Posted May 2, 2009, 9:44 pm
Today I was released at a medieval faire in Hildesheim. There were a lot of people and tomorrow, too.. So I hope that somebody will find me and will take me on a little journey.
Hugs,
Florentine
Posted May 3, 2009, 10:21 am
I found Florentine yesterday in the evening sitting near the knight tournament place on the medieval fair in Hildesheim.
I thought that a child had lost her, but then I read the note. I never heard of this website before, but I think its a great idea and so I will help her travelling around a bit.
She will drive home to Peine with me this evening, pictures will be following then.
Best regards,
Nina
Posted May 3, 2009, 8:12 pm
. Not very special, Florentine is only seeing my everyday life 
, but better than no pictures at all.
- Not yet a dalmatian, but at least a dog: Florentine with my pet Nana.
- At my computer.
- Learning e-tech for university.
Posted May 9, 2009, 5:31 pm
Posted Jul 6, 2009, 10:06 pm
I finally found a new host and continued my journey today
! I hope that travelling with the German mail is comfortable, save and fast, so that I will arrive soon. I'm so curious what I will see next! Unfortunately there are no pictures of my departure because the camera refused to work 
.
Posted Jul 7, 2009, 12:46 pm
I arrived today after a short trip. I had a warm welcome and got to know my new host for the next time. She showed my around the house and I met some of the other cuties living here. They said hello to me very nicely!
Posted Jul 7, 2009, 12:51 pm
Posted Jul 7, 2009, 10:39 pm
In the afternoon my host had to work and I helped her with some advice. She is a teacher and has to prepare her new classes.
And here is an aerial view of the village where I am now. Pretty small, don't you think? But I like the quiet.
Tonight we went to the local Italian restaurant my host's choir usually goes to after their rehearsal every Tuesday.
We also took the chance to see the local sights: the church and town hall of Waltershausen.
Afterwards we enjoyed a white hot cholcolate, yummy !
I also met a toy friend who was at the restaurant.
We had a great time and lots of fun!
Good Night!
Posted Jul 9, 2009, 7:42 am
In the background you can see Erfurt cathedral:
Here is the park 'Hirschgarten'. 'Hirsch' is stag in English and you can see me riding one:
After our visit to the city we went to the local IKEA store and had dinner there. Look what a huge Schnitzel we ate!
Tomorrow will be a lazy day. Weather here is teribble at the moment, very cloudy and rainy
Posted Jul 9, 2009, 9:34 am
Well, there is nothing really going on today. My host took the time to read a book - uh, a very exciting crime story. And there are pets (cats and dogs) as main characters which is pretty funny.
Unfortunately the weather is so cold that you cannot enjoy time on the balcony
The best news:
We got the film '101 dalmatians', so I will be able to complete one more of my missions!
We'll maybe watch the film tomorrow evening.
See you!
Posted Jul 10, 2009, 1:56 pm
For that reason we took time today to sort out digital photographs from the last years and order print copies online.
Puh, it is a lot of work you can't imagine.
Later on we actually went outside to mail yesterday's postcrossing cards. My host also wanted to show me around the village but because of the rain (once again) we did not stay outside very long.
However, here is at least a picture of me and the local stream 'Hoersel':
And here is me in front of the church (the picture is not very good, but because of the rain and the umbrella it was difficult to take pictures):
Posted Jul 12, 2009, 5:21 pm
After breakfast we cleaned our teeth, and look who I met:
this little time-taking-lady on the mirror shelf. Isn't she cute?!
Posted Jul 12, 2009, 5:31 pm
Here are some pictures on the way. We went along motorway A4 and passed castles called 'die drei Gleichen' and the town Jena:
We also came through a village called 'Lederhose' which is leather trousers in English - what a funny name! Here is me in front of the local pub:
Unfortunately it was rainy again and because of this there were not many toys at the motorbike meeting. But I met a little American bear on this rat motorbike:
These American cars are gigantic, look at this one:
Posted Jul 13, 2009, 1:48 pm
Well we did some work. My host had to translate an old article about convertible cars. It is from April 1976. My host was not even born then. Look at this old piece of paper:
Later on I met this little French girl Aimee. Soon she would also love to travel as a TV. She is looking forward to her first host so if you are interested send a message!
