TravelStream™ news feed for member kathryn42 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/kathryn42 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:19:48 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1198292220/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1198292220/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1198292220/tpod.html Sun, 23 Dec 2007 13:19:48 -0500 Après Paris

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Los Angeles, California, United States

Hello All,

I have received several inquiries as to how the remainder of my trip went. So here it is.

I took the midnight train to Frankfurt which was a nice three and a half hour trip. I decided to opt for my ipod tunes instead of indulging in sleep with the intention to get on California time with ease and grace. The train stops at the airport and all I had to do was take an escalator to the departure level. It was so easy - even with the extra bag! :) The Frankfurt airport though was a little difficult to navigate for me. Lots of small signs and none that I could see with the American Airlines logo on it. Thankfully, Sunny had given me excellent instructions on where to go, so I did what she said and then ate my Emmenthaler cheese and mustard sandwich on pretzel roll while I waited for the airport to open. It was several hours of chatting it up with a few soldiers heading home from Iraq, one with a purple heart, an Air Force Air Traffic Controller and a contract worker making six figures fixing cars in Iraq. It was an interesting morning.

The flight was full and since I volunteered to stay behind for the next flight, I fully expected to be bumped. A part of me was hoping I would be. I think it has something to do with all those movies about plane crashes- you know, while they set up their story, everyone is nice, friendly and exchanging email addresses... I thought, Shit, this is feeling a bit too much like a Hollywood movie. Well, I made it on the flight. My seat mate was friendly and another interesting conversation ensued between naps. I had a cold so I took Allergy pills that make me sleepy. I took them when I got on the plane. We sat on the tarmac for a while though and I slept through part of take off.. If you know me, you know this is quite something.

We flew over England and then Scotland where we had the one bump of turbulence. Yep, one bump. So cool. So for the next 11 hours I was napping peacefully and drinking water when I came to. It was far more comfortable than United has ever been. More leg room and I didn't feel like the guy next to me was close enough for a date. So, got to Dallas then to Los Angeles safely and easily. I got picked up by both Janet and Lisa who then took me on a trip to Mexican food - a hole in the wall- the best kind!

I was back on LA time from the moment I landed in Dallas, so the only difficulty I had was my cold. Nancy gave me her great Chicken soup recipe over the phone so I went out and got the ingredients and ate soup for the next week and took it really easy. Shopping online easy.

Things are back to normal. My dog sniffed Tate Donovan's dog's butt, I shopped side by side with a Desperate Housewife and I got caught in traffic on the 101. So welcome home. I am feeling better now, have caught up on Heroes and Grey's Anatomy, have some cookies in the oven and a happy purring cat on my lap. As an early Christmas present to my dear kitten, I got a laser toy. This is lots of fun for him. When he thinks he has it, he looks in his paw and there is nothing. Sometimes I aim the red light in his paw for further annoyance. My dog Ally has a Tickle me Cookie Monster waiting under the tree. Many years of enjoyment came from the bouncing Tigger, so I am thinking a Cookie Monster who rolls around on the floor and giggles is really gonna be a treat, not to mention a good laugh for me.

It has rained a bit here so I had to re-don my gherkin green trench coat. In it I found some Euros and it pained me. Not that I hadn't spent them, but that it was raining and I wasn't there. I miss my friends in Germany, the best tasting apples in France, chocolate at breakfast, paninis at lunch, cherry beer.. wait, I bought some of that and have been enjoying it! I miss their way of life, the farmer's markets that take place daily, the Gluhwein, and the laughs.

