Travelog for: Sean

Hi Mummy,

in the afternoon we took a walk to the nearby municipal park. We walked through a quater with lovely old houses.



There is a large playground under these large trees, I'm not sure if you can see it.



Before we reached the municipal park once more we came along a small park, just opposite of the police headquarter.



In the municipal park we visited a pond first. Ducks and turtles are living here. The ducks are having babies - look at these cute ducklings!



Here is a zoomed photo.





These ducks were taking a walk outside the pond area



The municipal park is mostly a landscape park with a large tree population.





The rhododendron is blooming!



Katja took a group photo.



This is the observatory, you can find it in the entrance area of the municipal park.





On our way home we walked through the small park I've shown you before.



Bye for now
Sean

Hi Mummy,
Katja's colleague is celebrating her birthday today. Look what she brought with her to treat the colleagues!



Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,
today we took a short walk in the city centre when we finished work.

First I will show you these large forceps. This sculpture is a symbol for the tool producing industry for which Remscheid is well known in the world.



This sculpture is showing the figurehead of the local newspaper, Remscheider Generalanzeiger.



Here you can see the entrance area of the shopping mall with a large fountain in front of it and the tower of the city hall in the background.



The next photo was taken in the middle of the city centre, it's showing a lot of trees!



This is the public library ...



... and here you can see the rear side of the shopping mall with a tunnel for busses under it.



From here we hurried home because we were almost starving!

Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,
we took a walk in the rural surroundings of the district Luettringhausen today. The weather was not great, but at least it was not raining.



We had to cross the motorway A1, it was terribly loud here.



What a lovely landscape with the yellow rape field.





There are some small hamlets, with both dwellings and farms.





This water tower is even visible from the city centre of Remscheid, where I am living at the moment.



Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,
it is nice warm summer day and we met friends in the evening. We enjoyed the evening sitting in the garden and tasting mojitos.



When I saw all that crushed ice in the kitchen I had a great idea. I took a bath in a bowl filled with crushed ice



Then I was ready to enjoy the warm evening.

Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,
Katja took me us on a walk along river Wupper today. River Wupper is rising in the Oberbergisches Land and later mouthing into river Rhine. It is marking the border beween Remscheid and the neighbour city Solingen, crossed by Germany's highest railway bridge. Katja promised that we would visit this bridge too.

River Wupper is also dammed to more than 15 dams.

We started our trip in Solingen-Unterburg close to this weir.



We followed the river for some time, always walking in a pitoresque forest.



This ear trumpet is intensifying the sound of the water which is pouring down the rocks.



We reached a bridge and crossed the river.



On the opposite river bank we had to walk uphill. Katja showed us a famous medieval castle in the background, Schloss Burg. And yes, she promised that we would visit this castle too this summer.



Finally we walked through the inner city of Unterburg (hahaha - only a few shops, restaurants and cafès ).



This is "Kiepenkerl", a statue showing a worker carrying a pannier on his back, filled with pretzels. Katja explained that in ancient times due to the topographical situation it was only possible to carry goods from one place to another with such panniers.



This is a creek, Eschbach, mouthing into river Wupper here in Unterburg.



This was an interesting trip.

Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,
we went to the outskirts of Lennep, another district of Remscheid, also with woodland and rural areas around. Katja told us that we would walk along one of those many dams of river Wupper.

We left the housing area and walked along some meadows.





Can yo see those funny place names?



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









I was brave enough to sit on this grate with a vast overfall underneath.



Broom was blooming all along the path.



Welcome to Germany - nothing is allowed! Neither ice-skating, camping nor lighting a fire.



We left the dam territory and walked through a rural area once more.







We rested here for a while.





To get back we walked through a parkway along a housing area.



Love
Sean

Hi Mummy,
today we met Katja's friend Kerstin and took a walk with her and her dog.

We went to Wuppertal, to Scharpenacken, a former army training area. This area was used for military purposes until 2004 A.D as a shooting range. Today there is a local recreation area with vast open areas, but also woodland.



On these signs you can find information about this interesting area. It will be renatured in the coming years.





I found the perfect place to rest for a while



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.











Steep stairs were leading to the upper parts of the park.



Isn't this a lovely place?



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Rhododendron is blooming everywhere.





All these pink bushes are rhododendron.



Here you can see the pond I showed you before.





Back in the former army area ...



A lot of people come here with their dogs to let them run and play.





It seemed that all the dogs were playing somewhere else today

Bye
Sean

Hi Mummy,

today we visited Germany's highest railway bridge, Muengsten Bridge.

Katja told me that Germany's highes railway bridge is connecting Remscheid with the neighbour city Solingen. We went to the valley of the river Wupper to take a walk here. First we went into the forest.



We found a lookout point with a fantastic view to the bridge.





