ToyVoyagers - Travelling Toys - Little Things on Big Adventures

We went to Bedburg, a town near Cologne to see the art work of an aquaintance. Here I am with some of her ceramic mushrooms. Isn't the red enamle pretty?!

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About Alt-Kaster:
It's now a part of the city of Bedburg but was originally a town belonging to a castle directly behind the town, on the other side of the river Erft. It was first mentioned in official certificates of 1148. The castle was fought over between the Archbishops of Cologne and the Dukes of Jülich, it was often destroyed adn reconstructed until it finally fell in 1648. Only a ruin is left today. The town however survived all of this and was still the second smallest town of Germany in 1955.

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This sign reminds of the most famous werewolf trial in history in which Peter Stubbe was sentenced to death for various crimes in 1589. Pamphlets that describe the allegations in gruesome detail were spread all over western Europe. There are no known copies of the original German version, but 2 copies of the 16-page-British pamphlet, seemingly a translations of the German one were found and read as follows:
A true Discourse
Declaring the damnable life
and death of one Stubbe Peeter, a most
wicked Sorcerer, who in the likenes of a
Woolfe, committed many murders, continuing this
diuelish practise 25. yeeres, killing and deuouring
Men, Woomen, and
Children.
Who for the same fact was taken
and executed the 31. of October
neer the Cittie of Collin
in Germany.

Trulye translated out of the high Duch, according to the Copie printed in Collin, brought ouer into England by George Bores ordinary Poste, the xj. daye of this present Moneth of Iune 1590. who did both see and heare the same.

AT LONDON
Printed for Edward Venge, and are to be
solde in Fleet street at the signe of the
Vine

A most true Discourse,
declaring the life and death of one
Stubbe Peeter, being a most
Wicked Sorcerer.

Those whome the Lord dooth leaue to followe the Imagination of their own hartes, dispising his proffered grace, in the end through the hardnes of hart and contempt of his fatherly mercy, they enter the right path to perdicion and destruction of body and soule for euer : as in this present historie in perfect sorte may be seene, the strangenes whereof, together with the cruelties committed, and the long time therein continued, may driue many in doubt whether the same be truth or no, and the ratherfore that sundry falce & fabulous matters haue heertofore passed in print, which hath wrought much incredulitie in ye harts of all men generally, insomuch that now a daies fewe thinges doo escape be it neuer so certain, but that it is embased by the tearm of a lye or falce reporte. In the reading of this story, therefore I doo first request reformation of opinion, next patience to peruse it, because it is published for examples sake, and lastly to censure thereof as resaon and wisdome dooth think conueniet, considereing the subtilty that Sathan vseth to work on the soules destruction, and the great matters which the accursed practise of Sorcery dooth efect, the fruites whereof is death and destruction for euer, and yet in all ages practised by the reprobate and wicked of the earth, some in one sort and some in another euen as the Deuill, who was a murderer from the beginning, whose life and eath and most bloody practises the discourse following dooth make iust reporte. In the townes of Cperadt and Bedbur neer vnto collin in high Germany, there was continually brought vp and nourished one Stubbe Peeter, who from his youth was greatly inclined to euill, and the practising of wicked Artes euen from twelue yeers of age till twentye, and so forwardes till his dying daye, insomuch that surfeiting in the Damnable desire of magick, negromancye, and sorcery, acquainting him selfe with many infernall spirites and feendes, insomuch that forgetting ye God that made him, and that Sauiour that shed his blood for mans redemption : In the end, careles of saluation gaue both soule and body to the deuil for euer, for small carnall pleasure in this life, that he might be famous and spoken of on earth, though he lost heauen thereby. The Deuill who hath a readye eare to listen to the lewde motions of cursed men, promised to give vnto him whatsoeuer his hart desired during his mortall life : whereupon this vilde wretch neither desired riches nor promotion, nor was his fancy satisfied with any externall of outward pleaure, but hauing a tirannous hart, and a most cruell bloody minde, he only requested that at his plesure he might woork his mallice on men, Women, and children, in the shape of some beast, wherby he might liue wihtout dread or danger of life, and vnknowen to be the executor of any bloody enterprise, which he meant to commit: TheDeuill who sawe him a fit instrumet to perfourm mischeefe as a wicked feend pleased with the desire of wrong and destruction, gaue vnto him a girdle which being put about him, he was straight transfourmed into the likenes of a greedy deuouring Woolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkeled like vnto brandes of fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharpe and cruell teeth, A huge body, and mightye pawes : And no sooner should he put off the same girdle, but presently he should appeere in his former shape, according to the proportion of a man, as if he hadneuer beene changed.

Stubbe Peeter heerwith was exceedingly well pleased, and the shape fitted his fancye and agreeed best with his nature, being inclined to blood and crueltye, therefore satisfied with this strange and diuelish gifte, for that it was not troublesome nor great in cariage, but that it might be hidden in a small room, he proceeded to the execution of sundry most hainous and vilde murders, for if any person displeased him, he would incontinent thirst for reuenge, and no sooner should they or any of theirs walke abroad in the feeldes or about the Cittie, but in the shape of a Woolfe he would presentlye incounter them, and neuer rest till he had pluct out their throates and teare their ioyntes a sunder : And after he had gotten a taste heerof, he tooke such pleasure and delight in shedding of blood, that he would night and day walke the Feelds, and work extreame cruelties. And sundry times he would goe through the Streetes of Collin, Bedbur, and Cperadt, in comely habit, and very ciuilly as one well knowen to all the inhabitants therabout, & oftentimes was he saluted of those whose feendes and children he had buchered, though nothing suspected for the smae. In these places, I say, he would walke vp & down, and if he could spye either Maide, Wife or childe, that his eyes liked or his hart lusted after, he would waite their issuing out of ye Cittie or town, if he could by any meanes get them alone, he would in the feeldes rauishe them, and after in his Wooluishe likenes cruelly murder them : yea often it came to passe that as he walked abroad in the feeldes, if he chaunste to spye a companye of maydens playing together, or else a milking of their Kine, in his Woolusihe shape he would incontinent runne among them, and while the rest escaped by flight, he would be sure to laye holde of one, and after his filthy lust filfilled, he would murder he presentlye, beside, if he had liked or knowne any of them, looke who he had a minde vnto, her he would pursue, whether she were before or behinde, and take her from the rest, for such was his swiftnes of foot while he continued a woolf : that he would outrunne the swiftest greyhound in that Countrye : and so muche he had practised this wickednes, that ye whoel Prouince was feared by the cruelty of this bloody and deuouring Woolfe. Thus continuing his diuelishe and damnable deedes within the compas of fewe yeeres, he had murdered thirteene yong Children, and two goodly yong women bigge with Child, tearing the Children out of their wombes, in the most bloody and sauedge sorte, and after eate their hartes panting hotte and rawe, which he accounted dainty morsells & best agreeing to his Appetite.

Moreour he vsed many times to kill Lambes and Kiddes and such like beastes, feeding on the same most vsually raw and bloody, as if he had beene a naturall Woolfe indeed, so that all men mistrusted nothing lesse then this his diuelish Sorcerie.

He had at that tiem liuing a faire yong Damosell to his Daughter, after whom he also lusted most vnnaturallye, and cruellye committed most wicked inceste with her, a most groce and vilde sinne, far surmounting Adultrye or Fornication, though the least of the three dooth driue the soule inot hell fier, except hartye repentance, and not altogither so wickedlye giuen, who was called by the name of commendacions of all those that knewe her : And such was his inordinate lust and filthye desire toward her, that he begat a Childe by her, dayly vsing her as his Concubine, but as an insaciate and filthy beast, giuen ouer to woork euil, with greedines he also lay by as the wickednes of his hart lead him : Moreour being on a time sent for to a Gossip of his there to make merry and good cheere, ere he thence departed he so wunne the woman by his faire and flattering speech, and so much preuailed, yt ere he departed the house : he lay by here and euer after had her companye at his commaund, this woman had to name Katherine Trompin, a woman of tall and comely stature of exceeding good fauour and one that was well esteemed among her neighbours. But his lewde and inordinat lust bing not satisfied with the company of many Concubines, nor his wicked fancye contented with the beauty of any woman, at length the deuill sent vnto him a wicke dspirit in the similitude and likenes of a woman, so faire of face and comelye of personage, that she resembled rather some heauenly Helfin then any mortall creature, so farre her beauty exceeded the choisest sorte of women, and with her as with his harts delight, he kept company the space of seuen yeeres, though in the end she proued and was found indeed no other then a she Deuil, notwithstanding, this lewd sinne of lecherye did not any thing asswage his cruell and bloody minde, but continuing an insatiable bloodsucker, so great was the ioye he took therin, that he accouted no day spent in the pleasure wherin he had not shed some blood not respecting so much who he did murder, as how to murder and destroy them, as the matter ensuing dooth manifest, which may stand for a speciall note of a cruell and hart hart. For hauing a proper youth to his sonne, begotten in the flower and strength of his age, the firste fruite of his bodye, in whome he took such ioye, that he did commonly call him his Hartes ease, yet so farre his delight in murder exceeded the ioye he took in his only Sonne, that thirsting ater his blood, on a time he intice him into the feeldes, and from thence into a Forrest hard by, where making excuse to stay about the necessaries of nature, while the yong man went on forward, incontinent in the shape and likeness of a Woolfe he encountred his owne Sonne, and there most cruelly slewe him, which doon, he presently eat the brains out of his head as a most sauerie and dainty delycious meane to staunch his greedye apetite : the most monstrous act that euer man heard off, for neuer was knowen a wretch from nature so far degenerate.

