Henry the Adventure Hound, Bruchsal, Germany

drakie


Posted Apr 28, 2007, 8:58 pm
Well my little Henry the adventurer Dog, starting his adventures, he may be going on his first journey to Lincoln, also in the Uk... but then possible on to the america`s, just where his hero Indiana Jones comes from.. how exciting.  he thinks.  Eddy Bear his brother has been to Germany and now on his way to Japan... but Henry, wants adventure, excitement, missions, secret adventures... he likes, hiding burrowing, digging... even where he shouldnt.  He cannot wait to start his journey... Lets hope someone will want to take him with him.  He is not to be released in the wild please as one day he wants to be reunited with his brother...
drakie


Posted May 5, 2007, 12:30 am
Well nearly is the time I travel on, tomorrow my owner Sylvia is taking me to Durdle Door, an Unesco World Heritage site (natural) along with Siti Smut, C.K.,  & Taro,  we should have a wonderful time.  It is good because my mum hasnt been there either before... so it gives them an excuse.
wourpet


Posted Jul 6, 2007, 2:30 am
Here I am in Farmington, New Mexico.  I missed out on the Freedom Days parade last night but I have had a bit of an adventure on my arrival.  My host has a large dog that looks -- well, looks very much like me.  I thought it might be good to have our picture together and squished down my fears (we know I haven't many) and sidled over to him and who would have guessed but he ran away.  I guess he has truly recognized what a brave adventurer I am but it may take awhile for me to get him calmed down  I'll be back with a picture of the two of us in a bit.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_0992.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 6, 2007, 5:32 am
I've done it! I've tamed him.  Now I would like you to look closely because we do look quite the same -- except he's a little bit bigger.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1006.jpg
Now I'm going to rest and get ready to go camping in the mountains -- it sounds like there could be plenty of adventure there.
wourpet


Posted Jul 15, 2007, 7:13 am
I got back to my host's house today from a really adventurous camping trip through the mountains and into southeast Colorado.  I toured old ghost towns and even went down into a volcano in New Mexico.  This picture is of me while I was climbing back up to the rim.  I have so much to update and so many pictures but I need a bit of rest first.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1290.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:18 pm
Our mission started at Farmington but it was once we passed La Plata on highway 64 that it started to get interesting.  We drove through some very rugged country with arroyos, hoodoos and mountains.  There were even old lava flows in places and cinders in other places.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1013.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:26 pm
It was quite fun learning we would be camped on a mesa above the lake.  I had plenty of interesting places to explore around the campground -- including this old rock well.  I wanted to climb down into it but my host didn't think it was a good idea.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1161.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:34 pm
This was the site of the Ludlow Massacre and there is a monument here.  The really exciting part for me was the old mining car.  Just like the ones Indiana Jones jumped about on.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1110.jpg

Not too far from the site of the massacre was the old Ludlow station -- a ghost town now.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1112.jpg

I decided we should see more ghost towns so we headed down the road to several other old mining towns.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1113.jpg

wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:41 pm
The little town of Cokedale is a former mining town and across the road are all the rows and rows of ovens where they cooked the coal. They are now on private property so I wasn't allowed to actually explore inside the old ovens.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1048.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:51 pm
Can you believe this?!! Its an actual old 'hoosegow' or jailhouse.  And it even has one of the bars pulled up.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1118.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 19, 2007, 11:57 pm
Back at the campground I made sure and updated my journals and my mission book.  I have one more mission I will be going on before we get back to Farmington, NM.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1056.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 20, 2007, 12:03 am
After a 2 mile drive up to the rim of the old volcano I was able to get out and peer down into the crater.  I was standing on a pile of cinder cones that make the huge mound we call the volcano.  After that I descended down into the crater to the core of the volcano.  This particular volcano spewed ash and fire from the core but the lava flowed out through vents on the side.  This is why we were able to walk down into the core.  It was quite a little hike coming back out and stopped to have picture taken a number of times as we climbed.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1288.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1293.jpg

Once I even got a bit far behind

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1290.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1292.jpg

It was nice to be back on the rim looking down.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1289.jpg

wourpet


Posted Jul 22, 2007, 4:21 pm
I've been back in Farmington a few days now but today I was invited along for a drive into town.  I was astounded at the exciting possibilities I discovered just down the road.  These caves are so close and they MUST have something interesting to discover in them.  I asked my host to please, please let me wander down and investigate.  She was on her own mission at the time and wasn't able but she has promised that before I leave I will be able to investigate at least one of the caves.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1401.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1400.jpg
wourpet


Posted Jul 26, 2007, 7:16 pm
Well I have finally made it to the caves.  It was rather a hike getting into them and with the wind blowing my hat off I decided to leave it in the truck.  On the long hike through the sand dunes to the caves I found some tracks.  At first I thought they might be from the beast Charlie but on closer inspection I decided they were deer tracks.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1410.jpg

Inside the cave wasn't quite as spectacular as I thought it might be and it was somewhat unsettling having tons of mountain looming overhead.  I tried climbing the cave walls to a few little hidey-holes but finally decided there were no treasures to be found.  In fact there was a fair amount of trash and broken bottles.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1411.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1412.jpg

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It was an interesting mission all the same.
wourpet


Posted Jul 26, 2007, 7:44 pm
Here is one more picture of the cave -- this was one was taken while I was standing inside the cave. 

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1415.jpg

On the hike back out to the truck I chanced across what looked like a very small cave.  My host told me now to put my nose in it to far because it was a burrow of some sort and I might spook the occupant.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1416.jpg

When we got back to my hosts house she gathered all of us together for a photo.  It was great having all my new friends together.  They aren't all Toy Voyagers but I think some of them might join us. 

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1417.jpg

In the picture are Aunt Flora and the twins Petal and Blossom, Budd, Blanche, Rosa, me, Stinger and a bear whom I don't think I have even met.  Oh, and the rather large prickly one is a very big hedge hog.

Of course the beast Charlie wanted in on the photo but he was still a little leary about getting too close to me -- so we compromised.

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r285/wourpet/Travel%20Toys/100_1420.jpg

So now I have said my goodbyes to all the other visitors and residents here and tomorrow I will be on my way to Festus, Missouri where I am looking forward to a visit with SkylerDragon

I have had a lot of exciting adventures in Colorado and New Mexico while I was here.
skylerdragon
skylerdragon@yahoo.com

Posted Aug 3, 2007, 8:47 pm
Henry arrived in my home today.  He was actually delivered yesterday, but because of the late post, I didn't pick him up until today. 

Henry seems very tired from his trip even though he was pampered for his journey. 

Matthew is of course excited to meet Henry.  As a photographer and teacher, Matthew plans to entertain Henry with visits to many of St. Louis' best attractions. 

Thanks so much for sending him.  We are going to have plenty of fun this weekend. 
skylerdragon
skylerdragon@yahoo.com

Posted Aug 11, 2007, 11:12 am
Henry had a blast at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (otherwise known as the St. Louis Arch.  He was disappointed to find that he couldn't ride to the top because a recent mechanical failure has the tram to the top closed for a while.  Still, Henry was pleased to see the arch, the courthouse, and the plaza on a very hot and bright summer day.  He also played with many friends there.
skylerdragon
skylerdragon@yahoo.com

Posted Aug 30, 2007, 10:07 am
Henry is enroute now too IN.  Hope he has a nice trip.  I thoroughly enjoyed Henry's visit. 
skylerdragon
skylerdragon@yahoo.com

Posted Sep 6, 2007, 2:23 am
I am very sorry!  I did not label the first package correctly and Henry came back to me.  I stopped by the post office today and mailed him again.  CORRECTLY THIS TIME.  I also included a Delivery Confirmation.  Sorry for the inconvenience.
kjnohr


Posted Sep 13, 2007, 12:39 am
Today, I arrived at kjnohr's place and was greeted by two other Toy Voyagers, including an old friend.  Nice to see you again, Blanche!  And great to meet you, Gerald!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1183/1367747225_ce122e9a9d.jpg

Here we on kjnohr's balcony.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1318/1367747737_cca7d9e126.jpg

We all met Jedi.  What a great cat!  :D

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1423/1368644828_628042f71f.jpg
kjnohr


Posted Oct 10, 2007, 11:37 pm
kjnohr has been so busy that she hasn't been able to take us anywhere.  But today she decided to take us to the park.  Here we are at one of the entrances.  Can you spot us?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2322/1535963203_2e84395fed.jpg

We went to see the old grist mill which is still used to grind cornmeal. 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/1536822338_110f8dd828.jpg

This is the water wheel from the back.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/1536824470_e0a331986a.jpg

This gazebo is very popular for weddings.  There was a lot of flower petals all over the ground around it.

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Here we are on a bench outside the Sugar Shack.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/1536825476_3d3c2066b2.jpg

On the steps of the sawmill.

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Checking out the workings of the sawmill.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2264/1536826412_da03e7d812.jpg
kjnohr


Posted Oct 10, 2007, 11:52 pm
Such a sad day.  I have to leave and so does Blanche.  Poor Gerald McB is losing two new friends at once.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/1535963831_49e095edb6.jpg

I hope a group hug will help!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/1536832770_6b8c371634.jpg

Here is my traveling box with all my goodies inside. 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/1535965897_52408b0a22.jpg
carlissa


Posted Nov 14, 2007, 6:33 pm
I have arrived in Miami, Florida!  I had a pleasant trip, but it sure is nice to be out of my traveling box!  Wow, this place is a real zoo!  My new host told me that there are several animals living with her, but first she wanted me to meet a Monster and see the lake.  So we went upstairs to the balcony.

The view of the lake is nice up here on the balcony.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2133/2021050712_c465de8688.jpg

Then I got to meet Monster!  I was relieved to find out that Monster was one of the cats living here!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2020251081_8ebdfa035e.jpg
carlissa


Posted Nov 15, 2007, 11:07 pm
Carlissa took me to visit her daughter's horse at Emerald Acres!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/2036049564_0ff4374cc6.jpg

I met Lucky and he wanted to eat me!  I told him that I wasn't a carrot and I didn't taste very good!  After that, we became good friends.  We didn't have time for a ride, but Carlissa said maybe we will come back another time.

Here we are together:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2117/2036049674_40d9251933.jpg

carlissa


Posted Nov 16, 2007, 10:04 pm
I had a nice time today chatting with some bears, gingerbread people, and 3 other Toy Voyagers!  MinervaMumble, and Prince Charming are here!  I told them all about my adventures and they told me about their adventures.  Some of the bears thought that my adventures sounded exciting and they wanted to become Toy Voyagers, too!

Here we are all together:


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2222/2038047767_6c99c3c547.jpg

carlissa


Posted Nov 18, 2007, 12:45 am
I had an exciting day today!  My host took me to Fairchild Tropical Botanical Garden this morning. 

First, we went to see Marjory Stoneman Douglas (she wrote a book about the Everglades).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/2041447698_647c774e89.jpg

Then I went for a ride on a flamingo!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2375/2041447606_99de08557e.jpg

Off to the rain forest and I found this cool mushroom log.  My host warned me not to eat them because they may be poisonous.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2154/2040652365_50f76e698f.jpg

After the rain forest, we went to the butterfly garden and saw lots of beautiful butterflies like this one:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2043/2041448294_9306cc5802.jpg

We walked around some more and found a lake that had turtles in it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2394/2041448564_a86b3c2219.jpg

Before we left, I wanted to climb a tree, so Carlissa helped me up into this tree:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2041448696_8610ce8519_o.jpg
carlissa


Posted Nov 20, 2007, 9:12 pm
This morning I helped Carlissa bake some pumpkin bread!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/2051111302_80da9c6606.jpg


This afternoon we went to Emerald Acres again.  First, I chatted with some of the barn dogs (Tigger, Scooby and Ears) and I told them that I was going to ride a horse today!  Tigger let me practice riding on him first since he was a little smaller than Lucky the horse.  Then we went to see Lucky.  Since I am so small, I wasn't able to handle the reins, so Carlissa's daughter put the lead line on Lucky and I got to ride bare back! 

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2081/2050327811_867cd00c3e.jpg

Wow, what a day I've had today!
carlissa


Posted Nov 27, 2007, 2:06 am
We left Miami yesterday and drove 370 miles north to Gainesville, Florida to visit Carlissa's family for Thanksgiving.  The weather was nice and we had a pleasant drive.  We arrived at Carlissa's parent's house at about 9pm last night.  We were all tired from the drive, so we went to bed early.  Today is Thanksgiving, so Carlissa is busy making a big dinner for her parents, brother, niece and her daughters.  It was nice meeting her family and having dinner with them!
carlissa


Posted Nov 27, 2007, 3:11 am
This morning we got up early and went for a walk.  Carlissa's parents and brother live  out in the woods and it's very pretty.  First, we went to see some horses that belong to Carlissa's brother (he lives next door). 

Here is Short Stuff:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2184/2066253191_8f47250681.jpg

and here is Jet:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/2066253099_5ae6bf14c7.jpg

After visiting the horses, we went to see some cows:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2209/2066253299_8d7a1d9b97.jpg

Then, back to the house for a little rest.  After we rested, we made a picnic lunch and we went to see Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park.  Devil's Millhopper is a very big sinkhole and we had to walk down many steps to get to the bottom.  There is a legend that the devil kidnapped an Indian princess and the Indians were very sad so they went after the devil to get her back.  The devil created the sinkhole to trap the Indians so he could escape with the princess.

We came back up the steps and walked around the sinkhole.  I read a sign that explains how Devil's Millhopper got its name.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2399/2066253387_8cee743fd2.jpg

Here I am resting on a bridge enjoying the view of the woods surrounding the sinkhole:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2066253565_23ca72d9f9.jpg

Then we left to go visit San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.  There are several walking trails in the park.


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2066253787_03a5d08195.jpg

We were too tired to walk on this trail, so we went back to Carlissa's parent's house.
carlissa


Posted Nov 27, 2007, 3:29 am
We drove back to Miami yesterday.  Today, Me To You (another Toy Voyager) arrived from Russia!  Prince Charming and I had a nice time chatting with him.  Me To You is the one on the right.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2261/2067839808_f3fd8b9981.jpg
carlissa


Posted Dec 2, 2007, 2:28 pm
This morning Carlissa told me that she would take us (Prince Charming, Me To You, and me) to the beach today!  She and her daughter had some errands to run in the morning, so we chatted quietly in the back seat while they released some Bookcrossing books around town.  Then we stopped for lunch at Wendy's.  After lunch, Carlissa took her daughter home, and we went to Matheson Hammock County Park

We were all thirsty after all the talking we did in the car, so we shared a cup of bo bo tea:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/2080791220_a29a5235fb.jpg

After we finished our tea, we went to see the lake:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2080006499_3ca71c151a.jpg

And we saw a big lizard while we were at the lake!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/2080791376_e15315b512.jpg

Finally, I asked Carlissa, "Well, where's the beach?"  She told me not to worry, we will go there next!  And that is just what we did!

Here I am digging holes in the sand:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2296/2080791994_0f365f39fc.jpg

And here I am climbing on some boulders with Biscayne Bay and the city of Miami in the background:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2080007253_eab7ab178e.jpg

carlissa


Posted Dec 3, 2007, 1:57 am
Today, we went downtown to a book sale at the library.  While Carlissa and her daughter browsed the books for sale, Me To You and I played together and we saw a very cool picture that was on the art museum which is next to the library.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2081836031_b8365e9499.jpg

After that, we went to have lunch.  When lunch was over, we went for a drive through Coral Gables where we found a sculpture of some very large shoes in the middle of Cartegena Circle.  The shoes must have been for a giant!

Here I am climbing up the shoelaces:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2082619310_c8785e1992_o.jpg
carlissa


Posted Dec 6, 2007, 10:43 pm
I told my host that I am a fan of Indiana Jones and she told me that she is too!  So after dinner, we watched Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/2091446163_e44fc3a84c.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2112/2091446257_9ff0676428.jpg
carlissa


Posted Dec 10, 2007, 12:51 am
Today we got up very early and went to the horse show at Tropical Park.  We got there about 5 am.  When we got there, we found out that 4 horses had escaped from their stalls and were wandering around!  We had to call the show manager's daughter to let her know that the horses were loose.  When she got there, I helped to round up the horses and get them back into their stalls.  Such excitement so early in the morning, and the show hasn't even started yet! 

After that, Carlissa's daughter had to get her horse ready for the grooming class, so I went to check out the tractor.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2208/2099470268_f33a17624a.jpg

After that, I joined Me To You at the arena to see the riders warming up.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2104/2098691027_4d64a17ecb.jpg

Then we went back to the barn and chatted:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2032/2098691331_5c54e25232.jpg
carlissa


Posted Dec 11, 2007, 8:43 pm
I've had lots of adventures and made some new friends here in Florida, but it's time to travel onward! While I was packing my bag, my friends came to wish me well on my travels:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2267/2103442575_63fe14c9f6.jpg

I am on my way to Virginia!  I am on USPS.com flight # 03071790000393097079.
3tmom


Posted Dec 19, 2007, 7:48 pm
I'm here and ready for adventure!
These guys look like adventuresome critters.
Hello, Ruzovacek, Picado, Bonnie Voyage, and Helen Bear.
3tmom


Posted Feb 1, 2008, 8:57 pm
Having said good-bye to darling Helen, I am going to wing my way to California. 
drakie


Posted Apr 1, 2008, 8:58 pm
To all my friends, if you read this we are not sure where Henry the Adventure hound is, we cannot contact the last host.  The host has not listed anything to his log - hopefully he will turn up, if not thank you for everyone hosting Henry and it is sad that he has not returned home
drakie


Posted May 14, 2008, 8:13 pm
Henry has today arrived home, after being missing.  I am so excited.... thank you to everyone involved.  Hopefully once sorted he will be back on his trails very soon.

drakie


Posted Jun 6, 2008, 8:23 am
Henry is now on his way to Lejow... on the plane... After some confusion on my mummys part, I the Hound is going on the Dutch Trail.  To Lejow, now theres a girl with some sense.. I think my mummy is losing her marbles!!!!
Lejow


Posted Jun 16, 2008, 11:42 am
Hello!
this week I arrived in the Netherlands
I heared two voices...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/envelop1-1.jpg

Who were they?
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/envelop2-1.jpg

Since I can't see trough an envelope, I decided to came out and show them the things I brought with me.
Pimboli and Rex where waiting for me!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/envelop3-1.jpg

we had a short talk
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/envelop4.jpg

Cause it was time to say goodbey to Pimboli, unfortunate we hadn't long together.. Maybe we meet again in the future.
Bye Pimbo!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/envelop6.jpg

hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 16, 2008, 11:47 am
Hello!
This sunday it was Fathersday here in Holland, so we went to the camping, where Lejows parents in law were staying.

We had such a good weather and we saw a lot.

On the way to it I saw windmills
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henry1.jpg

industrial things from Pernis, one of the largest industrial places in the Netherlands
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henry2.jpg
(although I have to say you see more off me, than off Pernis haha)

When we got there I saw the caravan, what a cool thing!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/caravan.jpg

the garden
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/tuin.jpg

and a lighthouse!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/vuurtoren.jpg

After sitting in the sun for serveral hours we went back home.
We relaxed in the car
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/weg.jpg

But suddenly Lejow stopped..
A trafic jam!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/file.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/file4.jpg
after 30 minutes we finally drove trough it.
It was a nice.. and hot.. weekend!

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 5:08 pm
Hello!
Here I am again! This week Lejow showed us Poeldijk, thats the place she is living.

This is the Church of Poeldijk, the tower uses to be the highest point of the Westland (municipality where Poeldijk is part off)
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrykerk1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrykerk2.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrykerk3.jpg

The sign you see when you drive into Poeldijk
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/Poeldijk.jpg
Do you see mee?

And these are glass Warehouses, het Westland is full of it. In the glass warehouses, people are growing plants, flowers and vegetables. Because of the bad weather overhere. In the glass warehouses it is allways hot, and the thing inside can get light when ever the want to, so they would grow faster.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrykas2.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrykas1.jpg

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 20, 2008, 5:12 pm
Hello!!
Finnallyyy it is weekend!
Lejow showed us around her house today.
At first she showed us the view from her balcony, it is marvoulous!!!!

front
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/uitzicht1.jpg
Do you see the church again?

