Travelog for: Fiona Yenien

Hi Mummy,
today we met Katja's friend and  her dog Pepe again to take a walk. Thankfully dogs have to take a walk in the forest every day ...

We went to the outskirts of Lennep, another district of Remscheid, also with woodland and rural areas around.





We reached a dam, not a drinking water dam like most of them here in this region. You can swim here, dive, canoe or sail.





We saw some farms on our way.



Any llamas  here? No, only sheep ....





Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy,
on this wonderful day we could not resist to pick up a friend from her work place and walk for about two and a half hours.

Starting from this business area we reached the forest within a few minutes.



This is a lovely place to live.



For a few minutes out path was following the A1 motorway.



We rested in a valley with a small creek running through.



Only a few more weeks and everything will be green here!



Than we had to climb out of the valley to walk through a housing area...



... only to cross a street and walk downhill towards another valley





This cat was not in a mood for playing.



Oh, that's not good ... a digger on our path! We had to climb along the slope to get past this building site.







These are blooming willows with their soft catkins.



Here is another business area, situated at a creek.



From here we had to walk uphill towards the city centre and our home.

Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy,
today we made a trip to the neighbour city Wuppertal to take a long walk.



In Wuppertal they have a walking- and cycling trail built on a closed railway track, it is called "Sambatrasse". Is is beginning in Wuppertal-Cronenberg and is leading to Wuppertal-Vohwinkel, about 10 km long. We walked a short part of it in Cronenberg. Here one of the old trains is parked.



From a bridge we had a fantastic overview. In the background you can see the city centre of Remscheid, situated on a hill, with its two characteristic towers of the city hall and the water tower.



In Cronenberg we walked through the town center.



Cronenberg is an old district with lovely old houses.



Springtime is coming!



An arboretum is situated here, a collection of trees. I was eager to see the trees of North America, so we walked along the trail showing those trees.

You can find information panels here, telling details about the different trees. This for example is a Lawson's Cypress, also called Port Orford-cedar (although it is not a cedar). Katja called ma a smart-aleck



These are Sequoias.



It felt like being home a little bit.













We also found some pieces of artwork here in the forest, like those carved owls.



At the end of our tour we found a map, showing the hole, vast arboretum area.



We followed the pink line.



When we walked back home, we saw more signs of springtime in the gardens.



Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy,
I wanted to try  to meet the alpacas I have seen on my very first walk here one more time. First we picked up a friend and went together.

Again we walked through lovely rural areas.



Deep in the valley you can find old factory buildings. It was here where industrialization began in late middle ages.



Soon we reached the estate where the alpacas are living. I could see them!



We tried our best to tempt them to come to the fence.



Unfortunately they did not come.

Good-bye, alpacas!



Katja's friend knew that there were more alpacas or llamas, but we would have to walk for at least an hour to get there. I did not care how long it took, I wanted to meet relatives!





Finally I saw them.



When we reached the estate we asked the owner who was there if we could see the alpacas. They were llamas, he told us. He opened the stable and they all came out, curious to see who was visiting them.



I met five real llamas!





I was so happy that Katja was talking with the owner for some time, so I could spend more time with the llamas. They talked about their food, if they were kept as farm animals or just for fun (yes, they are kept just for fun because the owner likes them so muchj) The owner told Katja, that sometimes he would take a walk in the forest with one or two llamas. I'm sure Katja would like to do that also There were also three horses and two dogs.

Than I had to say good-bye to my new friends.



Did I already told you that our way back home took us another 40 minutes, mostly uphill? Katja does everything for her guest

Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy,
today we had wonderful spring weather. Katja told me that we would take a walk with two friends and later will have lunch. Katja and her friend invited the third lady to a sushi lunch as a birthday present.

We went to Luettringhausen, one of several districts in Remscheid. It is an old district, so Katja showed me lovely old houses there. First we walked along one of two churches in the small city centre.







We found a replication of an historic mail box from the 1880's years. It is still in use nowadays.



From here we took a walk to a nearby valley. Look, spring is coming!!!





In the forest the soil is partly covered with anemones.



There are also a few houses in the valley. You can find a lot of those half-timbered houses here, they are typical for the "Bergisches Land", like this region is called.







We even saw deers - they were rushed by a tractor-



We went back through the city centre.





Than it was lunch time!



Katja told me that later we would visit an historic industrial site.

Bye
Fiona

Like I already told you we visited an historic industrial site in the afternoon, the Wülfing Museum. We visited an Easter market here.

This place once was a cloth mill, situated at the River Wupper in Radevormwald-Dahlerau. This company was founded in 1674 A.D. in Lennep, nowadays a district of Remscheid. Companies like this usually were established close to rivers because the machines were run by water wheels. Later the factory was one of the first one which was run by electricty which was gained from water turbines, steam engines and power transmission by line shaft.

Today the whole complex is under monument protection. Today still people are living in those old dwellings, the museum is situated here and other parts are still used by different companies.





Here you can see a model of the whole complex, embedded in the surrounding landscape.







We went back to Katja's friend than to spend the rest of this wonderful day relaxing in the garden.