Long time he continued this vilde and villanous life, sometime in the likenes of a Woolfe, sometime in the habit of a man, sometime in the Townes and Citties, and sometimes in the Woods and thickettes to them adioyning, whereas the duche coppye maketh mention, he on a time mette with two men and one woman, whom he greatly desired to murder, and the better to bring his diuelish purpose to effect, doubting by them to be ouermatched and knowing one of them by name, he vsed this pollicie to bring them to their end. In subtill sorte he conuayed himselfe far before them in their way and craftely couched out of their sight, but as soone as they approached neere the place where he lay, he called one of them by his name, the partye hearing him selfe called once or twice by his name, supposing it was some familiar freend that in iesting sorte stood out of his sight, went from his companye towarde the place from whence the voice proceeded, of purpose to see who it was, but he was no sooner entered within the danger of this transformed man, but incontinent he was murdered in ye place, the rest of his company staying for him, expecting still his returne, but finding his stay ouer long : the other man lefte the woman, and went to looke him, by which means the second man was also murdered, the woman then seeing neither of both returne againe, in hart suspected that some euill had fan vpon them, and therefore with all the power she had, she sought to saue her selfe by flight, though it nothing preuailed, for good soule she was also soone ouertake by this light footed Wolfe, whom when he had first deflowered, he after most cruelly murdered, then men were after found mangled in the wood, but the womans body was neuer after seene, for she the caitife had most rauenoulye deoured, whose fleshe he esteemed both sweet and dainty in taste.

Thus this damn able Stubbe Peeter liued the tearme of fiue and twenty yeeres, unsuspected to be Author of so many cruell and vnnaturall murders, in which time he had destroyed and spoyled an vnknowed number of Men, Women, and Children, sheepe, Lambes, and Goates : and other Catttell, for when he could not through the warines of people drawe men, Women, or Children in his danger, then like a cruell and tirannous beast he would woorke his cruelty on brut beasts in most sauadge sort, and did act more mischeefe and cruelty then would be credible, although high Germany hath been forced to taste the trueth thereof.

By which meanes the inhabitantes of Colling, Bedbur and Cperadt, seeing themselues so greeuously endaungered, palgued, and molested by this greedy & cruel Woolfe, who wrought continuall harme and mischeefe, insomuch that few or none durst trauell to or from those places without good prouision of defence, and all for feare of this deuouring and fierce woolf, for oftentimes the Inhabitants found the Armes & legges of dead Men, Women, and Children, scattered vp and down the feelds to their great greefe and vexation of hart, knowing the same to be doone by that strange and cruell Woolfe, whome by no meanes they could take or ouercome, so that if any man or woman mist their Childe, they were out of hope euer to see it again aliue, mistrusting straight that the Woolfe had destroyed it.

And heere is to be noted a most strange thing which setteth foorth the great power and mercifull prouidence of God to ye comfort of eache Christian hart. There were not long agoe certain small Children playing in a Medowe together hard by ye town, where also some sotre of kine were feeding, many of them hauing yong calues sucking upon the : and sodainly among these Children comes this vilde Woolfe running and caught a prittie fine Girle by the choller, with intent to pull out her throat, bu tsuch was ye will of God, that he could not pearce the choller of the Childes coate, being high and very well stiffened & close claspt about her neck, and therwithall the sodaine great crye of the rest of the childre which escaped, so amazed the cattell feeding by, that being fearfull to be robbed of their young, they altogether came running against the Woolfe with such force that he was presently compelled to let oge his holde and to run away to escape ye danger of their hornes, by which meanes the Childe was preserued from death, and God be thanked reamians liuing at this day.

And that this thing is true, Maister Tice Artine a Brewer dwelling at Puddlewharfe, in London, beeing a man of that Country borne, and one of good reputation and account, is able to iustifie, who is neere Kinsman to this Childe, and hath from thence twice reciued Letters conserning the same, and for that the firste Letter did rather driue him into wondering at the act then yeelding credit therunto, he had shortlye after at request of his writing another letter sent him, wherby he was more fully satisfied, and diuers other persons of great credit in London hath in like sorte receiued letters from their freends to the like effect.

Likewise in the townes of Germany aforesaid continuall praier was vsed vnto god that it would please hime to deliuer the from the danger of this greedy Woolfe.

And although they had practiced all the meanes that men could deuise to take the rauenous beast, yet vntill the Lord had determined his fall, they could not in any way preuaile : notwithstanding they daylye continued their purpose, and daylye sought to intrap him, and for that intent continually maintained great mastyes and Dogges of muche strength to hunt & chase the beast whersoeuer they could finde him. In the end it pleased God as they were in readines and prouided to meete with him, that they shoud espye him in his wooluishe likenes, at what time they beset him round about, and moste circumspectlye set their Dogges of muche strength to hunt & chase the beast whersoeuer they could finde him. In the end it pleased God as they were in readines and prouided to meete with him, that they should espye him in his wooluishe likenes, at what time they beset him round about, and moste circumspectlye set their Dogges vpon him, in such sort that there was no means to escape, at which aduantage they neuer could get him before, but as the Lord deliuered Goliah into ye handes of Dauid, so was this Woolfe brought in danger of these men, who seeing as I saide before no way to secape the imminent danger, being hardly pursued at the heeles presently he slipt his girdle from about him, wherby the sahpe of a Woolfe cleane auoided, and he appeered presently in his true shape & likeness, hauing inhis hand a staffe as one walking toward the Cittie, but the hunters whose eyes was stedfastly bent vpon the beast, and seeing him in the same place metamorphosed contrary to their expectation : it wrought a wonderfull amazement in their mindes, and had it not beene that they knewe the man soone as they sawe him, they had surely taken the same to haue beene some Deuill in a mans likenes, but for as much as they knewe him to be an auncient dweller in the Towne, they came vnto him, and talking with him they brought him by communication home to his owne house, and finding him to be the man indeede, and no delusion or phantasticall motion, they had him incontinent before the Maiestrates to be examined.

Thus being apprehended, he was shortly after put to the racke in the Towne of Bedbur, but fearing the torture, he volluntarilye confessed his while life, and made knowen the villanies which he had committed for the space of xxv.yeeres, also he cofessed how by Sorcery he procured of the Deuill a Girdle, which beeing put on, he forthwith became a Woolfe, which Girdle at his apprehension he confest he cast it off in a certain Vallye and there left it, whcih when the Maiestrates heard, they sent to the Vallye for it, but at their comming found nothing at al, for it may be supposed that it was gone to the deuil from whence it came, so that it was not to be found. For the Deuil hauing brought the wretch to al the shame he could, left him to indure the torments which his deedes deserued.

After he had some space beene imprisoned, the maiestrates fround out throught due examination of the matter, that his daughter Stubbe Beell and his Gossip Katherine Trompin, were both accessarye to diuers murders committed, who for the same as also for their leaud life otherwise committed, was arraigned, and with Stubbe Peeter condempned, and their seuerall Iudgementes pronounced the 28 of October 1589, in this manor, that is to saye : Stubbe Peeter as principall mallefactor, was iudged first to haue his body laide on a wheele, and with red hotte burning pincers in ten seueral places to haue the flesh puld off from the bones, after that his legges and Armes to be broken with a woodden Axe or Hatchet, afterward to haue his head strook from his body, then to haue his carkasse burnde to Ashes.

Also his Daughter and his Gossip were iudged to be burned quicke to Ashes, the same time and day with the carkasse of the aforesaid Stubbe Peeter. And on the 31. of the same moneth, they suffered death accordingly in the won of Bedbur in the presence of many peeres & princes of Germany.

Thus Gentle Reader haue I set down the true discourse of this wicked man Stub Peeter, which I desire to be a warning to all Sorcerers and Witches, which vnlawfully followe their owne diuelish imagination to the vtter ruine and destruction of their soules eternally, from which wicked and damnable practice, I beseech God keepe all good men, and from the crueltye of their wicked hartes. Amen.