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/uitzicht2.jpg

back
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/uitzicht3.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/uitzicht4.jpg

then we went looking for some beautiful flowers, look what we have found!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrybloem1.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henrybloem2.jpg

No I am going to eat and enjoy the weekend!
Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 22, 2008, 9:07 pm
Hello!

This weekend an envelop arrived... We were a little scared of the 'thing' that came out.
I talked a little with Rex..
What was it??
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/count.jpg

When we were a little bit calmed down, we decided to go and talk...
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000106.jpg

He wasn't scary at al!!! It is Count!!!
And he showed us where he came from
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000107.jpg
He came from Finland!! He and Rex immediatly started to talk in Finnish.. I couldn't understand it at all.. But soon they saw me dissapointed and remember that I don't speak Finnish and started to talk in English again.

Later this evening we watched the sunset
Wow it is pretty
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/henry.jpg
Do you see my hat??  :D

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 26, 2008, 5:23 pm
Hello!
Yesterday we went to Lejows girlfriend, she is building in her house.
We helped her a little!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000111.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000118.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000122.jpg

pulling uit nails
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000124.jpg

view
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000121.jpg

Look at all the hard work we did!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000127.jpg

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 28, 2008, 3:11 pm
Hello!!!
Today we did some animal-seeing!
What a variety of animals Lejow has in her Neighbourhood!!

We saw a Bambi!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6280002.jpg

We saw a goat!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/28062008342.jpg

and we saw some flamingo's! Unfortunate, we couldn't get any closer.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/28062008346.jpg

Have a nice weekend!
Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jun 30, 2008, 5:40 pm
Hello!
We had an exciting weekend!!
Yesterday we went to see the Centre of Rotterdam.
We went by Metro
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290005.jpg

When we arrived and got out, we saw the trainstation, and two trains where just arriving!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290011.jpg

There we saw some marvolous buildings
We saw the Cubic houses.
Here is some info:
Kubuswoningen, or cube houses, are a set of innovative houses built in Rotterdam and Helmond in The Netherlands, designed by architect Piet Blom in 1984. The houses in Rotterdam are located on Overblaak Street, and beside the Blaak Subway Station. Blom tilted the cube of a conventional house 45 degrees, and rested it upon a hexagon-shaped pylon. There are 38 small cubes and two so called 'super-cubes', all attached to each other.

As residents are disturbed so often by curious passers-by, one owner decided to open a "show cube", which is furnished as a normal house, and is making a living out of offering tours to visitors.

The houses contain three floors:
ground floor entrance
first floor with living room and open kitchen
second floor with two bedrooms and bathroom
top floor which is sometimes used as a small garden

The walls and windows are angled at 54.7 degrees. The total area of the apartment is around 100 square meters, but around a quarter of the space is unusable because of the walls that are under the angled ceilings
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290008.jpg

Next to the cubes houses you will see another designed building by the Dutch architect Piet Blom (1934-1999). It is called the Blaaktower and has the shape of a pencil, that is why it is popular called 'The Pencil', Het Potlood
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290009.jpg

Yesterdayevening we watch the Final of the European Championship of Football.
a match between Spain and Germany (the Netherlands have made it to the quarter finals). And wooowww it was exciting!
They both played very good. But only one was the best.
Spain has won with 1-0
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290014.jpg
getting the medals

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P6290021.jpg
getting the cup

hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 4, 2008, 2:25 pm
Hello!!
Since Lejow hurt her back yesterday very very much, she wasn't able to work today. So we went baking little cakes!!

Step 1: Getting al the ingredients
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000236.jpg

Step 2: Get everything out of the box
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000237.jpg

Step 3: read the recepy
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000237.jpg

Step 4: Mixing everything
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000241.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000242.jpg

Step 5: Putting it in the cakecups
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000245.jpg

Step 6: Then, in the oven!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000247.jpg

Step 7: 15 minutes later, PLING!! Done!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000249.jpg

Step 8: Making the Icing
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000251.jpg

Step 9: decorating!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000253.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000255.jpg

Step 10: completely done!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000258.jpg

Enjoy!!
Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 11, 2008, 8:54 am
Olaaa!
Yesterday we went to the harbour of Hoek van Holland.
The Stenaline is going from there the England.
We were just in time to see him take off!

Unfortunate it was such such such a bad weather!
But You still can see a little :D

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000275.jpg
Stenaline

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000277.jpg
Harbour

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000282.jpg
More of the harbour

Hug from Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 11, 2008, 10:58 pm
Helloooo!

Today we went to Scheveningen again. We went to see a movie and see the sunset.
We saw Kung Fu Panda, and laughed a looooot!

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000317.jpg
First we played in the sand

and after that we saw the beautiful sunset. It was raining the whole day, but it in the afternoon the sun appeard and showed us this!!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000312.jpg

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 15, 2008, 9:34 pm
Hello!
I had the most wonderfull, awsome, exciting weekend EVER!!
Lejow had a short holiday break with her boyfriend, and she took us (the TV's) with her.
We went to a place called Nijkerk.

Sunday we first went to the zoo in Amersfoort.
Wow, it was so beautiful
We saw so much animals, even dinosaures!!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000368.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000383.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000387.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000421.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000442.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000447.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000467.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000536.jpg

The dinosaures
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000517.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000522.jpg
Wroaaarr

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 15, 2008, 9:50 pm
This is the hotel we were sleaping in, it was beautiful and had a nice bed

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000602.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000604.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000653.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000670.jpg

Mondat evening we went to the beach
It was nice and sunny
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000610.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000613.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000646.jpg

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 15, 2008, 10:07 pm
Today, the last day, we went to a some kind of Castle.
At least, what we thought that it was :)
There were people living, so we could get any closer, or even inside of it..
That was a pitty!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000656.jpg
It was called 'Oldenaller'

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000660.jpg

Later this day we went to a TV toys museum. They had all kinds off tv puppets over there.
We weren't allowed to make pictures, but I secretly got on the picture with Dexter
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/nijkerk/P1000684.jpg

Now we are home, and tired
Time to sleep!!

Hug Henry
Lejow


Posted Jul 19, 2008, 4:31 pm
Hello!!
This was a strange day, al three of us went traveling further to the next host

We gave each other a big hug, and than it was time to go in the boxes and envelope

Bye Bye Lejow, Bye Bye Poeldijk!
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000688.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000689.jpg

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y68/sweetangelleonie/P1000690.jpg
magicwoman


Posted Jul 22, 2008, 4:19 pm
Hi Mum
today I arrived at Magicwoman's house.Finally,cause it was very warm in the box.But I was not alone in the box Count was travelling with me :D
It was very cosy just the 2 of us in this box
The weather is warm here.
Trafalgar that is another toyvoyager stayed at Magicwoman  her house (marije is her real name she told me ) to .
Pictures soon,I take a nap cause i'm so tired now

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Jul 23, 2008, 3:34 pm
Hi mum
Here are the pictures of my arrival yesterday!

here i am with count and finally out of the box

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0797.jpg

me,Count and Trafalgar

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0798.jpg

More photos soon
Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Jul 28, 2008, 5:21 pm
Hi mum
Today I discovered the area were i am at the moment.

Look this is the view out of the window.
The building houses at the other side of the street.
every moring I woke up with a lot of noise from this
I hate this

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0800.jpg

my host (Marije)
has a real eletric guitar,and here i am with the electric guitar!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0801.jpg

The dutch soccer "welpies"says hello to me

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0803.jpg

And I said goodbye to Trafalgar,he  leaves this day ,and going to his next host
BYE BYE TRAFALGAR,I am gonna miss you

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0804.jpg

bye bye
Henry

magicwoman


Posted Jul 29, 2008, 9:22 pm
Hi Mum
Today I helped Marije with cooking a meal.It was chicken with rice,with tomato-cream sauce.

but first I have to add the rice in the boiling water

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0805.jpg

cutting the onion

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0808.jpg

While the food was cooking,I watched TV

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0811.jpg

and ...finally..the food was finished
It looks dsgusting ...but it was yummy!!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0812.jpg

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 3, 2008, 12:28 pm
Hi Mum
Today I've picnic togheter with count.It was really delicious and cosy!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0825.jpg

Count wanted to taste the wine,it was good wine he told me

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0826.jpg

After that my belly was very full,so I played in the garden
First I ride a bike

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0827.jpg

Then just sit down and relax

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0828.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0829.jpg

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 5, 2008, 4:33 pm
Hi Mum
yesterday I was taking a walk,and Marije showed me the shopping centre of Ede

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0832.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0830.jpg

hmm..look at the big ice cream :D

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0835.jpg

Today I visited a castle in a Dutch village called Doorwerth

Here is the story about Doorwerth

Doorwerth Castle is a medieval castle situated on the river Rhine near the city of Arnhem, Netherlands.

The first castle, probably wooden, was first mentioned in 1260 when it was besieged and burned to the ground, after which it was rebuilt in stone. In 1280 this second castle was again besieged and this time the bailey was burned down. This original castle probably consisted of a simple hall-keep, two stories high and with 1.20 meter thick walls and a surrounding moat which was fed by the nearby river Rhine.

During the 14th century the castle was continually enlarged. Until 1402 Doorwerth Castle was the property of the Van Dorenweerd family. Then it was dedicated to the Count of Gelre; Reinald IV by Robert van Dorenweerd. In return Robert was granted the castle and its land in fief. Around the middle of the 15th century the castle was enlarged again, this time by knight Reinald van Homoet, the 10th Lord of Dorenweerd, who was also the owner of Doornenburg Castle.

Doorwerth Castle reached its largest form just after the middle of the 16th century under Daem Schellart van Obbendorf, the 15th Lord of Dorenweerd. He made the castle and the group of buildings on the bailey into a unity and adjusted them to the need for more space and comfort. So by 1560 Doorwerth Castle had almost reached its present appearance. Around 1637 the bailey was rebuilt to its present appearance and a dike was build around the castle to prevent it from floodings by the river Rhine.

Shortly after, the castle changed ownership due to financial problems and was granted in fief to a German Count; Anton I van Aldenburg. His successors didn't alter the castle or the bailey but only acquired more land. At the end of the 18th century the castle wasn't inhabited any more, but was looked after by a steward for its owners who now lived in England.

As a result, the castle was in a neglected state when it was bought, in 1837, by the baron JAP. van Brakell. He carried out a thorough restoration and a complete modernization of the castle. This revival of the castle only lasted for a short time, for after the baron's death in 1844 the castle again fell into neglect; it would have certainly crumbled away had it not been bought, in 1910, by a retired artillery officer; FA. Hoefer. Again the castle was thoroughly restored, undoing some of the 19th century alterations and additions. And after 1913 it was used as a Dutch Artillery Museum.

The castle suffered heavily in 1944 when it was transformed into a cheerless ruin as a result of German destructiveness and Allied shelling. Directly after WW II a lengthy restoration followed that lasted until 1983. By then the castle was back into its 18th century state and was owned by the "Friends of the Castles of Gelderland"-foundation who now maintain the castle as a museum.


a sign

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0837.jpg

me and the castle

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0839.jpg

unfortunately it was not allowed to made pictures inside the castle :(

in the castle garden

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0840.jpg

at the stair

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0842.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0845.jpg

a good shot of the castle

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0846.jpg

After that I take a walk in the castle garden


a Dutch landscape

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0849.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0850.jpg

take a rest on the wooden couch

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0854.jpg

The front of the castle

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0856.jpg

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 7, 2008, 6:30 pm
Hi Mum
Yesterday I visit a Dutch village called "Harderwijk"
Harderwijk is in the Dutch province "Gelderland"
It is the same province as were Ede is!
Harderwijk is famoush in Holland because of his eel
There are many eels there and you can eat it!

Look at this eels they are swimming in the tank full of water,and you can pick one of those for eating

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0858.jpg

This is me
At the corner you see a mill,it is typical Dutch

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0860.jpg

me and a bridge
This bridge goes up,when a boat is approaching
If he not goed up,the boat will crash against the bridge

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0862.jpg

Me and a postcard from Ede

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0869.jpg

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 12, 2008, 5:41 pm
Hi mum
Just a short update this day
Yesterday I visit the zoo,look how curious the parrot is

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0874.jpg


And today I had a meeting with other Toyvoyager,I was visit Eryah at Alkmaar,Marije is a friend of Eryah,and we had so mucht fun with all the Toyvoyagers.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0877.jpg
from the left to the right:

me,Count,Mulalu,Strider,HitchaRideDooey  and Roots Bear

me and all the other TV's with Eryah her cat Isis

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0881.jpg

more photos soon
bye bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 13, 2008, 5:04 pm
Hi mum
Today I visit museum,it is a Dutch museaum,and they have old houses and farmhouses there,they showed how it was back in the early days in Holland.
In Holland we called this museum "openlucht museum"in English it is"open air museum"

an old farmhouse from holland


http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0882.jpg

at the museaum there was a forrest to,and we take a walk into it

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0883.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0886.jpg

you can see between the trees,and old farmhouse

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0887.jpg

a mill again,I am in Holland and a lot of mills are here offcourse,cause Holland is famoush because his mills.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0890.jpg

Dutch cows are graze in the grassland,and at the backside a mill again

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0892.jpg

this is a farmhouse,from the Dutch province "Groningen"
Groningen is in the north of Holland
And this is a huge farmhouse
You can see it on the map of Holland,Groningen is the orange province at the top of Holland!
Ede is in the province Gelderland the big blue spot in the middle of Holland!

http://www.tripsinnederland.nl/images/maps/map_province_5.png

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0893.jpg

It was a nice day
Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 20, 2008, 12:21 pm
Hi mum
Yesterday I visited the Capital of Holland AMSTERDAM!
It was so great,to see amsterdam,and I was so glad that Marije took me to Amsterdam 
Here are the pictures

Here you see the Royal Palace of Amsterdam

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0898.jpg

The Royal Palace in Amsterdam (Koninklijk Paleis te Amsterdam in Dutch) is one of three palaces in the Netherlands which is at the disposal of Queen Beatrix by Act of Parliament. It is situated in the west side of Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam, opposite the War Memorial and next to the Nieuwe Kerk.

a good view at one of the canals Amsterdam has,Amsterdam has many canals,and this is one of those

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0903.jpg

This is a typical pole from Amsterdam it is called a "Amsterdammertje"in Dutch
The three crosses on the pole is the weapon of amsterdam

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0906.jpg

When you are in Amsterdam you have to see the coffeeshop,I know its wrong to go in it  ;) but it is typical Dutch

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0908.jpg

And I was feeling home in Amsterdam,I saw the Brittish flag,it was wonderful :D

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0909.jpg

Bye Bye
Henry
magicwoman


Posted Aug 21, 2008, 3:43 pm
Hi Mum
Today I'm saying goodbye to magicwoman and Count.I am going to Eryah at Alkmaar the Netherlands,I had such a great time here,and saying goodbye is always very diffycult.Offcourse i'm a bit sad,but I'm sure I'm having a great time spending at Eryah her house :D

Giving Count a big goodbye hug

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0911.jpg

and now its time to get into the enveloppe

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e361/marije22000/100_0912.jpg

Bye Bye Count
Bye Bye Magicwoman

Greets
Henry the adventure hound
Eryah


Posted Aug 23, 2008, 2:08 pm
Hello!

Today i arrived in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. Pictures of my arrivel comes soon.

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 24, 2008, 1:59 pm
Hello!

I finally have some time to show you the pictures. Here is was sitting in my envelope, but this time it wasn't a big suprise were i was because i allready met Eva when Magicwoman visit her.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/henry001.jpg

It was so much fun to see the others again!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/henry002.jpg

This are:
* HitchaRideDooey
* Mulalu
* Roots bear
* Muumipeikko
* Strider

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 24, 2008, 2:01 pm
Hello!

Because Eva isn't able to go outside at the moment we decided to show you information and sites about Alkmaar at another way. I hope you enjoy it!

Cheesemarket:

This cheese market is open every Friday morning between 10 and 12 from the first Friday in April until the first Friday in September. Market activities are explained in Dutch, German, English and sometimes Japanese. There are four teams (vemen) of cheese-porters (kaasdragers), who can be recognised by their differently coloured straw hats: red, blue, green and yellow. Two porters bring cheese on stretchers to the weighing house (Waag) - a typical stretcher "weighs in" at about 160 kilograms. Merchants sample the cheeses and decide on a price using a barter system called handjeklap, literally clapping hands.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt027.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt018.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt026.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kaasmarkt028.jpg

Ruin church in Bergen:
This picturesque ruin church in Bergen once was the biggest church in Noord-Holland. From the 16th century church there is only a ruin left now, because the Beggars started a fire here. Only the choir of the church was rebuilt, so from the original church you can now only see the ruins.
In the village Bergen in Noord-Holland there are many beautiful old houses situated around the old village church.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruine004.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruine005.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen015.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen010.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen009.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen008.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen007.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen006.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/ruinekerkbergen002.jpg

Big church
During building the largest medieval church in Alkmaar, the church was already called the big church, because of its size. The big church is not only the largest and highest church in Alkmaar, but also the church which trough the centuries, stood most and called the jewel of the city. Originally the church was dedicated to Saint Laurens. That’s why, for centuries, the church is called The Saint Laurenschurch.

The church was probably designed by architect Anthonius Keldermans (Belgium) (1440-1512)

Beside Anthonius Keldermans brother, also his son was involved in the disign of the church, in which 26 freestanding columns support the roof. The Saint Laurens church is a basilica,

The outside walls rest on a fundation which is just below the ground. Built in the Brabant’s gothic style, which is bigger and more massive in its form than the French gothic. The building is 35 meters high and has a cross length of 85x56 meters. The outside walls rest on a one meter broad foundation which is just below thethe ground, and gradually becomes broader to a depth of tree meters. The last resauration of in-and exterieur was accomplished in 1996.

The large saint Laurens church counts two, world famous organs: Van Covelens organ (also called choir organ) and it VanHagerbeer/Schnitger or large organ. The choir organ descends from 1511 and has been placed against the northern wall of the church. The last restoration of this old, still playable, organ in the Netherlands, was completed in the year 2000. In 1636 arose the idea for the construction of a large organ in the church. Several organ builders have worked on it, but in 1645 Jacobus Caltus van Hagerbeer completed the large organ. Jacob Van Campen devised the organ cupboard and in 1643  Caesar Van Everdingen got the task to paint the doors of the organ cupboard with the ‘triomfe van den Coninck Saul’. This painting belongs to his first large work. Above the organ the painter Romeyn de Hooghe painted in baroque striking, (‘de deugd, die de ondeugd verplettert’)" virtue crushing the vice". From 1723 up to 1725 the large organ was restored and extended by Frans Caspar Schnitger. In course of time there have been several restorations on this organ.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kerken019.jpg
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/kerken020.jpg


St. Joseph Church
This church was put in use in 1910. Designed by famous church builders and students of PJH Cuypers, the Margry brothers. The church is built in neo-gothic style, which shows by the way the towers are placed and by the arched roofs.

The church is placed beautifully and is in possession of wonderful stained glass windows. The statue of Christ has been placed in 1948, in memory of Alkmaar war-victims. Their names are placed on a memorial plaque on the churches wall.
http://www.alkmaar.nl/monument/monument/foto/Dscn9758.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 24, 2008, 2:22 pm
Hello!

Today we asked Eva to tell us everything she know about Alkmaar and the Netherlands. She told us some funny stories!

Alkmaar is above all Holland's cheese town. During the season from the first Friday of April to the first Friday of September a traditional cheese market is being held here on Friday mornings between 10 and 12.30. The cheeses are sold by dealers on a clap of hands. Thereupon the 400 year old cheese porters' guild goes into action, carrying the cheese off on barrows after the lot has been weighed at the Waag (the official scales). In the Waaggebouw - in which the scales are housed - a cheese museum that tells everything about dairy farming has been established.
Cheese has been weighed in Alkmaar since 1635.

Alkmaar is historical with around 400 monuments. The Waag, dating back in its earliest form to the 14th century, the 16th century town-hall, Grote St. Laurens Church and the many courtyards, facades and canals give the town an ambience all of its own. With the past as a setting, the town has a modern stock of shops offering a wide choice. Besides the predominantly small shops in the old centre, the Noorder Arcade with large scale shopping facilities stands by the side of the Noord Holland Canal.