Bye

Hi Mummy,
in the afternoon we took a walk along the "Route of Tools" (Trasse des Werkzeugs), which was built from a closed railway track to a lane for pedestrians and cyclists. It was built on a former track from the central station to the district Hasten, leading along many industrial sites. Because mostly tools are produced here and the lane was sponsored by local tool producing companies, it was called "Route of Tools".

The first photo was taken not far from my current home. You can see the local court in the middle of the background.



We entered the lane close to my home, here at those old factory buildings.



Looking to the left side there are those industrial sites, looking to the right side there are woodland areas.



There are distance data painted to the ground. From here you have to walk 2 km to the central station.



Oh dear, this old bridge does not inspire much confidence among!



We found large signs showing the company logos of some of the sponsoring companies as well as the coat of arms of Remscheid.



Due to back light we could not take a better photo, that's how the signs are looking.





We than reached a part of the lane without any industrial sites, only dwellings around.





We went back home than, again walking uphill.





Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy,
today we went out once more with Katja's friend and her dog to Scharpenacken, where we already were last week. Today we made a side trip to a nearby country park, Vorwerk-Park. This park was built in early 20th century by the founder of a business company as a private park on his own estate, as a garden for his villa. Even a stone pit was comprised into the park, planted with rhododendrons. You can find some natural pools here, fed by a creek which is flowing in the valley.

The villa itself and the oldest part of the park were already built in 1895. In 2001 the park was sanified and opened for the public.





Here we were on top of the stone pit with its pond.





Although it is only April, the azalea are already blooming.







Have a look at this beautiful red beech!





What a lovely park!

Bye
Fiona

Hi Mummy
today it was time to say good-bye to Germany and all my friends here!



I had a great time here and now I'm looking foreward to explore the Netherlands. Katja told me that it should be a fast trip, not even 300 km to travel.

Love
Fiona

(plotting the map for her brief layover with after4ever before visiting Leslie  )

Woohoo, I'm in Chile mom! the trip took so long, I was so happy to get out of the tight envelope!



As soon as I got my head out of the envelope I saw Timothy III.  who was waiting to greet me, he told me I was just on time because we are going on a trip to the north! I told him I didn't bring a backpack to carry my supplies, but he said Leslie had everything set for us  how exciting!

We were ready early, but we had to wait for Leslie, since she said she needed to get some stuff done before leaving. We were so anxious and she was taking so long! 



When Leslie was almost ready Thimothy suggested that we could go ahead, at least to the garden and wait for her there. But when we were opening the door we heard a voice saying "wait for me!"...



It was a pelican asking us not to leave him behind, he introduced himself as Wilson, a resident toy living here at Leslie's house. He said he's coming too  Great! more toys, more fun 



And then finally we left! You'll see more pictures later 

I found some lost pictures of the road from Santiago to La Serena 
The weather was lovely for 7 hours of drive. That night we had traveled from Temuco to Santiago which was 8 hours long, but traveling is never enough for me 





Windmills! 



This is the highest bridge in Chile! I saw it, but, can you see me?? I'm there mom! 



We had traveled so much that we were tired, it was nap time!



Look at Los Andes mountain range back there!



The Region of Coquimbo (where La Serena is), is also called region of transversal valleys, because there are many mountain cords orientated from the mountain range to the sea. Back there you can see one of the mountains! This means we are already near La Serena!

Hey mom! We are in La Serena city, in the north! Even closer to where my ancestors are from The weather is much nicer here than in Temuco, and we are next to the sea 
Today we visited a japanese garden called Kokoro No Niwa, Leslie told me it means Heart Garden. Look at the sign... It's in japanese and spanish! how was I supposed to know the meaning!





Have you seen Timothy!??





A lemon!  Leslie was talking about how nice it looks hanging on the tree but all I could think was how would it taste in one of my salads...





WOW look at that! They're huge! ...and orange! 



Ohh... black necked swans! how beautiful! 




I'm loving this city mom! I think you would like it too 

We went around exploring La Serena and not far from where we are staying there was the main and oldest square of the city.



Around the square there was this beautiful and very old church, Santo Domingo, I loved its dome! 



To the other side, there was this other cathedral called La Serena, it was beautiful too 



I found this tree with these weird fruits, are they custard apples? I'm not sure 



Later we headed to a traditional restaurant and I found this chili plant! How cute 



And there were also some other lovely flowers 




I tried a mini lemmon pie, it was yummy! 



And then Timothy and I tried papaya candies!  I liked it  There are so many papaya things here! 

Next to La Serena there is another city, Coquimbo. Yesterday we went to a fortress there. I heard it was built in 1865 to defend Coquimbo in the war with Spain back then but I also heard a leyend about a pirate and a buried treasure , so Timothy and I were more interested in walking around it, who knows if we find something! 





Ahh... what a nice view from here 



Can you see the pelicans!? They were not really social guys so they didn't want to come closer... 



See? We were serious about looking for the treasure, even though climbing those huge stairs was hell...





WOW! those thorns must really hurt! 





Look what a nice spot I found!! I recorded a little video for you to see the birds and their nice flight! 



I loved the shape of these rocks!!









Look! baby cactuses on the rock!



Then we enjoyed a saw a beautiful sunset. There was no clue of the treasure, but the landscapes we got to see were more than enough 
It was a wonderful day!