kikuchan, berlin, germany

hanachan


Posted Jan 3, 2010, 8:17 am
Konnichiwa! I'm kikuchan. I live in Takamatsu. It rarely snows in winter, just once in several years we have a chance to see a white veil on the ground for a few days.
So I want to visit northern countries for my first trip. Please show me your favorite place in your country.
I look forward to hearing from you!!!
hanachan


Posted Jan 11, 2010, 7:05 pm
I will leave for Russia soon. Yes, I decided to visit Russia for my first trip. It will be a wonderful beginning of my journey. I'm so excited.
;)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Feb 17, 2010, 8:09 pm
Hello Kyoko!

Yesterday I finally came to Maria`s place! Yattaaaaaa!!! :))))

I have some time to inspect the flat because we`ll go out only in the week-end.
I met here several TVs!
Two of them soon will leave us and the rest we`ll be my friends for the whole period of my staying.

Hope you`re fine and happy to see me :)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Feb 21, 2010, 7:49 pm
Hello Kyoko!
How are you today?
We have much snow! It is wet and hard, so I could not have an excursion around Moscow, but I`ll have it tomorrow for sure.
Today I can show you the usual dormitory suburb in Russia. Nothing special. But see how much snow!!! 
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Feb 22, 2010, 3:57 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Finally I had a small excursion in the center of Moscow. I visited Red Square!
Quote:
Red Square is a city square in Moscow. The square separates the Kremlin, the former royal citadel and currently the official residence of the President of Russia, from a historic merchant quarter known as Kitai-gorod. As major streets of Moscow radiate from here in all directions, being promoted to major highways outside the city, Red Square is often considered the central square of Moscow and all of Russia.

At the second photo you can see Saint Basil's Cathedral one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Russia. Legend held that Ivan IV blinded the architect so that he could not recreate the masterpiece elsewhere.
The cathedral has been part of the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990.
You can`t enjoy the whole beautifulness of it because of the weather, but if I`m able I`ll come here when the sun will shine ;)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Feb 28, 2010, 9:58 pm
Hello Kyoko!
As you can see I`m in my travel bag with my TV-friends!
Tomorrow we are going to Amsterdam! I`ll write to you note from there! Wish me luck ;)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 3, 2010, 10:02 am
Hello Kyoko!
Yes, you are right! We are at Amsterdam! Here are my photos from airplane (KLM is Netherlands air-company).
Photos about my adventures in Amsterdam are coming soon  ;)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 4, 2010, 8:07 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I had a small trip through Amsterdam - the most merry city in the world!
I will not show you photos of me smoking marijuana or something like this because I`m a good girl!  :rolleyes:
I was just visiting the sights and made photos with beautiful buildings.
In Amsterdam there are many bicycles and channels :) Many people use bicycle instead of car that`s why they are so pretty and slim.
I also went one station by underground. It is interesting and not very crowded.
I`m gong to have one night trip before leaving Amsterdam, so wait for my new update soon!
Kikuchan.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 5, 2010, 9:32 am
Hello Kyoko!
Today we are packing our stuff to go to Barcelona!
And yesterday I went through night Amsterdam and made several photos.
You can see building of theater and channel behind me.
Wish us a pleasant and safe trip!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 7, 2010, 10:17 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I`m in Barcelona! Today was grey day and it was going to rain (now it is raining and I think it will be till the end of our trip).
First I had a Spanish breakfast: tea and chocolate cake  :rolleyes:
Then I saw two houses of Gaudi . They are strange but very beautiful. These houses are world famous and you can buy many souvenirs with some symbolic of Gaudi.
And I had a bus-excursion through Barcelona, it was very convenient!
We could easily reach the sea, sit on the sound and then again be at the touristic center.
Last photo shows you the most famous building in Barcelona "Sagrada Familia"
Quote:
The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan name; Spanish: Templo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia; "Expiatory Church of the Holy Family"), often simply called the Sagrada Família, is a massive, privately-funded Roman Catholic church that has been under construction in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain since 1882 and is not expected to be complete until at least 2026. A portion of the building's interior is scheduled to open for public worship and tours by September 2010.

Considered the master-work of renowned Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852–1926), the project's vast scale and idiosyncratic design have made it one of Barcelona's (and Spain's) top tourist attractions for many years. The church is to be consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI on November 7, 2010, during his visit to Santiago de Compostela and Barcelona.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 12, 2010, 10:39 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I`m in Paris, can you believe?!
We walked in the park near Louvre, saw the Arch Triumph and tasted French bread and sweets. I  saw Eiffel Tower far from me.
It was great! Paris is wonderful!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 13, 2010, 4:20 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Yesterday I visited Eiffel Tower! I not only saw it, but was inside it! It was very long queue to the lift so we went by stairs :) I saw the whole Paris from first floor, from second and from very top!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 20, 2010, 9:27 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Today was the shopping day! We visited two biggest shopping-centers in Moscow: "European" (the first photo) and ib GUM wich is situated on  Red Square where I`ve already been.

Quote:
Main Department Store or GUM (pronounced as goom, in full Glavnyi Universalnyi Magazin) is a modern name for the main department store in many cities of the former Soviet Union, known as State Department Store, Gosudarstvennyi Universalnyi Magazin) in the Soviet times. Similar-named stores were in the some Soviet republics and post-Soviet states. The most famous GUM is a large store in Kitai-gorod of Moscow, facing Red Square. It is actually a shopping mall. Prior to the 1920s the place was known as the Upper Trading Rows.


Yours,
kikuchan.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Mar 28, 2010, 7:55 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Today I saw many interesting things: old beautiful house, Alexander Garden:

Quote:
Alexander Garden was one of the first public parks in Moscow. It occupies all the length of the western Kremlin wall in front of the Moscow Manege.

After the Neglinnaya River was encapsulated in an underground pipe, they decided to turn the former riverbed into a public park. It was laid out in 1819-1823 to a design by Osip Bove and named after the reigning emperor. The park comprises three separate gardens, which stretch along the western Kremlin wall for 865 meters.

The park's most prominent feature is the outlying Kutafya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin. A ruined grotto was constructed to Bove's design underneath the Middle Arsenal Tower in 1841. The garden's cast iron gate and grille were designed to commemorate the Russian victories over Napoleon.

In 1914, a year after the tercentenary of the Romanov dynasty was being celebrated, they erected an obelisk in the Upper Garden. Four years later, it was reconstructed by the Bolsheviks into a monument to the socialist and communist thinkers. In 1967, they constructed the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with an eternal flame brought from the Field of Mars in Leningrad.

The Post Number One, where the sentinels stand on guard, used to be located in front of Lenin's Mausoleum, but was moved to the Tomb of The Unknown Soldier in the 1990s.


and main Russian Cathedral. I liked it! It is so beautiful!!
I wish you great next week, Kyoko!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 8, 2010, 8:28 am
Hello Kyoko!
I celebrated Easter in the countryside with Maria, Beaver and Nathalie.
We had much sun and fun. Now when spring has come it is so pleasant to be in Russia!
Somewhere there is still a little bit of snow but it is only in countryside - in Moscow you`ll not find snow this time.

