tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57213816192633626642024-03-05T05:36:29.502-08:00MLT NotesThe Music, Life, and Travel of ReneeReneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-76614838576962087932013-04-27T08:01:00.000-07:002013-04-27T08:01:33.606-07:00Humboldt Study Tour, with a twist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, time for the post that was supposed to be awesome! A
post that would rival the awesome randomness of my posts on September, during
the introductory seminar of the Humboldt Foundation. But no, this post has a
dark beginning and continues in a drugged haze of forced smiles and
disappointment.</div>
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Our German Chancellor Fellow Study Tour began on March 3<sup>rd</sup>
in Bremerhaven, on the North Sea coast. My fellow fellows and I were all
looking forward to a busy two weeks filled with visits to Leipzig, Munich and
Regensburg, among others, and spending time in museums, at farms, on brewery tours,
etc. Instead, my tour was cut short, thanks to appendicitis. On the first day,
I had an unfamiliar pain on my right side, and after trying to sleep it off, it
was not going away. So, I checked myself into a hospital, settled in for a
sleepless night, and waiting for a diagnosis, which resulted in surgery first
thing on Monday morning.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I would not recommend having major surgery in a foreign land
far away from family, but at least my appendix went bad in a country with good
(and significantly cheaper than in America) medical care, where I also speak
the language (although not much medical German), and that I was generally a
good sport considering the annoyance and pain of surgery. So, after getting a
quick visit by two of my Buka friends, my group left for their next city, and I
spent three more days recovering in the hospital. Thanks to a willing friend of
E’s, I made it back to Bonn by train, and spent a couple of days back in my
apartment, doing nothing and thinking that I’d be well enough to meet up with
the rest of my group just one week after surgery.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho55U4fGCzNr1GnicurBLxEjpPmQX0iHlhVmdlr2HJVjU8f9Qd1DHSddndUAyxeMH8p9h9S8kcKFlSwV3SDM25tcbq04j5Zvx16XAfH0BBVO4Htw63Je8qz8TeyyXTYr4fWOqmNRNNsaA/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho55U4fGCzNr1GnicurBLxEjpPmQX0iHlhVmdlr2HJVjU8f9Qd1DHSddndUAyxeMH8p9h9S8kcKFlSwV3SDM25tcbq04j5Zvx16XAfH0BBVO4Htw63Je8qz8TeyyXTYr4fWOqmNRNNsaA/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E visiting me in the hospital. I was sooooo glad to see her and S after my surgery - I could have cried, if I would had my wits about me!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfYSegW-9BuKCYFihqSO3xLRONat1uBp7zPJJPQ6Kr7ju_5AYVuBJseLMreK8zpoUTqwbt1nz_qm4oz7vehYWLh_Um3bWszgkTis4eWeToMYbV8f4s4TOYyAEkNIUWKBU_LtRA3JkOS0/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfYSegW-9BuKCYFihqSO3xLRONat1uBp7zPJJPQ6Kr7ju_5AYVuBJseLMreK8zpoUTqwbt1nz_qm4oz7vehYWLh_Um3bWszgkTis4eWeToMYbV8f4s4TOYyAEkNIUWKBU_LtRA3JkOS0/s1600/IMG_3296.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German hospital dinner. Hospital food is the absolute worst. My first day I couldn't eat anything, then they gave me the most disgusting soups EVER. One I think was a milk soup (WHAT IS THAT EVEN??), another was a thick beef broth soup (only broth), another creme of something soup that I couldn't eat because it tasted too much like leeks, and finally a light vegetable soup - the only one I could swallow. Breakfast was the best -- good German bread with butter and honey. It's hard to mess up something like that.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEdGzJYwSjTihowkSMLbI3aPh0beWAhQd_LsGfEjAWQXvlxgNRlfSFArIz6yYJ8apSO8lhB0dUxHk9eMHTKQqt9dv-ETSHjhEDDjgNuPR0vXzgAcjxMmYqgdrloUOHze4R74zgl_zKkA/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEdGzJYwSjTihowkSMLbI3aPh0beWAhQd_LsGfEjAWQXvlxgNRlfSFArIz6yYJ8apSO8lhB0dUxHk9eMHTKQqt9dv-ETSHjhEDDjgNuPR0vXzgAcjxMmYqgdrloUOHze4R74zgl_zKkA/s1600/IMG_3297.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My single room at the hospital. Not as nice as the hotels my friends were staying at.</td></tr>
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I did indeed meet up with my group again, but thanks to a
long bus ride, which lasted much longer than it should have due to a
significant snow fall, and more walking and standing that I was expecting, I
decided to leave the group one day early. I was mostly afraid that if something
was going wrong with my recovery, I might get stuck in Brussels, where we spent
our last days. I missed out on the best part of the tour, which included most
of the places I’d never been before. I did, however, get to see some dear
friends from my college days TWICE as they spent a week in Europe! I wish I
could have spent much more time with them, though!</div>
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Here (and above) are some of the
photos from the whole ordeal, from hospital to German Supreme Court. When I
leave Germany after my fellowship is over, I can say that I have once again
left a piece of my heart here, and a literal piece of my digestive system. I
hope Germany enjoys my appendix. I will never forget what appendix is in German
– “Blinddarm.” Oh the stories I have now!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7bg8q9utHpA4YH-IAAP93sEXqAqL0RYjaYHd_SGQfIVHHEonsvSVHQ0k853vwv-s3g05P4yp6MEYbALAeEMozOahDEfdQmyX7l8mT2up3vnxfY-ZBTLxa4wfUzbgVOf1kYwAhwYPF6U/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7bg8q9utHpA4YH-IAAP93sEXqAqL0RYjaYHd_SGQfIVHHEonsvSVHQ0k853vwv-s3g05P4yp6MEYbALAeEMozOahDEfdQmyX7l8mT2up3vnxfY-ZBTLxa4wfUzbgVOf1kYwAhwYPF6U/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at the German Supreme Court.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL3tQz1nts0rutLEeJYaraZgtH6qFHsV_hvsTJBY1jEmvEEmfwUhr_xIBMpXdkQEnQBEqvksUg-v-Y8a9OBMZwwwNye0Izp825HT-aKw8Plf4Ba-AZcDo4gMTPSdf-6807zVGCAfMse0/s1600/IMG_3301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieL3tQz1nts0rutLEeJYaraZgtH6qFHsV_hvsTJBY1jEmvEEmfwUhr_xIBMpXdkQEnQBEqvksUg-v-Y8a9OBMZwwwNye0Izp825HT-aKw8Plf4Ba-AZcDo4gMTPSdf-6807zVGCAfMse0/s1600/IMG_3301.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R and E, rocking the suits!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJKaUt9Vl4jBaZaKDuxrS3pINU9pvURAmFDuSIRd65gjfop3g3mh1V7jYtEeUnMWy7pL_fbgUGcMHeigLY1EEgBfeDiBpMIq6zvULGomapJtVPkbwpI2h1RqUeK8Ple1fXciVpKupAp4/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJKaUt9Vl4jBaZaKDuxrS3pINU9pvURAmFDuSIRd65gjfop3g3mh1V7jYtEeUnMWy7pL_fbgUGcMHeigLY1EEgBfeDiBpMIq6zvULGomapJtVPkbwpI2h1RqUeK8Ple1fXciVpKupAp4/s1600/IMG_3323.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel in Kirchheimboladen. This was after the epic snowfall that extended our 150 km/2 hour bus ride into a six-hour affair. Instead of going to the European Central Bank, we had lunch at an Aldi's - not really a fair trade in my book.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhjHeiGuIpsL5_G2CKFzIwDIB_c3h936-A83f1FkXgu0rup-yycO6khYJ5kM5R46hBuHj8Wh8fR64kOs83Sw8TRDL4mYX83PRrRm4T11uJcBx_rP3r8RYXOS_JIUjVt91xxfJbefSP1Q/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidhjHeiGuIpsL5_G2CKFzIwDIB_c3h936-A83f1FkXgu0rup-yycO6khYJ5kM5R46hBuHj8Wh8fR64kOs83Sw8TRDL4mYX83PRrRm4T11uJcBx_rP3r8RYXOS_JIUjVt91xxfJbefSP1Q/s1600/IMG_3311.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">T playing the Alphorn at our wine tasting night. There are some advantages to being a horn player - you can transition smoothly to Alphorn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTixKA8S4yfBdNdCwckPntYcGfqnBFrr-INyuNEjrfr2CMc7QePwkPAI4NSpK-i9UHg1aM18qjEUqS8_LCbn4ukKV_JbYoU900Jz_x-lpK9HldInPFZIDfwe_pGkBWblDcbu3psP9uCKU/s1600/IMG_3318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTixKA8S4yfBdNdCwckPntYcGfqnBFrr-INyuNEjrfr2CMc7QePwkPAI4NSpK-i9UHg1aM18qjEUqS8_LCbn4ukKV_JbYoU900Jz_x-lpK9HldInPFZIDfwe_pGkBWblDcbu3psP9uCKU/s1600/IMG_3318.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our host at the wine tasting. This is his self-constructed Carnival instrument, the Teufelgeige - the devil violin. Can you tell why this instrument has this name?</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-45315425376795099532013-04-26T13:13:00.002-07:002013-05-08T04:05:08.028-07:00Easter, German style<br />
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March was pretty much a wash. I couldn’t do hardly anything,
and I had a lot of intense pain, thanks to air in my abdomen. One wouldn’t
think that air could be so painful, but it can! I was useless; I couldn’t carry
anything; I couldn’t spend a lot of time outside walking; I couldn’t sing.
Overall it was a cold, dark month. March was the coldest March on record for
Germany, and that coupled with Germany experiencing its darkest winter ever, I
just wanted to hibernate!<o:p></o:p></div>
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One highlight of the month was Easter. I tried singing with
my more rigorous choir during Easter services, which mostly worked, even when I
was spontaneously given a solo line I had not sung before. One fellow choir
member graciously invited me to spend the day with him, his wife, and daughter.
After choir we headed to their place and had a great time talking together and
enjoying a delicious meal. In fine German fashion, we also took a Sunday
Spaziergang, or walk, up to the Drachenfels ruins on the other side of the
Rhine. Drachenfels is one of the best overlooks in Bonn, and visitors can reach
the top of the hill/mountain by foot or by tram. We, of course, took the “granny”
version up (the tram) because I was still not well enough to walk that much,
especially uphill. We also visited Drachenburg, a 19<sup>th</sup> century
villa/castle that sits half-way up the mountain. At the top we treated
ourselves to a coffee and dessert, hiding out from the cold and snowy weather
on the hill. Really, everyone in Germany had had enough of winter then!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was so happy to spend Easter with someone! Easter has
always been a holiday that seems to jump up on me. Usually I don’t even feel
like it is a holiday; most people in the US don’t get any days off for it, and
that has usually meant that I couldn’t be home to celebrate Easter with my
family, and I have often been in the thick of some sort of university project.