Alkmaar is the biggest town in the region. Relaxation can also be found in the Geestmerambacht recreational area close by.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/vanalles002-1.jpg


The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland]) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba in the Caribbean. The Netherlands is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy, located in Western Europe. It is bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.

The Netherlands is often called Holland. This is formally incorrect as North and South Holland in the western Netherlands are only two of the country's twelve provinces. As a matter of fact, many Dutch people colloquially use Holland as a synecdoche, being well aware of the widespread use of this name. For more on this and other naming issues see terminology of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is a geographically low-lying and densely populated country. It is popularly known for its traditional windmills, tulips, cheese, clogs (wooden shoes), delftware and gouda pottery, for its bicycles, its dikes and surge barriers, and, on the other hand, traditional values and civil virtues such as its classic social tolerance. But primarily, the Netherlands is a modern, advanced and open society. An old parliamentary democracy, the country is more recently known for its rather liberal policies toward recreational drugs, prostitution, homosexuality, abortion, and euthanasia. The Netherlands is also one of the most densely cabled countries in the world; its internet connection rate is 87.8%, the 2nd highest in the world.

The Netherlands has an international outlook; among other affiliations the country is a founding member of the European Union (EU), NATO, the OECD, and has signed the Kyoto protocol. Along with Belgium and Luxembourg, the Netherlands is one of three member nations of the Benelux economic union. The country is host to five international(ised) courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. All of these courts (except the Special Tribunal for Lebanon), as well as the EU's criminal intelligence agency (Europol), are situated in The Hague, which has led to the city being referred to as "the world's legal capital."

A remarkable aspect of the Netherlands is its flatness. Hilly landscapes can be found only in the south-eastern tip of the country on the foothills of the Ardennes, the central part and where the glaciers pushed up several hilly ridges such as the Hondsrug in Drenthe, the stuwwallen (push moraines) near Arnhem and Nijmegen, Salland, Twente and the Utrechtse Heuvelrug.



Religion
Main article: Religion in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is one of the more secular countries in the Western Europe, with only 39% being religiously affiliated (31% for those aged under 35), although 62% are believers (but 40% of those not in the traditional sense). Fewer than 20% visit church regularly .

According to the most recent Eurobarometer Poll 2005, 34% of Dutch citizens responded that "they believe there is a god", whereas 37% answered that "they believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 27% that "they do not believe there is any sort of spirit, god, or life force".

In 1950, before the secularisation of Europe, and the large settlement of non-Europeans in the Netherlands, most Dutch citizens identified themselves as Christians. In 1950, out of a total population of almost 13 million, a total of 7,261,000 belonged to Protestant denominations, 3,703,000 belonged to the Roman Catholic Church, and 1,641,000 had no acknowledged religion.

However, Christian schools are still funded by the government, but the same applies for schools founded on other religions, nowadays Islam in particular. While all schools must meet strict quality criteria, from 1917 the freedom of schools is a basic principle in The Netherlands.

Three political parties in the Dutch parliament (CDA, ChristianUnion and SGP) base their policy on the Christian belief system.


Culture
Erasmus (1466–1536).The Netherlands has had many well-known painters. The 17th century, when the Dutch republic was prosperous, was the age of the "Dutch Masters", such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, Jacob van Ruysdael and many others. Famous Dutch painters of the 19th and 20th century were Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondriaan. M. C. Escher is a well-known graphics artist. Willem de Kooning was born and trained in Rotterdam, although he is considered to have reached acclaim as an American artist. Han van Meegeren was an infamous Dutch art forger.

The Netherlands is the country of philosophers Erasmus of Rotterdam and Spinoza. All of Descartes' major work was done in the Netherlands. The Dutch scientist Christiaan Huygens (1629–1695) discovered Saturn's moon Titan and invented the pendulum clock. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was the first to observe and describe single-celled organisms with a microscope.

In the Dutch Golden Age, literature flourished as well, with Joost van den Vondel and P.C. Hooft as the two most famous writers. In the 19th century, Multatuli wrote about the bad treatment of the natives in Dutch colonies. Important 20th century authors include Harry Mulisch, Jan Wolkers, Simon Vestdijk, Cees Nooteboom, Gerard (van het) Reve and Willem Frederik Hermans. Anne Frank's Diary of a Young Girl was published after she died in The Holocaust and translated from Dutch to all major languages.

Replicas of Dutch buildings can be found in Huis ten Bosch, Nagasaki, Japan. A similar Holland Village is being built in Shenyang, China.

Windmills, tulips, wooden shoes, cheese and Delftware pottery are among the items associated with the Netherlands.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/vanalles001-1.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 24, 2008, 2:26 pm
Hello!

Today it is time to discover the house and garden i'm visit. The garden was the first thing i wanted to see because Eva lives by the water, but suddenly something else needed my attention.

They have a lovely house here in the garden. There are living two dwarfes in the house. Isn't it beautifull?
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/vanalles003-1.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/vanalles004-1.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 24, 2008, 2:35 pm
Hello!

I ride on a bike today! It was scary! But i also love to do it! Fortunate for me the bike has wheels on the frame. So i kept well in balance.
Look at me mum!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/vanalles006-1.jpg


When i'm home a want a bike for myself. You feel the wind and you can go fast if you want. I notice that in Holland they do not wear helmets for their safety. Everybody here rides on a bike and the people learn it to there children almost before they can walk. I looked my eyes out.

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 27, 2008, 5:11 pm
Hello!

Today we eat a typical dutch snack called 'kroketten'. It taste delicious! We also eat áardappelballetjes'.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/afscheidstrider001.jpg

Because we learned a new dutch word we askes Eva to tell us more. Here's a list of the words i learn:

stuffed animal = knuffel
hug = knuffel
kiss= zoen
i love you = ik hou van jou
thanks = bedankt
you're welcome = graag gedaan
the Netherlands = Nederland
bye = doeg or doei
hello = hallo


Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 27, 2008, 5:14 pm
Hello!

Today we said goodbye to Strider. He's going home now. I'm gonna miss him a lot! It was great to get to know him, because he is such a sweet and funny bear.

Bye Strider!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/afscheidstrider003.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Aug 30, 2008, 5:34 pm
Hello!

Today it was time to say goodbye to Roots bear. He's joining the dutch trail so he's going to a friend of Eva. He was saying goodbye to us, but suddenly HitchaRideDooey asked him if he can join him on his trip. Dooey never travels alone, so this was a great oppertunity for him. Roots said yes, so now we had to say goodbye to both of them.

Hopefully we will meet again!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/denr003.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 2, 2008, 1:21 pm
Hello!

Today we baked 'cakejes'. They are delicious!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/cakejes001.jpg

Here we have all the ingredients to make them.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/cakejes002.jpg

The cakejes are ready!

But now we still have to decorate them. We used circus animals and little balls.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/cakejes003.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 6, 2008, 6:29 pm
Hello!

Today we celebrate the birthday of Eva her son Mirdin.

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin003.jpg
First we decorate the house with 'slingers' and 'balonnen'.

After that we ate a delicious pie!
There were 4 candles on it and mirdin blow them out in a second.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin006.jpg

Suddenly the doorbell ring. Eva didn't expected more people. It was an envelope with a tv in it!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin015.jpg

It was Amelie! Great to meet a tv with the name wich inspired people to host toyvoyagers.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin016.jpg

Eva and Mirdin asked us to help making little presents for the children in his class. We wanna do that!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin017.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin018.jpg

Tadaaaaa!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/verjaardagMirdin019.jpg

It was a great day!

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 10, 2008, 3:09 pm
Hello!

Today it was time to say goodbye to Mulalu. He's going to Marjolein who also lives in the Netherlands. I'm gonna miss him, because he is a great guy. I wish him all the best on his travel.

Bye Mulalu!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/Mirdin002.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 2:52 pm
Hello!

Today we played with Mirdin his toys. We played with his little puppets and garage. It was a lot of fun!
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles001.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles002.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 3:03 pm
Hello!
Today we met the pets that live here.

This is Isis. She is a sweet fluffy eleven years old cat. She sleeps most of the time.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles006.jpg

This is Mammoet. He is a sweet rabbit.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles003.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 3:13 pm
Hello!

Today i wanna do something creative. Eva her mother paints a lot so she learned me to paint.

This is what i made, tadaaaaa:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles009.jpg

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 3:19 pm
Hello!

Today we meet local cartoon caracters because it is a life mission of Muumipeikko.

This are Woezel and Pip
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/alles012.jpg


They told us their story:
We are caracters from a story for children here in Holland.
The woman who brings us to life is Guusje Nederhorst. For many years Guusje played in a soap called "Goede tijden slechte tijden'' (good times bad times).
In 2002 she discovered her real passion: writing stories for children. That was the beginning of Woezel and Pip. Two inseparable dogs who experience funny and sometimes naughty adventures.
The little novels are a big hit here in Holland.
Unfortunally Guusje never had the change to see how many children enjoy the adventures of Woezel and Pip. She got breast cancer and died in 2004. Her husband set up the Guusje Nederhorst foundation as a memory for her creative, headstrong and brave personality.

Big hugs Henry
Eryah


Posted Sep 16, 2008, 4:27 pm
Hello!

Today it is my last time in Alkmaar, the Netherlands.
I had a great time here, but it's time for me to move on.
First it was time to say goodbye to Amelie and Muumipeikko.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b65/Eryah/toyvoyagers/goeie.jpg

Bye Alkmaar, Leidschendam here i come!

Big hugs Henry
Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Sep 18, 2008, 7:17 pm
I arrived at Charda's place today. I met Roots Bear and HitchaRideDooey here again.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_4062.jpg
Tonight we watched an online video of Prinsjesdag. It's a Dutch tradition where the queen tells the government and everyone in the country what the policy will be in the next year. First she travels in this golden carriage.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_4066.jpg
And this is the Queen of the Netherlands: Queen Beatrix.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_4070.jpg

Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Sep 21, 2008, 11:03 pm
Last Friday a new tv arrived, called Beatritsche!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2384.jpg
Today we accompanied our host to her work. She wasn't able to take any pictures there, so we just sat inside her bag and listened to the security people who were guarding the bag while our host was working. After just a few hours our host came back, fetched the bag from the security people and went outside. She then took us for a small walk through The Hague. Here I am in front of the Buitenhof. This is where the government convenes and where they take all the big decisions.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00202.jpg
Here I am in front of a statue of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. He was a Dutch stateman in the 16th century.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00206.jpg

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00207.jpg

This sofa was made of mosaic tiles for an art project in the city. It wasn't really comfortable, but it was pretty.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00215.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00216.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00217.jpg

This is the other side of the Buitenhof. The little tower in the middle of the picture is where the prime minister resides.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00221.jpg

Here's another Dutch statue called 'Kleine Jantje'.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00226.jpg

This is the skyline of The Hague. The building on the left is the railway station, the central station of The Hague.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00234.jpg

And to top it off: here's me with a Dutch lamppost.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00235.jpg

Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Oct 3, 2008, 11:08 pm
Today we received a box by mail from Germany! Our host has participated in the Random Acts Part 2 challenge. This is what she received:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2388.jpg

And look at these pretty flowers she also received today:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2398.jpg

Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Oct 13, 2008, 10:13 pm
Today our host brought us along to Leiden where her university is. And because the weather was really nice today, we got to see something of the city. Here I am in front of a statue of Rembrandt, a famous painter who was born in this city.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00242.jpg
There's lots of water everywhere here in the Netherlands:
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00247.jpg
And of course, a Dutch windmill.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00251.jpg
More water, but also a very pretty sight.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00256.jpg
Here's another statue of the painter Rembrandt.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00259.jpg
And this is one of his paintings, mounted on the wall behind me.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00260.jpg
And finally, some more water and Dutch trees.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/DSC00268.jpg

Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Oct 23, 2008, 8:00 pm
Today Synapse, Hoppity and Resi and Chipper left us. We wished them all the best and hope to meet them again some day!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2409.jpg
We were sad to see them leaving, but then the doorbell rang and two new TVs arrived! Count and Ambrosius!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2410.jpg

Charda
charda1982@gmail.com

Posted Oct 26, 2008, 5:46 pm
This morning we had a really nice breakfast with fresh croissants. We baked them off ourselves and it smelled delicious!
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2428.jpg
Look at the picture of the windmills on the cheese package. That looks pretty Dutch, right :)
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f233/Charda1982/IMG_2429.jpg

Marjolein


Posted Nov 1, 2008, 2:33 pm
Hello!

I went with Marjolein on a schooltrip to Hilversum!

We went to the Centre for Images and Sound (Centrum voor Beeld en Geluid & www.beeldengeluid.nl), this is a sort of museum where they keep (almost) all the images and sounds ever transmitted by Dutch people. We weren't allowed to make photo's inside the building because of copyright, but the building itself is also beautiful.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6614.jpg

The building is located in Hilversum. This is also the place, where the Dutch media is located. Especially in the area of the building of Beeld en Geluid. This is the Mediapark. Almost all the tv- and radiomedia work here.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6615.jpg

In the mediapark, the Dutch politican Pim Fortuyn was murderered in 2002. He just had an interview on the radio.

Inside the building of Beeld en Geluid you can look at lots of old Dutch tv-shows. But they also have foreign tv. And cartoons. You name it, they have it! You can make your own radioshow or read the news. It was good fun!

They keep about 700.000 hours of radio, television, music and movies. That makes them one of the biggest audiovisual archieves of Europe. They keep all this stuff in about six stories under the ground.

Bye bye Henry
Marjolein


Posted Nov 8, 2008, 10:35 pm
Goodday!

I went with Marjolein to visit her best friend Dieuwerke in Groningen. She has a new room and we had to check it out! It's a studentroom in a studenthouse. It looks like this:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6630.jpg

She has her own kitchen in her room.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6629.jpg

We helped her put a cool tree made of stickers on her wall.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6628.jpg

We watched cool movies and stayed up late, it was much fun!

Bye bye Henry
Marjolein


Posted Dec 14, 2008, 11:59 am
Dear mum,

It's the time of the year for christmasmarkets in Germany again! Marjolein and her family go to Oldenburg every year. But this time they decided to go to Leer.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6682.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6685.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6686.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6687.jpg

We drank some Gluhwein, it was very good.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6702.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6703.jpg

They also had fairytales! This is me with Sleeping Beauty.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6707.jpg

It was great fun!

Henry

Marjolein


Posted Dec 14, 2008, 12:01 pm
But wait! It was very cool in Leer, but Marjolein convinced her mother to also go to Oldenburg!

This is where they always park.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6716.jpg

Look it this market, doesn't it look much cooler than the one in Leer? It's certainly much bigger.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6720.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6721.jpg

And as we walked in Oldenburg, it turned dark and all the christmaslights went on, doesn't it looks beautiful?

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6726.jpg

We ate a lot and bought a lot and had so much fun!

Henry


Marjolein


Posted Dec 14, 2008, 12:04 pm
Hello!

I went to Amsterdam today!

Marjolein wanted to visit the Rijksmuseum to see the skull made by Damien Hirst called For the love of God. We weren't allowed to make photo's inside the museum, but this is what it looks like on the outside.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6745.jpg

This is the Dam, the centre of Amsterdam, you see the Palice on the Dam, the kings and queens of the Netherlands used to live here.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6759.jpg

This is on the left The Bijenkorf, the most famous store of the country. On the right you see the memorial statue for the victims of WWII. Every year on the 4th of May the queen puts flowers at the statue for the victims.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6758.jpg

Henry

Marjolein


Posted Jan 17, 2009, 3:41 pm
Merry Christmas!!

We went to the zoo today! It was the Noorder Dierenpark in Emmen.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6980.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6941.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6951.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6964.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6975.jpg

Gilbert was also fan of the penguins, but they wouldn't look at him! How sad!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6967.jpg

They also had some sort of waterfactory where I saw this!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6970.jpg

And I sat inside a sewer!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF6971.jpg

Marjolein is planning a trip to another zoo in The Netherlands in January!

Henry

Marjolein


Posted Jan 17, 2009, 3:47 pm
We went to the Hunebedden Center in Borger today. A hunebed is a grave made by prehistoric people from really big stones. You can't find them in the Dutch province Drenthe. And that's where we where. They have the largest hunebed in the world here.

Hunebedden have nothing to do with Celts, but we went here because they have a Celtic exibition, with all the Celtic treasors ever found in Europe (with exeption of Great Britain because they kept the treasors for themselves).

This is what a hunebed looks like when you dig it up.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7059.jpg

And it looks like this on the inside.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7062.jpg

The stones where moved from one place to another like this:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7068.jpg

Marjoleins best friend Dieuwerke (she's also got a tv named after her: Dieuwerke) tried to move me and the stone. And she did it!

They also had an office of a archeologist. I felt right at home :)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7077.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7078.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7079.jpg

These are some examples of the treasors found in The Netherlands.

These are jewellery, called torques. They Celts wore them around there neck.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7083.jpg

This is a little rooster made from emaille and sacrefished to the Goddes Arcanua.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7117.jpg

They also had a wishing tree.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7133.jpg

And Gilbert dressed up as a Celt, he looks so funny!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7082.jpg

I can show you a photo of Sunnie with the largest hunebed.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7134.jpg

A photo of me with the hunebed!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/IMG_0943.jpg

Henry
Marjolein


Posted Mar 6, 2009, 6:03 pm
Today Marjolein bought a little present for her boyfriend:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7395.jpg

Yummie!!! That's all milkchocolate, ooh lala :D I hope a get a little piece....

Hugs Henry

Marjolein


Posted Apr 12, 2009, 11:34 pm
Hello!

I went to Brussels today!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7458.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7544.jpg

Marjolein had a schooltrip so we first went to the European Parlement!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7464.jpg

We weren't allowed to take photo's inside but Marjolein secretly took this one.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7459.jpg

After this visit we went sightseeing in the city and we saw the most famous guy in the ciy: Manneken Pis!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7487.jpg

We also went to the marketplace.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7498.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7499.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7500.jpg

It was a very pretty market with lots of old buildings.

And of course we bought some really nice chocolate, Belgium is known for it's chocolate!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7537.jpg

It was a very cool day!

Henry
Marjolein


Posted Apr 12, 2009, 11:38 pm
Dear mummy,

Happy Easter! It was another day of Belgium today! Antwerpen this time! :D

Here is a great easterphoto in a shoppingmall in Antwerpen. These bunnies actually moved! The sign in the back with 'Vrolijk Pasen' on it means: Happy Easter.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7599.jpg

This is the most famous marketplace and fountain of Antwerpen: the 'Grote Markt' (Great Market) with the Brabofountain.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7602.jpg

The harbour of Antwerpen.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7610.jpg

The castle in the harbour of Antwerpen called 'Het Steen' (The Rock). It's built between 1200 and 1225 and renovated in 1520. From 1303 untill 1827 the castle was used as a prison. Since 1952 is the National Maritiem Museum located in Het Steen.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7615.jpg

Pfeew now I really need some sleep! See you tomorrow!

Hugs Henry
Marjolein


Posted Apr 12, 2009, 11:43 pm
Me again!

Today I can wish you a happy easter on the right day haha. HAPPY EASTER! ;)

It was another day of cool trips! First we went to the Historical Openairmuseum in Eindhoven! It's a museum in which the historical buildings from pre-historic times and the middle ages.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7625.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7640.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7641.jpg

There where lots of things to do like grinding grain. On this sign you can read: 'Grinding Grain. A small hand of grain per child please. Notify an employee when there is no more grain.'

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7626.jpg

We sat inside the Inn.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7649.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7644.jpg

We had a very medieval sausagebread haha. The coins next to me are golden coins. At the entrance you had to trade your euro's for golden coins to pay with in the museum.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7651.jpg

Marjolein


Posted Apr 12, 2009, 11:48 pm
After the museum we went to Maastricht. This is a city in the very south of The Netherlands.

We parked on the other side of the river the Maas and we walked over this bridge.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7681.jpg

This is the most famous marketplace, the Vrijthof.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7657.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7658.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7662.jpg

This is a beautiful church in which a bookstore is located.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7669.jpg

And the Grote Markt (Great Market) with the city hall on the background.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7672.jpg

We walked back to the car over this bridge. The most famous bridge of Maastricht and it's called the Saint Servaasbridge. He is the saint of Maastricht.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7680.jpg
Marjolein


Posted Apr 12, 2009, 11:50 pm
And to round up the day, we went to a traditional Dutch Easter fire! It was very hot and looked beautiful!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7694.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7700.jpg

That was it for today!

