Travelog for: Nils

Hi Mommy!

Today was a really exciting day! My host mom and other active students organized a farewell party for Swedish and Icelander exchange students. My host mom was working in the kitchen with few other students. That classroom (it was home economics classroom) was so hot because there were about ten ovens on at the same time! There were so many kind of snacks and sweets: Karelian pasties, cinnamon buns, chocolate and salty liquorice, cookies etc. I just looked at those yummies and I wanted to eat them all.
But then happened something really exciting! One old student of that High School is working in local newspaper and he wanted to write article about ToyVoyagers! So I will be famous soon! Haha, no need to worry, I was just kidding. I was a little nervous when he took some pictures, I hope that my fur was clean and good-looking. After that confusing surprise, my host mom took us to the gym hall where we saw different instruments like accordion and keyboard.  When the party actually started, me and Lancel stayed in kitchen eating grapes because the music was so loud for our sensitive ears.
After the party we of course had to clean up. It was so awesome when my host mom ran in the dark corridor and we were on her pockets (don't ask why she ran, she did it just for fun.. Or then she saw a terrible school monster).

Now we are at home and I have to say that I'm happy that every school day didn't last 13 hours!

All the best!
Nils : )

Hi Mom !

This will be my last update from Finland, because today I will head for Switzerland! But first I have to tell you about our weekend. Me, Lancel and our host mom traveled to Tampere by train because my host mom would work as volunteer in Tracon. Tracon is manga, anime, cosplay happening, but also there was a lot of roleplays and science fiction.
It was the biggest con in Finland, there was about 5 000 visitors ! So that's why we didn't take so many pictures, you couldn't photograph anything because always someone was on the way. But me and Lancel insisted to get picture with really beautiful doll ladies. Those dolls were ball-jointed doll which are really expensive.

And today morning we face a real surprise! We were in local newspaper! That article was pretty good, but my host mom said that she looks terrible in the picture. I think that I looked as gorgeous as always.

Yesterday I saw a rainbow! I hope it brings me good luck on my journey!

All the best, Nils : )

Hi mum,

I finally made ​​it. I had almost given up hope of ever seeing daylight again.



When my envelope was opened and many furry noses and a beak welcomed me, I was overjoyed.





I got a group hug,



and everyone wanted to know what had happened to me.



Now I am free and happy. The next adventure may come.

Much love mum
your Nils

Hi mum,
today there's not much to report. The weather is bad and we were bored. Host mum made the suggestion to bake waffles. We were immediately impressed. We have put the ingredients ready and started to stir the dough.








Hemming should beat the eggs, but he has thrown the whole. Unfortunately we can not show you all the fun because host mum's camera is broken. Times it works, sometimes not. Tomorrow she gets a new one.
The waffles were great






The first we had to try immediately

.

After dinner we had waffles with vanilla cream and berries. Too bad that you can not see us as we feasted.

Greetings home
Nils

Hi mum,
Today the weather was beautiful and we visited St.Iddaburg.





This is a prime vantage point with view up to Lake Constance





In addition, here is a sanctuary. The church we were not able to visit because a wedding was taking place. Best of luck!
The pilgrimage church of St. Iddaburg located where the old Toggenburg in the Middle Ages, the family seat of the Counts of Toggenburg stood. Here lived in the middle of the 12th Century came from the wider audience of Habsburg Idda, wife of IV Diethelm of Toggenburg. With the Lourdes Grotto, builded 1888





and the Black Madonna in the church, St. Iddaburg is also a popular place of pilgrimage. We stopped at a small fountain



and a playground.



On the way back we saw a Harley, and we could not resist. We had to sit on it.





Born to be wild!!

Wish you a nice weekend

Nils

Hi mum,
  Host dad has holidays and has suggested that we drive to Lake Constance. At 9 clock in the morning we started. In Lindau, we had a small break and looked around a bit. The weather was gray and foggy at first, but that gave the lake a particular mood. Here you can see the harbor entrance with the lighthouse and the Bavarian lion.



Also on the harbor is Mangenturm. An old lighthouse, which was from 1180-1300 in operation.



Beautiful is the old town hall, built 1422.





And the city museum.



And then we discovered in a small side street this mammoth tree growing else in America.





Our journey continued to Meersburg. This superb small town is divided into Upper Town and Lower Town. The lower town is on the lake, has a lot of nice restaurants, art shops and wine bars. Here we ate a bite and tasted the new wine.



By the lakeside promenade



are palm trees



and banana trees. You can see the state winery and the Droste-Hulshoff high school.



We saw some funny souvenirs



and handicrafts. This is the lower city gate.



In the upper town is the old Meersburg.









In many small, steep streets are beautiful half-timbered houses.





On the way home we used the ferry to Konstanz.









The wind was cold and the sky was gray,



but it was a great feeling.
It's late and I'm tired. Goodnight mum
Nils

Hi mum,
the weather is atrocious. It rains only once, from morning until evening. But then the doorbell rang, and an envelope was delivered. A new TV. We tried to read the sender but it was strange letters and characters.



Not even Karl Sausi could read it, and he can write in 4 languages Mum and Dad. Host mum opened the envelope



and a nice, white little bear looked out anxiously.





Shy Meomie told us, Meomie that's her name, she comes from Vietnam.





It is her first trip. Okay, then she obviously can not know what happens when a group of "old TV's" gets an envelope in his paws. The big cat came to greet too, what else.



Then host mum showed us on the computer where Vietnam is.



Ooh, a very long journey.



I hope Meomie feel so well as I do.

hugs
Nils

Hi mum,
Yesterday we visited host mum's daughter. She is head chef at a hotel on Lake Thun. On our way there we made ​​a short stop at the base of the Pilatus Railway, the steepest cogwheel railway in the world.