At least this year’s Easter stands out!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fSYDxXMZJxl1d6j6yrePwZewlG1SL_4eDR8UszH0udZ3IdVjHYRF0EqbXnknnIfEwFFCsELGSsJIEAQ4tW-rOdzLRDJbv2kKhZyPDFOWuncr0oZBNUceJcvCMBgFg98rkohDxAfs-ic/s1600/IMG_3328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fSYDxXMZJxl1d6j6yrePwZewlG1SL_4eDR8UszH0udZ3IdVjHYRF0EqbXnknnIfEwFFCsELGSsJIEAQ4tW-rOdzLRDJbv2kKhZyPDFOWuncr0oZBNUceJcvCMBgFg98rkohDxAfs-ic/s1600/IMG_3328.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drachenburg, with my three adopted family members for the day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMYfIuOcXhF1Qsi4FcCfSg499zsklc5MyQluVKMn_mlXYb1xY7EgLKvxwcWnqshVdLc8NR4yp8aXZmx4pUbquTYRiAgtPFntqT0dMbDy9K3inko3xLK1wgC6XSWMvHTsaKUVoZIAp-F0/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJMYfIuOcXhF1Qsi4FcCfSg499zsklc5MyQluVKMn_mlXYb1xY7EgLKvxwcWnqshVdLc8NR4yp8aXZmx4pUbquTYRiAgtPFntqT0dMbDy9K3inko3xLK1wgC6XSWMvHTsaKUVoZIAp-F0/s1600/IMG_3332.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Drachenburg grounds were beautiful, even in the chilly snow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpnDPWrY4kN0UEpt7SfLqEoAQ9KbvdorpQ3Oj92nKKMNSwxQR_vxQ0lOluMyZ-_qlNkOuDzNp3zqqx64uEv8Wuz17i5uDf7MxoJkcZunFKNoHXMw_9-ed-hDUwKvaGzs_AG7KhtOhlOE/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKpnDPWrY4kN0UEpt7SfLqEoAQ9KbvdorpQ3Oj92nKKMNSwxQR_vxQ0lOluMyZ-_qlNkOuDzNp3zqqx64uEv8Wuz17i5uDf7MxoJkcZunFKNoHXMw_9-ed-hDUwKvaGzs_AG7KhtOhlOE/s1600/IMG_3333.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold deer, anyone? Probably too tough for eating.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEQ27XgnqJVvLWqAIivV05Sr09bgdKQEJQsbqC6ZA5YTVgW08SoK0fMKroeairr5tTS2pkyXbAar-8SXcOKxK_GUFX86iQ4LTCID1_8e4cQkLZqpqHPuO0kxl9efBzKxv_4Ls_R3UdYo/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEQ27XgnqJVvLWqAIivV05Sr09bgdKQEJQsbqC6ZA5YTVgW08SoK0fMKroeairr5tTS2pkyXbAar-8SXcOKxK_GUFX86iQ4LTCID1_8e4cQkLZqpqHPuO0kxl9efBzKxv_4Ls_R3UdYo/s1600/IMG_3337.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the few remaining originally restored stained glass windows at Drachenburg.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear rug! Rawr!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GiQ2k0XqBno_s9-CHZIxZYuIhBTE3fOH9GsVe656nNzIqKVmMsWPV9rzOFEibZXl4DJoKhX2rAVKXWqdgvGjO5QJzdDQzvM_eM8ieg45pMnJXMSpa2kW_uwIxid1w1qKrSFmMV2Di-o/s1600/IMG_3342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GiQ2k0XqBno_s9-CHZIxZYuIhBTE3fOH9GsVe656nNzIqKVmMsWPV9rzOFEibZXl4DJoKhX2rAVKXWqdgvGjO5QJzdDQzvM_eM8ieg45pMnJXMSpa2kW_uwIxid1w1qKrSFmMV2Di-o/s1600/IMG_3342.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This island in the Rhine has a high school located on it. Because this island lies on the border between two German states, the school has to decide which education mandates and school schedule it wants to follow. Also, when the Rhine floods, which it does from time to time, students have to help move books and other school items to dry ground. And, as you can see, there is no bridge to the island, so students take a ferry every day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtiA3FZ06pY2Ql6pYniJ8r2O9-CTjLDL6zS7b81uPfLYyvSnZ0O7GrzyBADSBGs0wQwnslqvigvhy_MCKIOsQHX7cYfJhRsjk2Rq0yJAlPmzHW5C8AZnyYvugWLS8xIc8xeBfeKN4Bx8/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCtiA3FZ06pY2Ql6pYniJ8r2O9-CTjLDL6zS7b81uPfLYyvSnZ0O7GrzyBADSBGs0wQwnslqvigvhy_MCKIOsQHX7cYfJhRsjk2Rq0yJAlPmzHW5C8AZnyYvugWLS8xIc8xeBfeKN4Bx8/s1600/IMG_3344.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drachenfels ruins - if anyone wants to come visit me in Bonn, I will take you to the ruins! Also, it probably won't snow when we hike up; winter is finally over here!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-23863720138342386962013-04-26T12:07:00.005-07:002013-04-26T12:07:46.028-07:00Carnival in Germany<br />
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It has been way too long since my last update. I have heard
the cries of my (few) fans, and I think it is time to make it up to everyone by
writing some more pieces.<o:p></o:p></div>
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First, I take you all back to early February – during the
Mardi Gras/Fasching/Karneval celebrations in Bonn and Cologne. Cologne is known
for having the best Carnival celebration in all of Germany. Throughout the
entire Rhine region where I live, craziness begins on November 11<sup>th</sup>,
at 11:11 am, and continues until midnight on Ash Wednesday. Most festivities
really start in January, when singing rehearsals for specific Carnival songs
begin, and many attend comedy nights, either dressed super posh or in costumes.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I started my Carnival celebrations on the Thursday before
Ash Wednesday. This day is known as “Weiberfastnacht” – basically, it is the
ladies night celebration for Carnival. I attended the parade in Beuel, across
the river from Bonn, and then a friend and I went to a drinking establishment
to celebrate more. Basically, Weiberfastnacht involves lots of costumed drunk
people consuming too much alcohol, beginning as early as 9 am.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BveiFCvyeUKo8Wa9r3EzRyRXe2oJq3cS1Vweh-EC91aXVABw7YZ_I2kEdE6bzJE-iPoDUwSu-LfHLrkwe_OoGnseGe4k_k__wBSH1t9XGMzTsD4ItNwB2LJUd0Wd9b0CTP3LxzFybP8/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4BveiFCvyeUKo8Wa9r3EzRyRXe2oJq3cS1Vweh-EC91aXVABw7YZ_I2kEdE6bzJE-iPoDUwSu-LfHLrkwe_OoGnseGe4k_k__wBSH1t9XGMzTsD4ItNwB2LJUd0Wd9b0CTP3LxzFybP8/s1600/IMG_3238.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is an example of the street craziness in Beuel. Adults and children alike collect sweets, or Kamelle, and flowers, Streusle, and the inside-out umbrella is a great tool for getting more goodies.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI9j2xCcrzsG-YbniJsU_LMV7Ngr4ZLarUf-acia7t3o7UNqPjLPAO3EXj5eBpQnIiakbpXUpxV53XTkUUoHZ4fDfJa9uKW_1io-bLE3bI_UVBYW2qFeRzDOMoa-h7VcKuo_o39hCsgU/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRI9j2xCcrzsG-YbniJsU_LMV7Ngr4ZLarUf-acia7t3o7UNqPjLPAO3EXj5eBpQnIiakbpXUpxV53XTkUUoHZ4fDfJa9uKW_1io-bLE3bI_UVBYW2qFeRzDOMoa-h7VcKuo_o39hCsgU/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me in my Carnival costume at the old train station in Beuel.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvOo18FmgmyQRBb3puIWg8SqIgXuM-3cPMWgwOuQoK9qT-3vp_cuw1Cye-dUj7zxt0ghZrf5n6JUKyG2XzvLLhRXmeerCh9cVwb3KO3UBJiIM3UOBbncJM_57eQ6fX7Uua9lpKVnSZXM/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvOo18FmgmyQRBb3puIWg8SqIgXuM-3cPMWgwOuQoK9qT-3vp_cuw1Cye-dUj7zxt0ghZrf5n6JUKyG2XzvLLhRXmeerCh9cVwb3KO3UBJiIM3UOBbncJM_57eQ6fX7Uua9lpKVnSZXM/s1600/IMG_3245.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see more of the Weiberfastnacht festivities. There are a lot of great costume choices, including a group of 10 men dressed as scantily clad nuns.</td></tr>
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I had friends in from Bremen and Hamburg to help me celebrate during the rest of the weekend. The highlight of Karneval was watching the Rosenmontag parade in Cologne. We froze a bit, laughed a bit, got pelted by candy and flowers, and got pushed into the parade space by eager parade-goers standing behind us. I wish that we could have spent more time watching the parade; there were lots of great floats that critiqued the political and social conditions in Germany, Europe, and even the USA.<br />
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All in all, it was a great experience with great friends!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnYzVZ0ozwWUumBU-V34l0HxqTD2JoJPGJ8pX18xdZwiYpb_hdfD_7gFj_lplhH7PWUHV5c1TyW5sq_ciB4JwvNEeuUouGphyvLvt1s-XnaWwkc9hlYpjXGEJgaxx1ETz7AahWeKCd_o/s1600/IMG_3259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnYzVZ0ozwWUumBU-V34l0HxqTD2JoJPGJ8pX18xdZwiYpb_hdfD_7gFj_lplhH7PWUHV5c1TyW5sq_ciB4JwvNEeuUouGphyvLvt1s-XnaWwkc9hlYpjXGEJgaxx1ETz7AahWeKCd_o/s1600/IMG_3259.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginnings of the parade in Cologne. It went on for hours! There was some good music to listen to, and plenty of unique costumed guilds to watch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhTg10ISxGvJLqza19pXp_vBXhhUZD0ZFp-YCTwCqfYI0sDGys6yITQW7L2TfkM2Eid-2Qa8e7BhwPmwPeofDMX3bGbsYFrr0PZBW9rJ_ivVnm8prrmJg2BvKEKIbxEr1oZJUV79ORg/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOhTg10ISxGvJLqza19pXp_vBXhhUZD0ZFp-YCTwCqfYI0sDGys6yITQW7L2TfkM2Eid-2Qa8e7BhwPmwPeofDMX3bGbsYFrr0PZBW9rJ_ivVnm8prrmJg2BvKEKIbxEr1oZJUV79ORg/s1600/IMG_3269.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Percussion in the streets!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A6HOfZn-d3OLP_wQU4o3g2ST2EWEZpBNW_WC0zzNWsoOADul3zvfOzUmXhCpCguLoDReFJtiYHp38WBz7BRIHmCnJcJr9NFo00dR6_GFDPL8b249cpHFGS0pSZxbDo8KJ3Lpd2ikS5c/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_A6HOfZn-d3OLP_wQU4o3g2ST2EWEZpBNW_WC0zzNWsoOADul3zvfOzUmXhCpCguLoDReFJtiYHp38WBz7BRIHmCnJcJr9NFo00dR6_GFDPL8b249cpHFGS0pSZxbDo8KJ3Lpd2ikS5c/s1600/IMG_3272.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the big caricatured puppets. The figures on the floats were even better, but we didn't get to see many of them. </td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-58465131362660911342013-02-21T13:04:00.005-08:002013-02-21T13:04:34.332-08:00Wir gehen nach Bremen!One of the most mentioned German cities during my high school German days was Bremen, a harbor city in the northern part of the country. Last month, I finally got the chance to see the city for myself. During most of my time there, I kept hearing the phrase "Wir gehen nach Bremen!" (We're going to Bremen!) repeated in the voice of one of my high school valedictorians - he played the donkey in the Grimm brothers' story "Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Town_Musicians_of_Bremen">The Bremen City Musicians</a>), which documents the antics of musically-inclined animals. Although my friends, E and S, and I did not run into any musical animals, we saw plenty of statues and merchandise highlighting the city's relationship with the story.<br />