After the execution, there was by the aduice of the Maiestrates of the town of Bedbur a high pole sut vp and stronglye framed, which first went throught ye wheel wheron he was broken, whereunto also it wsa fastened, after that a little aboue the Wheele the likenes of a Woolfe was framed in the wood, to shewe unto all men the shape wherin he executed those cruelties. Ouer that on the top of the stake the sorcerers head it selfe was set vp, and round about the Wheele there hung as it were sixteen peeces of wood about a yarde in length which represented the sixteene persons that was perfectly knowen to be murdered by him.

And the same ordained to stand there for a continuall monument to all insu-
ing ages, what murders by Stub Peeter
was committed, with the or-
der of his Iudgement, as
this picture doth more
plainelye ex-
presse.

Witnesses that this is
true.
Tyse Artyne.
William Brewar.
Adolf Staedt.
George Bores.
With diuers others that haue seen the same.

Historical theories range from a genuinely mentally-ill Peter Stubbe who actually committed such crimes, over a 'witch hunt' scenario to a politically motivated intrigue.

rothko Posted Feb 23, 2008, 1:57 am	Here is my final itinerary: 1. channi (postcrossing), Germany 2. Apperveilchen, Germany 3. CathyB, Germany 4. ChristinaB (postcrossing), Austria 5. inkie1010 (postcrossing), Netherlands 6. Fleurdunord, France 7. Oksana, Russia 8. Mosuha, India 9. kjw, New Zealand 10. lepmel (postcrossing), Canada ...and then back home to Texas! I'm here at home getting ready for my journey... here are some pictures of where I live! This is my front door... and here's my metal armadillo buddy on the back porch.
rothko Posted Feb 25, 2008, 6:55 pm	Here I am with Sara at Summermoon Wood Fired Coffee, enjoying an iced latte. I'm leaving for Germany this week and I'm so excited!!
rothko Posted Feb 28, 2008, 3:29 pm	So I've said goodbye to all my friends... And off I go! I'll see you when I get to Germany!!
channi Posted Mar 5, 2008, 10:46 pm	Hey everybody at home!!! I finally arrived in Germany!!! channi seemed pretty surprised when she saw all the stuff that was inside my package. I instantly made friends with her dog Shadow who sleeps in her bed every night. Normally I find dogs rather frightening, but that one is hardly taller than me. In the afternoon channi and I went grocery shopping together to make a yummi dinner for the flat share. Later she took me to the city center but it was too dark to take pictures. She promised me we'll go there again, though. channi is a little buisy at the moment, but she takes me with her to everywhere she goes - travelling in a bag is much more comfortable than in an envelope!
channi Posted Mar 5, 2008, 11:04 pm	Howdy folks! Today, channi and I went by at the Poppelsdorfer Schloss (castle Poppelsdorf). It is surrounded by a lake and some meadows and really beautiful. It used to be the home of a prince but now it is part of the university and poor students have to learn about biology there. The garden is turned into some kind of a zoo - but for plants. Very strange. There is a huuuuge parkway coming up to it from the inner city on whose end the main castle is situated. channi said, we will go there another day. She isn't too fond of it though because it is also the main building of the university where she has all her lectures. But not now because she is on holidays and supposed to work at home.
channi Posted Mar 13, 2008, 9:30 pm	Channi has been very busy, but I tried my best to help her. For example I took a look at her notes about Götz von Berlichingen and changed her interpretations a little. In my opinion it is too much about knights and too little about armadillos.
channi Posted Mar 13, 2008, 9:34 pm	I went to work with channi today. She works as a tutor and her students were very friendly. They didn't know what an armadillo was!!! channi explained it to them and so they learned something new in English and biology. I'm proud of myself.
channi Posted Mar 13, 2008, 9:40 pm	channi and I went on a little trip through the city center with some friends of hers. She showed me the castle which today is the university's main building and the castle's garden where the students hang out in summer. After that I came to see the Bonn cathedral. It's not a huge one but quite nice though. Unfortunately it started raining and we had to interrupt our little tour.
channi Posted Mar 13, 2008, 10:03 pm	Today we continued our tour through the city center. You can see me in front of the statue of Beethoven, the famous composer. He was born and raised in Bonn before he moved to Vienna for his musical career. The statue is on the square before the cathedral, we took another photo of it from this side. In the background you can see the tower of the Kaiserkirche (Emperor's church). After that channi took me to the Sterntor (Stargate ), a rest of the old city wall of Bonn. It looks like a fortress. Bonn was really well defended I guess. I also came to see the house where Beethoven was born. It is so tiny and unimposing! I would have imagined a big villa or something! I told channi to make a photo of the sign saying "Birthplace of Beethoven" so that you would believe me. Bonn also has a beautiful pink city hall. Well it used to be the city hall, nowadays there are only the offices of the local parties in there. The real work takes place in a new multi-story building. The last thing we saw today was again the university/castle but from the other side. Here you see the main entrance. It actually is the longest castle in Europe. There are even some streets going through it and the castle forms like a bridge over them.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 14, 2008, 3:41 pm	I finally got out of my paket! I arrived in this town March 26th but only today did I actually arrive at my host's. I was locked in way too long, so I decided to try hibernation and today I was very confused when I saw the light again. But Aoi and Philéas were there to reassure me. Apparently my new host wasn't expecting me this soon and I was left with the neighbors until she came back to Homburg. After making everyones aquaintance, the we looked at the different sports classes offered this semester to pick one or two. Maybe Yoga? or Capoeira? Salsa? Aerobics? Many sound good but for now I am wondering when I'll get food. Traveling makes me hungry!
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 15, 2008, 11:59 am	I got my dinner, which doesn't look very appetizing, but was just right after a long journey.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 20, 2008, 7:48 pm	Today we went to the European sultural park that lies across the German-French border. On the German side, there's a the tomb of a celtic 'countess', several burial mounds, a celtic settlement where animals are now housed and a Roman villa with gardens and agricultural land. 1. the celtic settlement (Isn't the pig peculiarly furry?
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 20, 2008, 7:51 pm	2. the celtic tomb and burial objects
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 26, 2008, 9:48 pm	3. Roman villa It was actually more of a manor house with amenities plus farm and slightly fortified. You can see me with rests of the walls or of a column, and in the gateway to the yard that was enclosed by the houses and a wall connecting them. The gate is in the little tower. We're on the ladder and also climbed up to look out over the area. Small animals were in the yard, bigger ones outside in the pastures.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 26, 2008, 9:53 pm	Pssst, I had to sneak across the border to France, because I'd forgotten my passport. But we all wanted to go to see the Roman town and I've always wanted to go to France.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 26, 2008, 9:58 pm	4. The Roman town After that excitement we stopped at the tavern to rest a bit. Then we looked at the old Roman houses, the storage space in the shops, the cellar that was used as living and storage area, the mechanism of light and ventilation for the cellar (as shown on in the drawing), the mill and finally took a group picture in France before returning home.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 27, 2008, 9:57 am	On the way to Luxembourg we passed by some vineyards and through the Moseltal. There are many nice old buildings in luxembourg. The one you can see in the picture is now headquaters of a big company. The trees tend to be cut like sculptures. The cathedral isn't actually that old, but built in a mix of several older styles. There are lots of small roads and paths that wind in between the houses, under archways and up and down the hills. It's very pretty.
Apperveilchen Posted Apr 27, 2008, 10:50 pm	After Luxembourg we visited Trier, a beautiful, old city. Lots of people were out and about in the old town, both tourists and locals. I saw the Porta Nigra, the cathedral, Basilika, many old townhouses and lots of people eating ice-cream, listening to the musicians or doing some shopping. I didn't really want to leave, but we had to get home sometime. On teh way back, I again saw many vineyards pass by. The yellow rape fields add some color.
Apperveilchen Posted May 9, 2008, 8:04 pm	Today we decided to enjoy the good weather with a walk in the forest, and to make someone else happy as well we went by the local animal shelter and took one of the dogs out with us. I was a bit scared adn about to protect myself, when wshe sniffed us while we posed for a group photos, but she was just being friendly and saying hello... I think... or she decided I might be poisonous. The forest itself was nice, but very close sometimes and some parts with dead trees and moss were nearly eerie. Super grover kept insisting there were ghosts about who wanted to attack us so maybe that's the only reason it seemed that way. But I am still happy that we had to turn around to return the dog before we could go down that dark path. But something I really like about Germany is that they have 'winter grass' much softer than ours at home, but needs too much water for Texas, I think and couldn't stand all that sun, and the dry grounds... I might have to go and find a book on gardening.
Apperveilchen Posted May 16, 2008, 8:24 pm	I was very lazy this week and spent most of my time tanning on the balcony. Here's me watching the light fading. Great sky. Dharma and I like to watch it.