I`ve tasted Easter cake and egg! It was delicious :)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 13, 2010, 6:51 am
Hello Kyoko!
How are you?
On Sunday we were bicycling through the forest! The weather was great and sunny! I had orange bicycle. Do you like it?
And we took sushi with us to have a lunch in the forest. It was special dish for me :)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 18, 2010, 10:30 am
As you know Kyoko, last Sunday I ride my bicycle. And I visited the residence of Ded Moroz (Santa Claus) in Moscow.  You can see fir tree which looks like Christmas tree and there are many fir trees which grow there. On the desk it is written "Thank you for kind regard for us. Fir trees". 
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Apr 22, 2010, 7:34 am
Hello Kyoko!
On Saturday my new TV-friends and I were in Moscow Zoo. It has really large territory and there are many different animals there! I wish you could see them with me Kyoko!
I liked giraffe the most!  He is very friendly and doesn`t protest when you make photo near him :)
And nothers bears, I suppose, feel themselves the most comfortable there, because they not only healthy, but have children, which is not very common in Zoo.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 10, 2010, 6:23 pm
Privet Kyoko!
On Saturday I met Maria`s friend from Belarus. When she was going home I made some photos near railway station  called "Bellorusskiy vokzal". And in the underground. The station called Belorusskaya as well :)
Photos are not of very good quality but as photos to remember they  are good.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 14, 2010, 11:31 am
Privet Kyoko!
On Sunday I took part in one of the main Russian holidays - the day of Victory in the World War II!

Quote:
World War II, or the Second World War (often abbreviated WWII or WW2), was a global military conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945 which involved most of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, with more than 100 million military personnel mobilised. In a state of "total war," the major participants placed their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities at the service of the war effort, erasing the distinction between civilian and military resources. Marked by significant action against civilians, including the Holocaust and the only use of nuclear weapons in warfare, it was the deadliest conflict in human history,with over seventy million casualties.


Soviet Union was fighting with fascistic during the whole war and played  not the last first fiddle in the victory. That`s why you can see so many Soviet Union flags in spite of the fact there is no Soviet Union any more.
We were at the Poklonnaya Gora.
Quote:

Museum of the Great Patriotic War is in Moscow at Poklonnaya Gora, which can be translated most literally as "Bow-down Hill," or more metaphorically as "Worshipful Submission Hill" . Featured is the Victory Park with an open display of military vehicles, aircraft, cannons, etc, and the Central Museum building of the Great Patriotic War.

There were many people making fun and happy.

Maria asked me to write to you that we all enjoyed the photos of Hypno-dog in Japan! Maria was enamoured of Japan and could not believe that our country is so beautiful in true life not only in films  :stare:
And I was happy to see hanachan. Say hello to her!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted May 25, 2010, 8:21 am
Greetings Kyoko!

On sunday I was in Tsaritsino park (Tsar in Russian is "King" and "Tsaritsa" - is queen.)

Quote:
Tsaritsino museum and reserve in Moscow was founded in 1984 in the park of the same name. The estate is known from the late 16th century, when it belonged to Tsarica Irina, sister of Tsar Boris Godunov. At that time it was called Bogorodskoye. In the 17th century it belonged to the Streshnevs and then to the Galitzines. In 1775, when the estate was bought by empress Catherine the Great, it received its present name, which means “Tsarina’s”. In 1776-85 architect Vasili Bazhenov built a new palace for the Empress here, but in 1786 Catherine ordered it to be partly pulled down. Until 1797 architect Matvey Kazakov was working on the construction, but the palace remained unfinished. Currently, in Tsaritsino there are a history and architecture museum, a landscape park with an adjacent forest, an art museum, the Biryulyovo dendropark, and a cascade of the Tsaritsino ponds.

Bazhenov's "Opera House", 1776-1778.The 18th-century architecture ensemble was built (though not finished) following the order of Catherine II in pseudo-Gothic style, after projects of the Bazhenov and Kazakov, and it is the only 18th-century architectural ensemble of such dimensions in Russia. Around the palace, in the park there are a number of pavilions, pergolas, arbours, artificial grottos, decorative bridges (early 19th century, architect I. Yegotov), and a Russian Orthodox temple “Source of Life”, as well as a modern recreation center with an upscale restaurant. For a long time most buildings were ruined (and alpinists used them for training). Recently most buildings have been "completed": rooftops, interiors and decorations have been added and their historical appearance has been altered. A number of buildings house the Russian museum of folk and applied art. The atrium of the “Bread House” is used for concerts of Moscow musicians.


The weather was so nice and pleasant that it seems that all Muscovites came to the park to spend time!
I enjoyed great fountain and castles. I know why Catherine  - the queen  liked this place, it is really amazing!
I wish I could live in such "house" :) May be one day... :rolleyes:
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 3, 2010, 8:19 am
Hello Kyoko!
How are you? Have not you forgotten my face (because of my rare updates)?
On Sunday I was near the museum of Russian architect Zurab Tsereteli. There were many figures in the yard, but I made photo only with one of them. Did you know that I was always dreaming about becoming a ballet dancer?  :rolleyes:

And after this I had a party with my TV-friends in Vietnamese restaurant - the dishes are very tasty!

Hope you are fine and happy  ;)
kikuchan
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 11, 2010, 4:24 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Today we are going to Kiev - the capital of Ukraine for the whole week-end!
Quote:
Ukraine is the second largest country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by the Russian Federation to the east; Belarus to the north; Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary to the west; Romania and Moldova to the southwest; and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south. Ukraine is a member of the CIS. From 1923 to 1991 most of the country was a constituent republic within the USSR. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of Ukraine.


We are sitting in travel bag and waiting.
I`ll come back to you soon with photos!

kikuchan.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 23, 2010, 4:26 am
Hello Kyoko!
As you know I was in Kiev. We traveled by train about 13 hours.
You can see how beautiful is area of Kiev!
And the last photo was made at the main Square of Kiev.
I wish I could show you more photos, but there were many TVs at Maria`s place and everyone wanted to make photo.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jun 29, 2010, 7:41 pm
Hello Kyoko!
We have summer here in Russia and Maria`s Granny has grown beautiful roses. I made photo with them.
Summer in countryside is a little bit boring, but pleasant.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jul 16, 2010, 8:28 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Finally I had a chance to go out. Maria is so busy with new TVs, that I had to stay at home. But to tell you the truth I was not much disappointed because it was awfully hot outside!
But special for my photo-session the sky became cloudy, but I think it could not spoil the Red Square and my favorite St.Basil`s Cathedral!
You have seen Red Square in the winter and now (as I promised) I show you Red Square without snow :)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jul 23, 2010, 8:30 pm
Hello dear Kyoko!
Last week-end I was in Yaroslavl`
Quote:
Yaroslavl is a city in Russia, the administrative center of Yaroslavl Oblast, located 250 kilometers (155 mi) north-east of Moscow. The historical part of the city, a World Heritage Site, is located at the confluence of the Volga and the Kotorosl Rivers.


I walked very much but unfortunately forgot to take pictures, so I have only two - from the car on the was to the cit and near the war monument.

TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Aug 8, 2010, 7:07 pm
Hello Kyoko!
It is awful hot in Moscow! I can`t stand it and prefer to sit at home and wait for autumn.
But on Sunday we were at All-Russia Exhibition Centre.
Quote:
It occupies 2,375,000 square metres of which 266,000 square metres are used for indoor exhibits. The territory of VVC is greater than that of the Principality of Monaco and has approximately 400 buildings.

Currently, the larger international exhibitions are mostly held at the new facilities of Moscow Expo Center.


You can see people swimming in the fountain with golden statues. Police doesn`t forbid this, because it is really hot like in Hell and nobody can stop people. 
At VVC there are many beautiful Soviet buildings which are not in use or using as a market and they look like nobody cares about them. It is a pity, because modern buildings are all the same and these ones are unique.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Aug 19, 2010, 6:50 pm
Hello Kyoko!
Here I am and Russian old cars! I liked the style - in spite of the fact it is too old ones.
But Maria says that modern Russian cars are not better and may be even worse. And these are old, but beautiful.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Aug 28, 2010, 10:07 am
Hello Kyoko!
I saw Ostankino tower!