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Since E and S have traveled to Bonn so many times (and they are coming again this weekend for my birthday party!), I prioritized a trip up north to see them and have some good girl time and tourist time. In addition to wandering through the streets of Bremen, mostly in the rain and snow, because the sun doesn't exist in Bremen, we also visited several nice restaurants, took a tour of Beck's brewery, danced the night away at an awesome discothek, and hosted a Mexican food evening with some locals. Enjoy the photos!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ej9XsfmX0svo3HcpJ32UHG3LRp4g5_hZBK8yQDua_FT90awW7F_VygZmyfIy6b4xwhONerTj4nVxmACDU3gHD8K2kfjf1eP9fOL9e-sxuskjgguojpvRxlD2sqt8_CG9sNlm0qInpQ8/s1600/IMG_3183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ej9XsfmX0svo3HcpJ32UHG3LRp4g5_hZBK8yQDua_FT90awW7F_VygZmyfIy6b4xwhONerTj4nVxmACDU3gHD8K2kfjf1eP9fOL9e-sxuskjgguojpvRxlD2sqt8_CG9sNlm0qInpQ8/s1600/IMG_3183.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday night we had dinner at the Ratskeller, or the basement of the town hall. We had our own little booth, and the food was delicious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDyxhQndk4XJJS94A-67LxuDLbCYDIpmNL4r1QfsE8_ZfoGF0qlAT-hErxwa1WN2YFeqXr6A7E6GacTaDf6mTMFOw_NDltacmSir32XriYmSfX1pRdB9eYrifJJEWaPlVSEgBu5CoAjY/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDyxhQndk4XJJS94A-67LxuDLbCYDIpmNL4r1QfsE8_ZfoGF0qlAT-hErxwa1WN2YFeqXr6A7E6GacTaDf6mTMFOw_NDltacmSir32XriYmSfX1pRdB9eYrifJJEWaPlVSEgBu5CoAjY/s1600/IMG_3175.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S and E at Ratskeller!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglq92wL0DgJuj36tInx0FLmw7Bf_0R3v_uY7LmMQ4_tSBxtps8-sxlVknsRC__lZhGiKnn1i9hgAeNMjownGdVS8nTaWMlUpehEuoGLQ6Ha4gAUDP2EkHOFhiY2IgpReIOxYdWlC58c8/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglq92wL0DgJuj36tInx0FLmw7Bf_0R3v_uY7LmMQ4_tSBxtps8-sxlVknsRC__lZhGiKnn1i9hgAeNMjownGdVS8nTaWMlUpehEuoGLQ6Ha4gAUDP2EkHOFhiY2IgpReIOxYdWlC58c8/s1600/IMG_3181.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow this dessert was a type of lasagna? More exactly, it was a thinly sliced piece of fruitcake with chocolate mousse on top - yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5UWMeVNBJ3isVWCRhWWSFKLOt8kgo5VW2OfFjidbUud_Ox3OKUwlSXbvAeOLiuVdnwqhMknLqV77LEF2rNO55Wqj4Nk4g2Z5maZ2Ykqp8eHB5J3Bo8iJw3kxZ0yQ6wtnwTIXWXEn6UY/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv5UWMeVNBJ3isVWCRhWWSFKLOt8kgo5VW2OfFjidbUud_Ox3OKUwlSXbvAeOLiuVdnwqhMknLqV77LEF2rNO55Wqj4Nk4g2Z5maZ2Ykqp8eHB5J3Bo8iJw3kxZ0yQ6wtnwTIXWXEn6UY/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friday night/Saturday morning we spent at Modernes, an awesome disco in Bremen Neustadt. I loved the atmosphere - the space is an old theater, renovated to accommodate lots of dancing people! We were there for 90's night, which was hilarious! We all jumped around like crazy people to songs by BSB and N'Sync, Spears and Spice Girls!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjHerXVD7OHC1uPmKXMs2Inm84lILIzbKOsSpzIGPgB0y8RUrBkIyO_SJQX0aI5o-GiXL8L_pQ0zu6UAev4SfBLXv_1vEsc-euAP0FdqmoJH4cRJJvwgav77tfETDLTHR-JJyPwlbg9E/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvjHerXVD7OHC1uPmKXMs2Inm84lILIzbKOsSpzIGPgB0y8RUrBkIyO_SJQX0aI5o-GiXL8L_pQ0zu6UAev4SfBLXv_1vEsc-euAP0FdqmoJH4cRJJvwgav77tfETDLTHR-JJyPwlbg9E/s1600/IMG_3199.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the Bremer Stadtmusikanten!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBhLCajg5-slPby70i5FIq3bEJrzQREyVMPOt8LWzcGBG1Nk4_xpbqaymRLaFqM0QcyPZ2Ljd1Rh7in96kWo4PH-8sZ4wbMd08isZ-Lm2mKi0rnyirHF2K6a8cZL6GOnsiKBh60LR7Qg/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBhLCajg5-slPby70i5FIq3bEJrzQREyVMPOt8LWzcGBG1Nk4_xpbqaymRLaFqM0QcyPZ2Ljd1Rh7in96kWo4PH-8sZ4wbMd08isZ-Lm2mKi0rnyirHF2K6a8cZL6GOnsiKBh60LR7Qg/s1600/IMG_3194.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City protector Roland and myself! We were both freezing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxLBHOdiewvAnCbvVDPkArzw8Wc7ue2xVhJ51QPb_rDR-Zh78vULl-wGl17EdgNyeTjV0cbsrelDLhb8d5Rb4_-heyBA0W_kNvDkbcV6tVFi0h0Y73Uhsh6C36pNxTL3iwntY4RU637o/s1600/IMG_3202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCxLBHOdiewvAnCbvVDPkArzw8Wc7ue2xVhJ51QPb_rDR-Zh78vULl-wGl17EdgNyeTjV0cbsrelDLhb8d5Rb4_-heyBA0W_kNvDkbcV6tVFi0h0Y73Uhsh6C36pNxTL3iwntY4RU637o/s1600/IMG_3202.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the city center, old-style architecture!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_KYObCwjECgWhcUICbLNm0mA8RN4CJZqDb99IhpRgljDZh5p1s24Z0zalSW6BXfX63iTSMmYtoltRFY9-4zNo9NpGMGwCqUz6d2d4iMI-ABteETxTnuyZRAbstdsyi7e88ZuWspUKRI/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_KYObCwjECgWhcUICbLNm0mA8RN4CJZqDb99IhpRgljDZh5p1s24Z0zalSW6BXfX63iTSMmYtoltRFY9-4zNo9NpGMGwCqUz6d2d4iMI-ABteETxTnuyZRAbstdsyi7e88ZuWspUKRI/s1600/IMG_3203.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bremen Rathaus and part of one of the churches on the square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvYF1IPUWBWnzPT6iPRUPcBiPrxzvX1taA5WttJOV6hMxz3VGcYR_xVTgE_SqO0YKJMKj-tPS_F-5iip5Yl7X805bhPaRuxnfjf5GPDszWfQl0Wvx_Nngi3uZEaCqz3fEb_oFHF7w8SQ/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvYF1IPUWBWnzPT6iPRUPcBiPrxzvX1taA5WttJOV6hMxz3VGcYR_xVTgE_SqO0YKJMKj-tPS_F-5iip5Yl7X805bhPaRuxnfjf5GPDszWfQl0Wvx_Nngi3uZEaCqz3fEb_oFHF7w8SQ/s1600/IMG_3204.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another take on the Bremer Stadtmusikanten.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkbWQh7RINyI9x0aph2KfuJLLddkMbVNUBsIeBIBVJRP3BDxsP_SA00k-iVPkBMh85R9FAd9spa6JSUOovx2bEC0g_rLijjgJ4Ar1QIrqEsK-RfmfEV3_V-xUqqU_L_1WTiHVIGSWMAA/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkbWQh7RINyI9x0aph2KfuJLLddkMbVNUBsIeBIBVJRP3BDxsP_SA00k-iVPkBMh85R9FAd9spa6JSUOovx2bEC0g_rLijjgJ4Ar1QIrqEsK-RfmfEV3_V-xUqqU_L_1WTiHVIGSWMAA/s1600/IMG_3209.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E and I sporting our safety vests for the Beck's tour.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmsoLHJASL5bYqi1Ka9skJIQ2EXZFKt9vUkgRfAjENTu5ItvEPA4UF405xUeFf0L3cZsbWX9ogA-aXEeDD_b1JSs_Dgbax9C10NcC5X8G4I3oKPZ8GIbIf5hG99fqoEronh3ReT1Ug1w/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmsoLHJASL5bYqi1Ka9skJIQ2EXZFKt9vUkgRfAjENTu5ItvEPA4UF405xUeFf0L3cZsbWX9ogA-aXEeDD_b1JSs_Dgbax9C10NcC5X8G4I3oKPZ8GIbIf5hG99fqoEronh3ReT1Ug1w/s1600/IMG_3212.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beer tasting - the real reason many people go on the tour!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__dxyqCnsa4BK-veBCPQLc5Ao34N7TIyE4Yb_Sutw_UVl8HmKfZcJH3GGfbnQaLzxRfQ0zSEuMNEfnPrBIaQmerFhyphenhyphenn-_mLjtPMKsEj6guW9iaOi6FqvdGz_pEJ0trCby99WvD2o_rLI/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg__dxyqCnsa4BK-veBCPQLc5Ao34N7TIyE4Yb_Sutw_UVl8HmKfZcJH3GGfbnQaLzxRfQ0zSEuMNEfnPrBIaQmerFhyphenhyphenn-_mLjtPMKsEj6guW9iaOi6FqvdGz_pEJ0trCby99WvD2o_rLI/s1600/IMG_3217.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They gave us three beers to try, so things got pretty silly pretty fast-like!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYCUsinNz3vL89jlBQ8AqaSshLiss7SqdwczHBnt-7zQf2W5k0t83M4E8El4sCL_hXR3xUp2ghqD22EucS6Y6vYAp_B2CUKt1n9ACQM_hEWrvUAwqzq0n-DLB1DfTAwCO6382wL0AyUQ/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYCUsinNz3vL89jlBQ8AqaSshLiss7SqdwczHBnt-7zQf2W5k0t83M4E8El4sCL_hXR3xUp2ghqD22EucS6Y6vYAp_B2CUKt1n9ACQM_hEWrvUAwqzq0n-DLB1DfTAwCO6382wL0AyUQ/s1600/IMG_3223.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday night we had dinner at an Ethiopian restaurant. We sat on pillows in sand! And we ate with our hands! The food was tasty too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgyRb-4jezhw8djq1N3bxKK2SpKKjCqVjMWUBzlWs3qguB24WwXIpKyU7h2YbN1xv1hWfH-JfkEiovwrIceD2ymsgbxDGMt8kwbQ6pJFtQWyNSYjJYzIMjIrOz0PWMoEy_qHMpbyfwR4/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrgyRb-4jezhw8djq1N3bxKK2SpKKjCqVjMWUBzlWs3qguB24WwXIpKyU7h2YbN1xv1hWfH-JfkEiovwrIceD2ymsgbxDGMt8kwbQ6pJFtQWyNSYjJYzIMjIrOz0PWMoEy_qHMpbyfwR4/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last photo from my Bremen adventure!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-59225089882587913782013-02-01T12:02:00.001-08:002013-02-01T14:24:23.835-08:00My favorite winter sportSome of you may know that one of my favorite experiences while living in Salzburg was learning how to ski. Having grown up in Missouri, a relatively flat state far from the Rockies and the Appalachian mountains, I never really had the opportunity to try the sport. For some reason, while in Austria, I figured that I wasn't too old to learn a new sport (I am not very gifted in the sport department, as it is), and when would I ever get the chance to have five days of small group ski lessons from an Austrian in the freakin' Austrian Alps? I dove into the experience, stomaching the financial implications as best I could, and I do not regret my decision for a moment! Mind you, after the first day of lessons, I hated skiing. It was not very intuitive, and I felt like I was using muscles I didn't even know existed. Still, I got a lot better over the course of our lessons, and I loved being in the mountains, surrounded by snow and silence. I was hooked!<br />
