Travelog for: Berkeley

Hi Mummy,
today we made a trip to the Eifel. The Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany. It occupies parts of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia and northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate. It's close to the border of Belgium and the border of Luxemburg. We went to the northern part of the Eifel.

We had planned a hiking tour and a visit of Monschau, a little town with a beautiful old town, situated at the river Rur (not to be confused with the river Ruhr).

We parked the car at Perlenbachtalsperre, a drinking water reservoir dam. We started our hiking tour here.

We reached to small town Hoefen than, part of the so-called "Monschauer Heckenland" (country of hedges), an area around the town Monschau. Here were large beech hedges planted from the 17th century to protect houses from cold winds, coming from the Hohen Venn (High Fens). Many of those hedges are as high as houses.





We reached the small town Rohren than. Here we saw something really special: A small replica of the grotto of Lourdes, a major place of Christian pilgrimage and of alleged miraculous healings.

We drove to Monschau finally. The historic town center was not destroyed in World War II, so the many half-timbered houses and narrow streets nearly unchanged for 300 years make it a popular tourist attraction nowadays. Historically the main industry of the town were cloth-mills. Monschau is also famous for its historic mustard mill.







They have steep stairs everywhere to reach the streets which are lying at the hill.







What a pity that the weather became so bad, we would have liked to sit down on the market place to have a coffee.





On our way back home we saw this base load power plant next to the motorway A4. Not a pretty sight!



Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy,
we visited Katja's parents today. They are living in the district Lennep, the second largest urban district.

Lennep has a historical old town, rebuilt afer the last devastating major fire in 1746 A.D. Many houses are under preservaton order.

We saw a blooming tree in a park.



A part of the town centre is still surrounded by remains of the former city wall. We are sitting on this wall.





Typical for the townscape are narrow lanes.





This is the market place, the farmer's market is taking place today.







When wee took our photos the sun was shining. In the afternoon it started raining again.

Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy,

we took a walk today. Katja told us that now the forrests are nearly green, so we should have a look. Yes, she seems to be right.





This is Muengsten Bridge, which I already showed to you. Katja knows a walking path which is directly beneath the tracks. It's hard to believe that this bridge is 107 m high.



This is a blooming apple tree. If I would still be here in late summer I could eat some apples here.



Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy,

we took a walk today through the outskirts of the neighbour town Wuppertal. First we had to walk downhill to the valley of Morsbach, a creek which is marking the border between Remscheid and Wuppertal.

From here we had to walk uphill to Wuppertal. Here we are in the middle of the forrest.



We left the forrest here and walked through some streets.





From here you can see part of the municipal area of Remscheid, the hill in the background.



We walked into the forrest again and returned to Morsbachtal. We rested close to the creek for a while.





We decided to walk to Muengsten Bridge again, because today we could take pretty sunshine photos. Here we are on the way to Muengsten Bridge.



This time we went to the leisure park which was built beneath the bridge a few years ago.







Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy,
it's my last day here in Remscheid. We took some photos on our way home from work.

Here you can see the shopping street.



When we go home we see many pretty old houses, like this one.



A pink magnolia!





I was living in this street, now when it's time to leave, the tree is blooming.



There's already an envelope waiting for me.

Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy,
I'm on my way to my next host now, only about 80 km away.

Bye
Berkeley

Hi Mummy!

I arrived already at Tine's home in the old quarter of Bedburg - and I am not alone - another toyvoyager stays here too - her name is Lady and she is a nice ladybug. Tine took some nice first photos - you will be able to have a look soon.

Bye for today, I am very tired and it's time to go to bed...

Berkeley

I've arrived in Porvoo, Finland - at the FosterCareHome! My host promised to take care of me untill my mentor gets in contact with my host It's sunny and warm and the people (and toyvoyagers) here are very nice

My Foster Mom took us Foster Toys on a field trip to the Old Town of Porvoo! The Old Porvoo is a small part of the city, the part that was built first. Those red shorehouses are the most wellknown sight of Porvoo. Porvoo got its town rights in 1346. Now it has a bit under 50 000 inhabitants and an area of 654 km2. It's situated only 50km (less than 1h drive) east from the capital, Helsinki.

It was a fun trip!

Berkeley will travel back home tomorrow!

Yuppie!!!! Berkeley has gone back home FINALLY!!!

Thank you for the excellent hospitality of all the hosts!!!!