Travelog for: UrselHH

Back home now ... she had to stop and pick up another sampling of cheese. (We did stop where they made them but they were out!)

I had to share but it was good! These are cheese curds. They are really good when left out for awhile and warmed up a bit... they squeak just like me, a mouse!

We also sat down and read a book... it was about a mouse! It's a good story and I like the fact that I got a cookie and some milk.

Just as I am about to go... another voyager shows up. We were wondering what was in the box! This is Kazys!

Well, my time is up in Wisconsin. I had a lot of fun and will be thinking of all the cheese that I got to eat and all I got to see on my way to Germany.

Write when I get there!
Love,
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
I was found by my new host Katja when she left the house today. One of the neighbours had taken today's mail out of the mail box and put it onto the stairs.

Katja was on her way to the railway station with a suitcase. She took me out of my envelope, introduced me to seven more ToyVoyagers which were sitting in her bag and than we were off.

At the railway station she told me we were going to Duesseldorf airport to fly to Barcelona. That sounds great! While we were waiting for the train we went out of Katja's bag for a bit of fresh air.

We are at Duessldorf International Airport now. After the check-in we spent some time having a coffee. Here you can see my new friends Nijntje and Misty Mouse.



Afterwards we took a walk through the Airport. We also went to the visitor's platform.





When we entered the plane I was happy that we had a window seat. So I'd be able to look out of the window.



We were ready for take-off than.

It was late evening when we had reached Barcelona, went to our hotel by bus and went out to the promenade. We walked to the harbour and had dinner.





Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
today we took a walk along the beach promenade. Our hotel is close to the coastline, so we only had to cross the street to get there.





These high-rasers were built for the Olympic Village of the 1992 Summer Olympics.





This is a fish fixation, created by the architekt Frank Gehry, manifested by a 35 metre x 54 metre fish made of steel lattice. The fish marks the start of the Olympic Port area and is placed at the base of the two landmark towers.





You can find many artworks here at the beaches, this one for example at the beach of  Barceloneta.







This is the tower of an aerial ropeway to Montjuic, a mountain in the municipal area.





We went to Port Vell than, the old harbour.







Here you can see the statue "El Cap de Barcelona" by the American pop artist Roy Lichtenstein.



We were in Port Vell than.



We also visited Ramla de Mar, a prolongation of the world famous boulevard Las Ramblas, leading to the Christopher Columbus Monument.





We also walked to the newer part of the harbour.





We walked to the old town to have lunch in a cava-bar. Cava is the Catalanian Champagne. You eat tapas and drink cava here. Really delicious! I tasted the local cheese of course.



We went to the old town, built in medieval times with narrow lanes.



This is the church Santa Maria del Mar, we wanted to have a look inside, but it was closed until afternoon.







In the background you can see one of the historic markets. It is under construction at the moment, otherwise I could have bought some cheese there.



Instead we visited Parc de la Ciutadella, the city's main central park. Originally here was a citadel, after it was torn in 19th century, this park was built here. It contains a pond, a fantastic fountain (which is also under construction at the moment) and the Barcelona Zoo.





This is the fountain.









We went to Montjuic by bus. Here you can find the Olympic arena.





Montjuïc is a broad shallow hill with a relatively flat top overlooking the harbour, to the southeast of the city centre. The top of the hill (height: 173 metres) was the site of several fortifications, the latest of which (the Castell de Montjuïc) remains today. The fortress largely dates from the 17th century, with 18th century additions. We visited the remains of the fortress.



This is the view across the city. Georgeous, isn'tit?









From here you are also overlooking the harbour.







We went downhill and reached Placa d'Espanya, one of the central squares of Barcelona.



We went back to the city centre by bus, reaching Placa Catalunya. It was already dark and we took some photos with the illuminated fountains.



On their way to the hotel Katja and her friend had one or two drinks in a nearby beach bar. Tomorrow we will return home, what a pity!

I even learned to say "mouse" and "cheese" as well in Spanish as in Catalan, the language of this part of Spain, of Catalunya.