Hugs Henry
Marjolein


Posted Apr 13, 2009, 3:11 pm
Easterbreakfasttime! We had some eggs.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7716.jpg

And of course chocolate eggs! LOTS of chocolate eggs ;)

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7717.jpg

Marjolein


Posted Apr 13, 2009, 3:25 pm
And we took a boottrip through the water of 's-Hertogenbosch. It's called the Binnendieze and in the 13th century the city was built around this water. Untill the 1970s it was used as a sewer before that also as transportationway and they brew beer from the water and washed wool in it.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7721.jpg

Now it's mostly used to let tourists see the city from below.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7728.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7737.jpg

The city is built on top of these bricks.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7739.jpg

We also went outside the city, outside the citywall. You can still see an old canon on this wall.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7734.jpg

It was really interesting! And I was very happy the water isn't used as a sewer anymore, pfeew that would smell bad!

Hugs Henry

Marjolein


Posted Apr 22, 2009, 3:21 pm
Hoi! (Hi in Dutch)

Because Marjolein's boyfriend Kasper just got his driverlicense he wanter to drive around for a bit. We went to the province Groningen where Marjolein and Kasper's parents live, to pick up the car of Kasper's parent. We first went to Pieterburen. Here they have shelter for young seals! These seals for example lost their mother (mostly because they get shot my men) or they got lost or got trapped in a net or oil. When the seal is okay to swim in the big sea again with his friends, they are set free. Seals adapt to their enviroment very easily.

But as you can read in my story, seals biggest enemies are men. This is also what the sign of the sealshelter says. It says: If his biggest enemies is mankind, who does he go to for help?

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7781.jpg

Lenie 't Hart is the woman that founded the shelter.

We looked to the seals trough the glass.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7746.jpg

But you could also go outside to see them a bit better.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7757.jpg

Aaawh aren't they sweet!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7745.jpg

You where not allowed to touch them though, there was a sign that said the bite!

I also swam in the sea for myself, haha. The sea near Pieterburen is called the North Sea.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7767.jpg

And we played a bit.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7774.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7775.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7776.jpg

And I also learned a lot about seals. This sign is about the skeleton of the seal. It for example says that although you cannot see the neck of the seal on the outside, it actually has a very moveable one.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7778.jpg

It was so cool to see real seals!

Marjolein


Posted Apr 22, 2009, 3:29 pm
After the sealshelter we went to see the sea for ourself. We went to Delfzijl.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7785.jpg

There was an hotel built completely on the sea!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7788.jpg

We went inside the hotel to have a drink. Viktor saw this very cool sign:

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7791.jpg

This is us relaxing on the beach.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7800.jpg

Afterwards we ate a nice hotdog and went home.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7805.jpg

Bye!
Marjolein


Posted Apr 22, 2009, 3:50 pm
Dear mum,

Today we went to a Toy Museum in Roden!

They had lot of toys to actually play with. Like this car.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7809.jpg

And old Dutch bike with very weird wheels.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7812.jpg

There where lots of old toys and stuff children had in there classrooms, like this plate with which they learned to read.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7832.jpg

The special exibition was about robots. Like these.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7826.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7827.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7828.jpg

The Dutch astronaut Wubbo Ockels gave his NASA-suit to the museum!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7822.jpg

It was the coollest museum ever! Not too much toys like me though, mostly robots and dolls. And of course this cool aeroplane!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7834.jpg

Hugs Henry
Marjolein


Posted May 5, 2009, 10:09 pm
Hello!

Today I went to a Postcrossing/ToyVoyagersmeeting in Miniature City Madurodam in The Hague (Den Haag)! This is ALL the tv's that came to the meeting in giant wooden shoes!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7853.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7854.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7855.jpg

This is us together with Dandilion, BlackCat and Marjolein.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7856.jpg

I waited for this toystore to open. But it didn't!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7872.jpg

Fortunately the other tv's asked me to do cool stuff with them, like being in a photo with them at a Dutch windmill.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7868.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7869.jpg

This is a view of Madurodam. From here you can see the entire country!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7884.jpg
Marjolein


Posted May 5, 2009, 10:12 pm
After Madurodam we went to the beach of Scheveningen!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7900.jpg

This is the famous Pier of Scheveningen from which you can bungeejump!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7893.jpg

We also saw great sancastles.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7886.jpg

It was a great day!

Hugs Henry
Marjolein


Posted Jun 7, 2009, 4:37 pm

Hi mum!

Today I went to Eurovoetbal with Marjolein! It's footballtournament for young people of the great footballclubs in Europe. We say FC Groningen, Schalke '04, Hamburger SV, Real Madrid, AFC Ajax, Valencia, PSV and much more! It where the youngsters of the clubs, maximum 17 years old.

This is me at a match of Real Madrid against FC Twente from The Netherlands. Real won!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7939.jpg

The tournament was won by Valencia.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7940.jpg

Hugs Henry
Marjolein


Posted Jun 7, 2009, 4:41 pm
Today the wheather was the best! I went on a bicyclytour with Marjolein and her best friend Dieuwerke. We started and ended in the city Groningen. We drove about 26 kilometres and had a picknick in Wierumerschouw! Marjolein had also never heard of it, but apparently it's a very small village near the city Groningen.

In Wierumerschouw I saw this great bridge.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7951.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/marjoleinaneth/DSCF7952.jpg

It was a very nice day!

Hugs Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 17, 2010, 4:32 pm
Hi Mummy,
I arrived in Germany today. Photos will follow soon.

They have a lot of snow here.

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 21, 2010, 3:42 pm
Hi Mummy,
outside it is looking like this:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4292584395_14f4d5fdd5_o.jpg

Even worse than in England!

Nobody wants to go out ...

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 21, 2010, 4:47 pm
Hi Mummy,
today the weather became much better, so we went out to take a walk.

The first photos are taken in the vicinity of my current home. I am living in a pretty old house now.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4291141298_015a778b5f_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4291141396_c52c197015_o.jpg

Here is a playground for toddlers.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4290401307_d2c4f876f9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2698/4290400929_4c334edbe6_o.jpg

We took a walk to one of the oldest districts of the municipal area, it is called "Hasten". In the background you can see suburbs of the neighbour city Wuppertal.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4291141656_7ba1c8995a_o.jpg

We enjoyed the sunshine after having really bad weather before.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4290401201_e8f13d969b_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4072/4291141982_871c4b169f_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4290402169_11d12b6271_o.jpg

We reached the inner center of Hasten than.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4290400613_326e7e7030_o.jpg

Here I saw more beautiful old houses. They are covered with slate or half-timbered houses.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4291142244_f6de6aee28_o.jpg

You can often find industrial buildings and dwellings close together.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4290401457_6b62c6b9b0_o.jpg

Here you can see the church of this district.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4291141812_4c21192f1b_o.jpg

Katja showed me more pretty houses ...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2481/4291141124_47ee58cd89_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4290402027_8001ed8112_o.jpg

A museum is situated in this beautiful Patrician villa, built in late 18th century.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2796/4291141056_4b40dd7541_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2757/4291141904_4906628876_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4290402243_097d82a8a2_o.jpg

On our way back home I had to climb this steep road which is leading to the municipal park.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4290400693_ac051fce4c_o.jpg

The observatory is situated here in the park.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4291142760_061193f1d7_o.jpg

Almost home ....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2682/4290401867_ca94c95f05_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 26, 2010, 4:04 pm
Hi Mummy,
we visited the neighbour city Wuppertal today. Katja met a friend to take a walk. She said that the forrests are still covered with ice on the ground, so you cannot walk comfortly there. So she decided to visit Wuppertal.

We went there by bus and got off the bus in the city centre with its shopping streets.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2710/4301184304_2da6e2053e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/4301184412_87eaa9c80b_o.jpg

The name of the city Wuppetal is made up of two words: "Wupper" is the river which is running through the city and "Tal" means valley. This city was built in the valley of the river Wupper. On the next photo you can see how steep it is going uphill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4301184516_7547c44b5c_o.jpg

Before climbing out of the valley we needed refreshments.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4301346644_b6148155af_o.jpg

Than we went uphill ....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4301184598_67b338fbeb_o.jpg

Most parts of the city were built in 19th century. For pedestrians more than 500 stairs were built in the steep slopes to connect the streets. We walked up and down some of them today.

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We walked to the "Nordstadt", one of many districts, where we saw lots of pretty art-nouveau-houses.

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We walked back downhill through a small park.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2707/4301346536_2903278234_o.jpg

We walked to another quarter than, "Briller Viertel" where the rich factory owners built their mansions, mostly in 19th and early 20th century.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2718/4301185056_d5861b8e7d_o.jpg

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Germans seem to love warning signs.  This one means "Beware of currish dog".

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4300437949_08516f03d0_o.jpg

We took those stairs to walk back to the valley. These stairs are under monument protection, like many of them.

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When we walked back to the bus station we walked through a street called "Bärenstraße" (Bear Street). Walter even found a "Löwenstraße" (Lion Street), but we did not find a "Jagdhundstraße" (Hound Street). What a pity!

We went home by bus than.

Bye
Henry


olgamaus


Posted Jan 26, 2010, 4:41 pm
Hi Mummy,

we have wonderful weather today. It snowed again and everything is looking beautiful.

When Katja finished work we took a walk to the municipal park. First I saw the city hall.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4306771820_8f282430dd_o.jpg

The city hall was built in 1906 A.D., in World War II it was almost destroyed and later rebuilt in a more modern style. Its tower is 48 m high.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4306772120_4173a7dc0b_o.jpg

On the place in front of the building you can find a pillar with a lion, the heraldic animal of Remscheid.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4306771378_227d0edccd_o.jpg

This is one of the entrances of the shopping mall.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4306771080_043a683efe_o.jpg

Here you can see the water tower at the rear side of the city hall. You can see those two towers from far away because the city centre of Remscheid is situated on a hill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4026/4306038815_8a1c8cc0c9_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4306770820_eb296bf427_o.jpg

We walked to the park than. We had to walk for about 15 minutes to get there.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2755/4306772058_44223b396d_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2721/4306030985_8f7e1ec98d_o.jpg

We took a zoomed photo here, so you can see how steep it is going downhill here. In the background you can see suburbs of Wuppertal, where I have been on Sunday.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4306771902_06b2258cf7_o.jpg

Here you can see allotment gardens close to the municipal park.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4306771184_015a7d3f3c_o.jpg

We reached the park than.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4306771338_399e1533c5_o.jpg

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This monument is dedicated to the dead of several wars before World War I.

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A nursery is situated here in the park.

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Katja told me that here is a pond with ducks and turtles. Can you see any pond? I don't ...

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4025/4306031957_bedf0d7951_o.jpg

Errr ... another famous German warning sign: It's telling you that it is forbitten to enter the frozen surface - mortal danger!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4306771024_b4d2fcda90_o.jpg

This seems to be the frozen pond.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4306770960_283ffff948_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4306030233_5dcd2ec0e7_o.jpg

Here you can see the police headquarter. Katja said it might be interesting for you :) The German word for "police" is "Polizei".

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4306772236_170660a91f_o.jpg

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The police cars are usually parked in this courtyard - there is only one!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2684/4306031801_cb810359b6_o.jpg

I can see this church from our living room window.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4306772414_c42aacd329_o.jpg

What a nice view from our apartment! I'm glad to be back home - it is really cold outside, about -6°C.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2724/4306030667_2098e7d1a6_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 5:49 pm
Hi Mummy,
we took almost the same walk like yesterday, but today we walked a bit longer. We came along a cemetary and a grove of honour. This is a memorial for soldiers of Remscheid which died in World War I.

You have to walk some stairs to get there.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4319443404_418701934e_o.jpg

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You can see walls in a round with engraved stones in the middle. You can read the name of each soldier, the date of death and the place where he was killed in action.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4319442724_e59ee5e1c2_o.jpg

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http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4014/4318707901_d8748deeac_o.jpg

We all had a dismal feeling that so many - mostly young - men of this town died in this war.

To forget those sorrows we played in the wonderful snow.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2730/4319441380_6cb1d6e3d3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2773/4319442306_960691e005_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 5:54 pm
Hi Mummy,
it is snowing now for two days and nights. Have a look! The tower of the city hall is almost invisible.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4314477256_97f65338be_o.jpg

The shopping street ...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2789/4314477120_b9c8de2e9a_o.jpg

... and the shopping mall. A lot of people seems to be staying inside.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4313742031_7cd5955f09_o.jpg

We had to buy a few things. The next photo is taken close to the bus station.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2714/4314477194_8ee7443987_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4314476952_4d03c7a8c2_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 5:59 pm
Hi Mummy,
when we came home it was almost dark in the kitchen. The window was covered with snow.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4313746975_bde09dc9b4_o.jpg

We opened it carefully ...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4314482334_204a8b08f2_o.jpg

Tons of snow!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4313741693_bd7cc16c3d_o.jpg

I although like it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4313741751_41a798fc11_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Jan 31, 2010, 6:06 pm
Hi Mummy,
we have even more snow now :)
In the afternoon we took a walk to the forest with Katja's brother-in-law and dog Berti.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4317041172_9d11aee357_o.jpg

We had to walk a while to reach the forest.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4317040626_22cb7be6c3_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2729/4317040012_f0ca5df884_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4316307401_082e7dbb67_o.jpg

The sun came through the clouds, but only for a moment.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4316308249_da66388ee4_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Feb 8, 2010, 9:55 am
Hi Mummy,
we went to Essen today to visit an exhibition and an art museum. Essen is a a city in the central part of the Ruhr Area in North Rhine-Westphalia. For the year 2010, Essen is the European Capital of Culture on behalf of the whole Ruhr Area.

We went there with Katja's friend Erika. We went to Essen by train.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4338494852_57378d2afc_o.jpg

We have a new guest  here - BineHH, the red shore crab, arrived this week.

First we went to a church in the district Frohnhausen. A friend of Erika has an exhibition here together with another artist. We had to take another train to get there. The train station is looking funny - like someone toppled the staircase.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2702/4337751909_80bd2d4745_o.jpg

This sign is asking me to do my business into the gutter.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4338493652_74174fac27_o.jpg

Here we are.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4338493554_ecfc4c36a6_o.jpg

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http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2774/4338493880_4bd1efb367_o.jpg

This part of the church is a so called "Notkirche". I'm sorry but we did not find a translation for this word.

We went to the city centre afterwards to have lunch, so we took a walk though the shopping streets. Here you can see the cathedral in the middle of the city centre.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4337752765_1da65bb7f1_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4338494290_60ddfd8162_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4338494454_45fd09a896_o.jpg

On a central space they have a skating rink and this downhill ramp. Here you can dash downhill with a large rubber tire. Seems to be great fun :D

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4337753063_722b3e9ced_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4338494664_101b70d5fd_o.jpg

Than we took a bus to the Museum Folkwang, a major collection of 19th and 20th century art. Its new building was opened a few days ago.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4337753289_bb43402070_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2707/4337751813_6bc7d6599d_o.jpg

As almost always it was not allowed to take photos inside the museum. We have seen paintings and photographs, space installation and placards in a special exhibition. It was very interesting, but also somehow straining.

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Feb 16, 2010, 9:27 pm
Hi Mummy,
we visited a friend today in another district of Remscheid. This district is called Luettringhausen, a district with a historical urban centre.

We decided to take a walk with the dog. We had to walk through the city centre first to get to a nice valley. On the first photo you can see my friend Pepe, a dog from Portugal.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4356257009_8fd55b8e8c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4017/4357003482_29491048fb_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4356257231_9cd9e3f681_o.jpg

Soon we reached the valley, with meadows and forrests.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4357003702_fdaa7a2af7_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4356257399_2d97c8a72a_o.jpg

We even saw some houses in the middle of nowhere.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4022/4356257541_77beddb27f_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4356257675_58b21f19fb_o.jpg

I met some sheep here.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4356256843_c21a2b407e_o.jpg

It is still snowing.

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Feb 16, 2010, 9:37 pm
Hi Mummy,
today we took another walk in one of the valley which are surrounding the municipal area. We walked along the creed "Morsbach", which is marking the border between Remscheid and the neighbour city Wuppertal.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2594/4359613023_88c71ff34c_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4359631383_5272c5cfa0_o.jpg

Here is a frozen pond.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2754/4360360356_b2628b822a_o.jpg

We came through a small hamlet.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4362884605_e878a01e86_o.jpg

This is the creek "Morsbach".

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2695/4360353200_71929bb68f_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2769/4360353316_8d92e5893b_o.jpg

Later the sun came out.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4042/4360353858_f64cc88d6d_o.jpg

To get home we had to walk uphill for ages.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/4360353040_03ae4729dd_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Feb 27, 2010, 8:14 pm
Hi Mummy,
we baked a delicious cake today, a cake with curd-filling and tangerines. Baking a cake is always a good idea  :D  Soon we gathered all the ingredients which we needed for the cake, a cake with curd-filling and tangerines. That sound really good.

For the dough we need margarine, sugar, eggs and wheat flour with some baking powder. The filling is made of curd, eggs, sugar, a little bit oil and milk and vanilla sugar, and of course canned tangerines.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4389730783_29fe08f276_o.jpg

I put the tangerines into a strainer and saved the juice.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4035/4389734555_4a83473457_o.jpg

First we made the dough and put it into the baking pan.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/4389741617_aa84db4a83_o.jpg

For the filling we had to mix curd, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla sugar, oil, milk and finally beaten egg whites.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2759/4389738589_9c5e8c40a7_o.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4029/4389738531_d509de2d43_o.jpg

The tangerines were put on top of the filling.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4389741473_03384a0169_o.jpg

The cake had to bake than for about 50 minutes. It was almost ready than.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4389734513_178e6dedaa_o.jpg

Finally the cake was covered with "Tortenguss", a mixture of cross-bounded starch, carrageen and an acidifier. It has to be mixed with some sugar and than boiled up with water or fruit juice. After a short moment of cooling down it is spread over cakes with fruit on top.

Than we enjoyed the cake. It is really delicious and refreshing.

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Feb 28, 2010, 1:49 pm
Hi Mummy,
the weather was much better today so we took a walk in the forest. Katja was picked up by her friend Kerstin, who brought her dog Pepe with her. We parked the car on a parking site for hikers at one of the outer limits of Remscheid's municipal area.

From here we crossed the district "Unterburg" which belongs to the neighbour city Solingen. It is a very old district, situated at the river Wupper.

We walked down a really steep and narrow road to reach the valley.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2783/4392686276_3d7e6fcfb8_o.jpg

A large tree was cut down recently.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4391925275_5ede4d0804_o.jpg

Soon we reached the river Wupper. Due to snow melting it has high-water.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4392686368_6dbcf61498_o.jpg

I want to show you my friend Pepe, I really like him. Maybe I will bring him with me when I'll come home  :D

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4001/4391916005_9f56f98f18_o.jpg

We followed a path along the river, uphill and downhill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4391916091_2ae59bc74f_o.jpg

We crossed the river at t his bridge.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4392686664_b72b8ce0b9_o.jpg

Close to a café we found snowdrops.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4391916309_866b6cdaf6_o.jpg

Now we followed a path on this side of the river. Again it went uphill and downhill. Here we saw high rocks.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4392686872_695fc7abd8_o.jpg

Snow water is running down the hills everywhere.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4392686978_059ff0e78c_o.jpg

A large bridge came in sight: Muengsten Bridge, Germany's highest railway bridge.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4391916593_24486e04a2_o.jpg

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Finally we reached the bottom of the valley with the bridge.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2747/4391916755_769312baa3_o.jpg

Muengsten Bridge is made of steel. It is 107 m high and spans the valley of river Wupper, which is marking the border between Remscheid and the neighbour town Solingen.

The bridge is 465 m long and was completed in 1897 A.D.

A leisure park was built underneath the bridge a few years ago. You can relax on the lawns, play in the water and they have playgrounds for the kids.

Wolle found some snow remains in front of a building. She wanted to play with us in the snow, but we all are completely fed up with snow.