Apperveilchen Posted May 19, 2008, 10:42 pm	Dharma is leaving tomorrow. I am a little sad, but also happy that Dharma will get to see mroe of the world. OUr host has been telling us about local legends and myths, because that'S one of Dharma's life missions. We got her to add another, longer one to his notebook. We even picked to colors. Because the translation took a bit we then had to help her with her homework. Dharma looked things up in the books and I wrote.
Apperveilchen Posted May 21, 2008, 8:56 pm	I'm all alone now, so my host needs to give me more attention. Today she was off to somewhere and didn't seem to plan on taking me along. I just hid among her things to come along. When we arrived we went somewhere stinking of stale sweat and old socks. Ugh, I think I need to remind her of my delicate nose. I must have fainted because next thing I knew I was still in the bag, but somewhere different, though the air wasn't that good either, and there was classical music and a man counting. I peeked out and saw all these females in tights and pink shoes doing funny things with their bodies. Some looked a bit like they were trying to 'mark' their territory like dogs do. Then they all moved through the big room, but instead of just walking they jumped and at all kinds of fits. I'm thinking maybe they were training for the paralympics, synchronized epilepsy or something like that.
Apperveilchen Posted May 21, 2008, 9:02 pm	I asked my host about the funny things yesterday. Apparently it's called ballet and not sports, but art. Whatever, I still think she might be sick. Today she came home a bit earlier with her arm covered in red spots. It looked itchy. I asked about that and she explained that it was an allergy test. I was very happy that I hadn't gone with her. They might have tried to test me, too. But because there was still time, we went shopping. I was the fashion advisor and convinced her to buy the red/pink top. Isn't it nice?
Apperveilchen Posted May 23, 2008, 4:31 pm	Yay, I got company! Beck the lion arrived today. I helped him out of his envelope as soon as we got out of the postoffice and into the car. He's also still pretty new to toyvoyaging. We enjoyed to ride on the passenger's seat and had a little noon nap while our host went grocery shopping and did other stuff. We also watched the landscape outside the sindow and even got to take a couple of photos. Right when we did that there wasn't any sun and it's out of the car, so they aren't that good, but you can see a little of what it's like here.
Apperveilchen Posted May 25, 2008, 6:17 pm	Look, we baked! We wanted the best ever sunday breakfast. So we had a special dough prepared and made croissants out of it, then put them in the oven. The recipe said 20 min, but we only left them in for 15 because they were already so brown. Then we enjoyed breakfast and lounged on the couch to watch the famous F1 Monaco Grand Prix. It was very exciting because they had rain there and the race couldn't even last over the whole distance because they ran out of time. Towards the end someone must have made a very stupid mistake, because our hosts were upset and the driver seemed near tears. But it didn't involve any US drivers, so I didn't care who won in the end.
Apperveilchen Posted May 30, 2008, 2:55 pm	We went up in the hill that overlooks the city and gave it its name. Nowadays the only people who sleep there are in an expensive hotel. The first buildings there were probably in the 12th century or so, but this area is at the border of different countries and has changed possession many times in history, so what we see now is from different eras. Archiologists have tried to reconstruct the outlines for the different times. Here's one: There was a drawbridge here, you can see the rest of the pylon and osme of the battlements behind me here. Here's a connecting way with arrow slits: from the inside: This is caved inside teh rock and built in front of it.
Apperveilchen Posted May 30, 2008, 3:22 pm	Back outside I had had to rummage around a bit in the plants. Such a nice day! The height and the rock are quite impressive. We went around to see more of the ruins. The hill is quite steep. On the way we caught a glimpse of the houses below us. After some steps there were more signs of what used to be buildings.
Apperveilchen Posted May 30, 2008, 3:46 pm	This is the highest part. From here they look really small. But from the side one can see that the structure was larger. We wanted to climb up on the 'roof' and passed the well. The wall of it is pretty wide. It's arround 55m deep. Looking down from the stairs... And looking out over the city... For the way back down we had the choice of this winding staircase in the dark, followed by a short tunnel to the road... ...or this open-air way. Given the choice, we decided to load up on Vitamin D.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 9, 2008, 2:49 pm	This morning I hid in the bag and went along with my host. After being rocked for a 20 min walk, the bag became still in a big dark room. It was preety loud, so I didn't dare come out. I don't understand why it was all dark when outside the sun was shining so nicely. I nearly went to sleep but then I smelled it..... Latte Macchiato with cinnamon! I had to see this so I poked my nose out of the bag. That might not have been the best idea. Somebody saw me and asked if I was a 'Gürteltier', that's German for armedillo. My host said yes and got me all the way out of the bag. The others saw my tag and asked about it, so my host explained about my journey. The others liked that idea, but said they wouldn't give me back because I was so cute. I'm not sure if I should feel scared or cherished... I opted for scared and tried to make it back into the bag. I was stuck though, but eventually my host explained about her tvs being with other people and they understood that they would want their plushies in good hands and told a story about a plush pig that got drowned by other people. Please don't let them join toyvoyagers! Finally we got out of there and walked to a big food place, the refectory, though there is no really good translations because most universities in English speaking countries seem to have more like food courts. The lunch was as healthy as usual but we also got to choose a lottery ticket and we won! The ladies at the check-out were also really excited and gave us our Coca-Cola European Football Championship 2008 ball! I got to play with it. Isn't it pretty?! Lot's of other people got to choose lottery tickets, but noone else we met had won anything. While sitting there was saw men with a camera walking around outside and one of then seemed to explain something about the bikes and hos they were secured... funny. After lunch we had a little free time and went to a small park on campus. We heard a 'quack'-ing, but couldn't find any frogs or toads, only bathing birds. And I saw the library. A lot of the houses on campus are built in this style, but most aren't in very good repair.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 10, 2008, 7:56 pm	I decided to skip university today. It's not that interesting, no info at all about armadillos. Seriously, the educational system here leaves much to be desired. Instead we all took a little trip and stopped by a little water castle. The first structures was built in 1395, but got moderized later on. This tower was added in 1622 for better defensive options. It was still burned down in the 30-year-war and was rebuilt in 1666. This building is the latest reconstruction from 1721 by the Duke of Zweibrücken who also gave it the current name. living quaters: stables...: and stables again from 'over the big pond': These chicks on the pond were really noisy but kind of cute. This one's chick that swam out of the picture made much more acceptable noises and wasn't as rowdy but looked at me very interestedly, probably hoping for food. Who knew that German ducks like to hold a siesta?
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 12, 2008, 12:35 pm	As a preparation for when I get back home my host got me closer aquainted with little Eddie. It was a bit funny at first because his beak loos scary but he's really careful. I do have to take special care of my notebook. He has a thing for paper and pictureframes.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 19, 2008, 10:57 pm	We are going to take a short trip to another part of Germany this week. We were all excited and crammed into the car, fighting for the best place. I won! Look, there are vinyards on the way. They look way different now, from the bare plants I saw in April.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 19, 2008, 11:27 pm	Today we visited the Villa (mansion) Hügel (hill). It's located on a hill overlooking the Lake Baldeney in Essen, a big industrial city in the west of Germany. It was built and inhabited by the Krupp family, who owned a lot of steelworks and related industry. When you now enter an elevator anywhere in the world you might see their sign with the 3 interlocking rings and the name ThyssenKrupp (The Thyssens were another important family in this area.) Today the Villa is used for big events like exhibitions of art collections (they organize their own of international artwork) or a museum of industrial culture and local history. At the moment it houses the most important artworks of the Folkwang museum, that's being rebuilt. They have van Gogh, Gaugin, Cezanne, Manet, Rodin, Kandinsky, Picasso etc.. Unfortunately we didn't get to see the inside because bags and cameras were forbidden. This is the approach to the Villa: In the surrounding park we found this cute gatekeeper's house: A nice statue of a horse with a good view of the main building and entrance: A view to the other side of the lake: A playhouse for the children of the family with child-sized doors, a full kitchen, upper story and basement: A sandbox and shady place for the nanny: Some artwork in the garden: The gardenside entrance to the library that's all done in dark wood with a small gallery running around the top: I wonder what kind of animal this is.... nevermind, it matches my coloring!