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Well, I was as hooked as someone could be - who loved the first trip and still spent the LAST EIGHT YEARS off of any slopes! I remedied this problem, finally, when I joined my church's youth group ski trip to Garmisch-Partenkirchen in mid-January. It was a dream!<br />
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About 30 of us left on Friday afternoon in a tour bus, getting to our youth hostel around 10:30 at night. I got to stay with a college student who met us there. The hostel was extremely nice, and affordable. The smell reminded me of some of my other study trips in Austria, when my fellow students and I stayed in similar hostels in Germany. We got up early on Saturday, enjoyed a nice breakfast, packed a lunch, and then promptly got stuck in all the traffic heading to the slopes. The 15-minute trip took us almost 45 minutes. Then we had to get our rental gear, and I decided to take one morning's worth of lessons, just for a refresher. Needless to say, I did not need to take beginner ski lessons again, especially since we worked on such basics as putting on skis, staying upright on the skis, stopping on minuscule hills, and just a bit of turning.<br />
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Still, after the morning I was tired, and I wasn't sure what other slopes I would be able to handle. All of the group met for lunch and sat in the snow near the gondola station.<br />
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I'll just let you all know about how amazing the trip was through photos!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72CP0bNGzN-q9uL3kSFfyo3m3_8ejDeCRJXKTN4X2ifJAFUhKoFe439r3tHJlNg_LptWHkkGgxDzO3cv-zySQJtydcXKlRbVEPfUmo790UBFWNghb8YXy8ArJcQUc-texUsUdj3YPUcA/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72CP0bNGzN-q9uL3kSFfyo3m3_8ejDeCRJXKTN4X2ifJAFUhKoFe439r3tHJlNg_LptWHkkGgxDzO3cv-zySQJtydcXKlRbVEPfUmo790UBFWNghb8YXy8ArJcQUc-texUsUdj3YPUcA/s1600/IMG_3148.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we are in the gondola at the base of the mountains. The parking lot was completely full! And look! Alps!!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x-ES6AKF7gHC938vRsgfkpDcLkK7dAF5nRa1cHBNDes1bX3gT61JG4WYxNQwXfi4PEmzmnrPiOVrMZBKQOwlD3wMKnmcRHFiwUmEjF4ZXGTI0-D52f7TJ0HzJ7o1aLHP-OMAGq3KaF0/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-x-ES6AKF7gHC938vRsgfkpDcLkK7dAF5nRa1cHBNDes1bX3gT61JG4WYxNQwXfi4PEmzmnrPiOVrMZBKQOwlD3wMKnmcRHFiwUmEjF4ZXGTI0-D52f7TJ0HzJ7o1aLHP-OMAGq3KaF0/s1600/IMG_3154.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the first gondola lift. Lots more peaks and trees!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3iJ2Hj2GoWiUb_1cNVMUarfYAV7uQH9KuKVdCSxSLnIMd-sgWnC56NJPYxv78zuOV4Fy0RdNXJXOY7hLY_l4mDfeojPcs5U3yyR0teUIzyhGgEy1w5S6ng6Ue2VOXeJqKtlhsfiE6CQ/s1600/IMG_3152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit3iJ2Hj2GoWiUb_1cNVMUarfYAV7uQH9KuKVdCSxSLnIMd-sgWnC56NJPYxv78zuOV4Fy0RdNXJXOY7hLY_l4mDfeojPcs5U3yyR0teUIzyhGgEy1w5S6ng6Ue2VOXeJqKtlhsfiE6CQ/s1600/IMG_3152.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where we had lunch - very relaxing, if not a little cold, because you sat in the snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tZ_B8RcuoNH88ePPOOL96ndTVmBRUTLZ-ijBznBjgwyFpBf4kAGtML9MgnB0QeJZO0z9qfPIaLDqhMFWTHRkDylVQA9hEFgcrdPEugk-Wjxe2JjMSJmmWSxOSBGdpM3bsFb4FdtIP7E/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tZ_B8RcuoNH88ePPOOL96ndTVmBRUTLZ-ijBznBjgwyFpBf4kAGtML9MgnB0QeJZO0z9qfPIaLDqhMFWTHRkDylVQA9hEFgcrdPEugk-Wjxe2JjMSJmmWSxOSBGdpM3bsFb4FdtIP7E/s1600/IMG_3159.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was at the top of the second gondola, for the two ski passes that I kept taking over and over again. I must have taken this gondola 25 times between Saturday and Sunday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG5bnjspsCQdqY3nxlV8YnJa2nMYcc_oeA9xAeGCFRrgZaMK4cC8I5HsN2FSoMnhxe1IXBpDoM53Wm5ueF3lxqMEvX19uhe5x1cdWuBgtfI2RRtOUde8ohA-dvQv27WlihV7M2C-YNOI/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRG5bnjspsCQdqY3nxlV8YnJa2nMYcc_oeA9xAeGCFRrgZaMK4cC8I5HsN2FSoMnhxe1IXBpDoM53Wm5ueF3lxqMEvX19uhe5x1cdWuBgtfI2RRtOUde8ohA-dvQv27WlihV7M2C-YNOI/s1600/IMG_3155.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the first day - me chillin' during the lunch break! I don't have ski goggles, but the sunglasses were helpful and necessary with the snow glare!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYVdMR808diOfUOx635v5mRX5OhyEF7nooKEAZd78pvU8lb1EUJnAiMqYxF853deiPyWVMzGpgrLPEKyecDU1ZyIFmg-gb-ibpM2AITUsjTfatvSdlWFCDKnVwTKsKfvpZZxugIPVngU/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUYVdMR808diOfUOx635v5mRX5OhyEF7nooKEAZd78pvU8lb1EUJnAiMqYxF853deiPyWVMzGpgrLPEKyecDU1ZyIFmg-gb-ibpM2AITUsjTfatvSdlWFCDKnVwTKsKfvpZZxugIPVngU/s1600/IMG_3157.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the view of the slopes I spent the whole time skiing down.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMzFpgTUeW2KIV1cIs-wARlxN3WzznYAqaDZy3Dh4ZX3M_QzkGKkoxv7ns-SDcfSv1MO7WqlF8uVUSUBIejDu6TPw12Y511xMoS_Dz2iy_KV-8PL-5YjhrmY_Rp2O1hTwqbJk4Siie_M/s1600/IMG_3165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMzFpgTUeW2KIV1cIs-wARlxN3WzznYAqaDZy3Dh4ZX3M_QzkGKkoxv7ns-SDcfSv1MO7WqlF8uVUSUBIejDu6TPw12Y511xMoS_Dz2iy_KV-8PL-5YjhrmY_Rp2O1hTwqbJk4Siie_M/s1600/IMG_3165.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, you can see all the skiers converging on the area behind me - one of the lodges and lines for the gondola.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSl-nwVES3JXhLrd1bXurqTCpJDmg5cK2iJJEI7w7q3iiqy27Cq-YPEikru8ussggdPVixAaJ5B06_MM_pWTKaFoY-pplMSs6BFQWK6eXyhLoCv6wUB8Q-EIWptpJjr4-WvSVymnoSzU/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSl-nwVES3JXhLrd1bXurqTCpJDmg5cK2iJJEI7w7q3iiqy27Cq-YPEikru8ussggdPVixAaJ5B06_MM_pWTKaFoY-pplMSs6BFQWK6eXyhLoCv6wUB8Q-EIWptpJjr4-WvSVymnoSzU/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Sunday, we experienced "Foehn" - which basically means that the weather is warmer and sunny up on the mountains, and it is foggy and colder below. The snow kept getting worse and worse on Sunday, as areas of the slopes turned into mush.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn1Qj-sg1qfs6OiEPPJpryeCxRq_Nl0Ztl88lJGVR9a5YfVY9oa1oSnse-LgjKZmsPk6urAth34ZpijbiRFgLRm3roIelPXozTByJIlx_JmkgFjLZiSg9meB0oxP9hhInsfo31BHvyds/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZn1Qj-sg1qfs6OiEPPJpryeCxRq_Nl0Ztl88lJGVR9a5YfVY9oa1oSnse-LgjKZmsPk6urAth34ZpijbiRFgLRm3roIelPXozTByJIlx_JmkgFjLZiSg9meB0oxP9hhInsfo31BHvyds/s1600/IMG_3161.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty mountains!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-G_v3A5SkzGQY256_JW_IVDuX_EYA5iINDhKSfNRtB3JdSqc3ZgB1pp-axv342LqpkeOeXxwuXqiqYmigIUir8ZL7ZUoo8kmtPvu18PMBYR0sGwYtEW__13dVjsP_LpW7yyijimfI4U/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL-G_v3A5SkzGQY256_JW_IVDuX_EYA5iINDhKSfNRtB3JdSqc3ZgB1pp-axv342LqpkeOeXxwuXqiqYmigIUir8ZL7ZUoo8kmtPvu18PMBYR0sGwYtEW__13dVjsP_LpW7yyijimfI4U/s1600/IMG_3166.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On Sunday, one of my friends and I sat outside at the ski lodge and enjoyed a cappuccino and the view from above. Even if you are not a skier, it is completely worth heading up the mountains in Germany and Austria JUST to experience the food, drink, and Gemuetlichkeit!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM9FzQYk5VDjM3frEY3uTlVMs3Dk8wwzOiBGJWm-jpP7stp1K5J09qbTQeq9w9dLFtsKZOxzwnahzMqiAMRRe027WbnwBTzwUgRDwypDlENheoiAxuXYOWRHTZt8aMjOWbZuALGCNkC4/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinM9FzQYk5VDjM3frEY3uTlVMs3Dk8wwzOiBGJWm-jpP7stp1K5J09qbTQeq9w9dLFtsKZOxzwnahzMqiAMRRe027WbnwBTzwUgRDwypDlENheoiAxuXYOWRHTZt8aMjOWbZuALGCNkC4/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiserschmarrn">Kaiserschmarrn</a>! This Austrian pancake-like dessert is AMAZING!!!!! Read the Wikipedia description linked here, and be jealous!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj9svlA6YDXv16bFYvHk_NDZfe298adIC_4aBiV87E5DM0frJfDLw2EbWXnczd84FTCy1Z11UuQeQgqdBa_X5vWxX1E66nLJp3FNTv2fuvN545dTMoSu_SOyhrRo6BoVUNqY8fHtfHjc/s1600/IMG_3174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj9svlA6YDXv16bFYvHk_NDZfe298adIC_4aBiV87E5DM0frJfDLw2EbWXnczd84FTCy1Z11UuQeQgqdBa_X5vWxX1E66nLJp3FNTv2fuvN545dTMoSu_SOyhrRo6BoVUNqY8fHtfHjc/s1600/IMG_3174.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our youth hostel! We had full room and board, and the food was surprisingly satisfying! Other highlights here included attending the youth group's discussion time on Sunday night, and losing horribly in table tennis to the three youth leaders!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The morals of this blog post are the following:<br />
<br />
1. Skiing in the Alps is unbelievable!!!!<br />