And just now while I am telling you today's stories there is a cake in the oven that we prepared some minutes ago.
It is made with coconut , which I love. I will tell you later how it tasted. Maybe today we can sit outside for some tea as it has not been raining yet for the whole day - wow.
Posted Jul 14, 2009, 2:13 pm
You can see the 'Inselsberg' the background if you look sharp. I will probably climb this mountain on Thursday - looking forward to it!
Posted Jul 14, 2009, 2:15 pm
It's about 300 of them - oh my god, what a huge pile.
Now we just have to sort them out and do a bit of scrapbooking....
Posted Jul 15, 2009, 2:46 pm
First we went to castle 'Friedenstein' to visit the research library (a job meeting by my host) and the museum - so I completed a mission! Unfortunately there are not photos inside the museum rooms as it is forbidden to take any.
The castle was built in the 17th century and is a huge site:
Afterwards we took a stroll through the town, a bit of sightseeing, a bit of shopping....
The red building in the background is the town hall of Gotha:
There are some fountains in front of the castle on castle hill:
And finally, before going to the train station, we took a rest in the park of the castle.
The area is called 'Orangerie' as they used to keep their orange trees in the side buildings in former times.
We had a great day out!
We took Aimee with us and if you look into her travellog you will see some other pictures of our trip.
Posted Jul 16, 2009, 7:26 pm
The path we walked is very famous. It is called 'Rennsteig' and goes all the way through the Thuringian Forest. For more details have a look here: Rennsteig
The weather was brilliant and we had a good view over the country.
'Großer Inselsberg' is not that high with 916 metres, however the second highest mountain in Thuringia. Here is a profile of the Thuringian Forest:
So, yes - I completed one more mission!
Posted Jul 17, 2009, 9:02 am
I was so happy to see all these doggy friends. The film is so interesting, romantic as well as sad. A great story and I really enjoyed it!
One more mission completed!
Posted Jul 17, 2009, 9:11 am
I will move on to another host today.
In a few minutes we'll be off to the post office.
I will travel to the Netherlands! So far I have only been in Germany so that will be another country for me.
I hope to travel safe and that I will not have to stay in the envelope too long.
Aimee waved Good bye! I hope she will also soon find a nice new host.
Hope to write to you from the Netherlands soon.
See you!
Posted Jul 22, 2009, 7:20 pm
Today i arrived at my hosts adress in Alkmaar - The Netherlands
It wasn't a very long journey but i'm very happy that i've arrived cause it was very dark at my trip!!!
When i came out of the couvert i met Miss-Flo she's the TV of my host Cyn1987 or her real name is Cynthia.. She is a nice flower-girl but unfortunately she will leave tomorrow...
But i think my host and me will have a lot of fun in Alkmaar, it seems to be a nice town!! Also finished one of my life missions.. I'm in another country now!!
For now it's enough.. i'm tired from my journey so i go to sleep now..
Bye for now!!
Hugs, Florentine
Posted Jul 23, 2009, 9:57 am
But i was a little sad, cause i met her yesterday and she's allready leaving now
.. So i gave her a big hug.. and who knows.. maybe we will meet again some day...
Bye Miss-Flo!!!!
Posted Jul 24, 2009, 6:22 pm
Today Cynthia showed me the newest Dutch gossips.. She told me about the Royalty's and showed me also some pictures..
As well in the gossip-magazines in Holland there is a lot about Michael Jackson.
I enjoyed reading it.. But know we have to go cause Cynthia has to go to her work for a photo..
Bye!!
Florentine
Posted Jul 24, 2009, 6:33 pm
We went there cause Cynthia had to go on a picture for her work.. She is working at a travel agency and i think that is a great job!
Also i was sitting on her workdesk and tried to help.. but i think i dont know everything yet.. Maybe she will teach me more some day...
Hugs,
Florentine
Posted Jul 24, 2009, 6:53 pm
Let me tell you more about this Cheese-Market..