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 23, 2008, 11:30 am	We went into the center today. There were lots of people and tents everywhere. They were all eating because it was the end of 'Essen genießt' where gourmet and specialty restaurants have stand in the city for people to try plus it was very good weather. Unfortunately that made it very hard to see anything more fo the town or to even stopp due to the press of people everywhere. I too refuge in the cathedral. The oldest parts of the minster church are from the 10th century, the rest from the 11th. It became the cathedral in 1958 when a the Ruhrarea got its own bishop. It was built and used for most of its time by a religious female community. Bishop Altfrid of Hildesheim founded it in 850 as a counterpart to the (monk's) monastery in Werden (now another part of Essen) for girls and women of the Saxon nobility who were to pray for the souls of the dead. It was always very to extremely exclusive and in the 15th century only women of the highest nobility were allowed to join the 'Stift'. They didn't become nuns or live monasterial life but had a duty of daily prayers in memoriam and lived in different monasterial buildings or castles and reigned over their lands (including the city). The women could leave the Stift at any time to return to their families of to get married. The 'Fürstliche Stift Essen' became one of the most powerful and influential religious institutions in Europe in the early and high middleages and it's leaders became some of the most powerful women of that time. Examples are the abesses Mathilde (971–1011), Sophia (1012-1039) and Theophanu (1039–1058) who were closely related to the reigning kings and emperors. The 'Stift' was given rich lands, treasures and privileges. The treasury can be visited. The central piece is the oldest known golden madonna that's displayed in on of the side chapels. The picture isn't that good because of the difficult and light the way the gold reflects. You can see and learn more here: http://www.dom-essen.de/ On the way back we passed by the old synagogue. It was also lit on fire on 9. Nov 1938. After 1945 it stood as a ruin for a long time. Today it's a memorial, a meeting place for Jewish culture and has an exhibition about Jews in Essen during the Nazi regime.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 23, 2008, 12:15 pm	We went to Bedburg, a town near Cologne to see the art work of an aquaintance. Here I am with some of her ceramic mushrooms. Isn't the red enamle pretty?! About Alt-Kaster: It's now a part of the city of Bedburg but was originally a town belonging to a castle directly behind the town, on the other side of the river Erft. It was first mentioned in official certificates of 1148. The castle was fought over between the Archbishops of Cologne and the Dukes of Jülich, it was often destroyed adn reconstructed until it finally fell in 1648. Only a ruin is left today. The town however survived all of this and was still the second smallest town of Germany in 1955. This sign reminds of the most famous werewolf trial in history in which Peter Stubbe was sentenced to death for various crimes in 1589. Pamphlets that describe the allegations in gruesome detail were spread all over western Europe. There are no known copies of the original German version, but 2 copies of the 16-page-British pamphlet, seemingly a translations of the German one were found and read as follows: A true Discourse Declaring the damnable life and death of one Stubbe Peeter, a most wicked Sorcerer, who in the likenes of a Woolfe, committed many murders, continuing this diuelish practise 25. yeeres, killing and deuouring Men, Woomen, and Children. Who for the same fact was taken and executed the 31. of October neer the Cittie of Collin in Germany. Trulye translated out of the high Duch, according to the Copie printed in Collin, brought ouer into England by George Bores ordinary Poste, the xj. daye of this present Moneth of Iune 1590. who did both see and heare the same. AT LONDON Printed for Edward Venge, and are to be solde in Fleet street at the signe of the Vine A most true Discourse, declaring the life and death of one Stubbe Peeter, being a most Wicked Sorcerer. Those whome the Lord dooth leaue to followe the Imagination of their own hartes, dispising his proffered grace, in the end through the hardnes of hart and contempt of his fatherly mercy, they enter the right path to perdicion and destruction of body and soule for euer : as in this present historie in perfect sorte may be seene, the strangenes whereof, together with the cruelties committed, and the long time therein continued, may driue many in doubt whether the same be truth or no, and the ratherfore that sundry falce & fabulous matters haue heertofore passed in print, which hath wrought much incredulitie in ye harts of all men generally, insomuch that now a daies fewe thinges doo escape be it neuer so certain, but that it is embased by the tearm of a lye or falce reporte. In the reading of this story, therefore I doo first request reformation of opinion, next patience to peruse it, because it is published for examples sake, and lastly to censure thereof as resaon and wisdome dooth think conueniet, considereing the subtilty that Sathan vseth to work on the soules destruction, and the great matters which the accursed practise of Sorcery dooth efect, the fruites whereof is death and destruction for euer, and yet in all ages practised by the reprobate and wicked of the earth, some in one sort and some in another euen as the Deuill, who was a murderer from the beginning, whose life and eath and most bloody practises the discourse following dooth make iust reporte. In the townes of Cperadt and Bedbur neer vnto collin in high Germany, there was continually brought vp and nourished one Stubbe Peeter, who from his youth was greatly inclined to euill, and the practising of wicked Artes euen from twelue yeers of age till twentye, and so forwardes till his dying daye, insomuch that surfeiting in the Damnable desire of magick, negromancye, and sorcery, acquainting him selfe with many infernall spirites and feendes, insomuch that forgetting ye God that made him, and that Sauiour that shed his blood for mans redemption : In the end, careles of saluation gaue both soule and body to the deuil for euer, for small carnall pleasure in this life, that he might be famous and spoken of on earth, though he lost heauen thereby. The Deuill who hath a readye eare to listen to the lewde motions of cursed men, promised to give vnto him whatsoeuer his hart desired during his mortall life : whereupon this vilde wretch neither desired riches nor promotion, nor was his fancy satisfied with any externall of outward pleaure, but hauing a tirannous hart, and a most cruell bloody minde, he only requested that at his plesure he might woork his mallice on men, Women, and children, in the shape of some beast, wherby he might liue wihtout dread or danger of life, and vnknowen to be the executor of any bloody enterprise, which he meant to commit: TheDeuill who sawe him a fit instrumet to perfourm mischeefe as a wicked feend pleased with the desire of wrong and destruction, gaue vnto him a girdle which being put about him, he was straight transfourmed into the likenes of a greedy deuouring Woolf, strong and mighty, with eyes great and large, which in the night sparkeled like vnto brandes of fire, a mouth great and wide, with most sharpe and cruell teeth, A huge body, and mightye pawes : And no sooner should he put off the same girdle, but presently he should appeere in his former shape, according to the proportion of a man, as if he hadneuer beene changed. Stubbe Peeter heerwith was exceedingly well pleased, and the shape fitted his fancye and agreeed best with his nature, being inclined to blood and crueltye, therefore satisfied with this strange and diuelish gifte, for that it was not troublesome nor great in cariage, but that it might be hidden in a small room, he proceeded to the execution of sundry most hainous and vilde murders, for if any person displeased him, he would incontinent thirst for reuenge, and no sooner should they or any of theirs walke abroad in the feeldes or about the Cittie, but in the shape of a Woolfe he would presentlye incounter them, and neuer rest till he had pluct out their throates and teare their ioyntes a sunder : And after he had gotten a taste heerof, he tooke such pleasure and delight in shedding of blood, that he would night and day walke the Feelds, and work extreame cruelties. And sundry times he would goe through the Streetes of Collin, Bedbur, and Cperadt, in comely habit, and very ciuilly as one well knowen to all the inhabitants therabout, & oftentimes was he saluted of those whose feendes and children he had buchered, though nothing suspected for the smae. In these places, I say, he would walke vp & down, and if he could spye either Maide, Wife or childe, that his eyes liked or his hart lusted after, he would waite their issuing out of ye Cittie or town, if he could by any meanes get them alone, he would in the feeldes rauishe them, and after in his Wooluishe likenes cruelly murder them : yea often it came to passe that as he walked abroad in the feeldes, if he chaunste to spye a companye of maydens playing together, or else a milking of their Kine, in his Woolusihe shape he would incontinent runne among them, and while the rest escaped by flight, he would be sure to laye holde of one, and after his filthy lust filfilled, he would murder he presentlye, beside, if he had liked or knowne any of them, looke who he had a minde vnto, her he would pursue, whether she were before or behinde, and take her from the rest, for such was his swiftnes of foot while he continued a woolf : that he would outrunne the swiftest greyhound in that Countrye : and so muche he had practised this wickednes, that ye whoel Prouince was feared by the cruelty of this bloody and deuouring Woolfe. Thus continuing his diuelishe and damnable deedes within the compas of fewe yeeres, he had murdered thirteene yong Children, and two goodly yong women bigge with Child, tearing the Children out of their wombes, in the most bloody and sauedge sorte, and after eate their hartes panting hotte and rawe, which he accounted dainty morsells & best agreeing to his Appetite. Moreour he vsed many times to kill Lambes and Kiddes and such like beastes, feeding on the same most vsually raw and bloody, as if he had beene a naturall Woolfe indeed, so that all men mistrusted nothing lesse then this his diuelish Sorcerie. He had at that tiem liuing a faire yong Damosell to his Daughter, after whom he also lusted most vnnaturallye, and cruellye committed most wicked inceste with her, a most groce and vilde sinne, far surmounting Adultrye or Fornication, though the least of the three dooth driue the soule inot hell fier, except hartye repentance, and not altogither so wickedlye giuen, who was called by the name of commendacions of all those that knewe her : And such was his inordinate lust and filthye desire toward her, that he begat a Childe by her, dayly vsing her as