2. I still love skiing, and can still ski relatively well, all considering my eight-year hiatus!<br />
3. I will not take another eight years off before I ski again. California has more mountains that Missouri or Illinois, and, despite the high cost, I really think it is worth partaking in an activity that brings me such pure joy!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-12143919221885400372013-01-04T09:54:00.003-08:002013-01-06T07:04:20.689-08:00Mainz Markt<br />
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While G was at work on Thursday, D and I went to Mainz, his
home city. I think he really enjoyed showing me around, as we wandered quite a
bit, and really got to enjoy the Christmas market before it was completely full
of people!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mainz is famous for its Medieval Cathedral, and the creation
and legacy of the Gutenberg printing press. I’ve been to the Gutenberg museum
with B before, and I of course got to go to the Mainz soccer game!<o:p></o:p></div>
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At the market, I got my last Reibekuchen (potato pancakes), and I
could barely finish them. They are oh so tasty, but they are not light fare at
all. I also got a nice Christmas surprise for B, a medieval-style red suede bag for his new copy of Carcassonne!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbpLRopDFuhhopE_r-OLZlD7YT8EgabdX7fpbMxV2nrT1By_lTCOMApMQZShPzJWPPHntJNA-Hja91TRUKSQGQw7xlb_V6bsHmLwZh2ObSTkroxyRZQcl7hPeD2l09Kb78JqyY7FC1lw/s1600/IMG_3126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbpLRopDFuhhopE_r-OLZlD7YT8EgabdX7fpbMxV2nrT1By_lTCOMApMQZShPzJWPPHntJNA-Hja91TRUKSQGQw7xlb_V6bsHmLwZh2ObSTkroxyRZQcl7hPeD2l09Kb78JqyY7FC1lw/s1600/IMG_3126.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muenster and market lights!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvEKzAbNhIeMJXK-puhpGPljd4JYWsxeDHtjBRFO0UQChBVFUUufIDdx1O3783STsxjpjQlmvbJTi6u39NYfF8tyT98WKcfTFmjmRBpU4Bg3xwSun4uhQttv-6hJ8iOr_mjGdNGvb5GM/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvEKzAbNhIeMJXK-puhpGPljd4JYWsxeDHtjBRFO0UQChBVFUUufIDdx1O3783STsxjpjQlmvbJTi6u39NYfF8tyT98WKcfTFmjmRBpU4Bg3xwSun4uhQttv-6hJ8iOr_mjGdNGvb5GM/s1600/IMG_3130.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one of these!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTOD4lJmwEwekYY_iWLL1ez9G4JGT3HyfUpLdIQqnRRefj-DSXmKXTeyxmWLAV7Ib3xbtihnaSkmZKY1diLFv0F15gFY7zhKA5WH8Lbfwu-sro8dQirxsReOKQw2eSjC-1DfzCPcC-gA/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTOD4lJmwEwekYY_iWLL1ez9G4JGT3HyfUpLdIQqnRRefj-DSXmKXTeyxmWLAV7Ib3xbtihnaSkmZKY1diLFv0F15gFY7zhKA5WH8Lbfwu-sro8dQirxsReOKQw2eSjC-1DfzCPcC-gA/s1600/IMG_3127.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vendors everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SLaNFLpi_t3fAY6qBF71I5mlB3Ps0acaGV7_pk9kBbhSCOnAgjKhHaEzaLb7vHqkPssM1pvvtpeGehEo6k3I_8lfIoG9lg448Q0nSS64hOVmGbp_6xO3gND6ASRJun-RfC6j70UANDo/s1600/IMG_3132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0SLaNFLpi_t3fAY6qBF71I5mlB3Ps0acaGV7_pk9kBbhSCOnAgjKhHaEzaLb7vHqkPssM1pvvtpeGehEo6k3I_8lfIoG9lg448Q0nSS64hOVmGbp_6xO3gND6ASRJun-RfC6j70UANDo/s1600/IMG_3132.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again with the Romanesque cathedral!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ3asMPnsaOm-7ZyWAGvldO1KIRAZg11NF_auD5ubnK94o5usDi5bEH7yRPtvGoy4uiWo21MmKIOkK1bkyByTXikUKPSvxUKHrfzeoxDAE4FOwVT5WAwKuloHjBoZHLqly0z8DSzOF68/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJ3asMPnsaOm-7ZyWAGvldO1KIRAZg11NF_auD5ubnK94o5usDi5bEH7yRPtvGoy4uiWo21MmKIOkK1bkyByTXikUKPSvxUKHrfzeoxDAE4FOwVT5WAwKuloHjBoZHLqly0z8DSzOF68/s1600/IMG_3138.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Game of the year! Kingdom Builder - who would have thought that such an advertisement would be in a major city!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhU94eEVUmYQo2WY1N3N3cyH1zmj2KuMnusaUdoNJcsw3dFGzFPS46lBu9cBthQHUE9gEa-issQarredKTIATwWaUweBPu_JMhb4WIz4FFoFaXR_YkvGa5on9Uer_Byn5irQmqSG_u0U/s1600/IMG_3139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWhU94eEVUmYQo2WY1N3N3cyH1zmj2KuMnusaUdoNJcsw3dFGzFPS46lBu9cBthQHUE9gEa-issQarredKTIATwWaUweBPu_JMhb4WIz4FFoFaXR_YkvGa5on9Uer_Byn5irQmqSG_u0U/s1600/IMG_3139.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another nicely-decorated Christmas tree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With this post, I end my ode to German Christmas markets!
Below is a summary of each that I went to, and what stood out to me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Aachen – I found this market almost rivaled Bonn’s, in that
it was very cute, had lots of interesting stands, and it had boot mugs!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bonn – I am a loyalist, and Bonn’s market was my favorite.
It will be truly sad come January and the market is gone and I don’t get to
walk through it on my visits to the city center.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cologne – Great Christmas tree, great background (the Dom!),
but too mall-y. It was also very crowded.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Hamburg – Crowded, and multi-faceted. There were a lot of
great small markets, all near each other, all offering a little something
different.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Koblenz – Small, spread out, and not worth the visit if you
can make it to one of the markets nearby.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Mainz – Here I tried “Heisse Marone” for the first time, and
I really liked getting to experience the market through the eyes of my host
dad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Salzburg – Magical! I really like this market, and having
the snowy weather, the backdrop of the Altstadt, and experiencing it with great
friends made this my second favorite market!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Siegburg – I kind of wish I had bought that dragon wind
chime…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Wiesbaden – I really liked the vendors at this market, and
it was so fun to check out my host mom’s favorite stands. She knew so much
about each, so that I really was able to appreciate the shopping experience!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Adding Freiburg (2006) and Chicago (2009-2011), I have been
to eleven different cities for German Weihnachtsmarkten. I am hooked, and I
hope you are too! If any of you ever need travel advice concerning these
markets, I am your girl! Or, if you would like a personalized tour in Germany,
pay my way and I’ll be by your side in a heartbeat!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Bis zum nächsten
Weihnachtsmarkt!</span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-43708512440017437592013-01-04T09:38:00.000-08:002013-01-06T07:04:20.690-08:00The Wiesbaden Market<br />
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My German host family loves the Wiesbaden market. It is
different from other markets, in that the theme is shooting stars, and all of
the lights and decorations are more in this motif. G, D and I headed out
shortly after I got to Wiesbaden, and we first checked out a quick organ
concert at the Protestant church near the market. It was a real treat, and my
host parents really enjoyed it too! We then met some of G and D’s friends, who
were super cute and nice! We wandered around the market some, and then later
met G and D’s son and his girlfriend. So far, when I hang out with these
Wiesbaden folks, a common theme concerning me is that I am not really an
American, or at least not a stereotypical one! I like that I can be a
connection for them all to the USA, all while knowing the language and the
traditions well in Germany, so that we understand each other well and
appreciate all that we learn from each other every time we are together! They
love me so much, and they even picked me up again from the airport when I got back to Germany this week.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Following the requisite Glühwein, we went to the
“Ratskeller” and got something small to eat and some beers to drink. Ganz
Gemütlich! G and I went to the market again on Thursday night, including
another visit to the organ concert at the Protestant church. We stayed for the
service, which was randomly bilingual (English-German). We sang “O Come
Emmanuel,” one of my favorites, but I did not hear a single other person
singing along. It is not widely known in Germany, and we only got a copy of the
text, not the music.<o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Overall I really
enjoyed the Wiesbaden market, as it was definitely an example of something