It is known that the city of Alkmaar had a weighing house for cheese as early as 1365. The oldest "ordinance on the cheesebearers" dates from june 17th 1593.
Until the First World War, the cheese market was a vital centre for the trade. In 1916, an average of three hundred tons of cheese were sold on every market day. At that time, the market went on until one o'clock at night. Since 1939, Alkmaar has been the only place in the Netherlands to maintain the cheese market tradition in this form. Every year, on 22 Fridays from mid-April to mid-September, the market takes place on the Waagplein.
The Waagplein was enlarged for the last time in 1901. Before then, buildings covered almost the whole square. The enlargement of the square kept pace with the volume of the cheese trade. Turnover now is not even 10% of what it was at the beginning of the 20th century, but the number of tourists has increased enormously. About 100,000 people from all over the world visit the cheese market in Alkmaar every year.
In the 17th century, cheese was traded on Fridays and Saturdays from May to All Saints’ Day. At that time, each group of cheese carriers (veem) had its own weighing house. In the 18th century, there was a cheese market four times a week. The cheese carriers’ guild did not have their own patron saint, or their own altar in church like other professional guilds such as the cobblers, coopers, coppersmiths and tanners. However, the biblical text from 1622 is still the device for the guild of Alkmaar:
"A false balance is abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight"
The cheese carriers’ guild of Alkmaar
The Alkmaar cheese carriers’ guild is responsible for moving and weighing cheese during the cheese market on Fridays. The guild consists of four groups (vemen) of seven men each.
Each veem has its own colour: red, yellow, green or blue. The head of the four vemen is the 'cheese father', the supervisor. As a sign of his office, the cheese father carries a black stick with a silver knob. The cheese carriers wear the traditional costume: a white suit and a straw hat with a ribbon in the colour of their own veem. An experienced carrier is known as a vastman (a regular). Before then, he is known as a noodhulp (temporary assistant). The oldest cheese carrier in a veem is called the tasman (bagman). He can be recognised by the black leather bag he wears. The tasman puts the weights on the balance when the cheese is weighed.
Every two years, a leader is chosen for each veem: the overman. He can be recognised by a little silver escutcheon with a ribbon in the colour of his veem. The board of the guild appoints a provost and a servant. The provost helps the guild board and is known 'executioner' by the cheese carriers. He notes the names of latecomers and collects the appropriate fine. The provost wears a silver cheese barrow on a ribbon in the colour of his veem. The servant does the odd jobs for the guild.
On Fridays, the square is prepared before the cheese carriers’ guild goes into action. The market inspector supervises the removal of the cheese from the trucks as they are positioned on the square in long rows by the zetters. When the bell is rung at ten o'clock, the zetters load the barrows and the cheese carriers carry them to the balance to weigh the cheese. Sworn weighing masters supervise the weighing and complete the weight slips. Meanwhile, on the square, traders and inspectors determine the quality of the cheese on offer. Haggling about the price takes place using the handjeklap system, literally clapping hands with other merchants.
We also visited a shop for wooden shoes, and i could also see how they where made.. So nice to see!!!
Also there was a nice lady who had old traditional clothes and she liked me and posed with me..
We also went to a bakery and also that employee wanted to pose with me.. I think they all like me cause i'm so small and sweet!!
Also in holland you see a lot of Music Caroussels.. I was sitting on it for a while but it maked me crazy that loud noise..
After that Cynthia's mom brought me to a cookie shop and i was sitting between the Stroopwafels.. They are filled with caramel, and allmost every Dutch person loves them...
Well it was a nice morning.. and i think this afternoon i will go to a big petshop
Great!!!
Hugs, Florentine
Posted Jul 24, 2009, 7:09 pm
In the shop i saw so many lovely things!! Very much dog-food.. and i jumped in it.. But dont tell anybody ok
I also tried to sleep on a huge bed but Cynthia's mom was taking me allready after 2 minutes
But she showed me something what was much more interesting.. huge bones!!!!
They where even more then 3 times larger then me.. Funny huh?
I also jumped in a giant icecream.. ok ok.. it was fake.. but it was funny to see!!
Now it's allready 8pm.. so i have to go to sleep!!!
