede2c283b9.jpg?r=360

The Red Square. Cathedral of God'sMother of Kazan.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324438_d7738a5a87.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324451_91dbd5472e.jpg?r=360

When we were there they striked the bells in this cathedral. It was so fantastic! Early cool morning (it was only 9 a.m.),  warm sun shines from the sky and the ding!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324500_59f906a295.jpg?r=360

The State Departmen Store - GUM:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324443_7fa5684c02.jpg?r=360

The Nikolskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324455_d8bb08c253.jpg?r=360

And I lie in the very centre of Moscow! Onthe stones of the Red Square!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324460_a357df4717.jpg?r=360

The Kremlin wall and the building of the Senate from the Red Square:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324472_b63cfd00f9.jpg?r=360

Lenin's Mausoleum an the Senate Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324479_b1b4641ac0.jpg?r=360

The Spasskaya (= of the Savior) Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324488_b8111b1587.jpg?r=360

The Red Square was blocked and we walked round the GUM to get to the other side.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324571_eaebe0081f.jpg?r=360
GUM - go shopping on the Red Square!

The unifrom of the Russian Olimpic Team in Athens:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3334981_13a4f6f3bc.jpg?r=360

And we came to... The St. Basil's Cathedral!!! It is very beautiful really!!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324588_8fd62a2756.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324605_c94f9b75b2.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324902_b1fd391827.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325061_44702242a4.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335368_f093bca693.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335277_2cde941be5.jpg?r=360

And to the Spasskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324623_71616d6517.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324906_357e91044d.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324917_2826dc0999.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324912_cedc7eb836.jpg?r=360

And to the Place of Execution:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324644_fcd96d46c5.jpg?r=360

This is the Tsarskaya (= of Tsar) Tower. It is said that Tsars came here to speak with the people.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324891_370c41e1df.jpg?r=360

This is the clock that tells Moscow that the New Year has come ;) The Chiming Clock!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324896_18ba444954.jpg?r=360

The Spasskaya Tower, the Tsarskaya Tower and the St. Basil's Cathedral:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335308_d79ce072f6.jpg?r=360

The Spasskaya Tower and the St. Basil's Cathedral:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335324_ddcaff9a0c.jpg?r=360

The Konstantino-Eleninskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335288_9bc33e1fc9.jpg?r=360

Near the St. Basil's Cathedral - Nabatnaya (= of the alarm-bell, to the right) and Konstantini-Eleninskaya (to the left) Towers:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325064_fb11e123d1.jpg?r=360

Moskvoretskaya (= of the Moscow-River) Street and the Beklemishevskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325068_b930f0c3a2.jpg?r=360

With the Kremlin wall:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335384_7083b3f096.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335404_4497c94a03.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335408_d2730808e6.jpg?r=360

The Beklemishevskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335411_f997f786b3.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335419_920986cd2f.jpg?r=360

The queue of the Moscow-River and the Petrovskaya (= of Peter) Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335422_f94cd54918.jpg?r=360

The queue of the Moscow-River:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335427_4e85ec4fcd.jpg?r=360

The Petrovskaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3335431_ccf6ab78ba.jpg?r=360

One o the Nameless Towers:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325635_be2fb5c546.jpg?r=360

A dome of the Arkhangelsky (=of Archangel) Cathedral:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325639_7771ed5271.jpg?r=360

Another of the Nameless Towers:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325654_a6ba3a2a44.jpg?r=360

Arkhangelsky Cathedral:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325663_6b6313f1a5.jpg?r=360

The Big Kremlin Palace:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325678_46c510e310.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325690_8af00b2b5e.jpg?r=360

The Tainitskaya (= of the hiding place) Tower. There was a hidden well there! :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325698_80aadc9e57.jpg?r=360

With Kristl ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325688_32a11e79a5.jpg?r=360

The Cathedral of the Redeemer:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325702_3f3fa93902.jpg?r=360

The Vodovzvodnaya Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325707_0974a673c2.jpg?r=360

A nice white building:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325712_ea00ab7326.jpg?r=360

The Orugeinaya (= Armoury) Tower:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325737_1ce8ce73a4.jpg?r=360

The Museums of Kremlin:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325741_5ee7827958.jpg?r=360

And here you can see the plan of Kremlin:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325746_4b59a254ec.jpg?r=360

The Troitskaya Tower (we've made a circle!!)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325750_2afc3119ca.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325756_cc5782814b.jpg?r=360

This is a grotto.. We're not sure what is it here for..