I really appreciate you guys and all your sweet comments and emails. Thanks for going along with me. I hope you all have a lovely Holiday Season. Much love to you,
Kathryn
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Frankfurt, Germany

Going home today. I am looking forward to seeing my friends and family. Along with my souvenirs, I am taking a sore throat and cold.
:)
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Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Dear Friends and Family,

It is only a few hours before I get on the midnight train to Frankfurt and then onward to DFW and LAX in the morning. We will share a nice dinner of turkey and pasta, salad and alcohol free champagne and a few laughs no doubt before heading for the train station. There is rush hour traffic on the road below me but nothing like what I will face upon getting home to Los Angeles.. I have kind of grown used to relying on my arms instead of the back of my Honda to carry groceries. It is a completely different lifestyle here that I have a strange love for and will miss. I like the idea of going to the pharmacy to get my skin care and throat lozenges, the bakery for bread, the drug store for everything but drugs. I like the idea of going downtown and that everything you need is within a short walk from the strassbahn stop. Well, like it or not I will sadly leave it in just a few short hours.

Today was filled with packing, catching up on Dagmar's favorite tv show Supernatural (and it's growing on me too darn it!), and ahem, buying another small suitcase. I will blame the chocolate in my bag- very heavy stuff you know! ö But I really must fill you in on a very special evening we enjoyed last night.

A dear friend of Sunny and Schnippi's took us on a historical walking tour of this very old city. Hartmut owns Historix-Tours based here in Freiburg. They offer many different tours and I think we got a deluxe taste of everything. Since Freiburg was founded in the 12th Century, there was much to see and hear about. Hartmut speaks good English but the stories he tells are very detailed and dramatic so Sunny and Schnippi took turns translating for me which was an adventure in itself. Especially when Hartmut spoke in english and Schnippi translated into German accidentally! It was a great night- very cold and dark and thus perfect for our first stop- the Old Cemetery!

A cemetery in the dark cold rainy night is something to be experienced- if you can handle it! But this cemetery gives the term 'old' a whole new meaning. Nothing in this place is newer than 1860... so just before our Civil War began, the last person to be buried in this cemetery died. The gravestones are elaborate and beautifully carved with relief sculptures of Angels, sculls, and urns. There are beautiful crosses in lovely metalwork that have lasted hundres of years. Hartmut took us to several of the gravestones and theatrially filled us in on the local ledgends and spooky stories behind the dead. The hundreds of years yielded some very interesting and amusing tidbits.

As our tour took us closer into town, their friend Chico joined us. We made our way by the original city wall and into the Münster Platz- the Cathedral. The cobblestones glistened with rain and light. The Gargoyle waterspouts gave the place a spookier feeling. I listened to the stories of this place with such interest since this is a rich history that I am unaccostomed to. The work began on the Munster in 1120 and the people, not wanting to be far from their dear ones, buried the dead in the area around the church, poor people at the edge of the church yard, the very rich inside the church and the middle class in the ground where we were standing. In that time it was a sin to die during childbirth so they buried those victims under the waterspouts to wash away their sins. An archeaological dig at the church yard showed a skeleton of a woman with the child only partially born which led to this discovery. There are 91 of these and they believe that all of them mark burials of these women and their children.

When it rained here, some of the remains would float to the top. Strangely to us, children and dogs would play with the bones. Eeeewwww. We continued onward to see the house of the Executioner and seeing as witch hunts were common in the 1500's, he must have been a busy guy. They know of 42 witches who were decapitated and then burned here. No doubt there were more than that. yuck...

Well, I smell some yummy delicious dinner from teh other room. I will get going now. I send you all lots of love! Thanks so much for all of your sweet comments and emails of support. It really means a lot to me. I look forward to seeing all of you that I can around the holiday! Until then, Chus!
Love,
Kathryn


A link to Hartmut's tours! Highly Recommended!!
http://www.historix-tours.de/

Here is a link to the live web cam of the Main Train Station in Freiburg that I will be leaving from. :)
http://www.regiowebcam.de/fileadmin/template/main/img/webcam s/bahnhof2/640.php?img=f_20071212165101.jpg
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Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

I can see the cold rain falling outside the window. It has snowed in the mountains around us and everything here is drearily soaked in cold foggy rain. Every onc ein a while it breaks for a showing of the sun and that makes teh day seems so tempting to step out into. It's a good fireplace day. I keep thinking it will snow while I am here- feels cold enough to me of course! On the other hand, it would be nice to travel home safely and snowfree.

