Travelog for: Mumu

Today our hosts invited us to a open air theatre in Ötigheim. They love to go there each year. This year they watched the play. Ronja Räubertochter
We had luck, because it wasn't too hot weather.



sorry, this one is without me, because we had to zoom

When we were back at home, we decided to go to have dinner outside at a so called beer garden. The restaurant isn't far from our home, so we only had to walk a few minutes. We passed by at the baroque church St. Peter, which was beautiful in the evening sun. My host walked home and fetched her camera to take some photos with us.




After we had a really tasty meal, we walked home again. We saw this interesting car in front of the church then and my host decided to take photos with me.

Today we visited Bretten. Like Bruchsal this town is in the state of Baden-Württemberg and located on Bertha Benz Memorial Route. There live about 28,ooo people.

The centre of Bretten consists of many old half-timbered houses around a lively marketplace.Bretten was first mentioned as "villa breteheim" in the "Lorsch codex" in 767. Since 1148 Bretten had the right to mint and issue coins. In 1254 Bretten received city rights. In 1492 Bretten was granted to hold four fairs by Pfalzgraf Philipp. Philipp Melanchthon was born in Bretten in 1497.(wikipedia)


the Melanchthon house




marketplace






a red half-timbered house with red car





Stiftskirche, evangelic church




Next to the church we saw this half timbered house with the flags of the states which participated at the world championship in South Africa.




Statue of Philipp Melanchthon




a fountain and some pink houses




some shops

This evening we were invited to join our hosts, when they visited the light show at the palace of Bruchsal. It was the first time, that this event happened there and they and we were really curious. There were many people out there and we enjoyed the lights. I'm sorry, but we only took this one photo, it just was too dark to take more. And there is one photo without me. I thought, that you maybe like to see the backside of the palace like this, too.

Maybe you remember, that we saw a small small part of the roof of the prison tower, when we were standing next to the church entrance. Here is the prison. It is called cafe octagon - Cafe Achteck - in Bruchsal, because of the way it is built.

Do you see me and my hosts arm in the mirror?




Only a few meters from the prison is the hospital of Bruchsal. There is the old part with the nice tower and a big part of the newer hospital. We're still standing at the same parking place only moved a bit.





Then we drove to the Stadtgarten, because we wanted to see the Belverdere -  a former hunting lodge.




When you walk out of the Stadtgarten you see that small house on top of the stairs. We took a photo of the sign. The house was supposed to protect its owner from the rain, when he worked on his vineyard.



We walked down the stairs and have a few on the house from there.






Standing next to the little house you have a wonderful view over Bruchsal.










Then we walked back to the Stadtgarten again and took some more photos there. Here is the Ferdinand Keller fountain.




My host loves this lime tree and I do too.




The house behind the fountain is called Schönborn Gymnasium. This school is more than 250 years old.







The last picture today we took at the street, which leads along the St. Paulusheim, another grammar school. You have a nice view on St. Peter from there.

Before I start to travel to my new host I take a bath. My host said, that I really need one and I enjoyed it somehow. I'm not sure, whether cows in nature take baths like I did.

It's my last day here in Bruchsal and it's my host's birthday. We helped to prepare things for the guests, which came to have breakfast with us, but we toyvoyagers were allowed to eat first before the guests arrived.






Then Precious and I put our new tags on. I think, I like it.

I arrived to the Czech Republic, yay! The journey was quite alot and I was in an envelope - in the dark and boring place, so my host family decided to take me to a trip. We went to a ZOO. I really enjoyed myself there: and the animals were curious to see me, so a lot of them came close to me to observe me. A funny thing happened there - a curious monkey tried to steal the bag I sleep in - but fortunately, my host mum was quick enough to save the bag! :-)

I visited a medieval castle! I could see how people lived in the Middle Ages. The castle is just ruins now, but it used to be the largest castle in Central Europe. Now, there is a tower with great outlooks and also iron statues exhibition. Some of the statues are funny and some are scary.
Anyway, I had a great time!