We walked until we reached another bridge, we crossed the river here once more. In the background you can see a cute little outlook pavilion. Katja told us that we would walk along this pavilion later.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4392687380_e76536ec51_o.jpg

Here we are!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4391916953_fe48ecd7e9_o.jpg

We rested in front of this waterfall (also snow water) for a while.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4391925093_0ab82121ac_o.jpg

Once more we walked underneath Muengsten Bridge, this time on the slope of the valley.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4013/4391917091_6e45943892_o.jpg

When we were on our way back to the car, the sun came out.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2765/4391917191_7426e1b7be_o.jpg

The sunshine does so good to me  after those days with shitty weather :D

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4391915715_40421b0445_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Mar 12, 2010, 3:54 pm
Hi Mummy,
we still have fantastic weather, so we took a walk today with Katja's brother-in-law. We parked the car in a housing area with lots of new houses.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2708/4426672903_10675a313b_o.jpg

A TV-tower is situated here on top of a hill.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4427435654_cf899677a7_o.jpg

We walked across open fields, in the background you can see the outskirts of the neighbour city Wuppertal.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4414154966_ffd9ae4b2c_o.jpg

We rested in the sun for a while.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4413387151_19b914c3bb_o.jpg

On the next photo you can see the motorway A1 in the background. Katja told us that there used to be a large forest here, which was nearly destroyed by a terrible storm about three years ago.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2788/4427435714_3c0958eb86_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4426673121_74cc28f406_o.jpg

When we went back to the car we walked along some farms.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4427435838_0e2e10750f_o.jpg

Bye
Henry
olgamaus


Posted Mar 12, 2010, 4:14 pm
Hi Mummy,
it's time to say goodbye to Germany. Katja helped me to look for a souvenir. Of course I found something. We packed a 1-Cent coin into my bag and a screw with a screw nut. This is a nice souvenir from a city where tools are produced.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4058/4427427866_63060144a9_o.jpg

Now I am ready to leave. I'm off to Greece now!

Bye
Henry
Dharma


Posted Apr 3, 2010, 9:17 pm
Hello Mom
I arrived in Athens Greece , safe and healthy.
They have a welcome party for me but it was very sort because all are preparing for Easter vacations here.
I will travel with them to some places around.
I will also tell you about Greek traditions for Easter soon. They are so funny!!!!!
See all you soon
Kisses Mom
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 10, 2010, 8:18 pm
Hi Mum,

I arrived in Germany! Dicker Kumpel gave me a warm welcome.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A301.jpg

Then he introduced me to Krystal. We will go on a long holiday trip together.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A302.jpg

A great day to arrive - it is the Birthday of RikeH!

We celebrated this day with her, of course!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A311.jpg

I played with the balloons.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A318.jpg

Wonderful flowers!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A324.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A331.jpg

I heart music with RikeH's new MP3-Player - it sounds great.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_A337.jpg

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 15, 2010, 11:17 am
Hello Mum,

After a really long flight we arrived in Hanoi. We got our Visas and went to the hotel to relax.

Later in the afternoon we made a walk. Look, this is our Hotel. RikeH and I are sorry for the photos, but I was not able to stand still, because I am so excited to be here.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0014.jpg

There are many motor scooter and motorbikes on the streets.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0015.jpg

Back in the Hotel we had a delicious cocktail.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0021.jpg

In our room we have a fruit basket. But I don't know all the fruits. Maybe you can help me, Mum?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0022.jpg

Before we went into the bed it was time to go into the bathroom. So many nice things for me - I will be a very clean ToyVoyager!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0025.jpg

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 16, 2010, 9:04 am
Hello from Hanoi again,

today we made some sightseeing. We started with a very important place for the people
of Vietnam. The Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. We were not allowed to take pictures inside,
but from the outside.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0028.jpg

After it we walked around the area - this ist the Presidental Palace.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0030.jpg

Here you see the House on stilts, where Ho Chi Minh lived from 1958 to 1969.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0032.jpg

Then we went to two more religious places. First to the One Pillar Pagoda.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0034.jpg

Then to the Temple of Literature - a Temple of Confucius. And it was Vietnam's first University, too.
One of the places there.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0035.jpg

This is a Statue of Confucius.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0038.jpg

This statue shows the king, who founded the Temple.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0040.jpg

Back in the hotel we had a delicious cake - and I drank a Cappuccino.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0042.jpg

What a great day!

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 20, 2010, 3:02 pm
Hello Mum,

it was time for a boat-trip today. We went to Tam Coc wharf, got on the boat
and enjoyed the nice riding along the river through 3 tunnel caves.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0089.jpg

This was inside one of the caves.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0097.jpg

It was dark inside, but of course I wasn't afraid.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0098.jpg

There were people working on the river.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0094.jpg

I loved the beautiful stones.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0095.jpg

We had a lot of fun.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0101.jpg

And there were these nice trees next to the river.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0102.jpg

When we were back - I saw a buffalo.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0105.jpg

Mum - I love to travel - but when I watched out of the window, I saw other animals
travelling here - and I am sure that they don't have so much fun as I have.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0111.jpg

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 25, 2010, 1:58 pm
Hello from Hue,

we have a lazy day in the nice hotel today. In the morning we played in the beautiful room.

First we jumped on the couch.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0192.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0193.jpg

Then we went out onto the balcony.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0195.jpg

I shared the rocking chair with Krystal.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0197.jpg

Then we all took a nap.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0198.jpg

For lunch I had delicious fruits - given by this nice lady.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0247.jpg

In the afternoon we went into the garden. I climbed up a palm tree.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0228.jpg

Then I went to the pool.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0229.jpg

This was the second pool here. Nice, too.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0236.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0237.jpg

We relaxed next to the big pool - and talked a lot about our adventures here in Vietman.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0241.jpg

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 28, 2010, 2:27 pm
Hello Friends,

we will travel from Hue to Hoi An today. This will be a long way by car, but we hope to see interestings things on the way. We stopped at a beach - but I didn't really like it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0253.jpg

We drove over some mountains and stopped on one pass and had nice views. This was the direction to Danang.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0255.jpg

There was a Gate on the Pass.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0256.jpg

A bunker out of the time of war here.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0261.jpg

The view into the other direction.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0260.jpg

Here I am in front of the big gate.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0262.jpg

Just another view - I loved the pass.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0265.jpg

Then we went to Danang and visited the Cham Museum. Isn't this elephant funny?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0267.jpg

Other tings in the museum.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0268.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0270.jpg

A Lady Buddha.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0273.jpg

Or is this the Lady Buddha? I cannot remember...

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0275.jpg

Before we left the Museum we found these nice flowers.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0276.jpg

The last thing we visited were the Marble Mountains. We had to went up the hill -
many steep steps. But it was worth it. A nice pagpda.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0279.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0280.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0281.jpg

Another part of the Pagoda.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0284.jpg

The view from the hill - very nice!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0287.jpg

But the best thing was this big big white Statue. She was wonderful!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0289.jpg

What a great trip!

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Nov 28, 2010, 2:48 pm
Hello from Hoi An,

today it is time to see the ancient city of Hoi An. We started with the Chinese Assembly Halls.

Chinese people met there to make important decisions - and there is a Temple inside, too.

This is the Gate.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0298.jpg

In front of the Temple we found this dragon.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0299.jpg

See the red thing - it is a big incense stick - it lasts 2-3 months! People write cards with their wishes and put them into it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0301.jpg

Look - the chinese Wall - but it is only a small one.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0304.jpg

We walked along the river and saw a nice colorful dragon on it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0305.jpg

It seems to me that RikeH love to go by boat - we were on a boat again.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0308.jpg

This is a normal ferry here - many people sit and stand on it. We had our own boat.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0309.jpg

These are boats of the fishermen - the boats have eyes - this was funny.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0312.jpg

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 8, 2010, 2:00 am
Hello from a National Park 

It was time to go into the Wilderness. So we jumped into the car and went to the National Park Nam Cat Tien. There are many wild animals - including crocodiles.

Help - there are three around me!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0445.jpg

Just kidding ...  these were sweets - but you didn't really recognize it at the beginning,
I am sure.

Well - we arrived in the Park- and had to go there by boat. In the afternoon we started a long
walk through the Jungle. There were really big trees.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0449.jpg

This was our way.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0451.jpg

Another nice view.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0450.jpg

Look, what RikeH had to wear - these are a kind of big socks out of a thick material, they were covored with some liquids, because there are leeches living in the forest - and they wanted to jump onto the human legs and taste their blood. We didn't wear it,
because RikeH was so nice to carry us all the way.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0452.jpg

We had to sleep the night under this mosquito-net.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0453.jpg

We get up early the second day - and I wanted to show our house.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0455.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0461.jpg

There was a tree with funny fruits next to it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0459.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0458.jpg

In the way back to Saigon we saw this :

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0462.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0465.jpg

People are drying their corns and rice on the street - really strange, isn't it?

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 8, 2010, 2:10 pm
Hello from Saigon,

We did some sightseeing out of our hotel-window today. This is the opera.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0493.jpg

The building with the green on the roof is the town hall.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0494.jpg

And we saw the Saigon River in the other direction.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0495.jpg

In the evening we went outside to take some more photos. Our hotel behind the opera.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0499.jpg

They decorated the hotel for the Christmas Season. Really colorful.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0500.jpg

This was our last day in Vietnam - tomorrow we will go to Cambodia.

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 10, 2010, 2:47 pm
Hello from Cambodia,

we arrived here - with a delay, because they had to change a tyre of our plane -
but it was still enough time to visit one Temple - called Angkor Thom.

Here you see me on the bridge to it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0507.jpg

There are nice statues on it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0509.jpg

We saw these wonderful dancers.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0511.jpg

There were long walls  - with so many people on it, carved into the stone.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0513.jpg

Isn't it wonderful - there are faces on the towers.Can you see me under the nice face?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0517.jpg

A view back - it was great!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0518.jpg

Then we went to the street of elephants.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0521.jpg

Another nice woman - next to the elephants.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0523.jpg

It was really interesting, Mum!

Greetings
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 19, 2010, 8:30 pm
Hello Mum,

we are in the capital of Cambodia now. We spent our days in a nice hotel and had a great time. We had a very big TV in the room - and loved to watch sport there.       

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0622.jpg

We had a lot of fun!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0623.jpg

But then we decided that it would be better to go outside. We had our own pool.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0608.jpg

It was great to sit next to it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0609.jpg

I had a good view from this Flower.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0614.jpg

Look - there were wonderful green trees here.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0619.jpg

We finished the day - and our holiday - sitting in the garden and talking a lot.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/IMG_V0617.jpg

I really loved this holiday. Tomorrow we will fly back to snowy Germany.

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 23, 2010, 4:58 pm
Hello Mum,

imagine that - it is winter in Germany - really cold. We didn't want to make a walk with RikeH, because we are used to high temperatures. But today RikeH told us that it was time to go out.

Well - look - how it looked like in Sülfeld. Very snowy.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0002.jpg

We made a break...

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0005.jpg

...but it was very cold - we sat in the snow.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0006.jpg

The animals are safe in this place - this is nice.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0009.jpg

So many snow - where is the sun?

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0010.jpg

These funny guys stood in front of our house.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0016.jpg

And I found this nice plant in the garden - I love the red fruit on it.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0021.jpg

At home we sat in front of the candles - it was so nice - and much warmer than outside.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0023.jpg

Christmas will come soon - and we will have a tree inside the house - this is strange.
I will write more soon.

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 25, 2010, 11:20 pm
Merry Christmas, dear Mum,

today is the great day - when children and ToyVoyager get their gifts in Germany.

So we were very excited. First I played in the Advent wreath.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0026.jpg

Look, this is the Christmas Tree of RikeH's Mum.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0036.jpg

And we ate this delicious muffins.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0035.jpg

Later it was time to meet Santa Claus! But we learnt that he was very busy - and sent
us a really good friend. Rudi, the red-nosed reindeer.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0037.jpg

We sang some nice Christmas songs for him.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0038.jpg

It was a success - and we got our presents!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0039.jpg

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0040.jpg

I got wonderful things - and some shoes - because dogs love to play with shoes.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0041.jpg

We had such a great time!

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0045.jpg

I hope that you had a great Christmas, too.

Bye
Henry
RikeH


Posted Dec 31, 2010, 2:39 pm
Hi Mum,

nice news - Murph came to visit us on the 26th of December - and his guests Frankie and Hoots arrived too, they will stay here for some more days with us.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0051.jpg

They brought some gifts for us - what a surprise.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0052.jpg

We talked a lot - then Murph told us that he will leave us, to spend some more time with Bine and Holgi. We gave him a big hug.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0058.jpg

Today we heart someone knocking at the door. It is Archer. He came all the way from Shanghai and starts his life as a ToyVoyager here in Germany.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A2010c/A_0060.jpg

We told him a lot about our adventures.

Mum - I wish you a good start in the Year 2011.

Love
Henry
RikeH


Posted Jan 11, 2011, 7:57 pm
Hi Mum,

it is time to leave Germany now. I said good-bye to Dicker Kumpel. We had such a great time together.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/B_0018.jpg

The others gave me a big hug.

http://i649.photobucket.com/albums/uu215/RikeH_2009/A%2011/B_0023.jpg

Now I am on my way to the USA!

Love
Henry
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 26, 2011, 7:19 am
Hi Mom!
I just wanted to let you know that I have arrived in San Diego California! Pictures coming soon :)
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 27, 2011, 6:07 am
Hi, it's me, Henry! Surprisingly I arrived in San Diego California in no time at all considering the distance!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo72.jpg


I was greeted by two other toyvoyagers, Bart the Bear and Bombus the Bee

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo71.jpg

I was greeted warmly, and like a good gent I made sure to take my hat off indoors.  ;)

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo70.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 27, 2011, 6:41 am
Today my host took me to the swapmeet in Santee which is a smaller country type town.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo53.jpg


The swap meet is where hundreds of people gather to sell everything! Junk, Junk and more Junk!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo59.jpg


Shoes, pots, toys, you name it, it’s sold here!  This lady is selling tons of homemade hair bows.  I think I’ll stick with my  hat though…

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo58.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 31, 2011, 8:52 pm
Hi, it's me Henry again!
Today my host took me out for a brief visit to the La Jolla Cove in La Jolla.

There are tons of nature made coves, big and small.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo86.jpg


After our little hike we stopped in at a local cafe for some refreshments.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo77.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo82.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo81.jpg


My new friend Bombus and I tried some banana bread cheesecake... it was OK...

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo75.jpg

My favorite was the cinnamon walnut baklava though!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo74.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 31, 2011, 9:05 pm
Today my host received a small package in the mail... what could it be?

Why its little AKU!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Aku/photo15.jpg

Aku came all the way from Finland! I welcomed the lion with a big hug.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Aku/photo16.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Jan 31, 2011, 9:13 pm
Today my host took me on a brief trip over to Balboa Park downtown to view some of the murals  that are on the cultural buildings.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo37.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo35.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo20.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo17.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo34.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo23.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo25.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo32.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo29.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo28.jpg


My host promises to bring me back one day to view the rest of Balboa Park :)
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 13, 2011, 5:33 am
Hello! Today my host took me back to the shores to a little known spot to see some of the prettier views.

See these cliffs, my host climbed down a similar side but it was about 15 feet shorter, scary!!!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo10.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo1.jpg

It is nice and preserved down here, no one can get here easily :)

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo11.jpg


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo4.jpg

Tide Pools.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo2.jpg

Sea Anemones!  When you touched them they grab you and start sucking!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo.jpg

It's getting dark... time to go home!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo14.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 13, 2011, 5:42 am
Hi!  Just a short update.  Today my host received another package in the mail!  We have a new visitor, Mad Max the bat!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo29.jpg


Instead of flying over, he decided to take a trip in an envelope.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo26.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Mad%20Max/photo31.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 13, 2011, 7:54 pm
Hello! Last night we decided to try a new recipe! Vegetable soup!



http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo26.jpg



I helped by chopping vegetables, under supervision of course!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo10-1.jpg


Time to toss it all in a pot!
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo2-1.jpg

Yum! Yum!
http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo-1.jpg

My host would like to share the recipe forVeggie Soup
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 14, 2011, 7:48 am
Hello!  Today my host took me up to the city of Escondido to the Kit Carson park.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo3-1.jpg

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo4-1.jpg


While we were here we visited Queen Califia's Magical Circle.  (http://www.queencalifia.org/)  The circle is both a mini maze and playground made of glass.



http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo48.jpg


Path going up to the circle.


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The sides of the maze walls look just like this!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo15.jpg


Queen Califia herself!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo16.jpg


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I wonder what is in the gap over there?

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Gah!  Bad idea!  HELP! Get me outta here!

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We left as soon as we could!  That snake was scary!  But not as scary as the giant one we ran into!

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Thankfully the sun was blinding it so we were able to escape!

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On our way out of the park we ran across an orange grove on the grounds.  The oranges were free to whomever wanted to pick them.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo56.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 14, 2011, 8:29 am
Today I visited Grape Day park also in Escondido.

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo84.jpg


A giant grape slide!


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A train one could go inside and explore, but alas it was closed that day.


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A statue in remembrance of Veterans.



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And the neatest thing of the day! We got to see a "Muffler Man"!  Muffler men are 20 foot tall fiberglass figures that used to be very popular in the U.S. in the 60's and 70's.  They would be placed outside of shops to garner attention.  There are only a handfull left in the U.S. now.



http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo62.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 26, 2011, 6:37 pm
Hi Mom!  It's me, Henry!

Today is Valentine's Day and our host decided to make some cookies for a friend.  Unfortunately school has kept her busy so instead of making homemade, we made instant cookies  :rolleyes:


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo83.jpg


Time to roll out the dough... oh wait, we don't have to!  All the cookies are precut with messages already on them, how handy!

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We made two kinds, sugar and chocolate chip cookies with pink and red white chocolate chips!

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After they cooled we all sat around and shared a chocolate chip cookie, it was surprisingly good for being instant!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo89.jpg

Hope you're having a great Valentine's Day!
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 26, 2011, 10:39 pm
Hi! Today my host took us to back to Balboa Park.  Unfortunately photography is not allowed in most of the exhibits, so we took a few pictures on the grounds instead!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/map_of_balboa_park.jpg



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Koi fishes

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San Diego Museum of Art


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Outside the Museum of Man - a biological and cultural annthropology museum.

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The Olde Globe Theatre - a remake of the original where people can come and watch various plays.

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An outside auditorium where various music productions are held.

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Some of the building styles in the area.

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A onyx book outside of the Japanese Friendship Gardens.


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This is the 'House of England'... during the winter festival several houses from different countries are opened up and sell traditional food.

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Do you remember this artist from our previous travels?

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo96.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 3:49 am
Hello! Today my host took me up to Cabazon up in the desert to see the huge dinosaurs!  My host hasn't visited these since she was just a little girl!


It was very cold that day, look at the snow on the mountains - remember, this is the desert!

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Each dinosaur is over 45 feet tall! A gift shop is located in the brontosaurus and you can climb up to the T-Rex's mouth!


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These other dinosaurs were not as big as the previous ones, some were even robotic!


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Why is there a knight on a horse fighting a dinosaur?  Perhaps our history books are wrong?  :p


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Uh oh... I'm not tasty, I swear!


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Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 3:56 am
Today my host took me to the annual Date Festival in Indio, California.  The celebration is Arabian Nights themed  :D


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/16.jpg


Vendors selling their wares, and in the background the California state flag (the brown bear)


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The stage for the festival beauty pageant.


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Artists were busy creating a giant sandcastle!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/28.jpg


What's a festival without food?  Popular choices were fried zucchini and artichokes.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/22-1.jpg


Last we visited some livestock.


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Gobble! Gobble!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/30.jpg

Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Feb 27, 2011, 4:19 am
Hello!  It's raining here.  I wonder if it is raining at home too?

Today a new toyvoyager arrived in the mail.  Her name is Dorothy.  Dorothy has come from Oregon, which I hear isn't very far away.

Dorothy came on a bad week though!  My host had to take her car to the shop for repairs and its been raining for days!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Dorothy/photo85.jpg


Perhaps the rain will stop by next week....