his Concubine, but as an insaciate and filthy beast, giuen ouer to woork euil, with greedines he also lay by as the wickednes of his hart lead him : Moreour being on a time sent for to a Gossip of his there to make merry and good cheere, ere he thence departed he so wunne the woman by his faire and flattering speech, and so much preuailed, yt ere he departed the house : he lay by here and euer after had her companye at his commaund, this woman had to name Katherine Trompin, a woman of tall and comely stature of exceeding good fauour and one that was well esteemed among her neighbours. But his lewde and inordinat lust bing not satisfied with the company of many Concubines, nor his wicked fancye contented with the beauty of any woman, at length the deuill sent vnto him a wicke dspirit in the similitude and likenes of a woman, so faire of face and comelye of personage, that she resembled rather some heauenly Helfin then any mortall creature, so farre her beauty exceeded the choisest sorte of women, and with her as with his harts delight, he kept company the space of seuen yeeres, though in the end she proued and was found indeed no other then a she Deuil, notwithstanding, this lewd sinne of lecherye did not any thing asswage his cruell and bloody minde, but continuing an insatiable bloodsucker, so great was the ioye he took therin, that he accouted no day spent in the pleasure wherin he had not shed some blood not respecting so much who he did murder, as how to murder and destroy them, as the matter ensuing dooth manifest, which may stand for a speciall note of a cruell and hart hart. For hauing a proper youth to his sonne, begotten in the flower and strength of his age, the firste fruite of his bodye, in whome he took such ioye, that he did commonly call him his Hartes ease, yet so farre his delight in murder exceeded the ioye he took in his only Sonne, that thirsting ater his blood, on a time he intice him into the feeldes, and from thence into a Forrest hard by, where making excuse to stay about the necessaries of nature, while the yong man went on forward, incontinent in the shape and likeness of a Woolfe he encountred his owne Sonne, and there most cruelly slewe him, which doon, he presently eat the brains out of his head as a most sauerie and dainty delycious meane to staunch his greedye apetite : the most monstrous act that euer man heard off, for neuer was knowen a wretch from nature so far degenerate. Long time he continued this vilde and villanous life, sometime in the likenes of a Woolfe, sometime in the habit of a man, sometime in the Townes and Citties, and sometimes in the Woods and thickettes to them adioyning, whereas the duche coppye maketh mention, he on a time mette with two men and one woman, whom he greatly desired to murder, and the better to bring his diuelish purpose to effect, doubting by them to be ouermatched and knowing one of them by name, he vsed this pollicie to bring them to their end. In subtill sorte he conuayed himselfe far before them in their way and craftely couched out of their sight, but as soone as they approached neere the place where he lay, he called one of them by his name, the partye hearing him selfe called once or twice by his name, supposing it was some familiar freend that in iesting sorte stood out of his sight, went from his companye towarde the place from whence the voice proceeded, of purpose to see who it was, but he was no sooner entered within the danger of this transformed man, but incontinent he was murdered in ye place, the rest of his company staying for him, expecting still his returne, but finding his stay ouer long : the other man lefte the woman, and went to looke him, by which means the second man was also murdered, the woman then seeing neither of both returne againe, in hart suspected that some euill had fan vpon them, and therefore with all the power she had, she sought to saue her selfe by flight, though it nothing preuailed, for good soule she was also soone ouertake by this light footed Wolfe, whom when he had first deflowered, he after most cruelly murdered, then men were after found mangled in the wood, but the womans body was neuer after seene, for she the caitife had most rauenoulye deoured, whose fleshe he esteemed both sweet and dainty in taste. Thus this damn able Stubbe Peeter liued the tearme of fiue and twenty yeeres, unsuspected to be Author of so many cruell and vnnaturall murders, in which time he had destroyed and spoyled an vnknowed number of Men, Women, and Children, sheepe, Lambes, and Goates : and other Catttell, for when he could not through the warines of people drawe men, Women, or Children in his danger, then like a cruell and tirannous beast he would woorke his cruelty on brut beasts in most sauadge sort, and did act more mischeefe and cruelty then would be credible, although high Germany hath been forced to taste the trueth thereof. By which meanes the inhabitantes of Colling, Bedbur and Cperadt, seeing themselues so greeuously endaungered, palgued, and molested by this greedy & cruel Woolfe, who wrought continuall harme and mischeefe, insomuch that few or none durst trauell to or from those places without good prouision of defence, and all for feare of this deuouring and fierce woolf, for oftentimes the Inhabitants found the Armes & legges of dead Men, Women, and Children, scattered vp and down the feelds to their great greefe and vexation of hart, knowing the same to be doone by that strange and cruell Woolfe, whome by no meanes they could take or ouercome, so that if any man or woman mist their Childe, they were out of hope euer to see it again aliue, mistrusting straight that the Woolfe had destroyed it. And heere is to be noted a most strange thing which setteth foorth the great power and mercifull prouidence of God to ye comfort of eache Christian hart. There were not long agoe certain small Children playing in a Medowe together hard by ye town, where also some sotre of kine were feeding, many of them hauing yong calues sucking upon the : and sodainly among these Children comes this vilde Woolfe running and caught a prittie fine Girle by the choller, with intent to pull out her throat, bu tsuch was ye will of God, that he could not pearce the choller of the Childes coate, being high and very well stiffened & close claspt about her neck, and therwithall the sodaine great crye of the rest of the childre which escaped, so amazed the cattell feeding by, that being fearfull to be robbed of their young, they altogether came running against the Woolfe with such force that he was presently compelled to let oge his holde and to run away to escape ye danger of their hornes, by which meanes the Childe was preserued from death, and God be thanked reamians liuing at this day. And that this thing is true, Maister Tice Artine a Brewer dwelling at Puddlewharfe, in London, beeing a man of that Country borne, and one of good reputation and account, is able to iustifie, who is neere Kinsman to this Childe, and hath from thence twice reciued Letters conserning the same, and for that the firste Letter did rather driue him into wondering at the act then yeelding credit therunto, he had shortlye after at request of his writing another letter sent him, wherby he was more fully satisfied, and diuers other persons of great credit in London hath in like sorte receiued letters from their freends to the like effect. Likewise in the townes of Germany aforesaid continuall praier was vsed vnto god that it would please hime to deliuer the from the danger of this greedy Woolfe. And although they had practiced all the meanes that men could deuise to take the rauenous beast, yet vntill the Lord had determined his fall, they could not in any way preuaile : notwithstanding they daylye continued their purpose, and daylye sought to intrap him, and for that intent continually maintained great mastyes and Dogges of muche strength to hunt & chase the beast whersoeuer they could finde him. In the end it pleased God as they were in readines and prouided to meete with him, that they shoud espye him in his wooluishe likenes, at what time they beset him round about, and moste circumspectlye set their Dogges of muche strength to hunt & chase the beast whersoeuer they could finde him. In the end it pleased God as they were in readines and prouided to meete with him, that they should espye him in his wooluishe likenes, at what time they beset him round about, and moste circumspectlye set their Dogges vpon him, in such sort that there was no means to escape, at which aduantage they neuer could get him before, but as the Lord deliuered Goliah into ye handes of Dauid, so was this Woolfe brought in danger of these men, who seeing as I saide before no way to secape the imminent danger, being hardly pursued at the heeles presently he slipt his girdle from about him, wherby the sahpe of a Woolfe cleane auoided, and he appeered presently in his true shape & likeness, hauing inhis hand a staffe as one walking toward the Cittie, but the hunters whose eyes was stedfastly bent vpon the beast, and seeing him in the same place metamorphosed contrary to their expectation : it wrought a wonderfull amazement in their mindes, and had it not beene that they knewe the man soone as they sawe him, they had surely taken the same to haue beene some Deuill in a mans likenes, but for as much as they knewe him to be an auncient dweller in the Towne, they came vnto him, and talking with him they brought him by communication home to his owne house, and finding him to be the man indeede, and no delusion or phantasticall motion, they had him incontinent before the Maiestrates to be examined. Thus being apprehended, he was shortly after put to the racke in the Towne of Bedbur, but fearing the torture, he volluntarilye confessed his while life, and made knowen the villanies which he had committed for the space of xxv.yeeres, also he cofessed how by Sorcery he procured of the Deuill a Girdle, which beeing put on, he forthwith became a Woolfe, which Girdle at his apprehension he confest he cast it off in a certain Vallye and there left it, whcih when the Maiestrates heard, they sent to the Vallye for it, but at their comming found nothing at al, for it may be supposed that it was gone to the deuil from whence it came, so that it was not to be found. For the Deuil hauing brought the wretch to al the shame he could, left him to indure the torments which his deedes deserued. After he had some space beene imprisoned, the maiestrates fround out throught due examination of the matter, that his daughter Stubbe Beell and his Gossip