Spanish:
Mouse = ratón
Cheese = queso


Catalan:
Mouse = ratolí
Cheese = formatge

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
today the weather was more like summer

First we had to do some shopping. On our way to the shop Katja showed us a bit of the city.

This intersection is close to my current home, the scaffolded building in the background is the local court.



I saw some really pretty old houses.





In the late afternoon we took a walk to the municipal park. On our way I saw those pretty hydrangea in a front garden.



In the municipal park they have a pond with ducks and turtles.







You can find the observatory here in the entrance area of the park.



Here you can see a memorial for the dead of several earlier wars, before World War I, situated in a flower  garden.





On the next photo you can see the outskirts of Remscheid and the neighbour city Wuppertal.



This is one of the typical "Bergisch Houses", covered with slate, with green shutters.



Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
we went to Wuppertal today. Katja had to buy a few things at Hornbach, her favourite DIY-store. She had to make a new interior for her large rat cage.

Afterwards we went to the Botanical Garden. Wuppertal is situated, like the name already says, at the river Wupper, along a deep valley with the city centre in the valley itself, large parts on the steep slopes of the valley.

You can find the Botanical Garden on a very high point, overlooking the city centre in the valley. In 1890 it was a school garden first. Later, in 1908 a textile industrialist built his country house here, the "Eller'sche Villa". Later the Elisenturm Elisen Tower) was also built here, which is now the focal point of the garden. Since 1929 it is a municipal garden, open daily.



This is the Elisenturm.



First we entered the tower and enjoyed the fantastic overview.



Here you can see the new greenhouses, they were built in 2006.



We went to the greenhouses than. Here you can see plants from the warmer parts of the world, like palms.







We went into the garden than. I saw lots of pretty flowers and interesting trees, also the former country house.







Here we are sitting in front of a thistle.



I also saw a plant with vast leafs. I used one of the leafs as a swing, together with Polki.



Back home we helped to install the new things to the rat cage. I will show it to you soon.

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
we have baked bread today. It was really easy. All you need is

750 g wheat flour
about 400 ml warm water
1 1/2 tablespoons of salt
1 1/2 packages dry yeast
1 tablespoon of olive oil

Baking: 35 - 40 minutes, 220°C



First we mixed flour and yeast, than we added the other ingredients and kneaded the dough for about 5 minutes.



The dough was covered than with a cloth. It had to rise for about 30 minutes.



We shaped two loafs of bread.



The loafs of bread had to rise once more for half an hour under a cloth.



While the breads were rising under the funny dish cloth, I helped Misty Mouse to raid the fridge. We found camembert.





Yummy!



Back to work than.

We had to brush the breads with a mixture of water and olive oil. We put rosemary on one loaf of bread.





They were ready for the oven than. The breads had to bake for 35 minutes.
Finished!



Our selfmade bread was really delicious!

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
we took a walk in the outskirts of Remscheid today. It was raining in the morning, also in the early afternoon. Later the sun came out and went out to meet Katja's friend Birgit.

We walked through the municipal park to the district Hasten. On our way to the park I saw something yellow ... a mailbox!





I have been here before, I've already seen some of those pretty old  houses, I remember.







Here you can see that a lot of green is around the town.





We reached Morsbach (Morsbach creek) in the valley. Here you still can find many old factory buildings.



This part of the town is called "Grund“.



From here we went into the rural areas of Remscheid.







Really rural





In the background you can see the city centre of Remscheid, situated on a hill. You can see the tower of the city hall and the water tower.



This will be mouse food soon



We went home than and watched TV in the evening.

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
I met Katja's pet rats today. They are sooooo cute

Here you can see Nicole, she loves to sit in a box on top of the large cage.



This is me inside the cage. Mäuschen is coming closer. There is another Mäuschen", they really look alike.



It's dinner time. The rat girls had watermelon, sweet corn, carrots and cucuember. Yummy!





Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
we took a long walk today. We went to Muengsten Bridge, Germany's highest railway bridge.

We walked along a railway track for a while.



We went through a small district than with pretty houses, partly old houses, partly new houses.



That's looking great!