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Dorothy/photo84.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 4, 2011, 9:42 pm
Today a new toy arrived from Germany - Michel


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo5.jpg

We all listened to Michel's stories of his adventures in Finland at his previous host's house.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo6.jpg


We asked Michel if he would share some of the chocolate he brought, and in return we would share some candy with him!  He picked out some pop rocks from the candy box.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo7.jpg


After Michel was settled in, our host had to work on some homework, so we decided to help!

I helped with her genetics homework!

http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo13.jpg


Tomorrow we will visit one of the schools my host goes to. 
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 6, 2011, 6:22 am
Hi Mom!  It's me Henry again!

Today we went to one of my host's schools.  It is called Miramar College.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo96-2.jpg


There was a lot of construction going on due to recent funding for new buildings, but the campus was still very pretty despite all the construction!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo39-1.jpg


Here is a cozy place for students to study!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo86-3.jpg



In the middle of the study area is a large dribbling fountain.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo87-1.jpg


What's in here?


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo95-1.jpg



This is the science building in the background.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo98-3.jpg


There is a large circular grassy field in front of the science buildings.  At night it is lit up and it looks like an airplane runway.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo400.jpg


Around the grassy circle is a giant compass with directional and degree markings.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo90.jpg


I hear this is doing to be the new library...


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo93.jpg


A building where the humans have English classes.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/688.jpg


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Humanities building...


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/777.jpg


Many students drive to school, and park under these large solar panels.  What the panels are powering, who knows?


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/233.jpg


If you don't have a car, you can always park your bike here!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/6791.jpg


Time for a potty break...


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/677.jpg


Speaking of breaks, lets all have a break!  That was a lot of walking to do!


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Henry/photo98-2.jpg
Xadrian
xadriankruez@hotmail.com

Posted Mar 15, 2011, 6:58 am
Henry getting a hug goodbye from his new friend Mad Max before he climbs into his envelope.


http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af270/CyndiB_Photos/Michel/photo12-2.jpg

Henry the Adventure Hound has been sent off to his next host in Germany.  He was a polite, well mannered pup and I hope he has many more exciting journeys!
fam-united


Posted Mar 19, 2011, 10:28 am
Hi Mum,

I just arrived here in Bruchsal, Germany. I'm excited to meet so many other toyvoyagers at my new host's place now. She just told me, that there are also some other dogs to meet here.

Bye, Henry
fam-united


Posted Apr 22, 2011, 8:48 am
Today My host's son took us tvs and we drove to Münzesheim to bring my host's daughter to someone and while she stayed there to visit the Japanese Garden, which belongs to the therapy centre against alcohol and other dependencies. All buildings and works of art are made by patients of the therapy center based on antique models. The garden is about 5.000 m² large, it is open for patients and visitors. You will see a roof made of blue bottles, put into the concrete with there bottom to the outside - it's an interesting room, fascinating. Wall and floor are covered with blue tiles.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 25, 2011, 7:46 am
Today we found a little time to go to see a part of the palace and palace garden.

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There is a sundial at one building.

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The chestnut alley is getting green again.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5149/5627479994_8bc9d5c8a1_o.jpg
fam-united


Posted Apr 25, 2011, 8:21 am
Hi Mum,

today I learn how to bake a sponge cake. At first my host took five eggs. Bubo thought, that these are his eggs for breading and at first he was really confused, nearly shocked, but then she told him, that these are eggs of chicken. He thought, that's okay somehow.


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Jack the cat tried to chase him away.

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Then we two dogs - Travelling Tuffy and I - came to help Bubo and barked at Jack.

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They were really successful:)

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After that Petra told us to sit at our place and not play with meal.

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After stirring the eggs Chuckle weighed the sugar: 350g - for each egg 50g. We also added a bit Vanilla sugar. And then stirred it again until it was very fluffy.

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At last had to add 250g flour and baking powder. Cilly helped to gently fold it under the dough.

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Then the doorbell rang and a new toyvoyager arrived just in time, when the cake was in the oven: Miffy for the Netherlands.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5626897347_ec737f0774_o.jpg
fam-united


Posted Apr 25, 2011, 10:15 am
In the afternoon we and some members of my host's family club from their church went on a walk from Bruchsal to Unteröwisheim. We had dinner in a Besenwirtschaft called Kannenbesen. A Besenwirtschaft is a tavern selling homegrown wine. They only open the tavern for a part of the year. We all enjoyed the walk there, although it took about 2 hours to walk there - ok, we had been a bit slowly, because we talked too much.:)

We had a nice view from the edge of the Kraichgau to the Rhine valley.

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We also walked through nice loess hollow-ways.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 25, 2011, 10:31 am
In the evening we finished the filling for the Biskuitkuchen (sponge cake). We used rhubarb and 2 eggs, sugar, Vanillepuddingpulver (custard powder) and rhubarb of course.

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Then we had to cut the cake in two layers and fill it with the rhubarb cream.

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We only decorated it with a bit powder sugar on the top layer.
fam-united


Posted Apr 26, 2011, 9:49 am
Today I helped my host to correct some tests of her third graders. They had to answer questions to the theme weather.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 26, 2011, 6:41 pm
Today I want to show you the recipe for my host's most favorite white bread.

At first we need 1kg white flour, dried yeast, 600g water, 25gr margarine (if you don't have a cooked potato - and we had no) and 25gr salt. We had to leave the yeast dough alone for a longer while until it looked like this.


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Then we rubbed the dish with margarine and powdered it with flour.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 27, 2011, 8:47 am
For Easter Sunday we baked another rhubarb cake.

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At first we had to read the recipe. It is the one in the middle, although they used gooseberries there.

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Then we started to prepare the dough.

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We had to cook the rhubarb.

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The pot seems to be a bit small:)

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Another pot for custard.

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Then we had to fill the baking dish with the short pastry.

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In the afternoon at our host's parents home we were allowed to eat a piece of our cake. It didn't look that well this time, because the whipped egg whites was just too flat.

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They also had another cake, but it wasn't selfmade.

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In the evening we ate some coloured Easter eggs.

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fam-united


Posted May 1, 2011, 2:12 pm
We are still on Easter break, that's why our host asked us, if we would like to walk with them to a house called Odenwaldhütte, which is in Bruchsal too. The weather was nice, that's why we all said yes. They had lunch there and then walked back home with us. We had to walk one hour each way - really a lot for our short legs.

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On our way home we saw this cross.

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Next to the new apostolic church we looked down on Bruchsal.

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After only a few footsteps more we saw the backside of the building called Sancta Maria.


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fam-united


Posted May 1, 2011, 3:25 pm
Today is the day of the big wedding in London. All tvs decided to sit in front of the tv and watch tv for hours. We even found a British flag. You see, that it was 9.30am, when we finally sat down.

We saw so many people on the road, who tried to see the lucky couple.


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We saw many people in interesting uniforms.

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This couple was interesting too. The boy-tvs took a look at David Beckham and the girl-tvs on his wife with her funny hat.

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Oh, who is coming here? We're excited.

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It's William and his brother Harry. They really look good - that's what the girl-tvs say:)

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The queen and her husband and prince Charles and his wife are coming too.

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Oh, exciting, exciting. Here's the bride. Who sees her dress first?

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How cute! These little girls and boys and the bride's sister on the way to the church.

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The bride arrived at the church finally. We want to see the dress!

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Oh, how beautiful!

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William and Harry

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The church is really big and the way very long. They even put trees in the church.

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It is 12pm plus some minutes and finally Williama and Kate are together in front of the priest.

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Here they say their marriage promise.

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He gives her the ring. We learnt, that in Great Britain it isn't unusual, that only the bride wears a ring as sign of her marriage.

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They sind "Jerusalem".

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Then they played a fanfare especially composed for the wedding.

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Here they all sing "God safe the queen".

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Then they all walk out of the church. Take a look at the train.

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What a joy, when they walk out of the church door.

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The weather is fine, that's why the climb in an open carriage.

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That's the queen and her husband in a closed carriage. It was scary, when they climbed in it.

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Finally William and Kate arrive at the palace,

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while others are still on the way.

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It was fascinating to see how disciplined those thousands of people walking behind the police until they finally arrived at the palace too.

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Finally the royal family shows up on the balcony.

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We are waiting for the kiss and then there were two kissed, but we missed the second.

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At last the royal air force flew over the Buckingham palace.

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fam-united


Posted May 1, 2011, 5:19 pm
It is a special day today: the 10th birthday of my host's nephew. Usually they live in Karlsdorf, but they are on holiday on a farm in Grafenloch, which belongs to Wolfach-Kirnbach. He and his family invited us to come to visit them at this lovely place. They even organized beautiful weather, so we had been able to sit outside in the sun. We went on a one hour walk in the forest and I loved to see the mountains, woods and interesting houses, the Black Forest house.


We took this photo next to the house. What a nice view!

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These cows belong to the farm.

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Here's the Black Forest House. The typical Black Forest farmhouse - also referred to as a Black Forest house – has been built in this form for hundreds of years. You will find it mainly in the central and southern Black Forest. Here you can read more about those houses.

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The left and middle house you can see belong to the farm were we were today.

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All buildings except the one on the top belong to the farm. Maybe you see, that there are some clouds - a little thunder came, but it avoided the house so we were able to sit outside and drink coffee and eat cakes.

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Before we drove home, we played a while at the water. But then some more clouds came and we had to hurry, because this time the thunderstorm reached our place too. We were lucky to sit in the car, before it started.

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fam-united


Posted May 2, 2011, 1:38 pm
Before we drove home we drove to Heidelsheim to bring my host's son and his girlfriend home to her family. She lives in Heidelsheim, one of the suburbs of Bruchsal.

There is a medieval tower, the Katzenturm, next to their house. You can read more about Heidelsheim here.


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fam-united


Posted May 10, 2011, 5:18 pm
I'm back in Münzesheim again. My host says, she loves this park and I love it too. I watched some ducks with their kids here.

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Here you can see a piece of the Berlin Wall.

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fam-united


Posted May 13, 2011, 6:28 pm
Hi Mum,

today we drove to Bad Neuenahr to celebrate a 60th birthday. For us it was more interesting, that we celebrated at an ostrich farm. I've seen so many ostrichs there - big, old, small, young.
We didn't walk through the farm, but drove with a little sort of train. The engine didn't work well at first, so we had to climb out of the waggons and go a few steps, but then everything was fine again. It took us about 2 1/2 hours for a way you normally need 1 1/2 hour. We were really tired, when we climbed into our car to drive home again - another 2 1/2 hours drive. Nevertheless it was a great day.


Bye, Henry


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We zoomed, so you can see the ostrichs better.

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Face to face - okay, you don't see me, but we looked in each others eyes.

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fam-united


Posted May 14, 2011, 4:22 pm
Happy Mother's Day!

I want to send you these flowers via internet.


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We are at my host's parents home to have lunch together. We will eat asparagus, Schnitzel in breadcrumbs, potatoes, mayonnaise and sauce hollandaise. Yummy, yummy!

Did I tell you, that Bruchsal and surroundings are famous for asparagus?


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We've seen some blackbird babies, but it was just impossible to take photos of us with them, so here is just a photo of them.

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At home again Petra's husband bought some icecream - yummy again.

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fam-united


Posted May 14, 2011, 6:15 pm
Hi Mum,

there's such a beautiful weather today, that we toyvoyagers asked our host to take us with her and her daughter, while her daughter delivered a magazine called Konradsblatt.

At first we walked into the palace garden and I had a first look at the palace from far.
Here you see one of the chestnut alleys.


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From the same place you have a good view to this street with old houses.

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It looks really beautiful.

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In the palace garden you find some statues. Four of them show the four seasons (winter, spring, summer, autumn) and four of them show the four elements (water, fire, earth and wind). Here you see the element water.

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There is a nice pond in the palace garden, where you find ducks.

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These houses also belong to the palace area. Behind this house you see the tower of the church St. Damian and Hugo.

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The left part of this photo shows the church building. You see, that you have to walk a bit to come to the church tower.

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We also stopped at this parking site.

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From this place I had been able to see the middle part of the jailhouse. It's a really interesting building. Maybe I can take another photo of it later.

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This was the last stop, before we drove home again.

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fam-united


Posted May 20, 2011, 3:47 pm
Hi Mum,

today I watched the Eurovision Song Contest. I liked our group. What do you think about their music?


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Here's Lena from Germany singing "Taken by a stranger". All my hosts like this song and we too.

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IHere is the group from Iceland,

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these men are from Ireland

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and the one from Sweden - cute, isn't he?:)

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Countdown for voting

Estonia

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Greece

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Russia

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France

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Italy - we liked them too

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Switzerland - much too less points for her

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United Kingdom

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Moldavia - crazy hats

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Germany

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Romania

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Austria

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Azerbaijan - it belongs to the European radio community or something - not sure about the right word for it. They won the Contest this year.

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Estonia

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Iceland

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Serbia - it reminded our host of the seventies

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Georgia

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The tv hosts Judith Rakers and Stefan Raab

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Between the songs they showed little movies of people of the song contest countries, who live in Germany. On this photo they are all together.


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The motto of the show was "Feel your heart beat"

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Anke Engelke also was host of the show.

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She did a good job - the other two also did really well.:)

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Stefan Raab at his best - making music

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12 points goes :):):) to Malta - we had such a fun hearing, that most people say goes to, even if there are more than one point - and you can't give one point.

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It is so late now and we are so tired, that we will fall in our bed now - we only have one bed for the toyvoyagers here, although there are so many at this home.
fam-united


Posted May 21, 2011, 7:31 pm
Today is the Summerday parade through Bruchsal. Pupils of Grundschule (first to fourth grade) and children of kindergarten walk together with their teachers thought the streets and sing songs about winter leaving and summer coming now. It's something like throwing the winter out of the town now and welcoming summer. Therefore they created special flowers small and big or they wear special clothes - e.g. some were dressed like frogs. Petra and her class were among these people who carried the big blue flowers (the first in the row of blue flowers). At the end of the parade - in front of the palace of Bruchsal - they burn a snowman and all children and many other people watch the event there, too. Today they had been really lucky, that the weather was fine just for the right time, because a short time before and just after the snowman had been burning it started to rain and thunder heavily again. We don't have photos of the burning, because Ralf stayed at his mother, where he took all the other photos.


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fam-united


Posted May 27, 2011, 4:54 pm
Hi Mum,

today many other tvs arrived at Petra's home. They came from another town in Germany and we all were very happy to welcome them at our place. Their first wish was to take a bath, so we all ran to the bathroom.

Here you see our new guests from left to right:

Louis the rat, Nippy, Percy, Bree and Polki



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I also took a bath - I'm not sure, if I really liked it. Petra said, that I had some dirt on my leg - I'm a dog, I don't think, that's a problem for an adventurer like me.

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Nippy thought, that it would be enough to clean one ear:)

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But then she fell head over into the bath.

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Polki loved to swim in the water.

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We asked Petra, if she never needs a towel after having a bath and she ran to wrap us in the towel quickly.

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Because it was warm and sunny, we asked our host, if she could bring us to the balcony. We lied down on a table in the sun - more or less.

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fam-united


Posted May 29, 2011, 11:34 am
Hi Mum,

today nothing really interesting happened, but this evening Petra's son called me to take a look out of the window and get some photos taken there. I'm sorry, but we had to zoom some views, so you can see more of the sky. We thought, we would get some rain, but nothing happened. It is still much too dry.
:)


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fam-united


Posted May 29, 2011, 12:14 pm
Hi Mum,

Petra and her husband will get spoiled by her children - it's mother and father day present. And of course we will get spoiled too:)
For breakfast we had bread rolls, jam, honey, chocolate plates and a special treat called Einäpfchen. It was made of ham cubes and egg. I also ate a croissant and drank some green tea and orange juice.

Let's see, what I will eat for lunch:)

Bye, Henry


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fam-united


Posted Jun 7, 2011, 8:51 pm
Later we had lunch. The kids made some special appetizer and then noodles, salad, pork loin in lemon sauce. As dessert we had banana and vanilla ice cream.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 30, 2011, 7:00 pm
Hi Mum,

something exciting happened yesterday. We sat there and waited for our host to come home from school. When she arrived, she took us and --- everything got dark. Then we felt, that she carried us outside the house into the car. For a long time it was only dark. In the early early morning - it might have been short after midnight - we were carried away again. Still we didn't know, what had happened.
We were so tired from all this waggling in the car, that we fell asleep - we even didn't know, where we were.
But this morning we awoke in this bed - fresh and fit for the day. Our host told us, that we were on the way to Denmark and that we slept at a motel in Hannover. The bed was a bit hard, but nevertheless much better than a night on a resting place along the autobahn.

Here you see us all still sleeping and then playing after we woke up. We already had a lot of fun.


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Our room was right above the entrance - a place, where everyone had been able to look on the bed from the outside:( and a place, where you could smell the smoke of all cigaretts the other guests smoked in front of the entrance:(

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Bye, Henry
fam-united


Posted Jul 2, 2011, 8:55 am
After about 10 hours and 30 minutes driving without rests - you know, we had some rests of course - everyone is happy to be here in: Nørre Vorupør. We were so hungry, that the first wish was to have dinner. The second wish was to see the North Sea, of course.


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After we finished dinner our hosts had some time to eat. In the meantime we enjoyed the light of the candles on the table.

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The most important part of today was to go to the beach, of course. We went to the landing site with small fishing dinghies and larger coastal boats. The last occupationally operated coastal boat stopped by 2010, but boats being operated for fishing tourists remain.

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The waves were rather flat today.

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In the far you see the pier of Nørre Vorupør. It was built in 1908 to protect the landing site. The end of the pier is the most remote point from Copenhagen within Denmark, if you don't count the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 2, 2011, 6:16 pm
Good morning Mum,

today is a special day, because we celebrate our host's son Martin's 18th birthday.
At first we took a look out of the window of our living / dining room.


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Then we sat down on one of our two patios for a group photo.

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In the meantime our hosts bought some Danish bread rolls for breakfast. When they were at home, we sat down at the table.

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Petra baked two cakes and in the afternoon we met our hosts' friends for the first time to have caffee and cakes on their patio.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 2, 2011, 8:16 pm
Today we had rainy weather, so we only went outside to sit in the car and drive to go shopping at Aldi in Hanstholm.


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We bought some pepper sauce there for dinner. Ralf cooked some red cabbage, meatballs and (not selfmade) spaetzle.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 3, 2011, 5:39 pm
Hi Mum,

we just get ready for another trip. Some of us wait in the car already, but I wanted to show you the view from the front door of our small house.


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fam-united


Posted Jul 3, 2011, 6:49 pm
Hi Mum,

after a rainy day inside, it seems to be fine today. We sat in the car for about one hour to drive to Thyborøn. There is a nice house decorated with millions of shells and snail shells. It is called sneglehuset in Danish - I love this word.


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At next we drove to the coast centre exploratorium called Kystcentret. We had a lot of fun there and learnt many new things about the element water.


I also saw many furniture and other ship related things, which they found after a ship sunk many many years ago.

Here some more information: Since 1868 the Alexander Nevsky has been lying at the bottom of the sea. A couple of Russian diving vessels arrived and removed the cannons, a contractor bought the sea bed side and salvaged metals - first a lot of dynamite and the copper bolts, copper pipes and gunpowder boxes appeared in the wreck. This continued far into the 20th century. The metal was valuable.
The majority of the 724 men on board were brought safely to landin the frigate's own longboat, which could hold 25 - 30 men at a time.
It's what you can read on the signs next to the ring.

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Here I show you a few to the activity part - of course you can't see it good enough to imagine, how it looked like.

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Then we drove to the aquarium of Thyborøn. I tried to tough a Starfish, crab or stroke a Plaice or shark, but I had no luck. So here you just can see me in front of one of the many bassins. At least I stayed safe.


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For a part of our way home we took the ferry from Thyborøn.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 4, 2011, 4:05 pm
On our way home we stopped at Vestervig Abbey, also known as Vestervig Church, which was established in about 1059 making it one of Denmark's most ancient religious houses. The abbey is located at Vestervig, Thisted, in extreme northern Jutland.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 2:09 pm
After dinner at our house in Nørre Vorupør we drove to Klitmøller to see another sort of sunset there. Our hosts had been at this place three years ago and they really liked it. It was a bit windy today and the waves were a bit higher.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 6:39 pm
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Hi Mum,

today we drove to Jesperhus Blomsterpark - a flower theme park, which is three km south of Nykøbing Mors. It is Scandinavias largest themepark of this kind. They opened this park in 1966. It is divided in three parts: the flower park, a jungle park and an amusement park, which is rather small, but with some really good attractions for kids - and adults - and us toyvoyagers, of course.