Things are winding down. Today I will practice pack to see if I can get all of my stuff (and all that chocolate) in my bag. If I need a separate bag for chocolate I will be quite embarassed! That would be after my breakfast of yogurt and chocolate museili, some German brown bread with Nutella spread on it and some apple juice mixed with mineral water and hot tea. Where was all this stuff when I was a kid? Had I known I could have opted out of the oatmeal and had chocolate spread on my toast instead, I would have been far happier growing up.

Actually, when I think about it, there are some things that Germans take for granted that I would love to enjoy as my daily experience.

First, (and it isn't chocolate) ...my dog Ally would love to live here. In Germany as in most other places I have been on this trip, dogs are allowed in the shops, in the restaurants, and on the trains. This is a practical matter for sure, but it has brought me much enjoyment, seeing these cute pups on the straßbahn, in the book store, the drug store, at the potato restaurant! I can only imagine Ally's little face lighting up to find out she could sit under my table inside one of my favorite places... oh the joy! I wonder if she would finally cure her insatiable need to smell every darn thing..

Well, second is the chocolate! Yes, I have spoken of this lovely brown substance and I know it so well now that I enjoy it for more than just a dessert- it has become part of mealtime and that serously must stop when I get home! It is everywhere and of course some of the yummiest chocolates come from this and surrounding regions. How could one not investigate one's regional sweets?

The third is the train- every train. It seems anyplace you want to go worth going is accesible via the train system here. I have become spoiled and even used to the idea of not having my big car
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197239100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197239100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197239100/tpod.html Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:59:35 -0500 Après Paris

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Rust, Germany

Europa Park was the destination of today. We went to Germany's happiest place and found loads of smiles on everyone. Many reasons why too! What a fantastic sight.

Europa Park is a giant amusment park here in Germany. Apparently- or rather obviously to a trained Disneyphile, several of their consultants are from our buddies over there in Burbank. It is split into different coutries - some represented- the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy, Greece and a few others I canät recall. We entered first into Germany where there was a Christmas market going on complete with Glühwein- certainly not what you might find at Disneyland. We go on a train and went further into the park to get an overview of the whole place. I was not to be disappointed. There was so much to see- little lakes with mini boats that tour you through Africa, a Pirates of Batavia Ride that is reminiscent of our own Pirates of the Carribean ride, except that a monkey holds the key to the jail instead of a dog... We saw Shakespear's Globe Theatre, the Colliseum, rode on a Greek ship through a mythological story, shot our way through Atlantis... it was so much fun.

Well, the weather has gotten a bit colder. The gloves and long underwear are out. After my day of many smiles, I find myself quite tired, so I am going to get to bed. I am thinking of all of you. Sending lots of love,
Kathryn
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Basel, Switzerland

Hello!

A lovely day spent in another region famous for chocolate! What can I say? We hopped the morning train into Basel and walked to their Christmas Market- which was very large and spread out around the Church. Of course there were many offerings of good things to eat and plenty of Glühwein. We had a special kind called Feuerzangenbowle which is regular gluhwein but they soak some sugar cones in rum and then burn them so they get added into the mix- with teh rum flovor but not teh alocohoic content.. It was interestingly good. We had a cheese dish with potatoes that is a specialty in the region. It is called Raclette and I was an instant fan. It was so good we bought some of the cheese and had it later for dinner with our chicken.

