Travelog for: Berkeley

Hello? Is there somebody outside? I can hear your voices! HELLO? Can somebody help me out? It's really uncomfortable inside this envelope. HELLO?



I can hear you! HELLO? Help me off, please!



Oh, there's a light. And a head. Hello?



Here I am ! I arrived at my destination finally and I hope I will have a nice time here.

Today we had to say Goodbye to Dieuwerke. She is going to England soon and we all said Goodbye. She was a really nice Toyvoyager, even if we didn't spend much time together.





Byebye Dieuwerke. Hope to see you soon again !

Today is the first advent, so we had one burning candle on the advent wreath. After that we drove to Manderscheid for a "Burgenweihnacht" (a christmas market at a castle). We made some photos for you =)!

Today we visited Wittlich. It is a nice small city with nice old houses and everywhere pigs. We saw so much pigs, it was crazy. I have some photos for you of that day. I hope, you like them.








Here you have an overview. Isn't it nice there?


pigs...


...and more pigs.

Back in Essen BlackCat started to decorate the living room with nice little christmas decoration. First she put the nativity scene out of the package and we helped her to make it ready.
After decorating a little bit we sat down and watched the candles on the advent wreath. It is the second Advent today. So 2 candles are on.
It was really nice and romantic.

Today we went on the christmas market in Essen. It is a really big one and we saw a lot of nice things. First we saw the big christmas tree in front of the main station. It wasn't as decorated as the years before, but we loved it.



Then we saw the statue of William I. and the big wheel behind it. What a nice look.







When you are standing behind the statue you can see the cathedral of Essen with the town hall in the background. It is a nice picture to see the big black town hall with all its windows and the small nice cathedral in the front.





Then we saw the live nativity scene. Just the animals were living, but they were so sweet. We looked at them for a long time. It looked so sweet.





Such a nice walk around the city.

Today is the 3rd advent. We sat again in front of the advent wreath and watched the candles burning. What a nice view.

Today we went into the city again and just visited two placed. BlackCat had to go to the bank, so we went with her.

First we saw the carillon in Essen. It was built in 1928 on the Limbecker street. 1940 the bells were hidden because of the second world war. They didn't want them to be melt down for weapons. The original place of the carillon was destroyed in 1943. 1949 the carillon was built again at the Kettwiger street where the new building of the company which made the bells was. It is still located there and in the shop under it you can get a little information about the carillon. It's just in German, so we have no one for you, sorry.



Next to the bank there was a christmas bear. We sat on his shoulder and told him our deepest wishes. Maybe we will get one present of him. I really hope as christmas will be soon.

Today it's the fourth advent. We decorated the christmas tree with BlackCat and it was a lot of fun. So now we took a photo of us with the advent wreath and the christmas tree in the background.

Today is christmas evening here in Germany. It is normal, that most of the children got their presents of the parents today. BlackCat was visited by her parents and her brother. We all spend a nice evening together.


All things BlackCat got for christmas (a lot, or?).




Me sitting at the christmas tree.


Selfmade marzipan potatoes. They are really good.


Muffins, gingerbread and cookies. Jummie...


Santa even thought of us. Me with my little present.




Can you see what was inside? A little pin with the emblem of Essen.


Everybody got one !

Please send BlackCat your address, so that she can send it to you. I think it won't be good travelling with me. Maybe it will be lost then !

Hello !

Today we went together with BlackCat to the next mailbox. It is around 10 minutes from here. Some years ago BlackCat had a mailbox right in front of her actual living room window, but the post office put it away. Now the next is 10 minutes away. So we went there and it was really cold outside. We were freezing a lot. We saw some ice on the cars and we could see our breath. It was sooo cold. But we loved it.

What a nice walk.

Berkeley


BlackCats house from behind.




ice on the cars...




The mailbox !

Wow, the last day of 2008.
We went to BlackCats parents and ate some Fondue with them. It was really funny to sit around and wait for our food.







After eating we saw Angela Merkel in TV. She told everybody about her wishes for the next year and about the political situation. It was really interesting.



And then the Countdown came...

10...
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!!!!

The woman in TV was still talking while the countdown was already over and the firework behind her was starting. We watched the firework in TV, as outside it was too cold for us. We stayed inside while BlackCat and her family made some firework outside. It was funny.

Today we helped BlackCat make some cards ready for postcrossing. She is a really active member there (her username there is Fabi) and we hope to show you some postcard she is getting soon !

Today we sat around on the desk and watched the whole flat, when BlackCat brought us a big envelope.





First we didn't know why she brought it to us, but then we heard a voice from inside.



And then Thiele came outside. He said Hello to us.





And then he showed us the postcard he was bringing for BlackCat. What a nice card.



So, welcome Thiele. I hope you'll have some great moments here =)!