Katherine Trompin, were both accessarye to diuers murders committed, who for the same as also for their leaud life otherwise committed, was arraigned, and with Stubbe Peeter condempned, and their seuerall Iudgementes pronounced the 28 of October 1589, in this manor, that is to saye : Stubbe Peeter as principall mallefactor, was iudged first to haue his body laide on a wheele, and with red hotte burning pincers in ten seueral places to haue the flesh puld off from the bones, after that his legges and Armes to be broken with a woodden Axe or Hatchet, afterward to haue his head strook from his body, then to haue his carkasse burnde to Ashes. Also his Daughter and his Gossip were iudged to be burned quicke to Ashes, the same time and day with the carkasse of the aforesaid Stubbe Peeter. And on the 31. of the same moneth, they suffered death accordingly in the won of Bedbur in the presence of many peeres & princes of Germany. Thus Gentle Reader haue I set down the true discourse of this wicked man Stub Peeter, which I desire to be a warning to all Sorcerers and Witches, which vnlawfully followe their owne diuelish imagination to the vtter ruine and destruction of their soules eternally, from which wicked and damnable practice, I beseech God keepe all good men, and from the crueltye of their wicked hartes. Amen. After the execution, there was by the aduice of the Maiestrates of the town of Bedbur a high pole sut vp and stronglye framed, which first went throught ye wheel wheron he was broken, whereunto also it wsa fastened, after that a little aboue the Wheele the likenes of a Woolfe was framed in the wood, to shewe unto all men the shape wherin he executed those cruelties. Ouer that on the top of the stake the sorcerers head it selfe was set vp, and round about the Wheele there hung as it were sixteen peeces of wood about a yarde in length which represented the sixteene persons that was perfectly knowen to be murdered by him. And the same ordained to stand there for a continuall monument to all insu- ing ages, what murders by Stub Peeter was committed, with the or- der of his Iudgement, as this picture doth more plainelye ex- presse. Witnesses that this is true. Tyse Artyne. William Brewar. Adolf Staedt. George Bores. With diuers others that haue seen the same. Historical theories range from a genuinely mentally-ill Peter Stubbe who actually committed such crimes, over a 'witch hunt' scenario to a politically motivated intrigue.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 23, 2008, 7:03 pm	On the way back from your trip we were fleeing from heavy storms and hail, but I really wanted to see those vineyards again. So we stopped at a place at the Autobahn where one can see the Mosel valley.
Apperveilchen Posted Jun 29, 2008, 11:53 am	Really, some tvs just have no manners. It was time for Greta to take up her post in South Korea. Since she's a lady I naturally thought a nice dinner to see her off would be appropriate. But with the table manners of a lion and a duck? No way! So I prepared dinner and snuck out for a nice German Riesling. I'm going to miss her. Is it just me or does she look a touch enamoured? sigh
Apperveilchen Posted Jul 1, 2008, 8:57 pm	.....This is my last sunset here. I'll be off to Vienna tomorrow.
ChristinaB Posted Jul 7, 2008, 6:01 am	Little Tex safely arrived in Vienna/Austria on Friday. He was very happy to get out of his beautiful but narrow envelope and already started to discover Vienna (Photos will follow soon!)
ChristinaB Posted Jul 14, 2008, 9:49 am	I am in Upper Austria now in a little place called Gmunden which is situated in an area called "Salzkammergut". My friends and I went there on holiday because our host's family lives close there. It's a very beautiful place situated within the Alps. The landscape is wonderful with the lake and the mountains and all the forests around and Gmunden itself is a pretty romantic little city.
ChristinaB Posted Jul 14, 2008, 10:26 am	Today we discovered Vienna's beautiful Rosarium. It is located almost in the city centre and has thousands of roses in all colours you can think of. It smelled wonderful there and Galen, Dottie Grace, Ted, Cekelat, Pien and I had a really great time there!
ChristinaB Posted Jul 20, 2008, 7:17 am	The same day we went to the rosarium we also visited some other interesting places in Vienna. My host said it was a bit hard to take nice photos because just a couple of days ago the European soccer championship took place in Vienna and there were "Fan zones" everywhere. Now they were still working on them, trying to remove everything and cleaning the places again so we couldn't go so close to some places. But I saw Hofburg (which was the residence of the Habsburg family from some distance. It hosts several museums, the Austrian national library, the president's office etc. We also passed by the museum for historical arts (where a BIG fan café was constructed in the park in front of it and now they had plenty to do to remove it). This museum has a twin just vis-à-vis, the museum for natural history.
ChristinaB Posted Jul 20, 2008, 7:33 am	We continued our city walk until we reached the Austrian Parliament. Looks a bit Greek, doesn't it? Have a look what I discovered in front of it! A Fiaker!! I always thought Austrian already had cars, too But my host told me that these horses were just used for tourits to make a guided tour through the city center. In former times, I was told, they were really used for transport, too. Then we reached the City Hall. At the big square in front of it there are always some events taking place. The Christmas market can be found there in Winter, then they change all the square in a big skating court. In Spring usually a circus opens its gates there and in summer there is always an open air opera festival. Well and a couple of weeks ago the soccer fans had their parties there! Just opposite the City Hall there is the Old Imperial theatre, a very beautiful building, too.
ChristinaB Posted Jul 20, 2008, 7:42 am	Then we went to Karlsplatz where we had a look at a very special church with 2 collumns in front of it. I also saw one of Vienna's most beautiful subway stations there. It was built in "Jugendstil" around 1900, a very special style very similar to art nouveau. Our next stop was the opera in the city center. Have a look whom we met on our way there: Good old Mozart!!! We also passed by the famous "Sacher" hotel but unfortunately we didn't have time to go inside and have a Sachertorte - we just had a look at if from outside
ChristinaB Posted Jul 20, 2008, 7:51 am	We are back to Vienna again. Yesterday we went to Schönbrunn Palace, which was the former summer residence of the Habsburg family. It is situated in a BIG park and is very impressive. We had a long walk around there and even went up a little hill to the point of view called "Gloriette".
ChristinaB Posted Jul 20, 2008, 8:01 am	Imagine there is even a zoo in this park - and we went there!! We had sooo much fun to watch all the different animals! There was noone like me there but nevertheless I had such a great time there! Most of all I loved the little polar bears and the rhinozeros!!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:14 pm	Today the holidays of my host family started. I was told that we would go abroad for almost 4 weeks and then I would continue my journey on my own. We packed all our stuff and went to Italy today. Oh, what a beautiful country!! We stayed at a place called Lignano. It is situated in the northern part of the country, not far from Venice and Austrians love to spend their holidays there. You know, Austria doesn't have an access to the sea so the fastest way to reach the sea is to go down to Italy. Austrians are usually very welcome in Lignano since they are bringing alot of money down there, so everybody tries to speak a bit of German there to make them feel a bit like at home. To be honest, we didn't see anything else except Lignano and we spent almost all the time at the beach which was really relaxing. I had a great time with my friends there! Fortunately elephants don't get sunburnt too easily so I was able to stay in the sun for a long time!!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:16 pm	I'm a very helpful amadrillo and pretty good in architecture. The Dad of my host family and the kids built a sand castle every day and I helped alot which was sandy but really funny. We also made a marble track and played with it then. Oh, time passed by so quickly!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:18 pm	On our way back from Italy we had to go through Styria. There in a little village called Piber the famous Lipizzaner horses always spend their summer holidays. My host likes them alot so we decided to visit them and say "Hello". Unfortunately we were a bit too late so we couldn't watch their training lessons but we saw them on the meadow and watched all the exhibitions about them. Did you know that they are dark when they are born and get their white fur after some years due to a genetic deficit? Interesting, isn't it?
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:19 pm	We returned from Italy yesterday, washed all our clothes during the night and left again today. The grand-parents of my host family have a flat at lake Attersee in Upper Austria and my hosts intend to spend the following 3 weeks there. It is a very beautiful place there. The flat is located directly at the beach and the view from the balcony towards the lake is sooo nice. We went down to the lake then and had a swim there. Wonderful, I must say. The water was refreshing but very clear and it was fascinating to watch all the sailing ships there. Can you see the mountains on the last photo? Look how big they are! I will tell you more about them during the next days!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:21 pm	I told you to have a look at the mountains on the lake-picture in my last update, remember? Well, today we went up there! But not by cable car as you might think, no, on foot! To be honest, I was carried as well as the other TV which caused almost a crises between my host and her husband (the husband had to carry us up there in his backpack but my host only told him when we were at the top and he was pretty angry about that. First we thought he was angry about US but fortunately we found out then that it was our host he was argueing with. Sometimes humans are really difficult to understand...) Dear Alexander, it was worth to take us up there all the 1.600 meters!! The view was simply breathtaking, I enjoyed it soooo much! It was the first mountain I ever went up - or was carried up - and I will never forget this adventure!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:22 pm	Imagine what we did today! We went to Germany!! It was a clowdy day so my hosts decided to take the kids (and me and the other TV of course) and go to Bavaria. There we visited a kind of amusement park. There weren't any carrousells but they built many sceneries of various fairy tales. All the figures there were able to speak and the fairy tales were told there, so it was really beautiful. Unfortunately it started to rain heavily then so we had to leave quite early.