Pilatus is good 2000 meters high and the local mountain of Lucerne. We passed on Lungerensee.





This lake is very popular with fishermen. Pike, lake trout and whitefish are some of the fish here.



From an elevated vantage point we had a fantastic view of the lake and surrounding mountains.









We passed the Brünigpass who disappeared in the fog. The weather was weird anyway. One minute blue skies and sunshine, the next moment a thick fog, like here on Lake Brienz.







We drove on and came to Interlaken, a popular tourist destination. The most famous hotel, the Grand Hotel Victoria - Jungfrau.



This under monument protection hotel began as a Guesthouse Victoria. A few years later the neighboring Hotel Jungfrau was bought. Both houses were then connected with a central part.



In good weather, you have a great view of the Jungfrau massif with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau. We saw only fog.



On partial adventurous roads







we reached the Lake of Thun. Here the weather meant something better with us.







We hung around in the garden of the hotel



and had a good view of the lake and the mountains.





On the way home we had to drive the long way because on the highway, an accident happened. But without this detour we would have missed this evening atmosphere.



Hugs and Kisses
Nils

Hi mum
it's me again. A new TV has arrived.





A little rat named Twix.



He was still a bit sleepy when we took him this morning from its cover. We welcomed him kindly





and gave him a group hug.



As the big cat greeted him, he got the shock of his life.



But he has recovered. I think we will have lots of fun with him.

Bye
Nils

Hello mum,
on Friday have been something special for dinner. Cheese Fondue!



With long forks we were allowed to stir in the hot cheese.



It was fun and tasted very, very good.

Best regards, Nils

Hi mum,
Yesterday we made a trip to Klosters and Davos. The weather was cloudy and cold. We needed something to warm up. Thick skin and hot coffee was the right thing.



Klosters is a small village



with hotels, hotels, hotels. Some pretty, some not.



Then we drove on to Davos, the highest town in Europe. Host mum finds Davos ugly. Too many ugly buildings in this wonderful scene. This is the main street of Davos.



Here you see the convention center.



It annually hosts the World Economic Forum. This is the ice hockey stadium.



Every year between Christmas and New Year, the Spengler Cup is played.

Here we pose in front of the Hilton hotel.



The most beautiful thing we saw in Davos was this small lake.





Because we all wanted to see the snow, host dad drove to the Flüela Pass.



You can see how high it is?



The snow was very close, but it melts during the day.



It's still a bit too warm. Whoa, too warm. It was 3 degrees. The pass looks like a moonscape.



Only stones and boulders fields.













Slightly lower down, we saw the most beautiful larch forests.





Golden Autumn. This newly built bridge



took us back home.

Hope you are well, miss you.

Nils
Sorry for so much fingers, host mum has a new camera, she is learning.

Hello mum,
Today we were in quinten,



a small village on the northern shore of Walensee. This really small village (about 60 people) can only be reached by boat or on foot.
We took the boat.













Due to its special location Quinten has an almost Mediterranean climate.



Besides wine,



there grow palms



and figs.








The Foehn wind blew very strong, almost 70 kilometers per hour.



By the wind, it was very warm. Was it yesterday, 10 degrees in the afternoon, we had  26 today.





The distant view was wonderful.







We have enjoyed this afternoon.






Hugs and kisses

Nils

Hi mum,
Yesterday we drove to Schwägalp.









This pass is 1300 meters high and is located at the foot of the Säntis. First we admired a old coach.





A special trip for great TV's.



How funny. At 2,502.9 meters above sea level, Säntis is the tallest mountain in the Alpstein massif of northeastern Switzerland. The mountain is a highly visible landmark thanks to its exposed northerly location within the Alpstein massif.





The panorama from the summit is spectacular. Six countries can be seen if the weather allows: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France, and Italy. By a cable car you can reach the top.



The so-called Säntismord (English: Säntismurder) happened in the winter of 1922. It refers to a crime in which the weather station keeper and his wife were murdered. The murder was only discovered because of missing weather reports on February 21. As a result of the missing reports, a search party was sent to Säntis, where they discovered the bodies. The prime suspect was shoemaker Gregor Anton Kreuzpointer, who committed suicide three weeks after the murder. The truth about this double murder hence remains unclear to this day. So creepy. As we sat on the rocks came a jackdaw and wanted to get Twix. Host dad could still save him.









Schwägalp is also very popular with motorcyclists. As you can see here.



On our way home



we discovered an old stagecoach.





For special occasions, it runs today.





It is pulled by 4 horses. A hot air balloon, we have also seen.



It was a wonderful day.

Hello all at home,

Our last trip was to the Principality of Lichtenstein.







In Vaduz, the capital, we saw the town hall.



It was built in 1932/33. The castle was built in the 13th Century and serves as the residence of the royal family.




Therefore it can not be visited. We saw a miniature of the castle.



The Principality is also very famous for its stamps. In the pedestrian zone known examples are shown for road paving. Here you see the special stamp in honor of the wedding of the crown prince.



This building is home to the parliament.





On our way home we had a great view over the Rhine Valley.



Best regards
Nils

Hi all,
When we woke up this morning our host mum said we should look out the window.





Snow! Over night snow had fallen and it still snows. We immediately put on our hats and scarves and went out onto the balcony.



What a beauty.





Meomie has never seen snow. She was almost mad with joy.  After we played a few times in the snow, our host mum called back to the apartment. They pulled us out of the wet clothes and grabbed us in a warm blanket.





Was that a fun.

A big hug, Nils