Good night!!
Hugs, Florentine...
Posted Jul 26, 2009, 5:26 pm
This evening Cynthia's brother came and bringed his dog Spike to Cynthia's house.. He is going on a trip so Cynthia can host him...
Really Spike is a cute dog, maybe we can give him some black spots.. so he's just looking like me... No just kidding offcourse
Bye!
Florentine
Posted Jul 26, 2009, 6:27 pm
The weather was nice, allthougt it was a bit cloudy and windy it was nice...
Also we saw some art in Heiloo.. Do you think they are nice??
Below you can see some pictures from today..
Bye!
Florentine
Posted Aug 8, 2009, 12:58 pm
They took so many nice pictures of me.. you can see below!!!
Bye for now!
Florentine
Posted Aug 8, 2009, 1:04 pm
So i gave Peggy a warm welcome at Alkmaar!
Bye!!
Florentine
Posted Aug 11, 2009, 7:08 pm
Today Peggy and me helped Cynthia with writing postcards.. She loves to postcross maybe you might know it!
We wrote about 8 cards to all over the world!
If you want to learn more about postcrossing you can go to www.postcrossing.com
Bye!
Florentine
Posted Aug 17, 2009, 6:20 pm
Today i helped Cynthia to make a nice pie for diner.. We had to put vegetables, ham and cheese it and then put it in the oven for allmost 45 minutes.. Really it was a very nice pie!!!
Also we made a fresh salad... When the pie was baking Peggy and me looked at the oven all the time.. Cynthia even putted us in the oven.. But hell that was sooo hot!!!!
Well bye for now!! Cynthia told me we will be going to Ijmuiden soon.. So she can show me some more of Holland..
Bye!
Florentine
Posted Sep 15, 2009, 8:57 am
I'm sorry for not updating but my host Cynthia was so busy with work!!! So today she finally found some time to take me and Peggy to the Port of Ijmuiden. It was nice weather so we had a nice day!!!
I saw so many things!! I also saw the Cruise-ship King of Scandinavia which is going to Newcastle every day...
More information you can find here
Well soon i'm going further on my trip to England.. I'm so excited!!!!
Bye for now!
Love,
Florentine
Posted Sep 15, 2009, 9:18 am
I'm so excited!!! I'm going on my trip further to England...
I had to say goodbye to my little friend Peggy and also to Miss-Flo She is Cynthia's TV and she just came back today from a trip to Turkey... But she's going to China allready today!! So after a short talk Cynthia was taking us to the postoffice!!
So bye Holland!!!!! And Hello England!!!!
I hope to arrive soon!
Bye!!!!!!
Florentine
Posted Sep 23, 2009, 10:44 am
I have arrived in Bristol .... it tooks ages as there are postal stikes over here at the moment, so post is very delayed! I was glad to get out of the envelope
In the space of a day i made 4 friends briefly, but lost 3 friends of them - Natt Noy & Mr Happy are off to Natt's home in Thailand, and Etwas is now off to the USA.
Luckily for me Rob is staying - he is cute & small just like me, Julie tells me we are off to Mexico a week on Sunday for 10 days ... it's like 2 holidays in one, how exciting
Here are a few photo's of me arriving, Rob is going to show me round so will have more photo's up for you soon!
Lots of Love, Flo
xxxx
Posted Sep 30, 2009, 4:27 pm
It's been a busy week this week - Julie took me to work with her - Rob was showing me around! We stopped off through contra of Bristol to get the bus, went past 'the Galleries' which is small shopping Mall, then went past 'Syndicate' which is nightclub, Julie has been there lots of times before - it does mainly dance music. Then opposite was a police station, and we got to see a English Police car .. it was very bright! We crossed the road safely, waiting for the green man, and got on the bus. We sat & read the paper on the journey to work as it takes about 40 minutes!
At Julie's work we sat around & had some coffee while Julie got on with her day. On her lunch break she took us outside - there is lovely pond just outside her building, nice & relaxing
We found some motorbikes too - Julie let us sit on them - they were huge for little me, bet they go so fast!