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:23 pm	I didn't see much of Bavaria since we went back immideately after we visited the park, but what I saw was beautiful. I specially liked these beautifully painted houses - have a look!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:24 pm	Another adventure took place today. My host's father had his 60th birthday a while ago and as a present he got a balloon flight which was today. We all went there to watch him in the air and it was really fascinating to see the start of such a big, big balloon. Everybody was so busy watching it that we almost forgot to take photos...
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:26 pm	It was pretty cold today so we couldn't go swimming. Therefor my hosts decided to go hiking. We didn't climb a mountain today but went to a small lake called "Gosausee" which was beautifully located on the foot of Upper Austria's highest mountain "Dachstein". But when we arrived there it was so clowdy that we couldn't see it.
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:28 pm	We picked some blueberries which we found during our walk and we were really astonished about all the ducks we saw there. They weren't shy at all and even took some bread from the people's hands. And finally - after quite a long walk - the clowds went away and we were able to see at least some parts of Dachstein then.
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:32 pm	Back to Vienna, my host took me and the other toyvoyagers to Grinzing. That's a part of Vienna situated on a little hill where many wineyards can be found. The wine produced there is sold a a special kind of restaurants called "Heurigen" that only open a couple of weeks a year. People know that they are open when they have this little bushes in front of their door. All the wine producers get a certain certificate and they are very proud about it. Did you know that Vienna is Austria's largest wine producing city?
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:34 pm	We even went to the wineyards then and had a walk there. Our host was very happy about that because we also passed by the church where she and her husband got married - Kaasgrabenkirche. The grapes weren't ready yet but it wont take too long anymore...
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:37 pm	Today we went to Prater which is Vienna's big amusement park. It was wonderful!! We even saw the famous "Giant Wheel" and tried some of the roller coasters. And have a look at the funny sculptures we saw!! We also said "Hello" to the mascot of Prater, a funny clown.
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:42 pm	Today we had a long walk in the woods nearby. Autumn already started and I helped the kids to seach for chestnuts. We found tons of them, yeah!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 14, 2008, 12:47 pm	Not far from all these chestnuts we saw a strange building. Our host explained us that it was the planetarium where people can watch stars inside. This sounds really interesting, but unfortunately it was closed. It didn't matter - we also were fascinated by the huge globe next to it!
ChristinaB Posted Sep 21, 2008, 3:31 pm	Yesterday we went to see the house created by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. It looks really beautiful and I like it alot! There is nothing special in this house, just normal flats (next time I come to Vienna I'll try to find a host living in there ). Everybody living there has the right to decorate the surrounding of his/her window just as he/she likes - but only as far as the arms reach. Interesting, isn't it?
inkie1010 Posted Sep 30, 2008, 8:26 pm	A short message to say that Little Tex has arrived safely in Eindhoven, The Netherlands today! He is a bit tired now, so I put him to bed Inge & Little Tex
inkie1010 Posted Oct 11, 2008, 8:51 pm	Hello all!! Here I am again! The first week here was pretty busy for my host, she has just a new job, but for me it was a nice time to relax a bit, play computergames, spending time with the cat Shewa and reading some of the fantasy books. Because my host has a lot of those! Yesterday it was my hosts birthday! So there was a little party to celebrate the birthday! I loved the cheese with the dutch flags in it Actually I ate almost everything of it Everyone wanted me to sit on their lap for a while and also everyone wanted to see my passport! Here are some pictures of the party: Me with some of the presents Two friends have been to America and brought some souvenirs from Philadelphia! Here I am in front of some of the people who attended the party! Aaah! I love Dutch cheese! This evening we went to see the light festival in the city of Eindhoven! There is a route of 25 kilometers in the city with lights in the streets. It is to celebrate the end of World War II (Eindhoven was freed 18th September 1944). So there are lights in the city for one month. I loved the lights, but it was difficult to take good pictures. Here are a 2 pictures of me in front of a windmill
inkie1010 Posted Oct 19, 2008, 3:50 pm	Hello! Here I am again! Today we planned a tour through Eindhoven, we went on my hosts bike We first wanted to visit the Philips Park. The famous electronics brand Philips was founded in Eindhoven around 1900, so there is a lot Philips in Eindhoven. The idea was to first visit the park, go on to the former Philips factories, the Evoluon and the city centre. But unfortunately when we were done walking in the park my hosts bike had a flat tyre... So we had to walk all the way back.. We will visit the other places another time this week when the bike is fixed! But here are the pictures from the park! Me at the entrance of the park! Me and the mushrooms = "paddenstoelen" in Dutch And even more mushrooms Nice place to sit a while and look around A close up of me on a forest-path in the park Together with my host In the park there is also a nice cafe! We had some hot choclate yummy!! Of course they had also Dutch beer Grolsch The cafe behind me Greetings from Little Tex
inkie1010 Posted Oct 23, 2008, 4:35 pm	Hello! Here is a little update from me! This is me with my new friend Shewa, we like to hang out on the couch in the sun! My host likes to play the guitar! Here is me on one of her 2 guitars This one I like the most, it has a bit country-sound But my host mostly plays Tommy Emmanuel songs on it! And I just loooove the Dutch peanut butter, but how do I open the jar.... Grrrr!! Tonight my host will take me to the music-school for a guitar-ensemble lesson! I hope we can take pictures there! Also this weekend we planning to do some more sightseeing in the city centre! All the best! Houdoe! ( i learned some Dutch dialect here, Houdoe means Bye bye but they only say it in the south of the Netherlands!) Little Tex
inkie1010 Posted Oct 23, 2008, 9:36 pm	I am back from the guitar-ensemble at the music school! It was nice to hear some guitar music! Next week they have to perform in front of an audience, and I think I will go to the concert too! Here I am in the practice room There is also a small cafe in the music school: I was very thirsty afterwards so my host bought me some coca cola I am very tired now and going to sleep! ByeBye!! Little Tex
inkie1010 Posted Oct 24, 2008, 4:19 pm	Hello all!! Today I went to the city Utrecht in the middle of the Netherlands! The weather was very bad.. a lot of rain, but we had a lot of fun! Here are the pictures (all taken in the city centre of Utrecht) Me and the Dom Tower in Utrecht One of the most famous buildings in Utrecht! I am going to eat dinner now! ByeBye! Little Tex
inkie1010 Posted Nov 8, 2008, 2:11 pm	Hello!!! I have visited Amersfoort, a city in the centre of the Netherlands. It was not the best weather again, but we had a great time! Here are the pictures Best wishes from Little Tex!
inkie1010 Posted Nov 16, 2008, 9:30 pm	Hello!! A new message from me Today I went on a little trip to the city of Veldhoven, just south of Eindhoven where I am staying. We went to the Papegaaienpark which is a park/centre where there are a lot of parrots and other birds who are rescued / lost / found etc. It's great to see that they can live happy in the park. The park has also some other animals like deer, maki's, lama's, pinguins, guinea pigs, horses. First we drove by car to Veldhoven! Here are some pics from me in the car! This picture is taken in Eindhoven, not far from the city centre The high building you see on the left is one of the buildings of the Technical University. The signs show parts of Eindhoven. Catharina is one of the hospitals. But we dont have to turn right A bit further on the same road. On the right you see one of the bigger churches in Eindhoven. This is the Petrus-church. Its not that clear on the picture, but you see a clock in the upper left corner. It is the Philips clock on the building the dutch people call "Klokgebouw" (it means clock-building). It was one of the factories of Philips. The electronics brand Philips was founded in Eindhoven in the early 1900's. And here we pass the former Philips factories! Another former Philips factory building! And again a building which has to do something with Philips! This strange UFO-shaped building is used as a conference centre by Philips! It is called "Evoluon". And a bit closer Here we drive in Veldhoven! On our way to the Papegaaienpark in the Dutch countryside Woohoo!! We have arrived at the Papegaaienpark!!! hihi these little animals are fast! One of the many parrots Sniff sniff I made a new friend in the park! There were also lots of ducks! And these white storks are called "ooievaar" in dutch! This is Bambi! He walked all the way through the park together with us! I think he really liked me! The park had also a big indoor tropical forest. This is me in a banana tree! That turtle was very hungry! I had a lot of fun at the Papegaaienpark! I am really tired now! So I am going to sleep ByeBye! Little Tex