different, and the company was wonderful!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKGgRcZL34bdpcVOcKpAuZMv78m_KSsaSgXWLFKB-goXzy3EY68oJ1OCMLelIPQDTHHzojBWLVgyHnJlCiCK8bCeCjoGYPj_QArpXZ78vmDHF_Y6mefBT0CglDzhmopJQWcMUOeDXyoQ/s1600/IMG_3103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKGgRcZL34bdpcVOcKpAuZMv78m_KSsaSgXWLFKB-goXzy3EY68oJ1OCMLelIPQDTHHzojBWLVgyHnJlCiCK8bCeCjoGYPj_QArpXZ78vmDHF_Y6mefBT0CglDzhmopJQWcMUOeDXyoQ/s1600/IMG_3103.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a view of the church where we attended the organ concerts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjpM8G0EWdwV4gPwIpDPB2nHJOcblBqol8Swi3d7_9_HkJcbDuOyqZtAIBNbcl_-IFTDZPSmOl8jnapxvpIsoUHGvFTu1-rbfvTpzSVUE_MoVxlShUG7yw7Zcg8qpyzb7DfbaCMliG3w/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjpM8G0EWdwV4gPwIpDPB2nHJOcblBqol8Swi3d7_9_HkJcbDuOyqZtAIBNbcl_-IFTDZPSmOl8jnapxvpIsoUHGvFTu1-rbfvTpzSVUE_MoVxlShUG7yw7Zcg8qpyzb7DfbaCMliG3w/s1600/IMG_3113.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and a tree made of poinsettias! It was so beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMgZVTdx0a0Xk3b_6peX1WTZsHlVHONS8G5-l3l97vQejsdGJFCeRDhxxxwVj2knUvB2YtIWc7AgJX9ObMlku7szYZ72OB-2mF6wNyyYD8RPcaZ896MSscNDiqlE2TzZlYaftlHZGuA/s1600/IMG_3116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMgZVTdx0a0Xk3b_6peX1WTZsHlVHONS8G5-l3l97vQejsdGJFCeRDhxxxwVj2knUvB2YtIWc7AgJX9ObMlku7szYZ72OB-2mF6wNyyYD8RPcaZ896MSscNDiqlE2TzZlYaftlHZGuA/s1600/IMG_3116.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many Wiesbaden vendors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB-xJwbuGWZLrHnKpEQ_qgc9HrueTQ06oOuUgOX4Ab9YS2G4TBQe_bkC2Ks1A1IdC3at31kbd_-rCdjWZfXaL-_9fSSz8oLsf0wqjIvuet_l4J6dEN0YYyL7OUfhXx1XkI65QLf1me14/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfB-xJwbuGWZLrHnKpEQ_qgc9HrueTQ06oOuUgOX4Ab9YS2G4TBQe_bkC2Ks1A1IdC3at31kbd_-rCdjWZfXaL-_9fSSz8oLsf0wqjIvuet_l4J6dEN0YYyL7OUfhXx1XkI65QLf1me14/s1600/IMG_3120.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here you can see the unique lighting of my market. So pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZguANSidkFvdw0fKu2XRIi6mo4vlEr0nFUihxCwXDzRbG32-qwsYZOgfrdiCzEJcX0IX8dJmP2T8Fbmqlt2XkgFSGPjvMBcKw5rhctw-JQ9__YI433ljElXKDH9i5ilCQA3Qjjkcwba4/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZguANSidkFvdw0fKu2XRIi6mo4vlEr0nFUihxCwXDzRbG32-qwsYZOgfrdiCzEJcX0IX8dJmP2T8Fbmqlt2XkgFSGPjvMBcKw5rhctw-JQ9__YI433ljElXKDH9i5ilCQA3Qjjkcwba4/s1600/IMG_3142.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">German Christmas tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilg89LtzIyzj8gxv5anxBLNsx4savdNsFF_iqrbPfUDW409-ZSJFRIOMYfSIthVxry6-uw8Y_iCLvJpNLWaEJ7fkhcnsPqvqTmkrHsuJ9nsXRoSKWbhK960W0jDo_ihdFVXff09P6XZI/s1600/IMG_3122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilg89LtzIyzj8gxv5anxBLNsx4savdNsFF_iqrbPfUDW409-ZSJFRIOMYfSIthVxry6-uw8Y_iCLvJpNLWaEJ7fkhcnsPqvqTmkrHsuJ9nsXRoSKWbhK960W0jDo_ihdFVXff09P6XZI/s1600/IMG_3122.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Gluehwein in Wiesbaden!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKsj5s1U0fL27qMFkWXzrXY5HQoHNVcOgDz9p8Li5x-1QoSC7VOy9ibpFdFp1CBqJwg1DTZqJDPGAhK5TqzZQa5bocJwpL3BehIjgP7fRrURzhiTSG6HaoZdCHCA_8m_PBGQxGJUGYKc/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKsj5s1U0fL27qMFkWXzrXY5HQoHNVcOgDz9p8Li5x-1QoSC7VOy9ibpFdFp1CBqJwg1DTZqJDPGAhK5TqzZQa5bocJwpL3BehIjgP7fRrURzhiTSG6HaoZdCHCA_8m_PBGQxGJUGYKc/s1600/IMG_3144.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These look like little marshmellow cakes. Mine was mocha flavored!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-62301062448380245742013-01-04T09:18:00.000-08:002013-01-05T04:27:27.729-08:00Geputzt, Gepackt, Gebacken und Gekauft!Between my trip to Hamburg and my slow trek back to SD for Christmas, I had one day in Bonn to wrap up all of the above activities: cleaning, packing, baking, and shopping. I should also note, that even after arriving late Monday night, I still fit in washing a load of laundry and hanging out with some of my choir friends after their rehearsal that night. I was really glad I got to see them before heading home, as more people were at the bar than usual, and seemed to drink more than usual and were very friendly in wishing me a merry Christmas and happy New Year!<br />
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Tuesday was an extremely overwhelming day. I had to return a gift, plus pick up four or so final items to bring back to the USA. I think my favorite purchase is a bottle of “Holunderblütenlikör,” or elderberry blossom liquor. Germans and Europeans are big on elderberries, in both blossom and fruit form. I have no idea what type of cocktails I am going to make with this liquor, but I didn’t even know it existed before this year, and I have no idea if it is even available in the US. (I would welcome any comments on if this liquor is in the USA, or if you have a favorite cocktail using it!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I also vacuumed most of the apartment, picked up my two rooms, washed the bathroom and toilet room, and baked a double batch of molasses cookies to share with my other choir, my host professor, and my host family in Wiesbaden. I admit that I was very disappointed that only ONE of my many cookies was eaten at my choir Christmas party, especially since I had made a double batch. To make up for that, though, one of the women in my choir said my cookies were delicious, and the department secretary in Koblenz was so impressed that she insisted on having the recipe!<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Q5IVC9NGnvG3xG8gGJg9VnA0fSQw6_heRQngM3uAuhK9imFjDRJean4BlnfB4mkT1OSr3TQWLijEoqPT7Ot7rc2MagYV3Mw7WTbHnUN_pVwArlklsJnMKUU-XxO55EGdtw0Fl8n_8U/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja6Q5IVC9NGnvG3xG8gGJg9VnA0fSQw6_heRQngM3uAuhK9imFjDRJean4BlnfB4mkT1OSr3TQWLijEoqPT7Ot7rc2MagYV3Mw7WTbHnUN_pVwArlklsJnMKUU-XxO55EGdtw0Fl8n_8U/s1600/IMG_3083.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa showed up to our choir party!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49U4xeO55EqvsmxOEo_3YYfIkkJO3vxalm8eUHjEyvpqMhEj6npI5CsNH8ABz0ViD8z9-8MYGEhfe9CvLY8Jf2zPSFyb3_4nev7bsjQZW0JxgK7PIX_QiaPwWa3SzwdHyqoNcZUv79CA/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh49U4xeO55EqvsmxOEo_3YYfIkkJO3vxalm8eUHjEyvpqMhEj6npI5CsNH8ABz0ViD8z9-8MYGEhfe9CvLY8Jf2zPSFyb3_4nev7bsjQZW0JxgK7PIX_QiaPwWa3SzwdHyqoNcZUv79CA/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXtGzqcVdcxCLg2GE0OeetiE93lE_SIlL7pY4z9PcJZ3PF99cos4mZeWiVfKQEG9bP0co7F1lOxZ4oFJZnlPCpAa1ZRDtW7cySbF9QmG4yqgF7NqiOz9BucL9udT6xItuuMny-kZWJWY/s1600/IMG_3075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXtGzqcVdcxCLg2GE0OeetiE93lE_SIlL7pY4z9PcJZ3PF99cos4mZeWiVfKQEG9bP0co7F1lOxZ4oFJZnlPCpAa1ZRDtW7cySbF9QmG4yqgF7NqiOz9BucL9udT6xItuuMny-kZWJWY/s1600/IMG_3075.JPG" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had so much food!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18px;">After an entertaining and tasty Christmas fest on Tuesday night, I prepared for my Bonn departure Wednesday morning. I spent the midday in Koblenz, and then went to Wiesbaden to spend a day and a half with my German family (of Mainz soccer fame). I admit that the most stressful part of my holiday travel was Wednesday afternoon. My bus was almost 20 minutes late, between the traffic and how full it was, and I had to run to catch my train. My bus driver kept cursing all of the students who take the bus I ride. Of course there are tons of students on the bus that goes to the university. I really don’t think the better solution would be that they all have their own cars. I don’t like it when people hate on students being students and environmentally friendly. All in all, I was relieved to get to Wiesbaden, where I got to spend some quality time with my German friends and included visits to two different Christmas markets! More on those later…</span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-59157014032090640702013-01-04T09:10:00.003-08:002013-01-04T09:10:49.270-08:00Hamburg - Hafenstadt and Freistadt<div class="MsoNormal">
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The weekend of December 15, I took a less-planned, more relaxed and at
times spontaneous, trip to Hamburg. Hamburg is my first German love. When I
traveled to Germany in 2000 with my German class, we spent about a week in
Munich and its environs and then headed north to Hamburg to stay with our
German host families. That previous fall, my family and I hosted a girl from
Hamburg, and I traveled to the old country in June to experience life as a
teenager in Germany. I loved Hamburg. I loved the freedom people my age had there.
I loved the harbor and seeing the evidence of the city’s strong shipping past
and present. I guess I have always liked big ships, and Hamburg has tons of
them. Hamburg is one of Germany’s largest cities, and in the past four months,
I have actually spent time in the four largest. I had been to Berlin, Hamburg,
Munich and Cologne before, but never during the same visit to Germany. From
that experience, here are some of my thoughts on Germany’s super-cities:</div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Berlin is the biggest hippy city of the four.
People in Berlin are a bit more casual, and the cultural diversity and
communist past (former east only) of the city marks a lot of its neighborhoods.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Munich is the conservative city. It is always
packed with tourists, and you notice them more than in the other four (except
for maybe when you hang out at the cathedral in Cologne).<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Cologne seems small compared to the other three.
Maybe I have spent the least amount of time in Cologne compared to the other
cities, but I also don’t want to go to Cologne as much as I would rather be in
the other three cities. The people, however, are very nice, and the melody of
German speech in Cologne is probably the most attractive of all the regional
dialects in Germany.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Hamburg is the city with the beautiful people.