Katja told us there would be artwork along the path, mostly engraved rocks like this.



In the meantime we went downhill and followed the river.







We went down to the river bank and enjoyed the sun.







What a lovely shady place under the trees!



Later we crossed the river here.



You can find maps and information boards along the path, telling you interesting facts about history and geography of this region.





It was time for another rest



We had to walk uphill than, can you see the river deep down in the valley?



Finally we reached the leisure park underneath the bridge. Muengsten Bridge was built of steel, completed in 1907. It is about 480 m long and 107 m tall. There are extensive repair works going on in the last few years and they are taking place at the moment. The bridge will be closed until November.

Some years ago a leisure park was built under the bridge. You can find lawns for relaxing here, a crazy golf course, playgrounds for the kids and restaurants.







Can you see the outlook pavillion in the background? From here we had a first look at the bridge.



Bye for now
Sean

Hi Mummy,
we took a walk today in the outskirts of Remscheid, in the district Lennep. When we parked the car I had a look at those skyscrapers, Katja told me that there were not many of them.



From here we went through a rural area with different fields. Here is growing  barley. It is used for brewing beer, Katja told me.



We went into a forest than. The ground was very wet and muddy, soon our feet and shoes became really dirty.



The branches of those larches were soft like fur.



All along the path foxglove is growing. Do we know foxglove in Hong Kong? Foxglove are looking beautiful, but they are poisonous.



In a secluded hamlet we found this little church, it is called "Forest Church" (Waldkirche).



Out path led us along Wupper dam, a large barrier lake. River Wupper is dammed to a large lake.



In another barley field red poppies were growing.



Soon we reached the car and went back home.

Bye for today
Sean

Hi Mummy,

We visited friends today. They are living in the neighbour city Wuppertal.

We went to Wuppertal by bus. Before we went to their house we took a walk in the city centre. Here you can see the historic concert hall.



Wuppertal is situated in the valley of river Wupper. From this place close to the concert hall we had a first overview.



Here you can see the concert hall once more. Sort of dancing contest was  taking place here today, everywhere you could see people dressed in fantastic dancing costumes.



You won't believe what I met here - a penguin!



Katja told me about the Pinguinale 2006. There were 200 large penguins painted by 175 different artists. They were exposed all over the city area from April until August 2006, than they moved to the zoo to celebrate its 125th birthday. Nowadays lots of those penguins still can be found in the city. I was curious if I would meet more of them.



This is a swimming bath, it is called "Schwimmoper". It  has room for 1.600 spectators.



We went down to the city centre than. The first thing you see is the Schwebebahn (Suspension Railway).



It was built in late 19th century and was established in 1901. The tracks are 8 m above the streets and 12 m above the Wupper River. Most of the track is built over river Wupper.  The whole route is about 13,3 km long. Taking a trip from one end the other takes about 30 minutes.

Katja promised that we would take a short trip with the railway, so we went to the next station.



In Wuppertal you can find modern buildings and historic things close together, like this old bridge in front of recently built houses.



This is one of 20 stations along the track. The stations are built in different styles, this one is a really modern one, while you can also find stations in their original historic style.



Inside the station ...



A train came in.





We took a short trip than, only three stations.





We got out of the train in a more industrial area, there were factory buildings built at the river bank.



This station was refurbished in its original style.



We walked back to the city centre.



I met another penguin







We even saw the "Kaiserwagen", an historic train which you can hire for special events.



This is the court building, also situated close to the river.



Here you can see another of the more modern stations, built with a lot of glass.



In those buildings you can mostly find offices, but also bars, surgeries and smaller factories.





Our trip ended here and we went visiting our friends.



Bye
Sean.

Hi Mummy,
today it was time to pack my things and travel to my next destination.



At home I already said good-bye to all my friends here. Next stop will be in the North of Germany. Maybe I will have some fish there.

Bye
Sean

Hello Mum,

Today I arrived in Sülfeld. Dicker Kumpel gave me a warm welcome.



Then he introduced me to the other TVs here.



I showed my beautiful postcard with photos of me and some TV-friends.



Then we all sat together and talked.



Yours
Sean

Hello Mum,

I just arrived in the right time, because we took a trip by bike to this nice place today. It was a group of big boulders.



This was a very big granite.



We all relaxed on one of the boulders in the sunshine.



Many years ago trains used this way – I saw photos from the Past.



On our way back home we stopped at the church of Sülfeld – a nice building.



Love
Sean

Hello Mum,

Today I  played in the garden. There were many beautiful flowers.





And I love Nessie, the funny monster with her fountain.



Then I talked to this funny guy.



Look – a beautiful red dahlia.



More nice flowers.



And these yellow flowers were so beautiful, too.



It is such a beautiful place!



Yours
Sean