Over the weekend we went to the pub with Julie & her boyfriend, a nice glass of wine & some roast chicken - yummy!
MrCoolHH arrived today ... Julie says he will be coming on holiday with us - can you believe i am going to Mexico on Sunday? Going to be busy rest of week helping Julie pack for holiday, and pack for moving house - will update you with the pictures of what i have been up too before i go on holiday, and just so you don't think i am lost we will be back from Mexico the weekend of the 17th October .... sure i will have lots of stories to share
Lots of Love, Flo
Posted Oct 20, 2009, 1:37 pm
Just to let you know i am back home to England now, there are so many pictures to update you with, may take few days to sort them out & resize them, but will get them up for you as soon as i can, in meantime i will get on with composing a little blog for you on what fun we had in Mexico
Lots of Love, Rob
Posted Oct 25, 2009, 5:02 pm
At last i have got all of my pictures to show you .....
We left Bristol on coach to take us to the airport - we left from Gatwick, which is near London. It was early start though had to leave at 4am - EEK!!!
Safety first on the plane, we went through the safety book, and got ourseleves seat-belted in for the 10 hour flight to Cancun Mexico, so exciting!!! Hotel 'Barcelo Costa' here we come ....
Day 1 - first things first, time to sunbath, suncream & sunglasses at the ready!! Over there we had to get used to all the different money - we could use USA Dollars, and Mexican Peso's. Julie took us to the beach at our hotel - it was lovely - white sands & blue sea
Day 3 - Julie took us out on a day trip - we went to Tulum, this is an old Mayan Ruin site - the ruins are off a city that dates back to the 1500's. It was on the coast so was used for trade, as well as being very well protected. From there we went to Xel Ha - this was an amazing Ecological park, you can swim with dolphins, roack, jumping, chill on the lazy river in a ring, and snorel around the whole site, reefs & caves - the sea was full of wildlife - all kinds of fish just swimming around you as you float through the water! As well as the wildlife in the water at both places we saw loats of Iguana's just wondering around - they are very common over in Mexico - we managed to get quite close to have pics taken too, would of loved for one of them to become a toyvayoger like me!!
Day 6 - Today was shopping day, we went around the busy part of Cancun & saw some clubs & pubs - Co Co Bongo's is the best club there, the club was taken from the film 'The Mask', and each night has live shows of acrobatics, Circ De Solais and music .... something quite original to normal clubs!
From there we went to 'Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co' - have you ever seen the film 'Forrest Gump', well Bubba was charactor on that & he talked of running a shrimp restuarant ... so the whole place is filled with memorabilia from the film, they play the film all day every day & have the menu suited to the film too - it was awesome, we had the best coktails there!! And when you go outside, you can sit on the bench just like Forrest Gump off the film - with his trainers on, box of chocolates & suitecase - this was one of my best moments of the holiday!
Day 7 - Today we went to a proteced Barrier Reef just off the coast of Cancun to do some snorkeling - it was so lovely, we got a boat through the lagoon, and then out to sea - beautiful!
Enjoy the pictures .... sad to be back in England as weather is horrible - so windy & cold outside, and tonight the clocks go back too, this means going to be allot darker in the evenings now
Lots of Love, Flo
xxxx
Posted Jan 6, 2010, 11:03 am
So sorry for long wait in updates ... things for my host have been some what crazy here, but here is what i have been up too .....
Have been to Julies work, walked through Bristol then on the bus. I had fun with Julie & the other toys in her work on the computer, then we went outside to see the pond & even found a motor bike to have a go on - wow
I have also been to the pub for some lunch ... wine & a roast chicken, yummy!
I also went to the cinema - it is in he new shopping centre in Bristol called Cabot Circus - it was just before Christmas so there were giant reindeers in the centre - aren't they cool? We went to see horror film - Paranormal Activity .... it was quite scary in places!
Then i helped make Roast Diner at Christmas ... we had chicken, stuffing, roast potatoes, cheesey veg - it was great!
Best thing though was the snow we had - there has been loads of it over last few weeks, so pretty around Julie's work, but we did get a snow day though, all the buses stopped as snow came down so heavy over night .... we got to make a snowman - amazing