The market there even had a Käthe Wolfhart shoppe where the handcarved wooden ornaments were $25 dollars each- yikes! There were many more pottery collections, candle makers, glass blown ornaments and even miniatures for dollhouse enthusiasts. It was a neat experience. On the way back to the train home, there were a group of Santas on Harley Davidsons that were decorated for Christmas. Apparently there was to be a procession later. A brass band played carols for the onlookers and glassblowers had a stand demonstrating for children how to blow ornaments. It was a very cool atmosphere.

ok, that is all I ahve to report right now. I sure hope you all are doing well. Lots of love your way,
Best,
Kathryn
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197087900/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197087900/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/kathryn42/europe_2007/1197087900/tpod.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 18:34:53 -0500 Après Paris

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Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Yep, I said 'Nun's Farts'... and you are probably thinking what I was when Stephan said let's have one... EEEeeeewwww... Right? Wrong. Gorgeous warm sugared doughnut filled with hot fruit sauce... Holy Cow it was good!!!Thank God for all the walking I have been doing- not to mention the 82 stairs up to the apartment! Wheeee!

The farts were found at the Weihnachtsmarkt- My first actual Christmas Market, here in Freiburg. I am not counting the one in Bruges- it can't compare now that I know what a Christmas Market actually looks like. It was awesome- especially for me being a such the Christmas softie. Lights dazling above in the cold breeze, the smell of Fir trees everywhere since there are sprigs of this freshly cut and attached to all the market stalls. Shiny ornaments with little German scenes, hand knit scarves and sweaters, Glühwein, Striebele- another yummy sweet thing worth waiting in line for, some really neat pottery pieces and countles other crafts and goodies. It really is a treat for me. I had some of the hot mulled wine- aka Glühwein. yummy stuff.

Well, what can I tell you? After all that Glühwein?
:)
Oh, I know. I got a question about the CHocolate Beer! And I must be honest with you. On my last night in Bruges, I went out for another beautiful dinner- ran into some of my British friends Colin and Francis- this time trying the chicken with Bearnaise sauce. Of course I had to enjoy my food with some beer- cherry beer... and another..and maybe one more, can't recall.... and when it came time to walk down to the bar that has the chocolate beer... well uh... I was afraid another beer would put me flat on my face so I opted out of that scenario... I am so sorry. I wasnät up to drinking at 10 am before I got on the train out of Bruges either... I know. I feel bad- especially since my friend Logan said it was so good... I guess I will have to go back now, huh? In springtime maybe.

When I got here and asked Sunny and Schnippi if they had choclate beer they informed me of a Germann law from the 1500s that said what beer is allowed to consist of.. so, no flavored beer here unless I like lemon beer.. which I tried of course and it is alright. Geeze, I sound like a right lush, eh? I'm not, as you know. But certainly my normal yearly alcohol budget was spent in the last 2 weeks...

Tomorrow morning we head to Switzerland. Lots of good chocolate there too...Will fill you all in when we get back. Take care of yourselves! Lots of love and Christmas Cheer- or winter cheer or whatever cheers you!
Kath




I have added photos to the last Bruges entry fyi.
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Bruges, Belgium

Sadly I leave this place tomorrow. It is a good thing though. My cravings for chocolate, cherry beer and potato and cheese croquettes would get me into WAY too much trouble eventually. I still have one more meal that I will go enjoy after this entry. My lunch was- dont' laugh- cherry beer, salad and croquettes... and my dinner might have to be something different... oh we'll see.

Today I sent a package of dirty clothes and other stuff back home. It was nice to lighten the load. I hope I won't be needing any of that stuff! ;) I decided to do some toursity stuff- which I haven't done here before- besides climbing the Belfry of course.... I should have gone into the museums but quite frankly, even though it is gloomy- it was nice to photograph the canals and bridges today. I did actually go into the State house which was a bore. I think Paris did me in- I O.D.ed on art there and now I can't be bothered... So, my attention turned to Saint John's Hospital which is the Memling Museum now I think. I followed my tourist map for a while, but from there walked deeper into less travelled territory where I found some really cool architechtural details that made me laugh. Little faces looking from above windows and doorways, carvings of Saints on corners of buildings. It was kind of wild. If you don't look up you miss half the show.