Quote:
Ostankino Tower  is a free-standing television and radio tower in Moscow, Russia. Standing 540 metres (1,770 ft) tall, Ostankino was designed by Nikolai Nikitin. It is a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, currently the tallest in Europe and 4th tallest in the world.The tower was the first free-standing structure to exceed 500 m (1,600 ft) in height. The tower was constructed to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the October Revolution. It is named after the Ostankino district of Moscow in which it is located.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Aug 31, 2010, 7:11 pm
Kyoko you will not believe, but I`m in Prague!
You can see the main square in Prague and the most beautiful clocks in the world :)
There are crowds of tourist here!!!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Sep 7, 2010, 7:28 pm
Hello again Kyoko!
These are still my photos from Prague!
You can see me near and at the Karluv Brige (English version The Charles Bridge) is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague.
And the last photo shows you the most beautiful building in Prague: Saint Vitus' Cathedral! Is not it great?
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Sep 12, 2010, 8:05 pm
Dear Kyoko!
I totally forgot to show you Jubilee Synagogue:
Quote:
Jubilee Synagogue , also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue, is a synagogue in Prague, Czech Republic. It also known as the Jerusalem Synagogue because of its location on Jerusalem Street. It was built in 1906, designed by Wilhelm Stiassny and named in honor of the silver Jubilee of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria. The synagogue is designed in Moorish Revival form with Art Nouveau decoration, especially in the interior. It was lately renovated and still serves religious purposes. After the Czech Republic became independent of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it became more usual to call the synagogue the Jerusalem Street Synagogue.

It is very bright and I`ve never seen such synagogue.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Sep 20, 2010, 7:25 pm
Hello Kyoko!
It is still not so cold in Russia, so we are enjoying our stay in countryside. Look which wonderful flowers we have there!
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Oct 9, 2010, 9:02 am
Privet Kyoko!
Today my travelog will tell you a sad story about II World War.
I was in the museum of 16th Army which stopped the fascistic Army when it was moving to Moscow. Many-many people died, but the movement to Russian capital was finished.
Quote:

In September 1941 Konstantin Rokossovsky was given command of 16th Army and tasked with blocking the Volokolamsk Highway, and barring the German forces' access towards Moscow. By late November, 16th Army had gradually been forced back to a line Krasnaya Polyana-Kryukovo-Istra, but here it held firm until the Red Army went over to the offensive in December. In June 1942 however, Rokossovsky was transferred to take command of the Bryansk Front.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Nov 14, 2010, 6:41 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I visited Moscow Kremlin (its inside part).
there are no many luxuries buildings there, but there are churches and peaceful alleys.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Dec 1, 2010, 8:04 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I have compleated one of my missions - walked around Berlin! we spent there 11 hours and I saw the main sights: Tiergarten, German Cathedral and Concert Hall and The Brandenburg Gate:

Quote:
The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is a former city gate and one of the main symbols of Berlin and Germany. It is located west of the city center at the junction of Unter den Linden and Ebertstraße, immediately west of the Pariser Platz. It is the only remaining gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered. One block to the north stands the Reichstag building. The gate is the monumental entry to Unter den Linden, the renowned boulevard of linden trees which formerly led directly to the city palace of the Prussian monarchs. It was commissioned by King Frederick William II of Prussia as a sign of peace and built by Carl Gotthard Langhans from 1788 to 1791. Having suffered considerable damage in World War II, the Brandenburg Gate was fully restored from 2000 to 2002 by the Stiftung Denkmalschutz Berlin (Berlin Monument Conservation Foundation). Today, it is regarded as one of Europe's most famous landmarks.


I hope to visit Berlin again and see Berlin Wall - rest of it I mean.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Dec 6, 2010, 6:26 pm
Hello Kyoko!
I`m again in Paris. All the rest of TVs were very excited about it, but I was like a guide fr them, because I was in Paris in March.
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Jan 30, 2011, 6:05 pm
Hello Kyoko!
My second New Year party in Russia was again nice and tasty :)
TaisAfinskaia
maria.forletters@gmail.com

Posted Feb 10, 2011, 5:38 pm
Dear Kyoko!
I`m on my way to dzejna. I have even forgotten how it is - traveling.  I`m sitting in my new box having chocolate with me not to be too berried during my trip.
I`m happy that I`ll come back to Czech Republic - we were there with Maria and I loved Czech Republic!
dzejna


Posted Feb 19, 2011, 7:28 pm
Hello Kyoko,

here I am, already in the Czech Republic. My host mum picked me up from the post office yesterday.
It was a bit strange, because as I understood, she was not expecting me at all! I got a bit scared that I will have to travel elsewhere but I was told that there is no problem, because there is actually only one other TV in the house at the moment.
What a relief!

I don´t have any images from the house and with the other toys yet, but I was already on my first trip.

My host dad wanted to buy some things in Brno, which is the second biggest city in the Czech Republic. Of course I wanted to come along.
I have already been in Prague with Maria, so why not Brno  :rolleyes:?

On the way to the shopping mall we heard some news in the radio about new sculpture being just installed to one of the squares. It is completely made of keys.
Keys were symbol of the anti-communist revolution in 1989 here and this is a monument of its anniversary. Of course we decided to check it out right away.

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We also saw nice squares and churches.

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And of course because the weather was not very pleasant we ended up in a nice café. I had lovely plum pie and ginger tea! Yummy!
On one of the images you can see my newest TV friend Bernie R.G. Bear. He is from Trinidad and Tobago.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan1/10.jpg

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Our last stop was in a sushi shop!! I saw so many things from Japan there! It was like a little glimpse back home, perfect!

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Well, that´s all for now. I am perfectly safe and ok and I will write again soon!

Yours Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Mar 13, 2011, 6:18 pm
Hello Mum!

Sorry you haven´t heard from me for a while. I also heard about the terrible things that are happening home this week, and I want you to know that I am thinking of you a lot!

I am doing very well here in the Czech Republic. Everyone is very kind to me. Spring is just about to arrive so I am looking forward to new adventures outside.

Today we went with our host dad to a firing range, can you imagine? I was a bit scared at first, but it was quite a fun.

After a lecture on safety rules I could try to load the gun and of course to shoot as well. See?

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I also helped with the result checking – we used a monocular for it.

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It was a great afternoon.

When we got back we had to help with cleaning the guns, because when you want something to work properly, you have to take proper care for it, right?

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I really hope you are doing well.
I will write again soon! Love, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Mar 27, 2011, 5:47 pm
Dear Mummy,

I hope you are well! This weekend we went to Zlin city with our host mum and dad. She studies at the university.

The campus features brand new congress hall and library.

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After she had finished her lectures, we used a lift up to the roof of local tallest building called "big-twenty-one". From there we had a magnificent view all around the city.

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http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan3/04.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan3/05.jpg

On our way back home we stopped in a village of Ruprechtov. Guess what we found there: a beautiful old windmill with quite powerfull device on top called the Halladay turbine that could be ajusted according to direction and power of wind.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan3/07.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan3/06.jpg

Bye for now, Kikuchan  :D
dzejna


Posted Apr 12, 2011, 4:55 pm
Hi Mum,

at the weekend we visited a Berg Cup race. It was a first race of the season and it took place in Brno Circuit.

We had a chance to walk through the paddock and of course to watch the race itself.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan4/4.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan4/2.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan4/1.jpg

I also had a small beer as refreshment while watching the cars  :cyclops:

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan4/3.jpg

Bye for now, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Apr 19, 2011, 6:19 pm
Hey Mum,

This weekend we finally had some nice and warm weather so we decided to do some work in the garden.

Our host mum had ready some small vegetable plants so we helped her with planting and sowing them into the seed bed.

We sowed some carrots, radishes, turnips, salads, strawberries, sprouts and herbs.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/2.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/1.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/3.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/6.jpg

It was a hard work, but also quite nice.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/4.jpg

Our host mum said that she will remember me and my help every time she will later in the summer pick some of these vegetables  :cyclops:

We also walked along the garden and admired some flowers… there is not many of them in blossom yet, but it should get better soon.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/8.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/7.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan5/5.jpg

Love, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Apr 19, 2011, 6:21 pm
Hello again,

Yesterday we went to work with our host dad. We have no images from the office, but we have some from the local sweetshop!