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325762_8af3969e50.jpg?r=360

Beautiful flowers in the Alesander Garden and the view of Manège:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325769_92bf1dbd11.jpg?r=360

This "cabbage" I liked most af all!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325804_c04454c8c6.jpg?r=360

The Kutafya Tower and the Entrance to Kremlin:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325807_ac153488e4.jpg?r=360

I have some more photos of Vorobjevy Mountains and Moscow State University but I'm too tired now! Hope you'll like these!! Tomorrow I'll tell you of my other adventures in Moscow but now... Good Night!!

kristl


Posted Sep 23, 2007, 2:47 pm
Hope you liked the photos from Kremlin! I'm going to tell you about the second part of that wonderful day we walked in Moscow..

Here I'm in front of the entrance to Manege:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325810_cd446af12e.jpg?r=360

This large building with columns is the State Library:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325818_62d4920054.jpg?r=360

The Moscow underground! It is Vorobjevy Gory (= Sparrow Mountains) - so called open station - it's not under the ground ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325890_5a0e8b3fe0.jpg?r=360

The queue of the Moscow-River near the Vorobjevy Gory Station and the view of Luzhniki Stadium:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325893_650bbe0509.jpg?r=360

The station  Vorobjevy Gory is located not under the ground but under a bridge over the Moscow River.  On the brige there is a road for cars ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325896_5bab5d6fe6.jpg?r=360

We're on the bridge!! The view of the Moscow-River:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325906_3a16c8b6e5.jpg?r=360

The hydrofoils run along the Moscow-River:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325909_e2c8857a0a.jpg?r=360

The view of the Luzhniki Stadium from the bridge:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325913_e2dac2f2e4.jpg?r=360

After all we came to the Moscow State University cause Krist had some classes.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325922_2a447a9c98.jpg?r=360

This is the Eternal Fire on the territory of MSU:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3325926_722497e4c7.jpg?r=360

And in the room Kristl studies in we found such a lovely symbol on the window!! Hope it cheers up students!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3324334_5394a1429d.jpg?r=360

This day in Moscow was full of wonderful impressions! I think I'll remember it for a long time!
kristl


Posted Sep 23, 2007, 3:31 pm
Hello again!

I think I told you that at times Kristl lives in the other flat in the small town near Moscow called Zheleznodorogny. Today we walked around this town with my new friend - Strider - who is going to become a ToyVoyager too!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3340954_0c9cd76074.jpg?r=360

There is a field in the town Zheleznodorogny, Kristl told me that she used to fly kite here.

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3340994_d643e1ae26.jpg?r=360

And I found out an interesting fact! At the place where now there's Zheleznodorogny town previously was the village Oberalovka - and not far from here Anna Karenina did away with herself in Tolstoy's roman.

There is a very nice church here, Kristl says it's quite old

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341000_545b48564a.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341016_3bca08705e.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341021_353223ca69.jpg?r=360

Look at the trees! It's almost autumn here, but birches are still green:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341005_40a585b4c2.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341172_dd4326fad1.jpg?r=270

Here flew a plane!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341010_82e99d30f2.jpg?r=360

I like birches, the're very beautiful and unusual.. They're the symbol of Russia ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341071_3993115ee5.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341119_38f8d169ed.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341140_62e67cf263.jpg?r=270

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341150_81b49e7f7a.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341162_83082eacbc.jpg?r=270

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341185_ad81775d0b.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341197_5a11ca2743.jpg?r=360

And this is a swamp!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341078_9c511af981.jpg?r=360

We walked through the village and saw a cat ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341091_bc1c42cd81.jpg?r=360

and a dog ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341098_2cedea1e11.jpg?r=360

May be because of good weather they were soooooo lazy))))

In hawthorn ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3341130_d46db2145b.jpg?r=90


By the way! Here's a photo with Koala that lives here in Moscow in the car of Kristl's friend!! She's so nice!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3340989_81c1022913.jpg?r=360
kristl


Posted Oct 1, 2007, 11:31 am
Hi Bec, hi everyone!! I've made some more nice fotos! Can you guess where? ;) In Arbat Street! It's a very famous walk street in Moscow! And there are some beautiful monuments and buildings there.

This is a monument of Alexander Pushkin and his wife - Natalia Goncharova:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406718_a15cbe6d7f.jpg?r=270

There are lots of souvenir shops in Arbat Street, here I'm near one of them:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406730_dde13b5696.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406737_53b6c95bbb.jpg?r=360

It's Hard Rock Cafe Moscow!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406745_d9cb4036e7.jpg?r=360

And so looks the street:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406752_bdb476f6db.jpg?r=360

Vakhtangov Theatre:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3407004_6a8e462c9a.jpg?r=360

And near the theatre there's amonument of Princess Turandot:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3407007_5e0a765519.jpg?r=270

Some more Russian dolls))

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3407026_cd4a052a6b.jpg?r=360