The weather here is clearly winter and I am in heaven- but darn it- where is the snow!? I don't mean to nag, but I really really want some snow. Snow with sunshine that doesn't affect travelling- better be specific if I am going to ask, right? :) Something has happened- maybe it's all the beer- but I have been wearing a short sleeve t-shirt under my coat and scarf and that is it...?? I thought I would be colder in 40 degree weather. Oh well, there is still the Black Forest where I head to tomorrow. Maybe I will get to finaly wear the long underwear and gloves. It's the little things in life, isnt' it?

Tonight Sinta Klaus comes and brings the kids a little something for Christmas? I watched something on it in maybe Flemish and I was completely lost.. First of all, Sinta has no elves, but he does have some very tall dark and goofy helpers in funny outfits who are definitely not what we Americans would consider very PC... look up Sinta Klaus and if you have any ideas on what the deal is, let me in on it. I don't think anyone will be leaving me any gifts tonight... but someone was in my room earlier - to switch off my light. Silly Belgians want to conserve energy.. What they didn't know was that I was charging my camera battery and their design prevents me using the outlet unless the light is switched on!!

Well, what gastronomical delights shall I indulge in tonight? More croquettes?? Anyone get a recipe on this please share- they are really dreamy. I am going to brave the chocolate beer too, I promise. I need more chocolate like I need another hole in my head! But for you, dear reader, I will sacrifice.

Tomorrow I will be in beautiful Freiburg Germany with Dagmar and Stephan. I am looking forward to dining with friends and having some good German fun. Oh yes, and seeing the Christmas Market! Hey wait, do you guys have Cherry Beer there? Cant' wait! Hope all of you are doing well. I will give you guys an update tomorrow. Lots of love to you!
Kathryn
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Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany

Hello Everyone!

I left Bruges yesterday for an all day train excursion to Southern Germany. I am at Dagmar adn Stephan's apartment now and have taken teh most lovely shower I have had since I left home--- wonderful- no shower curtain trying to touch me, nice hot water... again, small pleasures.

We had a lovely dinner of tapas last night at the cutest place. It was so deliciious- olives, cheese, fresh baked bread, salad with turkey, potatoes with a garlic sauce, mushrooms with a lemony flavor- was wonderful.

This is a German keyboard, so things are a little different. Like Ö äü and of course there are red lines under all of my words indicating that I am spelling things incorrectly. That means it is difficult for me to see my real spelling mistakes. I hope you can read this alright. Sorry.

It is really nice out- well, the locals dontä like it but I think it is beautiful. Fog and light for shooting. I am going to head out in it now if you all donät mind and make an entry when it decides to pour. And, fyi- snow is predicted for Tuesday.... Ö
:)
I will write again in a little while. Much love tö you all!!!!
Happy Holidays!
Kath
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London, United Kingdom

Hello!!!

I travelled the chunnel from Paris to London yesterday. It took no time and was a pleasant journey- riding backwards at lightning speeds. After checking into my cute little hotel on Gower Street, I took myself on a walk through SoHo, ducking in for a nice Indian meal to get out of the heavy sprinkling. While walking, I realized this was the home to some of my favorite actors and movies- Hugh Grant, Toby Stephens, Ralph and Joe Fiennes, Bridget Jones, Notting Hill... there are more that I can't think of this early dark morning.... I did see a play with Toby Stephens in it last night- it was a great show- partly because he opened the show in the buff- what can a girl say to that?? It was called The Country Wife and was a hoot.

Afterwards, I strolled through Traffalgar Square and looked at Big Ben and the London Eye glowing on the other side of the river. IT was late so I walked home but am back here this morning. I will away to that as \I leave tomorrow. I will write again if I need to get in from the expected showers.

I want to give a HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO
LISA- DEC 2
KEVIN DEC3
NANCY DEC 4
i HOPE YOU GUYS HAVE A FABULOUS BIRTHDAY!!!!!
Love,
Kathryn
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