Our host dad goes there very often for afternoon coffee and something nice and sweet  :D

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan6/1.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan6/2.jpg

On our way back to the office we met these two foals… They are cast from bronze and children love to ride on them.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan6/3.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan6/4.jpg

Bye, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Jun 8, 2011, 5:41 pm
Dear Mum,

we are very sorry for the loong time we haven´t updated. My host is sending her apologies.
(She really had a good reason to take a break - she is expecting a baby and those first months were very challenging).

Well back to me - this weekend we went for a walk to a lake nearby. We had no idea that there is a special sport event - motor boat race.

So here we go, here are some images we took - checking out the boats and later watching the race itself  :rolleyes:

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/1.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/2.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/3.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/4.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/5.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/6.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan7/7.jpg

I will write again soon.
Love, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Jun 14, 2011, 12:07 pm
Hello Mum!

We finally visited Moravian Karst this weekend. We decided to check out the Macocha Abyss.

This abyss is quite deep. Macocha means step-mother and there is a whole story about this place having this name.

Many years ago there was a happy family - mother, father and their son Martin. But one day the mummy got sick and died.  :(
After couple more years the father got married again and he had another son with his new wife - Martin´s step-mother. She became very jealous of him.
One day when she was at home alone with Martin she took him to the forest. They came near to the abyss and she pushed him down! (Uff, what a horrible idea!).  But as soon as she did it she realized the terrible guilt and jumped down too. 
After couple hours the father got back home and found the house empty. He went to the forest to look for the rest of his family and heard someone crying from the direction of the abyss. When he carefully looked down, he saw his own son hanging on a tree. With the help of neighbors he got him back up and found out the whole story. Since then people call the abyss "Macocha".

Today there are two bridges which allow you to look deep down into the abyss safely.

Here I am, looking from the upper bridge. I was there with my friend Fai.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/01.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/03.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/04.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/05.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/06.jpg

And we also went to the lower bridge…

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/02.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/09.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/10.jpg

And here we are reading information on the information signs.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/08.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan8/07.jpg

It was very nice afternoon walk! Hope we will see more of the karst area soon.

Bye for now, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Jul 14, 2011, 10:59 am
Hi mum,

Today I have some pictures for you from a viewing tower near small village named Vavrinec.
Visiting this tower took quite some effort – so many stairs! Luckily our host dad was there for us.
Here you can see us on our way to the top.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/01.jpg

The view was very nice – all the forests and petite villages… I must say that I was quite brave as always.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/04.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/05.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/06.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/07.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/08.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/09.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/10.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/11.jpg

Here is the whole perspective, this image we took when we were back down on the solid ground.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/02.jpg

And one more look on the countryside on our way back home.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan9/03.jpg

Next images should be finally from some cave!
Cheers, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Jul 28, 2011, 4:19 pm
Hey Mum,

believe it or not, but I am a scientist now! My host dad is working on his dissertation and at the moment he is exploring some special qualities of wood during so called bending test. (So I can call myself a BENDER, just like the steel robot from the Futurama show).

And when I was offered to come along to the lab and help with the part of the project, of course I just couldn´t say no!

So here we go!

The wooden stick I am holding here is one of the samples we were exploring during the day. First you have to clean and smooth a small area with the sanding paper, where you later put the special sensor. This is what I am doing just now. Behind me is some special equipment, which will later read the data from the sensor.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/01.jpg

And here is the sensor itself.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/02.jpg

I was operating the computer too.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/08.jpg

Well, this wheel is for manipulation with the “destruction device”.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/05.jpg

You put the sample with the sensor inside like this… and you try to break it. (Well the machine does the actual breaking; I was managing it from safe distance). The sensor is reading loads of data about deformation and stress in the wood during this procedure. This method of research is called acoustic emission.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/03.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/04.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/06.jpg

You have to take loads of notes to do a proper research. Our host dad will be later able to make beautiful diagrams of these notes. But it will take loads of mathematical operations, which is not for me. I better leave it to him and concentrate on my work here in the lab with all other kind of wood  :cyclops:

Here, I had to carefully follow and write down the air humidity and temperature, because these parameters are very important for the wood behavior. Imagine it was 26 degrees Celsius and 60% humidity in the lab - quite hot indeed!

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/10.jpg

You also have to put all the wires into the right slots - very improtant job!  B)

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan10/09.jpg

That´s it for now. Bye, Kikuchan
dzejna


Posted Oct 2, 2011, 1:36 pm
Dearest Mum,

I finally got to the caves here in the Moravian karst! After a looong discussion we chose the Balcarka cave, because based on experience of our hosts you can get best photos of us TV´s there.

Because our host mum is still not in her best shape, we went with our host dad only for this trip. But it was worth it anyway.

Here you can see the surroundings of the cave entrance. We had just wonderful weather, don’t you think?

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/01.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/02.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/03.jpg

Here I am resting on the little limestone rock just in front of the cave.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/04.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/05.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/06.jpg

And here we go.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/07.jpg

This is the information sign just at the beginning of the visitors’ road.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/08.jpg

The following pictures are full of karst shapes: stalagmites, stalactites and even stalagnates. Can you tell the difference, huh? But the main hero is of course me, myself and I.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/09.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/10.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/11.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/12.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/13.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/14.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/15.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/16.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/17.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/18.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/19.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/20.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/21.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/22.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/23.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/24.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/25.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/26.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/27.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/28.jpg

We also saw a small exhibition dedicated to Stone Age people, animals and stuff.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/29.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/30.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/31.jpg

And finally there it was – a scull of a huge cave troll.  :o I started shaking but then I realized that it was just a cave bear found in the cave. Lucky me.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/32.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/33.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/34.jpg

And here we are on the bright sunshine again.

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/35.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/36.jpg

http://i882.photobucket.com/albums/ac26/dzejna18/kikuchan11/37.jpg

Well this is it. I probably saw all the best things in the neighborhood so I am ready for some new adventures anywhere in the world. We will see where the next voyage will take me  :rolleyes:

Love, Kikuchan
hanachan


Posted Nov 20, 2011, 3:19 am
I really appreciate all. I came back home safe.
Someday in the very near future I will start my new journey.
Until then I enjoy everyday life in Japan.

;) ;) ;)
zwieback


Posted Jan 23, 2012, 5:57 pm
Hi mom,
today I arrived in Leverkusen.
There was a big TV-party. Börnie and Mr.Zwie-Mueller opened my box and the was Cassiopeia arriving too.
Naughty Börnie grabbed my present at once and wanted to eat it immediately.
There was a nice little kokeshi doll to welcome me. She wrote a welcome on a blackboard.
Then we had a welcome party with Japanese food from our host and Spitzkuchen served on a original Murakami plate.
Then came Blue Zwie-Brat with a letter. It were the tickets of our trip to Turkey.
All travelers to Lara Beach made a photo:
Miss Zwie-Tea, Börnie, Cassiopeia, Blue Zwie-Brat and me.

see you - ja mata ne.
zwieback


Posted Jan 31, 2012, 8:44 pm
Hi mom,
today we spent on th TV-Hotel**** beach.
Cassiopeia insists that it is her beach but Börnie and I had fun there anyway.
Later a little parcel arrived, in it was Mr.Zwie-Fox who returned to his home.
He almost didn't recognize anything since the Hotel and the guests are new.
Also there are many new toys here that are working and managing the Hotel.