In the jungle park I came really close to these turtles.


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Wow - a large crocodile. You see, that I kept a safe distance to it.

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I prefer such lovely orchids instead.

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Everywhere in Denmark - at least at the places I've seen - you can see the Dannebrog - the Danish flag. I love to see it in front of the blue sky and white clouds.


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Here we are in the Japanese Garden - a good place for some group photos.


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Then we walked down to Hans Christian Andersen's house - ok, it's a bit small, so I guess it wasn't really his house, but they say, it looked like this. And I'm sure, that he never had so many flowers on the wall and roof of his house.
He lived from April 2, 1805 to August 4, 1875 and was a Danish author, fairy tale writer and poet noted for his children's stories. Maybe you know one of these: "The Steadfast Tin Soldier", "The Snow Queen", "The Little Mermaid", "Thumbelina", "The Little Match Girl", and "The Ugly Duckling". My host told me, that we will find some places in this park, that show some of his fairy tales. So I will take a look.


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Even here I saw the Dannebrog.

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Here is a flower bed for \"The Princess and the Pea\"


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fam-united


Posted Jul 5, 2011, 7:52 pm
In the late evening we went to the beach again. There nearly was no cloud at the sky, so we hoped to see a nice sunset. Enough words - I need to dream.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 1:58 pm
Today we had a lazy day at home. The weather wasn't that brilliant, so we read, played games and just hang around.
For dinner we had some scambled eggs with sweet corn and onions.


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fam-united


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 2:22 pm
It wasn't really a big surprise, that our hosts told us in the morning, that we would stay at home again. Petra's knee hurts too much. She limps from her bed to a chair and on the terrace and has her leg rest on another chair. We didn't want to only hang around, so we searched to house for some activity. We found a nice jigsaw puzzle from James Hamilton with 1000 pieces, which Petra had taken with her on the trip. Here you can see, that we did it rather well, but I can tell you, that we needed hours for it.

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While we worked at the puzzle, Petra went outside to play football (English or German) with her family. She came back limping and sat down on the balcony.


Later I read a bit more in the "Eclipse" book - it's English, so I understood everything. Petra helped to hold the book open.

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Although she was limping, she didn't want to miss the sunset at the beach. This time we watched it at the beginning of the pier.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 2:37 pm
Another lazy day at the house, because Petra can't walk more than from her bed to the chair and back. :(
So here is only a photo of our dinner - a slice of bread, cooked ham and cheese.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 6, 2011, 6:05 pm
Hi Mum,

finally a day to go on a trip again. This time we drove to Silkeborg to Labyrinthia. Petra comes with us: on crutches. It's funny to see her with her backpack - and us- and her photo and then the crutches. She puts them everywhere to take photos. I'm not sure, if that's the best for her knee, though. Oh yes, in the car she sits in the third row with a little stool in front of her for her leg - really comfortable.

At first we climbed out of the backpack and started to run through this wooden labyrinth. We had a lot of fun and Petra had to hurry to take the photos with each of us. Everyone wanted to be the first with all six stamps on the paper for this labyrinth.


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She asked me to have a short rest for this photos, so you can see more of the different labyrinths of this park.

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Behind our first labyrinth you can see the water labyrinth, where wanted to go at next.

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Which way should I choose?

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After several wrong ways we reached the middle of the maze. Did I tell you, that the flowers smelled so fine?

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After all that walking Petra could hardly walk any longer. So her daughter took us to go to the next maze: The Trojaborg Labyrinth


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We wanted to walk the way too, but we chose the stones:)

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fam-united


Posted Jul 7, 2011, 3:01 pm
Back at Nørre Vorupør again we decided to go to Klochs spisested, a restaurant. My hosts' family was invited by friends to have dinner with them there and we were allowed to join them, too.

I had 26 Fiskefilet............................................................75,-
2 stk. med pommes frites, remoulade og citron
2 Fischfilets mit Pommes Frites, Remoulade und Zitrone

It was yummy
:)

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fam-united


Posted Jul 10, 2011, 3:00 pm
Hi Mum,

today we drove to Fjerritslev and visited the best preserved brewery of North Europe. During the years 1897 to 1968 they made thousands of litres of malt beer. It seems, that there will come one of the men to start brewing again the next moment.


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I sat down on a scale.

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Look at all these beer bottles.

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Then we sat down ON the table - not to Petra's joy:(

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Later we played the organ.

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Then we went into the private rooms.

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I found an old dollhouse and of course we had to play there:)

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fam-united


Posted Jul 10, 2011, 6:38 pm
On our way home we decided to stop at the Hanstholm fortress spontanously. It belongs to the saddest part of Danish and of course German history and you shouldn't miss to inform you there about the cause, why you find bunkers everywhere along the coast. The Germans used this part of the North Sea during World War II. The bunker museum covers about 3000 sq m.It is one of the largest bunkers, which the Germans built in Denmark.

It's a really very depressing place. We stayed outside, because dogs weren't allowed to go inside, so I'm sorry, that there are no photos of the inner part of the museum.


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fam-united


Posted Jul 11, 2011, 7:33 pm
And we had a last stop at Klitmøller to take a look at the kite surfers and surfers. Okay, you're right. It seems like a bird in the sky, but it was a kite surfer.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 16, 2011, 3:33 pm
Today we drove to Grenen, the northmost tip of Jutland, north of the town of Skagen, thereby the northmost point of Denmark. Grenen was given its name for its shape like a tree-branch (Danish: gren). It's the meeting point of the Skagerrak (North Sea) and Kattegat (East Sea).

For me it just is one of the most beautiful points on earth.

Before we walked to the promontory (I'm not sure, if it fits well to the place I mean), I had a cup of cappuccino.


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I'm not sure, if you can see the top point on the right side of the horizon. That's the point to which I walked then.

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Petra walked with her crutches, but still enjoyed taking a photo with me at the beach.

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Finally we were here. It was just fascinating to see the Kattegat and Skagerrak flow together.

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Then we walked all the way back again and took another two photos at the same place, where we took the first one. Here you see ships waiting in the Kattegat to be allowed to enter the waterway and of course you see the lighthouse of Grenen.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 16, 2011, 5:12 pm
After visiting the most spectacular part of the land of light - that's how they call the northmost tip of Jutland too, we decided to stop at the lighthouse located at Rubjerg Knude. Petra and her family were there in 2008. You need to see an old photo, so you can understand, what happens here.

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On the first photo you can see the dune wandering and the sand flying, too. It hurt in my face.:(

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Although this wikipedia theme is written in German, the photos are interesting for you and me, so you should take a look here.
Rubjerg Knude is a wandering sand dune, the highest point of the steep coast of Lønstrup with a length of about 1900 metresand width of about 400 metres. We stood nearly at the same place like in 2008 and you see, that the shape of the sand dune changed a lot. The entrance of the lighthouse was nearly full of sand. Some people crawled into it, because they could have a rest from the strong wind outside, but it was somehow creepy. It had been so windy there, that Petra and I had to hide behind her son's back to take this photo. Even if you can't see the sand flying - we had sand everywhere, even in my ears and in my eyes - and in Petra's camera, too.


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fam-united


Posted Aug 1, 2011, 8:29 am
Today we decided to a place, where my hosts had been three years ago already. This time they wanted to explore other parts of this little island called Fur (alternative older spelling Fuur). It is a small Danish island in the Limfjord at the northern tip of the Salling peninsula. Fur has under 900 inhabitants. The island covers an area of 22 km².

The crossing of the Fursund with the ferry takes only 3/4 minutes.


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Then we drove on by car. The weather wasn't that great, but we found a nice place near the beach and we decided to walk a little.

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I hope, you can see the little path, which we followed down to the beach. The erosion gorges, Langstedhuller, were formed after the Ice Age. The area is one of the most beautiful nature areas on Fur. In early spring, the slopes are covered by cowslips and nodding pasqueflowers. 

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This flower is really lovely. I would have liked to pick it for you, but Petra said, that it wouldn't make it well until it reaches you. You I just want to send this photo.:)

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The whole beach was covered with shells.

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Then we drove to Stendal Høje, which is the hightest point of the island (75 m above sea level). From here you have a view of most of the island and the northern part of Salling and Livø, the coast Himmerlandskysten and Mors. Stendal Høje are also called “Bette Jenses Hyw” stemming from a mound situated further to the north. The island’s largest active moler pit is located towards the north beneath “Stendal Høje”.

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At last we visited the church. For us it seems like a part of Greece in Denmark. Here comes some information about the church: The church Fuur Kirke is called Sankt Mortens Kirke, and it was erected in 1126 by three nobles Gutchi, Atti, and Agli together with the vicar Bo. It is extemely rare that written sources are so precise about the origin. The present appearance of the church is of a later date. On the western side of the tower you will find a carved face at 13 metres’ height in memory of a builder who fell down.

In Denmark there are flags on the graveyards and also on many houses. They run it through daytime and hoist the flag to half-mast, if there is a funeral.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 1, 2011, 1:37 pm
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On our way back we stopped at Sjørring Volde. I think, the best idea is to upload a photo of a part of a big sign next to the place. It would be too much to write:)

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When we looked up to the sky, we saw a strange sun. There was a large circle around the sun. It is called Halo 22°. My hosts already had seen another Halo 22° back in 2008, when they were at Grenen at the meeting point of North and East Sea. They and of course I were happy to see the optical phenomenon (again). It was a bit difficult to take a nice pic with me. When we arrived at Nørre Vorupør, we still saw this Halo 22° above our house.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 1, 2011, 2:04 pm
Back at our house we only wanted one thing: Jump into the water! Petra, can you please leave the camera in the living room? We don't want to be photographed now.

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Emmh, Petra. Please don't take photos here! We want to relax a bit now.

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Seems, she doesn't hear us. Maybe we should look at her and not at the water, but it is just too exciting to be allowed to jump into the water today. We can't turn around to face her. So, Petra, even if we don't look at you and seem to talk to the water - we mean you, who should put down the camera now.


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Okay, okay! One last photo, but then this is it!


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Ahh, was that fun! Sorry, Mum, that we all didn't want photos of us in the water. But afterwards Petra was really thankful, because we splashed around a lot and maybe her camera would be broken now. Because she stayed calm, we allowed her to take two photos of us relaxing in the sun, after we all had been under the shower.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 3, 2011, 8:31 am
After a one and a half hour drive we arrived at Randers. There is a rainforest - I only believed it after I've seen it. There are three big big domes with three different rainforest themes: Asia, Africa and South America. Click on the link, if you want to know more about it. You will find more information, if you go to THE EXPERIENCE. I can tell you, it was hard for the camera - so sticky hot and humid. Not only the camera had problems, but I too. It was so hard to breath and you know, I have a fur, so it was even more hot to me than to the others maybe except the other toyvoyagers, of course.

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Of course rainforest means a lot of forest:)

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But we also saw many beautiful fishes.

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I also met a really big crocodile. I had been safe - there was glass between me and the crocodile.

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Here we are in the South American part.

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From here we drove to Graceland. Yes, you've read it right. But I mean Graceland Randers, which of course isn't the real Graceland, where Elvis lived. Nevertheless I enjoyed to be here. Petra told me, that it maybe is the only chance for many people in Europe to see something similiar like the real Graceland. So I tried my best to understand it and I really liked the exhibition there.

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This is an original phone, which was down in the jungle room.

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There's also a cinema, where the show Elvis movies. This one maybe was "Elvis by the Presley's".

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After the movie we've left the building.


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fam-united


Posted Aug 3, 2011, 11:21 am
At 6 pm we were back at our house in Nørre Vorupør. We were really tired.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 3, 2011, 4:17 pm
This is our last day at Nørre Vorupør. We visited the local museum with exhibitions about the town and fishing tradition.


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We sat down in a ship and hoped, that someone would come and take us fishing, but Petra told us, that we'd chosen the wrong ship.

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We had some fun, when we took the group photo in the steering wheel.


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This is the last photo of Nørre Vorupør: the really nice church.


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fam-united


Posted Aug 3, 2011, 4:48 pm
We are back in the car again - for another more than 7 hours trip back to the motel in Hannover. Of course it is raining again.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 4, 2011, 12:58 pm
Once more we stayed at the Motel one in Hannover. Petra said, that she had a really really bad night. The bed was much too hard for her to sleep. Thank God, we toyvoyagers had a nice place to rest.

Now we are in the car again and guess what? It is raining.


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Here we are on our way to Bad Pyrmont. I guess it was Bingen, where we took this photo.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 4, 2011, 1:58 pm
After we had breakfast in a nice coffee shop, we went on a little walk. We saw some really beautiful old houses.

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Fountain Place with Hylligen Born

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Here we passed Frankfurt a.M. and we tried to catch a photo with us and the skyline - it was too far away and really small. So it is hard to understand, why they call the skyline of Frankfurt a.M. "Mainhatten".


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fam-united


Posted Aug 4, 2011, 4:29 pm
At home again, we found two big packages on the kitchen table. Cassiopeia and some long missed toyvoyagers had arrived during our stay in Denmark. We have to talk now - tell stories of our travels.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 6, 2011, 12:05 pm
Petra's camera had been at the shop to get rid of the amount of sand in it. So we had no chance to take photos in the meantime.

Today it was warm and now there are heavy clouds at the sky. We wait for more rain.


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fam-united


Posted Aug 19, 2011, 7:39 pm
Today we took a photo of nearly all tvs, which stay here right now. There are several tvs of our host: Aaron, Robinson, Schnuffi, Scotty, Cassiopeia and Simba Leon. Then there are the regular guests: me, Bubo, BarryO, Sanji, Tuffy, NiliHH, Jack, Chuckle, WillyW. All the others are tvs, which stayed with hosts, who had some problems and no chance to send them on to their owners or the next host. It is the biggest amount of toyvoyagers I ever had around me:)
fam-united


Posted Aug 21, 2011, 11:49 am
Today the weather is nice - finally. So we had a chance to go out and take a look at the sightseeing places of Bruchsal. Bruchsal was first named in 976, but there are places even older than that. Bruchsal is famous for its beautiful baroque palace, for asparagus and for traffic jams on the autobahn.

Here you see the Damian Gate, which is the entrance to the palace area. You can see art exhibitions there every now and then.


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We crossed the street and walked to the fountain in front of the county court. Such a pity, that my host forgot to take a photo of the county court, but you can see it on another photo.

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Here you can read a about the fountain:

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We crossed the street again and walked into the palace front garden. At first we took a photo of a sign:

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The big part of the building is the main building of the palace. On the left side you see the catholic church St. Damian and Hugo, where my hosts go to Sunday service.

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Here you can see from left to right: the building with the chamber music hall, the tower of Damian Gate, the little piece of the tower of the jailhouse, then the tree. At next there are two more buildings, which belong to the palace area, between both is the street, which we crossed before. Then the higher building on the right side is the county court. And you can see the little gate, through which we walked into the front garden.

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We walked into the church to take a look at old photos. You can see, that the palace was destroyed during World War II. They rebuilt the area, but the church inside is modern nowadays.

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In the second last photo you can see a little gate, which leads from the front part to the back part of the palace. We walked through it and took a photo of the backside of the church and the church tower.

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There are some fountains on the backside of the palace. Each year there are open air concerts and it's a place for nice wedding photos. Around Christmas there is a second Christmas market at that place, too.

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Four guards with halberts are at the line between the fountain part and the palace garden.

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We walked to the little pond, where usually you can find many ducks.

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At two crossings of the main way you can find a statue at each corner. This crossing shows the four elements water, fire, earth, air. Here you see the fire statue. You maybe remember, that I've shown you the water statue a while ago.

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This crossing shows the four seasons winter, spring, summer, autumn. This statue is summer.

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There are several ways lined with chestnut trees.

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We left the palace area and drove to the backside of the hospital. There is a parking place and we stopped to take two photos: one shows the old hospital building with its nice little tower and the other shows the jailhouse.

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Then we drove to the Belvedere, which was built as a hunting lodge for Prince Bishop Franz Christoph von Hutten.

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Next to the Belvedere and Stadtgarten there is a place, where you have a great view over Bruchsal.

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You can see the two towers of the baroque church St. Peter, which is close to my host's house. In the street right in front of me you can see some of the oldest houses of Bruchsal. 80 % of Bruchsal was destroyed during the war, so mostly you only see houses built from 1945 to today.

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The buildings in front of me and the white one on the left side belong to the older people's house. Then there is the private catholic grammer school called St. Paulusheim - the big grey building in the far left side.

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This nice house also is next to the Belvedere. Nowadays it belongs to a hotel.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 24, 2011, 8:55 pm
Finally we found time to go to another short trip. We drove to Bad Nauheim in the morning. Maybe you don't know anything about Bad Nauheim and what makes it interesting for us. It is a really nice city with about 30000 inhabitants and is located about 35 km north from Frankfurt a.M.

Elvis Presley lived in Bad Nauheim during his time with the United States Army in Friedberg.

In the old town center of Bad Nauheim is the barn at the gate to the castle: The gate, the 'Burgpforte', was used by Elvis Presley as the motif of a record cover for his 1959 #1 hitrecord 'A Big Hunk o' Love'. Here is a photo of him at the gate. The photo is part of the exhibition ( the link is in German, sorry) about Elvis' time in Bad Nauheim and a bit about Elvis in general.


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Elvis sang "Muss i denn zum Städele hinaus". Here is a sheet with the text and he wrote in phonetic spelling under the lines, how he had to sing it.

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Elvis liked karate. Here is one of his suits.

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Of course there was much more to see and read, but Petra said, that she can't take a photo of each photo or item with me. After seeing the exhibition we went to an Irish Pub for lunch.

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Terrassenstraße - a street - was near to the Irish Pub, so we decided to walk there and go to see Hotel Grunewald. Elvis lived there after he arrived in Germany in October 1958. One week after him also his father, grandmother and two friends and bodyguards came too. At first they stayed at another hotel, but then they rent a whole floor. Room 10 - Elvis room - still looks the same, but it is closed for public.

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Right in front of the hotel is the Elvis-Presley-Place and the stele.

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Near to the "Burgpforte" - where nobody took a single photo with us toyvoyagers, but only the humans:( - ok, near to the "Burgpforte" we saw these lovely half timbered houses.

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On our way to the "Gesundheitsgarten" - health garden - we saw another nice half timbered house.

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In the garden we had a rest near a "Gradierbau" - refine building (not sure, how to call it in English). I like this beach chair.

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While walking in the garden, we saw this church.

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On our way back to the car we walked through Goethestraße. In the house Goethestraße 14 Elvis lived for one year during his stay in Germany.

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It was a strange feeling to walk in the footsteps of Elvis and really interesting for everyone - even those, who don't like Elvis too much. Of course this last part of the sentence doesn't count for my female host.
fam-united


Posted Sep 7, 2011, 6:11 pm
A thunderstorm is coming.

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fam-united


Posted Sep 29, 2011, 5:08 pm
Today we visited our host's aunt and uncle in Mannheim. From the balcony in the fifth floor we saw these high buildings.

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We saw some rather old houses.

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We also saw the tv-tower.

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fam-united


Posted Sep 29, 2011, 5:44 pm
My host and her daughter and son had the idea to walk around the Mummelsee. The Mummelsee is a 17-metre-deep lake at the western mountainside of the Hornisgrinde in the northern Black Forest of Germany. It is very popular with tourists travelling along the Schwarzwaldhochstraße. According to legends, the lake is inhabited by a Nix and the King of the Mummelsee.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 8, 2011, 4:19 pm
Today we went on a short trip to Bad Wildbad. We first thought, that we maybe could walk through a spa garden, but then the weather was so bad, that we decided to only have lunch and then go home again. Oh no, we didn't walk from Bruchsal to Bad Wildbad, we took the city railway.