After seeing a castle I went to an arboretum. I admired all the trees and plants and had a great time! 

My Christams was really cool! i did all the fun stuff: decorated Christmas tree, opened the presents, ate cookies, watched TV, and travelled to the mountains. There was a lot of snow which I loved! Here are some photos.

Hi Mum,

I have arrived in England!! Hooray...! So I just thought I would log on to the Toyvoyagers
site and give you this update.



I arrived this afternoon just as my host was getting ready to go swimming, so I went
for the journey with her...

This is Energise - A private swimming pool, gym and spa although my host just comes
here to swim - she said shes not a big fan of using the gym!



These are the changing rooms...



..Fidget (another TV) and I waited here while our host got changed...



we both decided we wanted to stay dry today though so while my host had her swim
Fidget & I made ourselves comfortable in the locker and had a chat...



Well I better be going for now but just wanted you to know I arrived safely.
Speak soon,

Mumu x

Hi Mum, How are you? Im getting a little bit more settled here now

Today, my host hoped she would get the chance to take Fidget and I out to explore
but unfortunately she had to change her plans at the last minute, although she did
say not to worry as we hope to go out during the week.

We havent been at home doing nothing though! My host is busy making a surprise
valentine gift for her boyfriend and Fidget and I have been helping her out, we will
share the photos with you when it is complete.

We have also be helping out and playing with our hosts pet hamster. This is
''Bobbypin'', shes a syrian hamster that my host rehomed because she was being
pestered by cats at her old home  , she got very scared because of it... but now
she seems happier and is getting braver everyday!



She didnt seem to mind us being in her run with her, I put a peanut in my hand and
she came and took it off me too



Well until next time mum,
Mumu x

Hi Mum,

The weather here isnt very good .. rain, rain & more rain!.. however we decided
to brave it and my host, Fidget and I got on the bus to Kings Lynn today to
go exploring around the outskirts of town.



Our first stop was at Kings Lynn Docks, Fidget had already visited here but
we stopped so I could have a look at the artwork painted on this disused building.



..The pretty building below is the Guild Hall...



..which faces this huge building...



..which is St Margarets Church and as well as a normal clock it displays a moon
clock that reveals the phases of the moon as well as the times of Kings Lynn
high tide.

A short walk away from this is some gardens and situated in the middle of them
is this.. the Greyfriars Tower which is really tall and has an archway to walk under
it... it is one of only 3 of its kind left in England now! ..Here I am outside the tower
and then under the archway....





...and here is a view outside the archway looking up...



..Of course we couldnt walk all that way without stopping of for lunch before we
went home..



Well mum, I have to go now .. but Ill write again soon
Mumu x

Hi again mum,

I thought I would update my travelog and tell you about one of the little projects
my host, Fidget & I have been working on while the weather has been bad
outdoors.

VALENTINES DAY PREPARATION - PART ONE - The Bottle Of Love

As my host needs to save money right now she has decided to give a handmade
card and handmade gift to her boyfriend for Valentines Day this year.

Yes, we are a little early for Valentines Day! but it is all going to take time and
we have just finished the first part of the gift which is a ''bottle of love''; an
empty wine bottle filled with little messages and love quotes which are all tied
up into little scrolls.

My host prepared all the scrolls first of all - that was the time-consuming part...!
She also made a card out of craft materials she had at home...



...and here is our tub of little scrolls... there is quite a lot of them!



The next part was something Fidget and I volunteered to do... we had to
put all the scrolls into the empty wine bottle, so I held the bottle still
while Fidget popped in a scroll one at a time.



..It soon started filling up!



...We got a wine label made to stick on the bottle that is personalised with my
hosts' boyfriends name on it.. it also has a little rhyme on it that says ''When
we're together or When we're apart, you're first in my thoughts and first in my
heart''



..my host thinks we might have to make a few more scrolls to fill the whole
bottle up though..

We have one more gift to make to go with it, maybe I'll show you that next time

Love From Mumu x