We tasted the German Lebkuchen and had a funny time.

see you - ja mata ne.
zwieback


Posted Jan 31, 2012, 9:13 pm
Hi mum,
since it is freezing cold -10°C outside I go to bed early today, so you can see my renovated Hotel room too.

see you - ja mata ne.
zwieback


Posted Feb 6, 2012, 1:50 am
Hi mom,
today we went to our sundayly trip to the cologne fleamarkets.
In the night it had been minus 12°C and there were not so many stands so we finished early and returned to the warm apartment.
First Cassiopeia Börnie and I had a meeting with two Kokeshi under the tulips and another japanese guest. Then we met the Degas dancer. She is a very huge elegant little girl.
By the way, Börnie had much fun on his own with the dancing clowns.
zwieback


Posted Feb 8, 2012, 2:14 am
Hi mom,
Today we made a long trip through the snowy Netherlands and Belgium.
At first Cassiopeia, Börnie and I went to Maasmechelen outlet center. There are over 100shops that sell reduced goods direct from the producer.
Our host made a bargain buy at Fossil, only 25% of the normal prize for a bracelet. The same bracelet we wanted to buy in Vienna last year.
We also looked for shoes and clothes but did not find the right things.
Then we had a stop at the gas station to fuel Autogas which is very cheap in Belgium.
(More pics at Mr.Zwie-Mueller from the 14th of November 2011.)
The next stop was Aachen. Another factory sale at Lindt and Lambertz. They sell excelent chocolate and cookies. You can see that on the pictures.
The third stop was just over the border in the Netherlans. Only to buy Coffee and Cheese, not to forget Peanutbutter!
Sorry, no pics from the supermarkets and the snowy landscape.
If you look keenly you might see those frozen waters on some photographs.
After our trip home we were really ready to sleep.

For some more pics of the other TVs look at their updates.
zwieback


Posted Feb 8, 2012, 11:45 pm
Hi mom,
today we had a farewell party for Mr.Zwie-Mueller.
There were Cassiopeia, Börnie, the Tweenie Blue Zwie-Brat and the just returned Mr.Zwie-Fox.

Yesterday we brought many sweets from our trip through Belgium, the Netherlands and Aachen,
especially pralines from Lindt and Lebkuchen from Lambertz plus a big bag with Haribo Saftbären (juicy jelly baers).
That was a tasteful celebration and we had so much fun....
I will miss him.

Now he is already on  his way in a little parcel box.
zwieback


Posted Mar 19, 2012, 5:36 am
Hi mom,
at last now the travel report to Turkey.
Here we , Cassiopeia, Blue Zwie-Brat, Börnie and I,
are packing the suitcase and make a comfort test.
zwieback


Posted Mar 19, 2012, 6:01 am
Hi mom,
now were on the Airport.
We entered a little private-jet, but then we were led to the real planes.
I liked the small one better.
zwieback


Posted Mar 19, 2012, 6:59 am
Hi mom,
now I am back in Asia
Exactly Lara Beach, Antalya, Turkey.
More exact 5* All Inclusive Miracle Resort Lara-Kundu.
On heavens-above.com you can see our room from above.
It was all inclusive a flat screen tv and a bed exclusive for TV's.
Even inclusive little cats and an all exclusive blue sky above the pool.
Snow topped mountains on the beach all inclusive of course.

More soon.
zwieback


Posted Mar 20, 2012, 10:43 am
hi mom,
it's 14th of february, Valentines day.
fist a look at the view from the balcony to the hotels driveway.
On the right  begin the shops with well-priced cloth, shoes, watches and juwelry. Those malls are called Bazaar.

every afternoon was all inclusive live piano music and coffee hour.
also inclusive are the little kitten. (altogether we saw five at the hotel residence)
Later there was a Valentine Dinner with tasty valentine cakes.
The cakes were always yummy, but that day they looked pretty too.

more to come soon.
zwieback


Posted Mar 23, 2012, 10:34 am
Hi mom,
today we visited Antalya.

Quote:
It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, naming it Attalia and selecting it as a naval base for his powerful fleet. However, excavations in 2008 in the Doğu Garajı district of Antalya have uncovered remains dating to the 3rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. Antalya became part of the Roman Republic in 133 BC when King Attalos III of Pergamon willed his kingdom to Rome at his death. The city grew and prospered during the Ancient Roman period.

Christianity started to spread in the region after 2nd century. Antalya was visited by Paul of Tarsus, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles: "From Perga, Paul and Barnabas went down to Attalia and sailed from there to Antioch after preaching in Pisidia and Pamphylia" (Acts 14:25-26).

Antalya was a major city in the Byzantine Empire. It was the capital of the Byzantine Theme of Carabisiani (Θέμα Kαραβησιάνων, Thema Karavēsianōn), which occupied the southern coasts of Anatolia and the Aegean Islands. At the time of the accession of John II Comnenus (1118) it was an isolated outpost surrounded by Turkish beyliks, accessible only by sea.

The city, along with the surrounding region, was conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the early 13th century. Antalya was the capital of the Turkish beylik of Teke (1321–1423) until its conquest by the Ottomans. The Arabic traveler Ibn Battuta who came to the city in between 1335-1340 noted:
From Alanya I went to Antaliya [Adalia], a most beautiful city. It covers an immense area, and though of vast bulk is one of the most attractive towns to be seen anywhere, besides being exceedingly populous and well laid out. Each section of the inhabitants lives in a separate quarter. The Christian merchants live in a quarter of the town known as the Mina [the Port], and are surrounded by a wall, the gates of which are shut upon them from without at night and during the Friday service. The Greeks, who were its former inhabitants, live by themselves in another quarter, the Jews in another, and the king and his court and Mamluks in another, each of these quarters being walled off likewise. The rest of the Muslims live in the main city. Round the whole town and all the quarters mentioned there is another great wall. The town contains orchards and produces fine fruits, including an admirable kind of apricot, called by them Qamar ad-Din, which has a sweet almond in its kernel. This fruit is dried and exported to Egypt, where it is regarded as a great luxury.
[from en.wikipedia.org]

We entered the old town at the Hadrians Gate and went then to the harbour. There were beautiful orange trees right in the city. On the other side of the bay there was a waterfall just in the city (look under the arrow) . It is not always seen, only if there was rain the days before and it was !
We had pretty looks over the sea and the boats, but Börnie tried to enter a small fisherboat.... you can see what happened!
:o
more to update...
zwieback


Posted Mar 27, 2012, 9:42 am
Hi mom,
here more pics from Antalya city.
A really nice old town with huge citywall and beautiful garden cafes between orange and lemon trees.
Later we had a tasty fresh squeezed pomegranate juice above the old town.
Back at the hotel a short look at cooks dressed for the turkish evening.
Salad bar, kebab roast and yummy ice "showcooking"!
zwieback


Posted Apr 1, 2012, 1:24 pm
hi mom,
today we went to the sunny beach.
We all enjoyed the warm sand and the blue sea.
We found some shells and stone, one of them looked like a heart
and that bold Börnie presented it to me.
Later we and Cassiopeia wanted to take a tour with a boat, especially the big red speedboat.
Börnie and me of course.

more updates soon.
zwieback


Posted Apr 1, 2012, 2:27 pm
Hi mom,
only two days more here in the sunny West of Western Asia.
A few pics of the hotel and the oriental flea market / bazaar.
There was juwelry, soap, clothes, spices, nuts and so much more to see.

more soon
zwieback


Posted Apr 1, 2012, 3:10 pm
Hi mom,
this is the afternoon of the 18th, and the hotel provided a beautiful birthday cake to our hosts girlfriend, very yummy for all of us.
Later we had our last evening meal, the big buffet at the dining room.
We will miss all of the tasty food.

more travel update to come
zwieback


Posted Apr 5, 2012, 2:56 pm
Hi mom,
here now are the last pictures from our turkey holidays.
First pictures from the Hotel lobby, where strange potted birds are located. Börnie had to inspect one of them more detailed.
Later then we, especially me, visited the Turkish Shop at the airport before returning to Germany.
zwieback


Posted Jun 14, 2012, 3:43 pm
Hi mom,
these are the photos from my last trip with Börnie
But first the cherry blossom in our street, it lasts only a few days (3-5).