We came a little bit closer than ...



We walked downhill for a while and reached River Wupper.



Do you know this board game? It's Nine Men's Morris, engraved into a rock.



We crossed River Wupper here.



We walked through a forrest again, uphill and downhill.



I saw another engraved rock.



Finally we reached Muengsten Bridge.



Muengsten Bridge is made of steel. It is 107 m high and spans the valley of river Wupper, which is marking the border between Remscheid and the neighbour town Solingen.

The bridge is 465 m long and was completed in 1897 A.D.

A leisure park was built underneath the bridge a few years ago. You can relax on the lawns, play in the water and they have playgrounds for the kids.





Here you can read about the visit of the German Emperor Wilhelm II, who visited the bridge in 1899.



I must admit that we went home by bus.

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
Katja took me into town today when she returned to her work place after her lunch break.

First I'll show you where I have been living the last three weeks. It's the house on the left side, our apartment is in the attic storey.



You can find lots of those pretty old houses in the vicinity of my current home.





Can you see the water tower behind those trees?



Here it is! It is situated opposite of the rear side of the city hall.



This is one side of the city hall ...



There is a restaurant in the basement, when I read the menu I became hungry immediately ... fried camembert with dark bread ... hmmmm, delicious



Here you can see the market place in front of the city hall, the pillar on the place is showing a lion, the heraldic animal of Remscheid.



Here you can see the pretty front side of the city hall. Its tower is 48 m high.





We had to go to Katja's work place than. First I tried to climb into the law firm's mail box, but I was too ... big. Yes, such a little mouse does not fit into the slot.



When we returned home at 18:30 p.m. Katja called her friend Erika if she also wanted to take a walk. Yes, a short walk was ok for Erika. So they decided to meet on the Werkzeugtrasse (Route of Tools).

I have been here before, but never in such great weather.





Here are patterns of wrenches stamped into the tarmac.





You can also find distance information on the ground.



We met Erika than and left the Werkzeugtrasse to walk downhill into Morsbachtal (Morsbach Valley).



We came along a hammock with a really funny house. It is funny because the owners painted some jokes onto the walls.





This is my favourite saying:



Oh, it seems to be dangerous here




We reached the valley than and crossed the road here. We walked on the other side of the creek than, which already belongs to Wuppertal.









You can find some engraved rocks along this special walking path. Here are two of them ...





We left the valley here and walked back uphill to get home.



I read about this place on an information board.





From here we had to walk uphill for more than 40 minutes, but we ersted in a beer garden. So the "short walk" turned into a walk about two hours long and another hour sitting in the beer garden.

Bye
UrselHH

Hi Mummy,
I'm on my way to my next host now. I've packed my things and left with Misty Mouse today.



Bye
UrselHH

Hey Mom Today I Arrived In Megans Mailbox And Boy I Was Glad

I Was Afraid That I Would Never Get Through Customs But Megan Opened Up And Found...

So Then We Went Back Outside To Get The Rest Of The Mail Cause Megan Was So Excited She Forgot The Others Lol...

Megans Brother Came Out This Time To Help Bring In The Mail So I Asked Him If I Could Have A Ride....It Was Fun We Went On A Bump And Then I Flew Out! Dont Worry I Fell On The Grass!

Before We Got Inside I Wanted to See If I Could Ride A Bike....Maybe Next Time I Should Get A Littler Bike Until I Get Bigger :P

When We Got Inside Megan Had A Welcome Gift For Me

I Was So Hungry I Ate All Of The American Cheese! Then We Went To Megans Working Station Where She Sews Doll Clothes...

Then She Decided To Make Me A Little Tutu (it was really a hairtie!)

Next I Meet Megans Stuffed Parrot Polly :P It Wasnt Scary!

But Then Megan Took Me Up To Her Room And She Had A Real Bird Named Koko Leo The Cockatiel XD I Was Scared At First But He Was Friendly....

Then Megan Took Koko Out Of The Cage And Took My Picture With Him Again

Well Thats All For Today Mommie I Will Take More Pictures Tommorrow! Love Ya![img]null[/img]