With the shipping industry, there is a lot of international companies with
influence throughout the world. Of the four, I would want to live here the
most. The Elbe River is beautiful. The center of town has a lake too, the
Alster, and there are so many great neighborhoods. Plus, you are close to the
sea!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was visiting my friend, EJ, who is also conducting
fieldwork in Germany this year. We spent our days visiting as many Christmas
markets as possible (I think we saw four or five!), and checking out some of
her favorite places. On Saturday we had Persian food, at a restaurant where we
had our own private concert. Sunday we went to her church, where I choir-bombed
her choir and sang along with the rest of the members. Then we went
carol-bombing! EJ goes caroling every year, and she was having a hard time
getting her Hamburg friends to join her. Luckily, I also am a seasoned caroler
and have no qualms about singing in public, as long as there is a purpose to do
so. We brought much joy and good cheer to those who stopped to listen to us,
and we tried not to take any donations. What we did get EJ has donated to a
Hamburg charity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One of our low points caroling was when the police stopped
us in the underground station. We of course did not have a permit to perform in
the underground, but we were there because it was warmer, not rainy, and
provided good acoustics for singing. Thankfully the two police officers didn’t
arrest us or make us pay a fine. In their stop, they also said we sounded nice,
and they didn’t even interrupt us when we were singing one of our longer
carols!<o:p></o:p></div>
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We went to a posh bar Sunday night that had a great view of
the harbor, and Monday we attempted a walk along the river. It was too foggy to
really see much, unfortunately.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Enjoy the photos! Hamburg, I hope to see you again soon!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNYzl_2VzNg_HXYGhbaVK4GyKDoF8xg4SaJDSHc6gYDH3h8kYdzsGWVP-3H31SW0sMpwwIFSwhKX6h2AY-54cFzCcII31FAYa8OXkEzcdEzlw1TBj_j58e0OnpjT3rPVcRVXoC4iiegA/s1600/IMG_3038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNYzl_2VzNg_HXYGhbaVK4GyKDoF8xg4SaJDSHc6gYDH3h8kYdzsGWVP-3H31SW0sMpwwIFSwhKX6h2AY-54cFzCcII31FAYa8OXkEzcdEzlw1TBj_j58e0OnpjT3rPVcRVXoC4iiegA/s1600/IMG_3038.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the Rathaus and the Alster. The lights were beautiful at night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfJA8MnlMcWfWPSRyCNM6_uyRmxHkT1X44zNUpODHXr2cGVt8EftzTNYMh2yWA0MiM7zvUxPTIFCvoRqk0FpNpnxczTv4TmfAs5oZWPgWPDkRSICBNiCmP1Hxr8odjxbUbDdEZFf1Pk0/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSfJA8MnlMcWfWPSRyCNM6_uyRmxHkT1X44zNUpODHXr2cGVt8EftzTNYMh2yWA0MiM7zvUxPTIFCvoRqk0FpNpnxczTv4TmfAs5oZWPgWPDkRSICBNiCmP1Hxr8odjxbUbDdEZFf1Pk0/s1600/IMG_3044.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The market at the Rathaus was so packed! But, it was fantastic!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKGx0LQxiQln6G67Mwnro_Ezo_DuiqdyFnuH8ctndh8RNmRr51QjqEu7H6SpeM1jD1hwahwwjf556Z4tJFUrIAgmhMUuyluY051UrnIxv6-mkVePfiB5BYt1iUOTWQsxRiMNpmLmQQv0/s1600/IMG_3047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKGx0LQxiQln6G67Mwnro_Ezo_DuiqdyFnuH8ctndh8RNmRr51QjqEu7H6SpeM1jD1hwahwwjf556Z4tJFUrIAgmhMUuyluY051UrnIxv6-mkVePfiB5BYt1iUOTWQsxRiMNpmLmQQv0/s1600/IMG_3047.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the entrance to the market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EDVPmQP424CkwHDzY_JKM2HUgFOvi60caggyWCM4R0cMe922JafHR-2h9cTF6MRssOUWrIi1CAmZl93q39G_U5Vrys4tBEHKd1NcMWnmWX67V2_oxAd2_S2HlTtoDgH7r5YFnwB_u2Y/s1600/IMG_3048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5EDVPmQP424CkwHDzY_JKM2HUgFOvi60caggyWCM4R0cMe922JafHR-2h9cTF6MRssOUWrIi1CAmZl93q39G_U5Vrys4tBEHKd1NcMWnmWX67V2_oxAd2_S2HlTtoDgH7r5YFnwB_u2Y/s1600/IMG_3048.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the market, because it was awesome!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66ETlIs-Fznw75TvodKauiCTkmX2RVcg4mrRjbAUhGQrU5yBf5whrwfOTqohDw-feORW4UTGOHx0e21QQnQcEynqCMcGIe9unU77sYjUzOOyWGGqypcQvjKiwJX1VHFJvIc5zIy-poLU/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj66ETlIs-Fznw75TvodKauiCTkmX2RVcg4mrRjbAUhGQrU5yBf5whrwfOTqohDw-feORW4UTGOHx0e21QQnQcEynqCMcGIe9unU77sYjUzOOyWGGqypcQvjKiwJX1VHFJvIc5zIy-poLU/s1600/IMG_3051.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am in one of the many shopping centers in Hamburg. I liked the arched lights!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgorqlvs4LI6gZ7sfCcLnVomkE0D6QiyG-4RFXT4Ee74sZd0vxHmtSLInYOVJ1JnZKnkiEP7abxzHto8Oe3gqQ-FAtace2N3tqcYt0Et4mgduQzless5SghDjZBMOCtvtgkQZrm2WLtk/s1600/IMG_3056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjgorqlvs4LI6gZ7sfCcLnVomkE0D6QiyG-4RFXT4Ee74sZd0vxHmtSLInYOVJ1JnZKnkiEP7abxzHto8Oe3gqQ-FAtace2N3tqcYt0Et4mgduQzless5SghDjZBMOCtvtgkQZrm2WLtk/s1600/IMG_3056.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Weihnachts-moose! So cute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v3FqmjuXLyortdp1y-hsyFyueOsFYOc1u6uuOmErqp7Oin15zeEvsEy0vbVHMK52gI226_4J720CrwbmQFsHCpYd6l7syM39v6HnluXpaQg1Bx0kUrnxm2Nq_NnzCEoUI8ZvuQn3VEU/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v3FqmjuXLyortdp1y-hsyFyueOsFYOc1u6uuOmErqp7Oin15zeEvsEy0vbVHMK52gI226_4J720CrwbmQFsHCpYd6l7syM39v6HnluXpaQg1Bx0kUrnxm2Nq_NnzCEoUI8ZvuQn3VEU/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a shot of the harbor from the bar EJ and I went to. I bet it is nice during the day too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-68493439019698052832012-12-20T21:05:00.000-08:002012-12-20T21:05:05.829-08:00Post-Salzburg Bliss!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After my Salzburg adventure, I have barely slowed down.
After getting some good work done on Wednesday (I had my first interview for my
dissertation research!), I spent the rest of the week working on getting ready
for going to San Diego over the holiday.</div>
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Friday I continued my quest for Weihnachtsmarkt greatness! I
spent the day with my friend J, from the department store excitement photo
<a href="http://reneeatworkandatplay.blogspot.de/2012/12/die-lange-nacht.html">here</a>. We first took a quick trip to Siegburg, which is a small town near Bonn.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siegburg">Siegburg</a> is actually fairly significant, as one of Germany's main fast train lines
runs through Siegburg on its way to Frankfurt Airport. I haven’t taken a train
from Siegburg before, but lots of train searches suggest that I do so. Siegburg
has a medieval Christmas market. What is a medieval Christmas market, you may
be asking? Well, they aren’t that uncommon in Germany. Apparently Bremen has
one, as well as other cities. In Siegburg, visitors are treated to a medieval atmosphere:
some of the vendors use an antiquated version of German, vendors only use
candles to light their booths, ancient delicacies, like “Met,” or mead, are
offered to visitors, and most of the wares are hand-made. I was very tempted to
buy this guy:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dxcBVZMBM0S84mRF3kK_RB7vF9kMf1dLFnM5JSQnJ3QXKVplfmMEI_dgydSISY2iGXOhkWZ4GwJSrpZgCzJXUYtB6xjiwVdRjoROv3WNr2Pdi_WGFk3PKFRKFSElcYiI4O1GbMHa5d8/s1600/IMG_3000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dxcBVZMBM0S84mRF3kK_RB7vF9kMf1dLFnM5JSQnJ3QXKVplfmMEI_dgydSISY2iGXOhkWZ4GwJSrpZgCzJXUYtB6xjiwVdRjoROv3WNr2Pdi_WGFk3PKFRKFSElcYiI4O1GbMHa5d8/s1600/IMG_3000.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon wind chime. This is something that no one needs, but it was really cool!</td></tr>
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J and I got mead and walked around,
checking out the guys in jester costumes and watching some of the craftsman
build their products on site.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFiJ6VlbdjK4uGbvupILQZbU8J670SWWGSB2heXn1RextSMDrEBnw_bk0T7jXLQtCVvKX9tpv9evqFKBg0f4xWYF9iH9RxSYmr1ERv5cX5_6ZLwTRFPS1z6wShQEwQsDmo_6zk-iDA1c/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitFiJ6VlbdjK4uGbvupILQZbU8J670SWWGSB2heXn1RextSMDrEBnw_bk0T7jXLQtCVvKX9tpv9evqFKBg0f4xWYF9iH9RxSYmr1ERv5cX5_6ZLwTRFPS1z6wShQEwQsDmo_6zk-iDA1c/s1600/IMG_2996.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids were also trying their hand at wood carving. The carousal in the background was also hand-powered! </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vD8-ncU8rEA6OU2SP72OcX2prSC_Aezbw0X565oLk33c7TnafT7lBRKFDYNkD5AKZSMXMKamigNRnapjnZdMpv6Tun7zegjXGQkWcKkDWKCOLdGBnjoHVjCEr3Gqiybnt7VFTu1Vwx8/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vD8-ncU8rEA6OU2SP72OcX2prSC_Aezbw0X565oLk33c7TnafT7lBRKFDYNkD5AKZSMXMKamigNRnapjnZdMpv6Tun7zegjXGQkWcKkDWKCOLdGBnjoHVjCEr3Gqiybnt7VFTu1Vwx8/s1600/IMG_2997.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a good example of the candlelight and lamplight at the Medieval market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl_IsRiTyoMhBfWqNIpfuLf38ui1vQc3QubtYRNSsJOw8T-iuQfL6NM84f9_xGtgwB7NG_OHgmp6XxaMxpvNmLiVoh9AqCfxtQNmFmqoGgTG_X6-8OsrMNBr39GjSYhlw2h-ISgeAmkU/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinl_IsRiTyoMhBfWqNIpfuLf38ui1vQc3QubtYRNSsJOw8T-iuQfL6NM84f9_xGtgwB7NG_OHgmp6XxaMxpvNmLiVoh9AqCfxtQNmFmqoGgTG_X6-8OsrMNBr39GjSYhlw2h-ISgeAmkU/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mead, or "Met," is an alcoholic drink made of honey. I found it to be very sweet, but I should have expected it! All of the mugs in Siegburg were made of clay - very cool, and authentic, I guess!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA90BszgVzQUPOKIRAMY5kbvRKVhqLbM-OhvbJWd3WCDedP6XyMDar5MDnO46SWH8iNkRj33NyvOncKwI04HLed7uC-gBjuHaKm0zINrsXa4aG_j9yEpMwLZxLLUofP9uvudNpS9KGtFQ/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA90BszgVzQUPOKIRAMY5kbvRKVhqLbM-OhvbJWd3WCDedP6XyMDar5MDnO46SWH8iNkRj33NyvOncKwI04HLed7uC-gBjuHaKm0zINrsXa4aG_j9yEpMwLZxLLUofP9uvudNpS9KGtFQ/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In case you needed some pottery, this place had you covered!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We then left Siegburg for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen">Aachen</a>, a city on the
Belgian-Dutch-German border. I have wanted to go to Aachen for awhile, as I had heard
the city center is quite beautiful. I also heard good things about the
Christmas market, so we checked it out for a couple of hours. Some of the
highlights were visiting the cathedral, finding a boot-shaped Gluehwein mug,
and eating Flammkuchen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlyxJtr_Wo3vXydtz__bJaJa9zfmUprAUZ08xlNMPpBLbkBofjt5Rsu5qmarEd3RR7QB98mx8mezVmrWqnF8yEob7gsEMqAGp-o4pauNj7QZIOc35h3GXr4sfd30-L_vDO2IUSlMU-3c/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlyxJtr_Wo3vXydtz__bJaJa9zfmUprAUZ08xlNMPpBLbkBofjt5Rsu5qmarEd3RR7QB98mx8mezVmrWqnF8yEob7gsEMqAGp-o4pauNj7QZIOc35h3GXr4sfd30-L_vDO2IUSlMU-3c/s1600/IMG_3025.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a shot of the market from the Rathaus. It was very pretty at night.</td></tr>
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The Christmas market is located around Aachen’s cathedral
and city hall (Rathaus). Aachen is surprisingly hilly, and the Rathaus is up
the hill from the cathedral. Aachen was a significant part of the Holy Roman
Empire, and Charlemagne (Karl der Grosse) hung out there for a bit. The
cathedral’s octagonal structure was first built in the 8<sup>th</sup>(!!!)