Then we went for the farewell party to the
Hohensyburg Gaming Casino near Dortmund.
There we visited a Las Vegas Rat Pack Show,
did play some games (no money left) and had a delicious dinner.
Not excactly in that sequence.

That was a really great final of Börnies stay with zwieback.
zwieback


Posted Jun 15, 2012, 3:25 pm
Hi mom,
today we drove to the Eifel, with a rented car, because zwiebacks car was still broken.
In castle Hengebach in Heimbach there was a exibition of the late James Rizzi.
He made his last picture for the show and zwieback bought one of his last print run.
\"That sunny funny feeling\"
There were many pictures and I can show here only a few impressions.
The man on the 5th pic is OTTO, a famous german comedian.

zwieback


Posted Jun 15, 2012, 3:52 pm
Hi mom,
after the Rizzi-show we went to the Open-Air Museum in Kommern.
There are old original farmhouses from the region and exibitions of things from the past. This time there were many old dollhouses.
But first we had a delicious meal after old recepies.
The chicken waited for some breadcrumbs, but we had only roast from "Eifeler Landschwein" with pan-fried potatoes.
Those woolen things along the wall are sheep.
zwieback


Posted Jun 16, 2012, 2:11 pm
Hi mom,
here are a few pictures from Cologne.
There was a big "Zigeunerfestival" that presented open air gypsy music for free
right on the opposite Rhein side to the "Dom", the famous  big cathedral.
Across the Rhine is the Hohenzollernbrücke with the statue of Kaiser Wilhelm 1st.
On the railway bridge over the rhine there are thousands of padlocks that represent
friendship of the persons that mounted them and then threw the keys into the river to show eternal bond.
zwieback


Posted Jun 16, 2012, 2:33 pm
Hi mom,
we had a short shopping trip to the Netherlands.
In Roermond there is a big Outlet Center and great shopping in the city.
We had dinner with Pepsi and Kibbeling at the Center and
there was also a fun fair in the city those days.
zwieback


Posted Jun 16, 2012, 2:42 pm
Hi mom,
today we had a visit to the Capitol Theater in Düsseldorf.
There we visited a musical called "Kein Pardon"
I was the well dressed person in he audience !
And you can see on the ticket we had seats of honour.
It was very funny and loud.
The german actor Dirk Bach who is on the poster is no longer in this show
but there was Achim Mentzel as replacement that day.
Tom+Jerry


Posted Dec 18, 2012, 2:05 pm
I finally made my way to my new host, arrived one week before Christmas  ;)
First, I was a bit shy, but then I decided to climb out of the envelope and say hello to my new hostmum and -dad. https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/arrival%20KikuchanI.jpg

I'm happy, they are so nice. And they asked me to say many many thanks to my last host for all the nice little gifts that arrived with me  :D
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/arrival%20KikuchanII.jpg

I had a first look outside the office building. Wow, this is Duesseldorf. Today it's very cloudy, and everything is grey. But can you see the famous Rheintower behind me!?  B)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/arrival%20KikuchanIII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Dec 20, 2012, 1:31 pm
Hey Mum,

today we wrote some last Christmas Postcards - hopefully they will arrive on time!  :stare:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/Postcard.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 2, 2013, 1:57 pm
Hi Mum!!! Happy New Year to you. I miss you so!!!  :rolleyes:

But I had wonderful Christmas days here with my hosts, with a lot of fun, adventures and of course good food  :D

On the first Christmas day we went to Meinweg National Park in the Netherlands for hiking. There are huge forests and lakes. The National Park is located east of Roermond, surrounded on three sides by German territory.  De Meinweg National Park is part of the German-Dutch border park Maas-Swalm-Nette, covering 10,000 hectares. De Meinweg covers an area of approximately 1,800 hectares. In De Meinweg forests, fens, moors and valleys produce a varied landscape. De Meinweg is the only part of Limburg where the adder or common European viper can be found, so the snake has been incorporated into the logo of De Meinweg National Park.

Unfortunately, the weather was quite bad, therefore I stepped out the backpack only for a quick view around  :(
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/RothenbachI.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/RothenbachII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 2, 2013, 2:03 pm
Last Friday, we went to Venlo which is located about 30 mins away from my hosts home.
We visited a huuuuuge shop which is called "Die 2 Brüder von Venlo".

MUM! You can't believe it. You can buy almost everything there!!!
We tried to restrain ourselves, but we bought a lot of great stuff!!  B)
Here you can see me with tea, peppermint drops, spices, hot sauce etc.  :cyclops:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/venloI.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/venloII.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/venloIII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 2, 2013, 2:08 pm
We celebrated New Year together with some very nice friends and their 3 months-old daughter. She's soooo cute  :rolleyes:

First, I prepared a pasta salad:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/newyearI.jpg

Then I prepared a yummy green salad:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/newyearII.jpg

Look, there is the raclette set behind me
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/newyearIII.jpg

AND - of course some bottles of yummy red wine  B)
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2012%20Toy%20Voyagers/Verlinkt/newyearIV.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 16, 2013, 11:59 am
Hey Mummy, how are you doing. Look what I have done - I tried to play Didgeridoo!!!
I can tell you, this is not that easy!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/playing%20Didge.jpg

The didgeridoo (also known as a didjeridu) is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread use today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe". Musicologists classify it as a brass aerophone.
There are no reliable sources stating the didgeridoo's exact age. Archaeological studies of rock art in Northern Australia suggest that the people of the Kakadu region of the Northern Territory have been using the didgeridoo for less than 1,000 years, based on the dating of paintings on cave walls and shelters from this period. A clear rock painting in Ginga Wardelirrhmeng, on the northern edge of the Arnhem Land plateau, from the freshwater period shows a didgeridoo player and two songmen participating in an Ubarr Ceremony.
A modern didgeridoo is usually cylindrical or conical, and can measure anywhere from 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) long. Most are around 1.2 m (4 ft) long. Generally, the longer the instrument, the lower the pitch or key of the instrument. However, flared instruments play a higher pitch than unflared instruments of the same length.
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 16, 2013, 12:04 pm
Hey, we had heavy snowfall yesterday and today and only minus 4 degrees!  :thinking:

Although it's really cold outside, I asked hostmum to go outside and feel the snow  :D She told me to put on a jacket and warm shoes, but I didn't, I went outside with my beloved Japanese sandals  :o
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/in%20the%20snowII.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/in%20the%20snow.jpg

And you know what - now I'm suffering from a little cold  :(
Hostmum prepared a hot-water bottle for me and it's getting better now.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/hot%20water.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/hot%20waterII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 21, 2013, 1:44 pm
Hey Mom, look - a new buddy arrived. I was very curious to see who will climb out the box  :cyclops:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/arrival%20larasatiI.jpg

I opened it and tried to see anything
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/arrival%20larasatiII.jpg

Wow - there she is. Larasati comes from Bali!!! She is huuuuuge, isn't she!?
:o
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/arrival%20larasatiIII.jpg

We gave each other a big hug and said hello and afterwards we sat together and talked about our journeys and adventures :D
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/arrival%20larasatiVI.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/arrival%20larasatiVII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Jan 23, 2013, 7:09 pm
After a loooooooooong journey (over 1 year!) and after visiting Great Britain, the US, Australia, Japan, Suisse.... Mr Wilson safely arrived home today. It is so great for him to see Mum and Dad again :D

When he arrived, Larasati and I were already waiting for him!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonI.jpg

He tried to climb out the envelope, this was a bit difficult  :p
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonII.jpg

HI THERE!!!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonIII.jpg
He brought some sweets and a nice postcard
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonIV.jpg

A big hug to say hello and then we started talking about all our adventures  :cyclops:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonV.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/WilsonVI.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:20 pm
Oh my god, I'm soooo excited. Hostmummy, Hostdaddy, Mr Wilson and I are about to leave for vacation in JAMAICA!!!!  B) :D :cyclops:

