Porvoo, Finland - 8th July 2008
By: Delenna
Hello friends! Today my mom organized the teddies she will send to South Africa, to the Teddy Bear Clinic (see Threadbear)! Mom has 7 teddies to send. We hope they all fit to the Moomin-box that you see behind them...
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Posted Jul 8, 2008, 8:27 pm Last edited Jul 8, 2008, 8:32 pm by Delenna
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Porvoo, Finland - 20th July 2008
By: Delenna
We played Moomin Memory/Pairs Mom said I needed to get to know Moomin as it's something very famous and Finnish. The kids in the house taught me the names of the characters. I didn't mind not winning as I learnd the characters... Muumipeikko (Moomin), Pikku Myy (Little My), Vilijonkka (that red dressed, tall female with 3 red dressed kids - ooh! that sounds like my family! Mom is not as strickt though), Muumipappa (Moominpappa)...
PS: I didn't lose either
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Posted Jul 20, 2008, 8:46 pm
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Porvoo, Finland - 9th August 2008
By: Delenna
As I've experienced the new trains it was only fair that I took a look on the old ones too. Here's a \"Lättähattu\" that operated in the 50's/60's. And the big black one is the steamtrain. Both operate on a few days during the summer, as a tourist attraction - or a "walk on the memory lane"
The steamtrain type of locomotives were built during years 1928-1953. The Porvoo railway is an original part of what used to be the next oldest private wide gauge railway, completed in 1874, linking Porvoo town with the first railway of Finland, the Helsinki-Hämeenlinna line build in 1862. But as said there hasn't been any "real" trains in years.
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Posted Aug 9, 2008, 6:11 pm
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Helsinki, Finland - 12th August 2008
By: Delenna
I took a history lesson and visited a cafe that had old travel posters on display. They look pretty funny now... But this way history is interesting! There's a book full of them. We bought just a few postcards instead.
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Posted Aug 13, 2008, 8:21 pm
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Porvoo, Finland - 26th August 2008
By: Delenna
A little for called Lemmy came to visit us. I showed him around the house in my backbag! I didn't get to know him that well as I had to pack for my own voyage - I'm leaving to Germany tommorow! I'm a bit nervous, and sad to say goodbye... but I'm also excited to see the world! I've now learnt a lot of Finland so that I can answer all questions my future hosts might have.
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Posted Aug 27, 2008, 6:57 pm
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Bruchsal, Germany - 30th August 2008
By: fam-united
Hi Mum,
I just arrived at Petra's home. It is a sunny day and I'm curious to see more of Bruchsal. I already know, that we will go to Cologne tomorrow. Let's travel the German Trail now.
Hugs, Ninni
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Posted Aug 30, 2008, 8:16 am
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Cologne, Germany - 31st August 2008
By: fam-united
Petra, her family and we drove to Cologne today. We met olgamaus and several other toyvoyagers there and had a great day together.
First I want to tell you a bit about Cologne:
Cologne is the fourth-largest city of Germany with about 1 Million inhabitants. It had been founded by Romans in the year 38BC and became the status of a Roman city in 50AD.
Cologne lies on the Rhine River. It is famous for the Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), which is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. The University of Cologne is one of Europe’s oldest universities. Cologne is also famous for the Cologne Carnival. Within Germany it is important as a media center, because many radio and television stations are based here.
I'm in front of the cathedral. Do you see the nice ornaments?
It isn't easy to take a photo of the whole cathedral, because everywhere you go, you run against walls.
Here you see a side of the Cologne Cathedral. We were surprised, that there was only a small scaffold, because they always have to repair parts of the Cathedral.
We still had some time left, before we met Ralf, Petra's husband again, who had to go to the garden exhibition, so we decided to walk down to the River Rhine and take some photos there. Here you see the railway bridge and a cruise vessel.
Just turning around on our heels we saw a part of Cologne's historic city.
We tried to find a place for a group photo and found this dry fountain, which just seemed to be the right place. Katja, Petra and Sabrina helped us to sit at the right place.
Then we walked back to the Cologne Cathedral to meet Ralf and go to have lunch together.
We walked to a typical Cologne restaurant, which also has a small brewery (Brauerei).
Of course it was a must to order "Köllsch" and a Malzbier, both typical beers of Cologne.
After lunch we walked back to the cathedral, because we had no chance to go inside in the morning. There still had been church service in it. Now it was open and we went into this big church with its beautiful windows. I'm sorry, but the photos aren't that great.
The cathedral is a World Heritage Site. It is one of the world's largest churches, the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. It has the scecond-tallest church spires and presents the largest facade of any church in the world. The construction began in 1248 and took until 1880 to complete. It is 144,5 metres long, 86,5 metres wide and its two towers are 157 metres tall.
Finally Katja and Petra were in need of a cup of coffee and the kids needed something to drink too. So we decided to walk to one of the nice cafes in Cologne and sit down there. We asked Katja and Petra for another group photos- - this time they should be on the photo too. After a short discussion they said "Yes".
On our way back to the cathedral we took another photo, this time with both towers.
The Cologne railway station is next to the cathedral. We went there to say "goodbye" to Katja, who got home by trail.
Then we walked back to the car and drove home too. We needed about 3 hours to arrive at Bruchsal again.
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Posted Sep 1, 2008, 4:06 pm
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Bruchsal, Germany - 18th September 2008
By: fam-united
This morning Petra asked us, whether we would like to go to school with her and of course we said yes.
She showed us the classroom, where she teaches maths for the first graders. The pupils learnt to write an I and i with their classteacher (hedgehog is IGEL in German) and with Petra they learned to count the girls and boys in the class. Maybe you see the small paintings on the board?
Here you see a board, which they need for German lessons.
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Posted Oct 4, 2008, 5:39 pm
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Bruchsal, Germany - 21st September 2008
By: fam-united
It's a busy Sunday morning, because Petra has to prepare the batter for many many buttermilk waffles.
Each year they celebrate a feast at their church. It is the feast of the patrons St.Damian and Hugo. Since many years it is tradition for the family club, in which Petra and her family are members, to bake and sell waffles. Each family brings batter for about 70 waffles.
This morning we helped her to get ready with everything, before she had to run to the parish hall, where they always sell the waffles in a tent. We asked, whether we could join her, but this time she had to say no
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Posted Sep 27, 2008, 11:27 pm
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Münzesheim, Germany - 27th September 2008
By: fam-united
We wanted to visit the Japanese Garden in Münzesheim and I hope, that we will go there someday again, because it really is nice.
This photo was made at the place, where Petra's camera dropped down. Sorry for the blurry photo, but it is a photo with history, you know - it was the very last with my old camera.
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Posted Oct 4, 2008, 6:46 pm
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Helmsheim, Germany - 4th October 2008
By: fam-united
Petra's husband bought something for dinner at Aldi, while we sat in the car waiting for him.
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Posted Oct 12, 2008, 9:57 am
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