And this is something special!! The restaurant Prague where you can eat the best cakes in Moscow!! Kristl says so)) But unfortunately she has't been there.. It's too expensive, she says :( But I like this place! May be I'll have a chance to come here once more and taste one of the cakes ;) Let's hope!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3407050_034b25965c.jpg?r=360

Though we were not in the Prague, Kristl took me to some other interesting cafés ;) One of them is called "Moo-moo", that say the cows ;)) And a cow is a symbol of this cafe!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406712_ca8a1993eb.jpg?r=360

This lovely cow stays near the entrance))

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406708_8048ccc736.jpg?r=360

I think the interior is very nice!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406685_00bb9f3e75.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406688_d0f9ac19ed.jpg?r=360

I got a cup of coffee, strawberry jam and a candy called "Cow", everybody in Russia knows such candies though not all like them ;) Cause it's a soft toffee

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406697_f1f047ed6f.jpg?r=360

And Kristl got some noodle soup ;) It smelled very good but I don't like to eat soup in the morning ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406699_e90d7db2b5.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406701_3928c6bf1f.jpg?r=360

Besides Moo-Moo we visited another cafe - Grabli (=rake) there we sat near a beautiful rosebush :)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3407063_e5dba7e7b3.jpg?r=360


And yesterday I could taste cavier ;) Not with pan-cakes, Kristl didn't had time to make them, but with lavash (flat unleavened wheat bread) and it was very-very tasty!!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3406682_87afb4c63e.jpg?r=90

And some more news.. I think it's time for me to travel further.. Of course I couldn't see everything in Moscow but nobody can do it!! I loved this city very much and staying here was a happy time when I found many new friends :) Kristl contacted sleepybirdy to whom I'm going to travel now and she's ready to meet me! So I'll leave on Thursday with some other TVs. Babylooney is going to BunTraveller to the Halloween party ;) Though I'm not sure that Strider can leave with us :( His traveltag has not arrived yet :(

I think we could make a small farewell-party so that we could say good bye to each other. I'll miss them all!
kristl


Posted Oct 7, 2007, 3:09 pm
Hi Bec,

today is my last day in Moscow and tomorrow I'll continue my journey. Of course I'm anxious to see new places but I'll miss friends I found here. They made a special Farewell-party for me and Babylonie who was leaving to visit the Monkey Halloween Party. All the toys who live here came to say Good Bye to us!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446287_d4dcedfa39.jpg?r=360

Can you find me here?))

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446303_5115dbfbd6.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3443190_845aa8a0e3.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446299_183e16a74c.jpg?r=360

Here I'm with some of my friends ;)

With Pups and Morda (behind us you can see Droog Slon (= Friend Elephant), Green Rabbit, The Frog and Ting-a-Ling the Dragon):

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446336_a99170ac39.jpg?r=90

With Bruno!! Bruno is a dog 1,3 meter long whom Krist found in her dormitory in Berlin. He was nobody's hound and the Housemaster said that they had to throw him away. Kristl thought it was terrible and took him to her and brought to Moscow ;) He's so nice isn't he??

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446328_146f17df20.jpg?r=360

With Big B!! He's the cleverest Hippopotamus I've ever met!!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446321_1ba89b01bc.jpg?r=360

With lion Ljova. Kristl and her friend found him in their old garage that was to demolish.. He laid in mud and was very said.. They took him to their house where he could take bath and stay for all his life)) He's allays so serious.. But I tried to cheer him up!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446310_63e2804578.jpg?r=90

With Bobble the Little Blue Owl ;)

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446358_efa847fa7d.jpg?r=360

I told the Toys a bit of my journeys and showed some postcards and booklets I had with me:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449353_bb7b21999f.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449350_4b4fb79135.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449348_44f4a21006.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449331_85bb803522.jpg?r=360

The Toys presented me a postcard from Moscow for my collection:

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449330_fe033d00b4.jpg?r=360

And they are going to send you, Bec, a small present - a Russian Doll keyring ;) Strider gave it to me but I asked Kristl to send it direct to you, cause with all my postcards and this doll I'll weigh too much..

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3449319_88f61597f1.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446374_573b0c2816.jpg?r=90

I'll write on the postcard when I was in Moscow to keep it in mind!

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446367_8c00716ef0.jpg?r=360

http://static.zooomr.com/images/3446364_675f010785.jpg?r=360

Tomorrow I'm leaving Moscow and I'm both happy and sad. I'll miss them all and this beautiful city too but I'm looking forward to my future journeys!

Good bye, Moscow!!
kristl


Posted Oct 7, 2007, 3:24 pm
Oct 6, 2007 C.K. was shipped to sleepybirdy (USA). Hope his journey won't be long!!

We'll miss you, C.K.!!!

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