Here we are, safely in our travel-bag:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/departure.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:22 pm
here we are in the train - anywhere between Duesseldorf and Frankfurt
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/in%20the%20train.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:28 pm
At the airport, we stopped at Starbucks to get a coffee (there's no life without coffe!!  :cyclops:) and some cookies:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/starbucks.jpg

And we tried our hats on - the sun is very hot and strong in the Carribbean  B)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/hat1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/hat2.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:34 pm
Finally, we arrived our destination, after almost 24 hours of travelling. Mom, you can imagine - we fell asleep the moment we saw the bed  :stare:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/fall%20asleep.jpg

The next morning, we enjoyed our first wonderful view from the balcony!!!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/view1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/view2.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/view3.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:40 pm
I told Mr Wilson how cool it is to wear FlipFlops. And so we shared a pair  :D
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/flipflop1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/flipflop2.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/flipflop3.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:52 pm
Here we are - enjoying the beach and catching tan!  ;) :p :D B) :cyclops:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach2.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach5.jpg

front:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach3.jpg
back:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach4.jpg

Wow, it's really hot - we need some shade  :thinking:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach6.jpg

What a wonderful day at the beach! Okay, let's go to the room, take a shower and have dinner :cyclops:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/beach7.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 1:58 pm
We went to the Black River. Wow, it is absolutely amazing there. We went about an hour by boat and really enjoyed and chilled.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/croco2.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/croco3.jpg

MUM!!! We met crocodiles there!!! The biggest one was about 6 metres long. Wow!!
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/croco4.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/croco1.jpg

Tom+Jerry


Posted Feb 25, 2013, 2:06 pm
We visited the Appleton Rum Factory.
Appleton Estate is a sugar estate and distillery in Jamaica that has been handcrafting rums since 1749. They produce a wide variety of aged rums, as well as standard gold and white rums.
Located in the heart of the country's sugar cane belt, it is the oldest sugar estate and distillery in Jamaica.
The Estate's sugar cane is harvested by machine as well as the old-fashioned way - by men wielding machetes.
The Appleton Estate covers more than 11,000 acres (4,500 ha) of land.
The parent company, J. Wray and Nephew Ltd., also produces the popular Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/rum1.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/rum2.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/rum3.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Mar 5, 2013, 2:34 pm
On Sunday we decided to change the decorations at the windows. Springtime is coming and there should be flowers awaiting him  ;)
Mr Wilson, Larasati and I helped Hostmum with the handicrafts and we had a lot of fun!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/handicraftsI.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/handicraftsII.jpg
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/handicraftsIII.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted Apr 9, 2013, 1:10 pm
Today, Mr Wilson and I had to say goodbye to Larasati, who's travelling to his next host  :(

After a biiiiig hug he climbed into his envelope. Bye bye, have a safe trip!!!
Tom+Jerry


Posted May 8, 2013, 2:29 pm
Hi Mum,

sorry that I did not contact you for such a long time, but my hostparents have been very busy with their work  :(

You know what!!? I had the chance to accompany hostdad on a business trip to Costa Rica!!! Franz-Ferdinand and I went together with him and we stayed in beautiful Marriott Hotel:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/SJO1.jpg
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/SJO2.jpg

I will upload some more pics soon!
Big hug  :D
Tom+Jerry


Posted May 14, 2013, 3:06 pm
Guayabo de Turrialba is an archeological site located in Turrialba, Costa Rica. The site is of great archeological and cultural importance even though only a very small portion of the city has been uncovered and studied. The monument covers 540 acres (218 ha) and is located on the forested southern slope of Turrialba Volcano. The settlement was occupied between 1000 BC and 1400 AD after which it was mysteriously abandoned. The reason is still unclear and the Spanish Conquistadors and settlers did not leave any record as to whether they found the ruins.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/SJO3.jpg
Tom+Jerry


Posted May 14, 2013, 3:09 pm
Hey Mum, I'm leaving Düsseldorf today - up to new adventures!!
Bye hostmum and hostdad, it was a great time with you  :D

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/57082259/TV%20Fotos/2013/bye%20kikuchan2.jpg
orangesunshine


Posted May 19, 2013, 6:21 pm
konnichiwa okasan.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-17-01.jpg
after a long journey in a rumbling envelope i have arrived at my new host's home on the backs of two big elephants.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-17-02.jpg
once i have left the envelope many plushies have come nearer and asked all kinds of questions: where i come from, how traveling is and so on, and so on.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-17-03.jpg
we have chatted the whole evening. i have explained everything about my hometown. very nice people here. i will love this place.

o genki de, sayounara - kikuchan  :D
orangesunshine


Posted May 19, 2013, 6:28 pm
konnichiwa okasan.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-18-01.jpg
yesterday the weather was not so good.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-18-02.jpg
but the evening has become nice. wemade a little trip in the outskirts and found this funny little house.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-18-03.jpg
we have found out this was a restaurant.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-18-04.jpg
i have had a delicious meal. next time i am going to bring my chop sticks with me, would have made it easier ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-18-05.jpg
at the end i have had three very sweet desserts with a black coffee.

o genki de, sayounara - kikuchan  B)
orangesunshine


Posted May 20, 2013, 9:35 pm
hello mommy.
today was the second pentecost holiday. here in berlin they have had a big so called carnival of cultures. a big event

with music groups and dancing people on the streets from different countries of the world.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-01.jpg
many people have been in the streets.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-02.jpg
look: japanese cocktails.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-03.jpg
on a street market they have sold all kinds of things: african art

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-05.jpg
candle lights of copper

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-06.jpg
a turkish eatery

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-07.jpg
clothes, bags from all over the world

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-08.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-09.jpg
a wooden giraffe

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-20-10.jpg
at home i have enjoyed the season's vegetable of this region: asparagus. i wanted to be smart and asked for chop

sticks ... but hey, have you ever tried to eat asparagus with those?

cultural greetings - kikuchan  :rolleyes:
orangesunshine


Posted May 26, 2013, 11:32 am
hello mommy.

today the weather was not too good. it was raining all day long. so i have decided to go shopping.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-01.jpg
i have taken the underground train. this is an odd sculpture in the entrance hall of the station.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-02.jpg
i had to hurry - the train has already stopped in the station.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-03.jpg
long train

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-04.jpg
bye bye train

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-05.jpg
graffito in the station - i will.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-06.jpg
then i have entered tha shopping mall - a large one,not as crowded as those at home.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-07.jpg
nice shops

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-08.jpg
more shops

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-09.jpg
a wall, where children could have drawn what ever they wanted to.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-10.jpg
in shopping malls you can spend the whole day. thus you have to eat something. so i have done.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-11.jpg
yes! i do!

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-25-12.jpg

mercantile greetings - kikuchan  :)
orangesunshine


Posted Jun 3, 2013, 8:30 pm
hi mom.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-01.jpg
after a good and healthy breakfast with huge strawberries, sweet cream and some cake i decided to have a walk through the town.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-02.jpg
berlin - you know - is a big city with many many different districts. (here you see a café without guests - it was too cold and some raindrops have come down.)

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-03.jpg
berlin is an old town. so i have decided to start where berlin once have started: around saint nikolai's church.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-04.jpg
some poeple have dared sitting in this café under sun umbrellas.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-05.jpg
this reataurant is called "the rib". can you see a rel rib hanging on the outside wall? they have humour!