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For lunch we had Swabian pockets with fresh flowers on it. It looked and tasted really good.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 8, 2011, 5:16 pm
Today we bake a cake for a birthday party, where we will go later. It is an apple cake, bottom and cover with the same dough. It is really yummy, but we had to work a lot to get all these apples cut into small pieces.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 8, 2011, 5:37 pm
School started again. Did you know, that my host is a teacher? Today morning she took a trolley and set us in a backpack and went to school. We meet over 50 pupils and three more teachers there. At first we really didn't know, what happened around us, but then Petra told us, that we drive to a rural school hall of residence ( not really sure about the translation here) by bus.

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On our way we drove through Baden-Baden.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 8, 2011, 8:40 pm
After an one hour drive we arrived at the youth hostel of Herrenwies in the Black Forest.
Herrenwies is a small small village with about 60 - 100 inhabitants or so. It belongs to Forbach and is located abou 750m above sea level. You have to drive about 7 km to reach another settlement. It's an area for holidays: in summer you can hike and in winter do winter sports.
We had luck, that the weather was really nice. So we had been able to go outside at once. While the pupils played on the playground and in the water, Petra took some photos of me.


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When Petra went to have dinner, we went straight to bed. We had been soooo tired.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 10, 2011, 2:27 pm
It's really early in the morning. All pupils are still asleep in their beds. My host found the time to show us the beautiful landscape with some early morning mist above the water.

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fam-united


Posted Oct 10, 2011, 2:37 pm
On our way home we passed by the Schwarzenbachtalsperre (river dam). To see more photos of it go to wikipedia. (Sorry, there's only text in German, but the photos are good) I'm also sorry, that you only see a little of the water. We had no better view.

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Here we drove through Forbach, to which Herrenwies belongs.

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fam-united


Posted Nov 6, 2011, 5:22 pm
Today we drove to Rülzheim to visit the Straußenfarm Mhou, it is a farm with ostrichs.

I've seen many ostrichs, very young and really old and big ostrichs. It's a dangerous thing for us small toyvoyagers to walk between these big animals, but we all were safe, because they had double fences there, so the ostrichs had no chance to reach outside of there green fields and catch us.


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Ostrichs can grow 2,60m high and weigh about 170kg. They can become 60/70 years old and lay eggs each second day.


There were also really nice autumn trees.

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In the shop you can buy nice egg lamps,  but they are really expensive.

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On our way back home we've seen some really nice houses.

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It was a nice trip:)

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fam-united


Posted Nov 12, 2011, 3:49 pm
Today is a special day for toyvoyagers.com. We've watched TV_TV from Galileo in German television. I've seen many famous other tvs at the beginning of the show and then there was TV_TV.

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fam-united


Posted Dec 19, 2011, 7:50 pm
Today we helped Petra to bake two large apple cakes, because tomorrow is the last day of her son's alternative service.
We prepared the dough and cut apples into pieces, added cinnamon, raisins and sliced almonds to the apples and cooked them. Then we made a part of the dough in the plate and filled it with the warm apples and covered it with dough again. I would so love to make this internet able to give you a hint of the smell in the kitchen, yummy.

While we all worked really hard, one of us sat around and only listened to music of the cd-played. Of course one whose name is Priscilla can only listen to music of Elvis, especially when it is Christmas time and it is a Christmas album.


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I was the first, who discovered the new cd.

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We needed a lot of flour for the cake.

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fam-united


Posted Jan 28, 2012, 10:17 am
I like this Christmas decoration on the window. It's on the same place each year. If you like it too and want the originals to cut them out for yourself, please send a note to Petra.
It's a nice place for us toyvoyagers, too. It is warm and you can see everything that's going on on the street
:)

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The first photo is without flash, just to show you, how dark it is outside although it is early midday. If Petra hasn't done a mistake, then there are 26 toyvoyagers sitting together. Some are her toyvoyagers, some her daughters and some are rescued toyvoyagers, which still are at her place and of course some are guests, who will move on again.
fam-united


Posted Jan 28, 2012, 11:01 am
After the big group photo session the guests finished the stars.

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Of course we other toyvoyagers were really curious and came to take a look at the beautiful stars.

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Later a group of starsingers visited our house, but we just had been too slow, so we aren't on this photo. Nevertheless we thougth, that it is a good idea to show you, how starsingers can look like. They don't carry one of our stars, though. They belong to the church region, were our hosts live, but our hosts go to another church, where they lived before. It's a bit complicated:)

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In the afternoon we all helped our Petra to bake two cakes. She told us, that tomorrow isn't only Epiphany, but also her husbands 50th birthday and that we will go to the parish hall and carry cakes with us. At first we baked a Hermann cake. It is a cake like a round robin, that's how it seems for me. Petra told us, that she received a part of the cake a few days ago and that she had to stir it and to feed it and that now it is ready to get baken. Of course we added some more stuff like flour, sugar, almonds, cinnamon, chocolate pieces.

We read the recipe.

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Then we had to get some more dishes for the "kids" of this cake.

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We had been really busy.


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We also added some apple pieces.

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We wondered, if this dish would be big enough and decided, that it wasn't. So we took a star for the dough of Hermann.

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fam-united


Posted Feb 6, 2012, 2:25 pm
Today we drove to the Michaelsberg in Untergrombach. Untergrombach is one of Bruchsal's suburbs with about 6000 inhabitants.
3500 to 2600 BC there were frist human signs on the Michaelsberg, which gave this culture the name "Michaelsberger Kulturkreis"
1502 AD Joss Fritz from Untergrombach planned the "Bundschuhaufstand" during the time of Peasant's Wars.


In the far (right side) you see some houses, which belong to Bruchsal.


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Bruchsal and also Untergrombach are located at the edge to the Kraichgau. Here you see the Rhine Valley. If the weather is sunny, you can see the Palatinate Forest in the far.

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The chapel is on top of the Michaelsberg.

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fam-united


Posted Feb 19, 2012, 11:11 am
Karlsruhe is the third largest city of Baden-Württemberg. It is the main city of the Baden part. It is located close to the German - French border, only about 25 km from Bruchsal. We arrived at Karlsruhe after a drive of about 25 minutes.

We first tried to find a parking place and then crawled out of the car. Wow, was it cold outside. We all didn't have the right clothes for a walk, so we had to hurry.

Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states. The town surrounding the Palace became the seat of two of the highest courts in Germany, the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany (Bundesverfassungsgericht) whose decisions have the force of a law in many cases, and the Federal Court of Justice of Germany (Bundesgerichtshof), the highest court of appeals in matters of civil law and criminal law. It therefore considers itself the home of justice in Germany, a role taken over from Leipzig after 1945.

Due to similarities to the United States capital city, it has been speculated that Karlsruhe was a model city for the cityscape of Washington, D.C.[4] Both cities have a center — in Karlsruhe the palace and in D.C. the Capitol Building — from which the streets radiate outward. L'Enfant, Washington's city planner, had been given the plans of Karlsruhe (among numerous other European cities) as an inspiration.
(you can read this and more on wikipedia)


In 1715, Charles III William, Margrave of Baden-Durlach established Karlsruhe (Charles' repose), where he built his residence.


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The city was planned with the palace tower (Schloss) at the center and 32 streets radiating out from it like the spokes of a wheel, or the ribs of a folding fan, so that one nickname for Karlsruhe in German is the "fan city" (Fächerstadt). Here's a photo of the palace.

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We really wanted to see more, but it was so cold, that we hurried back to our car. When we looked out of the car window, we could see the State Art Gallery.

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fam-united


Posted Feb 21, 2012, 4:36 pm
We decided to drive to Durlach to climb the Turmberg. Our hosts told us, that the view from Turmberg would be just perfect. So we are really excited. You can see the top of the Turmberg just straight ahead.

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fam-united


Posted Feb 21, 2012, 8:11 pm
Durlach is a borough of the German city of Karlsruhe with a population of roughly 30,000.
It was chosen by the margrave Charles II in 1565 as residence of the rulers of Baden-Durlach, and retained this distinction though it was almost totally destroyed by the French in 1689.

Margrave Charles III William decided that he needed more space which led to the foundation of Karlsruhe, which in 1715 became the new capital until the state was merged into the grand-duchy of Baden.

We only drove through some narrow streets, because it wasn't far from sunset.


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fam-united


Posted Feb 21, 2012, 9:46 pm
The Turmberg ('tower hill') is a vineyard-covered hill of the northern most part of the Black Forest. A castle ruin with watch-tower are located on top of the Turmberg. The watch-tower in particular offers fine views of Karlsruhe towards the west and the Rhine River valley. On very clear days even farther west the Vosges in France can be seen. The Rhine River is the border between Germany and Alsace area of France. The South and East offer nice views of the Black Forest, and since the Turmberg is the northern most tip of the Black Forest you have hills more than actual mountains.

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fam-united


Posted Mar 18, 2012, 1:33 pm
Today we drove to Cologne. Petra's husband had to be there for a Trade Fair and Petra met olgamaus.

Here is some information about Cologne (wikipedia):


"Cologne (English pronunciation: /kəˈloʊn/, German: Köln [kœln], Kölsch: Kölle [ˈkœɫə]) is Germany's fourth-largest city (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich), and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.

Cologne is located on both sides of the Rhine River. The city's famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne (Universität zu Köln) is one of Europe's oldest and largest universities.

Cologne is a major cultural centre of the Rhineland and has a vibrant arts scene. Cologne is home to more than 30 museums and hundreds of galleries. Exhibitions range from local ancient Roman archeological sites to contemporary graphics and sculpture. The Cologne Trade Fair hosts a number of trade shows such as Art Cologne, imm Cologne, Gamescom and the Photokina."



Cologne Cathedral (German: Kölner Dom) is the city's most famous monument and the Cologne residents' most respected landmark. It is a Gothic church, started in 1248, and completed in 1880. In 1996, it was designated a World Heritage site; it houses the Shrine of the Three Kings that supposedly contains the relics of the Three Magi. Residents of Cologne sometimes refer to the cathedral as "the eternal construction site" (Dauerbaustelle).

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Cologne Central Station: On an average day, about 280,000 travellers frequent the station, making it fifth busiest station in Germany.

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Then we walked down to the Rhine.

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Here's the Hohenzollern Bridge.

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Great St. Martin Churchis a Romanesque Catholic church. Its foundations (circa 960 AD) rest on remnants of a Roman chapel, built on what was then an island in the Rhine. The church was badly damaged in World War II, with restoration work completed in 1985.

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We then walked around the Imhoff-Chocolate Museum. 

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We took a look back to the Hohenzollern Bridge, cathedral and Great St. Martin.

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The museum is run by the Schokoladenmuseum Köln GmbH. Since March 2006, the Swiss chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprüngli has been its partner in producing exhibits. Prior to that the partner was the Cologne chocolate producer Stollwerck, and the museum was formerly known as the Imhoff-Stollwerck-Museum.


On this photo you can see, how high the water was in 1995 and you can see, where we took the photo with the chocolate girl, where we stand for the view back to the churches and bridge. The yellow line shows the way we walked around the museum and the green line the way, where we came from.

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Inside the museum we saw all the machines which are necessary to make delicious chocolate.

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There is a real chocolate fountain! We all got wafers dipped into melted chocolate. Yummy!

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This equestrian statue shows Frederick William III of Prussia. You can see here, who else is on the base of the statue.

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The Heumarkt is beside the Alter Markt the biggest place in Cologne historic city.

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It started to rain and we walked back to the cathedral. We entered it and it was so so dark inside, that we had problems to take nice photos. So please excuse the quality.

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So this was the last photo of Cologne and we drove back to Bruchsal again.
fam-united


Posted Apr 6, 2012, 3:18 pm
Today we were invited to celebrate our host uncle's 80th birthday. We celebrated at a Greek Restaurant close to the Rhine. In the early afternoon we went on a walk to have a view on the Rhine. Both, the Rhine and the Neckar flow through Mannheim. Mannheim is a nice city, Petra told me, but she had no time to show more than the Rhine.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 29, 2012, 8:42 am
Happy Easter to you!


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fam-united


Posted Apr 29, 2012, 5:47 pm
Finally I found time to read these two pages of two different newspapers of the week. The one is about Bruchsal asparagus. Bruchsal is famous for its asparagus fields and auctions.

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The other newspaper page is about the baroque palace of Bruchsal. I think, you have a good view to many different parts of the main building with the church tower, but still many houses are missing.

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fam-united


Posted Apr 30, 2012, 5:25 pm
We have typical April weather in Bruchsal. There is sunshine and the next moment there is hail and thunder and rain.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 2, 2013, 2:27 pm
Wow! We have another sunny day! I really had no chance to see the flowers in the garden behind the house until now, because the weather was that bad. I can't remember, that we had springweather like this before. All flowers are blooming at the same time and the trees got leaves within minutes it seems.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 2, 2013, 8:17 pm
We are on the way to Bad Wildbad, where our host's husband has an appointment. As the weather was so terrible again during the last weeks, we took the chance to take some photos today.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 2, 2013, 9:03 pm
Today I'm on a sightseeing trip by car - the weather had been terrible during the last days, but today it is a little bit better.

Here you see one of Bruchsal's oldest streets: Württemberger-Straße.


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fam-united


Posted Jun 3, 2013, 4:39 pm
Then we drove to Heidelsheim, which is one of Bruchsal's surburbs. Heidelsheim belongs to Bruchsal since 1974. The river Saalbach also flows through Heidelsheim. The small city was first named in 770 A.D.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 3, 2013, 4:56 pm
We drove to Blaustein on the Autobahn. My hosts' one son lives in this town, which is close to Ulm. Here you see some impressions during our drive, which took about 2 hours one way. You still see thick clouds in the sky.

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fam-united


Posted Jun 3, 2013, 5:12 pm
It seems, that sightseeing means to look out of windows or driving cars. The weather was too cold and we only had a little time in Blaustein before we had to drive back to Bruchsal again, so here you can see just a view over the roofs.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 21, 2013, 6:41 pm
Two more hours in the car, then we were in Bruchsal again.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 21, 2013, 7:13 pm
The weather is really nice, if you don't count the heavy clouds, so we decided to go on a drive to two of Bruchsal's suburbs: Untergrombach and Obergrombach. At first we wanted to visit the chapel on Michaelsberg, a small hill which belongs to Untergrombach. It was too crowded there, because there was a wedding.
So we only took a photo of the small hills of Kraichgau.


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fam-united


Posted Jul 21, 2013, 8:12 pm
Then we drove to Obergrombach.
At first we enjoyed the nice view over the vineyards to Obergrombach.


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Our plan was to take more photos, but it started raining again. So here's only one more photo of Obergrombach with a beautiful half timbered house.

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fam-united


Posted Jul 21, 2013, 9:10 pm
Today we decided to bake a rhubarb cake. Our host allowed us to do it all alone without her help. So please take a look at the recipe. We explain it step by step:

At first we had to find a place - we are quite a few
:)

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Of course we aren't all traveling. Some of us are here as active toyvoyagers, but many of us are guests, who decided to stay here as long as the owners don't find time to get in contact with our host. And of course some of us live here, but we all have one thing in common - we are toyvoyagers.
At next we had to get the eggs. We need six eggs for the cake.


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It was Sausi Karl's job to beat the eggs.

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Then one of us - don't know who - added 50g sugar for each egg, so it was 300 g sugar. It's quite a lot, we know.

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Madam Miff added one packet of vanilla sugar to the dough.

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Of course we had to beat the dough again, but we couldn't handle the camera while beating the dough.
Matcha and Ted added 300g flour and one packet of baking powder.


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Then we had to stir the dough again until it was fluffy.

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Melek helped

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and Nathalie

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Then Matcha prepared the dish for the dough. We baked without bottom on a foil.

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Nathalie was still busy stiring the dough.

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And the she filled it in the dish.

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Then we all were sitting there and waiting for the cake to get baken in the oven. Man it was boring at first. But we didn't expect, that half an hour can be such a short time, when so many tvs are together.

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After this break we had to prepare the rhubarb, because we wanted to fill the cake with rhubarb cream.

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Little Dragon helped to skin it.

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And Matcha helped to cut it in pieces.

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Billy helped Matcha to stay on the pot during cutting the rhubarb pieces.

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Then we had to prepare some ingrediences for the cream. We needed two packets of vanilly pudding powder, one egg white and one yolk. We had to stir the egg white.

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Before adding the stirred egg white, we had to add the pudding powder. We had added a little bit of water to it and shook it until it was smooth. Then we added the pudding powder to the cooked rhubarb. We also added the yolk.

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Then Louis the Rat added the stirred egg white and gently folded it in.

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Finally we cut the cake in two layers and filled the cream on the first and then on the second layer and put the last layer on top of it.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 25, 2013, 12:25 pm
Today we drove to Ulm. Ulm is a city in Baden-Württemberg,  located at the border of Swabian Jura to Bavaria and was founded around 850, but the oldest traceable settlement of the Ulm area began in the early Neolithic period, around 5000 BC. . Ulm lies at the point where the rivers Blau and Iller join the Danube.
Internationally, Ulm is primarily known for having the church with the tallest steeple in the world, the Gothic minster (Ulm Minster, German: Ulmer Münster) and as the birthplace of Albert Einstein.

The Minster is a Lutheran church. Although sometimes referred to as Ulm Cathedral because of its great size, the church is not a cathedral as it has never been the seat of a bishop.

It is the tallest church in the world, and the 4th tallest structure built before the 20th century, with a steeple measuring 161.5 metres (530 ft) and containing 768 steps. From the top level at 143 m (469 ft) there is a panoramic view of Ulm in Baden-Württemberg and Neu-Ulm in Bavaria and, in clear weather, a vista of the Alps from Säntis to the Zugspitze. The final stairwell to the top (known as the third Gallery) is a tall, spiraling staircase that has barely enough room for one person.

We had a wonderful view around, but the weather was not as nice as we would have liked it. It even started to drop.
(wikipedia)

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Here you see the river Danube. The houses in my back belong to the so called Fischerviertel (fishermen's quarter), where we will go later. The houses on the other side of the river belong to the Bavarian city Neu-Ulm.

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fam-united


Posted Aug 25, 2013, 2:26 pm
Today we drove to Blaubeuren. Blaubeuren has about 12 000 inhabitants. At first we visited the Blaubeuren Abbey, which was a house of the Benedictine Order. The monastery was founded in 1085.
I love the halbtimbered houses.



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I'm sorry, but there was only a bit of battery left in my host's camera, so we had to safe it for the next place and couldn't take a photo inside the abbey.
fam-united


Posted Aug 25, 2013, 2:52 pm
The Blautopf (German for Blue Pot; "blau" means blue, "topf" means pot) is a spring that serves as the source of the river Blau in the karst landscape on the Swabian Jura's southern edge.

Numerous legends and folk tales refer to the Blautopf. Its characteristic colour was explained by the account that every day someone would pour a vat of ink into the Blautopf. Another myth stated that every time someone tried to measure the Blautopf's depth with a leaden sounding line, a water nix stole the sounding line. Therefore, it was not possible to determine the depth of the Blautopf.

The entry to the Blauhöhle lies at a depth of about 18 metres (approximately 60 ft). Therefore, access is restricted to experienced and well-trained divers. The size of the Blautopf depends greatly on the level of rainfall, though it never entirely dries out. The Blautopf is the second largest spring in Germany, after the Aachtopf.

he water's blue color is the result of chemical properties of limestone densely distributed in the water.

We only could take one "bunch" photo due to the battery problem and because it started to rain.


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fam-united


Posted Aug 25, 2013, 4:58 pm
Geislingen an der Steige is a town in the district of Göppingen in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The name relates to its location "on the climb" (an der steige) of a trade route over the Swabian Jura mountain range.
Helfenstein Castle represents the remnants of the fortified castle (burg) Helfenstein of the counts of Helfenstein. During the peak of their power the Helfenstein family ruled Heidenheim, Blaubeuren, Wiesensteig and Sigmaringen.

We really enjoyed the view over Geislingen and the hills.


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View from the castle to Ödenturm.

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Here am I in front of the Ödenturm.

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From here we had a nice view to Helfenstein castle.

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fam-united


Posted Feb 20, 2015, 6:35 pm
There will be a big event in this family this year: the wedding of one of the sons. Petra is happy, that she is allowed to bake the wedding cake. It will be a cake with strawberries and maybe some marzipan. She still doesn't know the other ingredients, so she has to try some cakes and find out the best version. And of course we are part of this.
Here's the first cake - I can't remember the ingredients anymore, I'm sorry.
:)

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