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-06.jpg
not many old houses have survived the last big war. but here some have been remained or even rebuilt.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-07.jpg
look: this is a gully in berlin with pictures of the most famous sights: lots of things to see here.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-08.jpg
this is the mediaval seal of the city with the brandenburg eagle.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-09.jpg
this is a pub. you don't have to go inside, you may fetch your beer from the little square window.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-10.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-11.jpg
have you noticed: i have rounded saint nikolai's church: these are the twin towers.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-12.jpg
this isan old tombstone. they have built their churches with everything they have found ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-13.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-14.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-15.jpg
this is a sculpture of saint george fighting the dragon.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-05-29-16.jpg
and last but not least: the red townhall, seat of the government of berlin.

there are some more districts to visit. hopefully the weather will get better.

mediaval greetings - kikuchan  ;)


orangesunshine


Posted Jun 16, 2013, 1:27 pm
hello mommy.

today my host has taken me to a very special trip to thuringia, a state in the centre of germany.
we have got up early and driven on the famous autobahn (wow - speeeeed!) for a couple of hours.
and then we have driven through the countryside of such a beautiful land, mommy! we have com through lttle towns and villages and crossed forests and farmland. the next pictures i let speak for themselves:

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-05.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-06.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-07.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-08.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-09.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-10.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-11.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-12.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-13.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-14.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-15.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-16.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-17.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-18.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-19.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-07-20.jpg

then finally we have reached our goal for today:

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-01.jpg
this is wartburg, one of the most famous castles in germany. martin luther has translated the bible into german in this castle, when he has been hiding for the holy inquisition back in 1521.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-02.jpg
a map of the castle.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-03.jpg
this is me inside the castle.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-05.jpg
view from one of the towers in to the second courtyard.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-06.jpg
after having inspected the castle, we have gone down the hill to the city of eisenach. this is the house where martin luther has lived after he has left the wartburg.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-07.jpg
this is the birthplace of world famous johann sebastian bach, a baroque composer, organist, and musical teacher.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-08-08.jpg
after a good meal on the market square we have left the town. this really was an exciting trip!

curious greetings - kikuchan  :cyclops:
orangesunshine


Posted Jul 6, 2013, 4:20 pm
dear mommy.
how are at home?

yesterday i have found a very nice baroque palace: charlottenburg castle.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-01.jpg
this is the main entrance.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-02.jpg
the court of the honoured with the statue of the great cure prince of brandenburg.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-03.jpg
infront of the castle i have found this huge gas lantern. yes in some parts they still ligt the streets with gas.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-04.jpg
here you see me on the garden front of the palace.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-06.jpg
like every baroque palace this also has got a large baroque garden ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-05.jpg
... with nice flowers ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-07.jpg
... and avanues.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-08.jpg
a bit of its history.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-09.jpg
this is how the palace has looked like after the second world war. good, they have reconstructed it.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-11-10.jpg
while walking through the gardensi really have felt like a queen.

today i have made a walk through tiergarten area of berlin.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-12-01.jpg
i have started at the victory column which originally is a memorial for the german victory against france and later have become a memorial of the french-german friendship.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-12-02.jpg
next to it is bellevue castle, the seat of the german federal president.
yes: germany has a president. the president is in berlin: his flag is flying. bellevue is french and means beautiful view in german. well it does look beautiful.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-12-03.jpg
this is the former conference hall, a present of the american people to west berlin in the fifties. now it is officially called house of the cultures of the world. well, this is much to long. the berliners call it the pregnant oyster. this is what it is when look at it long enough.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-12-04.jpg
this is reichstagsgebaude, the seat of the german federal parliament. it is completely new inside, as well as the cupola.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-12-05.jpg
way behind me, what looks like a giant washing machine, is bundeskanzleramt, the seat of the federal chancellor.

warm summer greetings from berlin - your loving kikuchan  B)
orangesunshine


Posted Jul 7, 2013, 10:20 pm
hello mommy.

today was a special day. we have driven far away to a small town in bavaria called lichtenfels (means something like "light rock").
what a surprise, a big toyvoyager was taking place:

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tv-treffen/tv-treffen-2013-06-29-01.jpg
these tvs have participated (in no order):
erol the pirat joesy 3*euro napoleon tiffy kikuchan dr.kröbner günther jethro *coco* squab mr. casanova bubele aura bzzzzz scruffy mcgee rocky raccoon mr.lemony Húlí hútú lady katherine wavy gravy fipsy lina

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tv-treffen/tv-treffen-2013-06-29-02.jpg
we have had a lot of fun and had a lot of travel stories to tell!

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tv-treffen/tv-treffen-2013-06-29-03.jpg
erol the pirat tiffy kikuchan napoleon


before i have had a closer look on this really nice town of lichtenfels:
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-04.jpg
market place

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-05.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-06.jpg
townhall

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-07.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-29-08.jpg

bye bye mommy, see you  :)
orangesunshine


Posted Jul 15, 2013, 5:22 pm
hello mommy.
near lichtenfels is another nice town: kronach. it has a beautiful medieval old town ...
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-05.jpg
... with old cobble stone streets ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-06.jpg
... and a beautiful castle.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-07.jpg
old castles obviously needed big key holes ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-08.jpg
... and high watch towers.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-09.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-10.jpg
nice view from the castle to the old town.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-11.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-06-30-12.jpg

i really like these old german towns.
medieval greetings - kikuchan  :D
orangesunshine


Posted Jul 15, 2013, 5:32 pm
dear mommy.
this weekend i have had a couple of days off with my host. we have driven to an island on the baltic sea called usedom.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-01.jpg
on the beach at ahlbeck - were the german emperors spent their holidays.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-05.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-06.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-07.jpg
germans like to built sand castles wherever there is a beach. so did i.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-08.jpg
part of the island belongs to poland.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-14-09.jpg
little fishers' village on the polish side.

fresh air greetings from the sea - your kikuchan  B)
orangesunshine


Posted Aug 10, 2013, 2:41 pm
dear mommy.

before we make plans to have a little break we have visited the brandenburg gate in berlin, one of the most famous sights in germany.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-05.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-06.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-07.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-07-08-08.jpg

if you want to learn more about this gate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandenburg_Gate
orangesunshine


Posted Aug 10, 2013, 3:32 pm
hello mommy.

today i have visited the modrn centre at alexander square.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-03.jpg
on the square there is a clock which shows you the time in the countries of the world: nearly midnight in tokyo: sleep well, mommy.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-05.jpg
funny things are on this square.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-06.jpg
nearby is an old fountain: the neptune fontain. there is more near alexander square.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-07.jpg
this is the red townhall, the seat of the city and state government of berlin.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-08.jpg
this is the berlin cathedral. the prussian kings wanted to have something similar to saint peter's church in rome.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-09.jpg
the old national gallery looks like a greek temple.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-10.jpg
this is river spree which flows through the city from east to west.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-03-11.jpg

see you soon mommy.

oh: i have nearly forgotten: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!  ;)
orangesunshine


Posted Sep 22, 2013, 8:20 pm
my dear mommy!
today was a very special day. together with my new friends i have celebrated the birthday of erol's and tiffy's mother.
the weather was good.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tiffy-erol/tiffy-erol-2013-09-22-01.jpg
we have gone into our host's new garden. the sun was shining nearly the whole day.

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tiffy-erol/tiffy-erol-2013-09-22-02.jpg
we have invited the two gargoyle brothers from next door. they are dragons. the good thing about dragons is, that they are able to blow ON candles - birthday candles. even our new friend miggy-the-pig has come - just in case the sun would not have shone ... he is so yellow ...

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/tiffy-erol/tiffy-erol-2013-09-22-05.jpg
blowing out the candles together has caused some problems. we had to convince the dragons NOT to blow!

mommy: i am greeting you from a very nice country  :D

see you soon.

orangesunshine


Posted Oct 6, 2013, 5:13 pm
hello mommy.
this is my last update from berlin.

while i am an my way back home i am showing you how i have spent the last sunny day in berlin with a walk along a three kilometres long part of the famous berlin wall. have a look and enjoy the graffittis as mauch as i have enjoyed them.
see you soon - i am coming!  :cyclops:

http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-01.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-02.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-03.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-04.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-05.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-06.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-07.jpg
http://www.guidoswelt.de/toyvoy/kikuchan/kikuchan-2013-08-10-08.jpg

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