century. The mosaic tiles are so beautiful. It reminds me of Ottoman
architecture and style, thanks to the inclusion of lots of blues and abstract
images (vines, flowers, and shapes), as opposed to portraits (although this
church has those too!). I need to go back during the day, and it was difficult
to take photos, and the sanctuary portion of the church was very difficult to
see in the dark lighting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPyjkTlVvQfZ6ucND-skQosO4qq-juVONTqpf1iVcABF4l7QA0ShQrA9juNbQTWG0mVeA15coEz876LdneBIKiTeD9I14WiaifHUkry4SxDDfIfd-anaNCp0vtH3_2G7GWaTg8h1xkoc/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPyjkTlVvQfZ6ucND-skQosO4qq-juVONTqpf1iVcABF4l7QA0ShQrA9juNbQTWG0mVeA15coEz876LdneBIKiTeD9I14WiaifHUkry4SxDDfIfd-anaNCp0vtH3_2G7GWaTg8h1xkoc/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a good example of the blue mosaic tiles and the different shapes on the ceiling.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vMOfkzpmxMP1csAXIrBLN6zd-wmwh2Fx5__hq2r4hhkDDIpiO0KZw5FOPyQcDuYgvXDbvici5bSOVTmxrV9n60b883S43Jts0X8pS1-ntBbM6uAuPE7Bo_T6JP-SYRWzIdR9bS1ejUo/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-vMOfkzpmxMP1csAXIrBLN6zd-wmwh2Fx5__hq2r4hhkDDIpiO0KZw5FOPyQcDuYgvXDbvici5bSOVTmxrV9n60b883S43Jts0X8pS1-ntBbM6uAuPE7Bo_T6JP-SYRWzIdR9bS1ejUo/s1600/IMG_3012.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Mary</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL5PXOsr_dz6IKTmsrhxdJ5a7v0ZXzNep1kGXouFnERDNDcqUgEZqQWvxy8N7be-bje2x3Yl-E2g6TGhoN3tbrTlwlTtvQTKb85aUHWsbTcuMig5nVmE7RGGW_OxGI1U0idlFVlPQAjo/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiL5PXOsr_dz6IKTmsrhxdJ5a7v0ZXzNep1kGXouFnERDNDcqUgEZqQWvxy8N7be-bje2x3Yl-E2g6TGhoN3tbrTlwlTtvQTKb85aUHWsbTcuMig5nVmE7RGGW_OxGI1U0idlFVlPQAjo/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another example of the beautiful tile work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I knew the Christmas market was a real winner when I saw
that they had boot-shaped mugs! I am not one to collect things, as I still
maintain a semi-nomadic lifestyle as a graduate student and I don’t have the
muscles or the space to transport and store objects. I do, however, have room
for another boot-shaped mug a la the mugs from Chicago’s market. B and I have
three different mugs from Chicago, and I finally have chosen a German mug to take home with me to add to the Gluehwein mug collection. I got another Eierpunsch at
this market, this time with whipped cream and no cinnamon. I still compare the
experience to drinking cake batter – sweet, and semi-thick, but hot! I also got
Flammkuchen, which is a thin, pizza-like food with a cream sauce and toppings,
like onions, bacon, and green onions. It was soooooo good! It certainly was a
nice change from the greasy items, like Reibekuchen, that I still love, but
probably don’t need to eat any more of this year. J got a fried fish filet,
which she said was also great!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYB8le3Ul7TiJH7DM5acJ_0Ts6knBnsj-si_kkqJLa1v3_nc9kmbgZy4cDRzzeJI2AMIfX_p8kHw3g3GR0Rpv_RUVWvNgcYhPl7pN8BN3upPnI9S1pm5nRpv77dhlXzA_Elhbrc6j1_8/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYB8le3Ul7TiJH7DM5acJ_0Ts6knBnsj-si_kkqJLa1v3_nc9kmbgZy4cDRzzeJI2AMIfX_p8kHw3g3GR0Rpv_RUVWvNgcYhPl7pN8BN3upPnI9S1pm5nRpv77dhlXzA_Elhbrc6j1_8/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is my Flammkuchen. It was very tasty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwkuGlrYzE-n7r_08ViPe6mxSDmju3azUIDurcTTqBYn2s8UCX1ypZcSMhqGrfNAc2SqV4FufF8EY-P2qy3-PBkUo8831NasrC7pVU_jEdEOUK74v5yZMCcQL-BDsM5QRK0G84suPCOs/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwkuGlrYzE-n7r_08ViPe6mxSDmju3azUIDurcTTqBYn2s8UCX1ypZcSMhqGrfNAc2SqV4FufF8EY-P2qy3-PBkUo8831NasrC7pVU_jEdEOUK74v5yZMCcQL-BDsM5QRK0G84suPCOs/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally, the long-awaited boot-shaped mug! I liked the color too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Aachen is also known for Printen – a gingerbread-like cookie
specific to this region. I bought a couple bags, tried a couple of types, and I
really liked them! Some are hard, some are soft, some are covered in chocolate
or sugar, others are plain. Aachen also has a confectionery that makes “Dominosteine,”
which are chocolate-covered cubes of gingerbread, apricot, and a bit of
marzipan. So wonderful!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpXrNOdj4J-YpgZClAFC4QQK4azWnC5B-kA1FNdjbqiXZT9LCNEPwluPQDIA85ly6hqNtJAUk1b7AkgYK_geS0UoR-seJxhobwtem_T83oZzeN8IZFKo0au__Wn2VgWjMr99gdOFK6Gs/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpXrNOdj4J-YpgZClAFC4QQK4azWnC5B-kA1FNdjbqiXZT9LCNEPwluPQDIA85ly6hqNtJAUk1b7AkgYK_geS0UoR-seJxhobwtem_T83oZzeN8IZFKo0au__Wn2VgWjMr99gdOFK6Gs/s1600/IMG_3029.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant inflatable Printen man! I don't think I would try to eat this one!</td></tr>
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Enjoy your last days before Christmas!</span>Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-26888137557608798422012-12-20T01:01:00.004-08:002012-12-20T01:01:38.264-08:00M is for Mistletoe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I finally got some great mistletoe shots in Salzburg. While you all wait for the scoop on my trip to Hamburg, enjoy these mistletoe shots!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUjID4rq4KpHNJPcFm4DzqNT0HNHad3xnVX2lGuiZiaYDtaUlUxz4qTy9EZOVqOLzqvc1mTTBumVY3pHfgRkoKn-m0aAncyAvE9PU4Tt3LQDmRTs8fXpYm_WMXOlvCKUtXHWlPuHYud0/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUjID4rq4KpHNJPcFm4DzqNT0HNHad3xnVX2lGuiZiaYDtaUlUxz4qTy9EZOVqOLzqvc1mTTBumVY3pHfgRkoKn-m0aAncyAvE9PU4Tt3LQDmRTs8fXpYm_WMXOlvCKUtXHWlPuHYud0/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is no mistletoe in this shot, but I liked the tree a lot!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsRM4ZnBCRNPOGuZh8tOMcIPTWE-yOnAgh5Ngsn1wDqUTic-LL0HZPkxpPVPgGUT_kZtlBaEOaVpJD_dbQReYqwehAV25JD_kC0rO3LuSiuE2Ttao4YFhrW4sFc1BiMCRDFW9fkyg2D0/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYsRM4ZnBCRNPOGuZh8tOMcIPTWE-yOnAgh5Ngsn1wDqUTic-LL0HZPkxpPVPgGUT_kZtlBaEOaVpJD_dbQReYqwehAV25JD_kC0rO3LuSiuE2Ttao4YFhrW4sFc1BiMCRDFW9fkyg2D0/s1600/IMG_2939.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much mistletoe!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkpFDnzoj3nUMkP-88OrRGQccljFF3arseK2VaL4cZWHueQ8awPZR83BOmnnNUGv21fmkrHzC3WJ-bJuQL34vcrvXBgfNFNxSf_UJpa-gyInqkQxpV_jmDBHAoktXceJEuBoN3aLQI0/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnZkpFDnzoj3nUMkP-88OrRGQccljFF3arseK2VaL4cZWHueQ8awPZR83BOmnnNUGv21fmkrHzC3WJ-bJuQL34vcrvXBgfNFNxSf_UJpa-gyInqkQxpV_jmDBHAoktXceJEuBoN3aLQI0/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is another shot from Mirabell Gardens. Everything looked so magical in the snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0LdqvgrCZYnsPS7YqeU-s6dppZMhujOMz97tZXChQDCzv-zN-k9ZoZ2PvQ-ohl2Li-8cq_PeZi4X11nQxJP4-rgY0dec1XUNHp765U0RiYlr2WvD6V5lRO4bZpBKvSyWJGijkBfySNc/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0LdqvgrCZYnsPS7YqeU-s6dppZMhujOMz97tZXChQDCzv-zN-k9ZoZ2PvQ-ohl2Li-8cq_PeZi4X11nQxJP4-rgY0dec1XUNHp765U0RiYlr2WvD6V5lRO4bZpBKvSyWJGijkBfySNc/s1600/IMG_2984.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The flying horse fountain. Not to be confused with the unicorn statues nearby.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTYQGScxClYIYi2htfaQCqaOb7SaQLGzpzinFsZOIDC2zgfSLGVazWtg1170sKTpVBovAT5yVXqunP3_XS2yt1T-KgWUL8UMwsi449Gd6mYtU0FTQN362Mzban0wN80dbnkQFFmSD7M/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkxTYQGScxClYIYi2htfaQCqaOb7SaQLGzpzinFsZOIDC2zgfSLGVazWtg1170sKTpVBovAT5yVXqunP3_XS2yt1T-KgWUL8UMwsi449Gd6mYtU0FTQN362Mzban0wN80dbnkQFFmSD7M/s1600/IMG_2990.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again with the mistletoe!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-88859140173985446482012-12-20T01:01:00.001-08:002012-12-20T01:01:08.044-08:00Salzburg!Back in August, I suggested to one of my BuKa friends that we should go to Salzburg in December. Sure, it would be cold, possibly snowy, and during a busy time of the year for us all, but I am so glad we went! I lived in Salzburg during Spring 2005, where I attended Salzburg College and lived with a host family. 2005 was the first time I had gone back to Europe after my first trip in 2000, when I was still in high school. I loved all things about my semester abroad, except for the expense. Still, I got to travel a lot during that semester, and highlights included learning how to ski in the Alps, taking voice lessons with a professor at the Mozarteum Conservatory, and improving my German. Clearly I caught the Europe bug after this trip, and as soon as I got home in June of that year, I was already trying to figure out how to get back.<br />
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I missed Christmas in Salzburg in 2005, but I did not miss the snow. We had tons of snow during the winter months, which made everything seem so much more magical and surreal. Our trip this week felt very similar. I was so excited that we arrived with snow already on the ground, and it continued to snow almost the entire time that we were there. Maybe that meant that we were a bit damp and cold at times, but I completely thought it was worth it!</div>
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Enjoy the photos, and the video from Rick Steves' Christmas Special: Austria edition!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Salzburg drink: Radler (half beer, half grapefruit juice)! So tasty and refreshing!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S and E were lacking in winter outerwear. The umbrellas helped with blocking the snow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strike>Cold </strike>Beautiful stroll along the Salzach river. E and S were not as excited about it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome snow-covered tree!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_D2dP0JEo43_8XOLvzxnOsKhPj_wfwUxy7t1puRTvQoPHoEVCATAVcXlo2ujeqP3icvreCYeJl9fBFxQDIUIDiyIphnTQDcnimy42TRYgGHBggyQx_pstI29CcZPcwz7_TfvW7p4VI/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmp_D2dP0JEo43_8XOLvzxnOsKhPj_wfwUxy7t1puRTvQoPHoEVCATAVcXlo2ujeqP3icvreCYeJl9fBFxQDIUIDiyIphnTQDcnimy42TRYgGHBggyQx_pstI29CcZPcwz7_TfvW7p4VI/s1600/IMG_2935.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's my city! Salzburg! Sooooooo pretty! This is the view from Mirabell Gardens, facing south towards the Altstadt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Much happier after a night's sleep, even though we still were lacking one travel buddy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mozart duckies! Have I mentioned that Mozart was born in Salzburg, and that he hated it here?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fortress plus new sculpture art.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked up to the fortress, and we found these cool Christmas decorations. Each ball kind of looked like it had a Santa hat on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E, S, and I, with the Dom in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhvfPFnX47MiaPEEVlO71pUy3LMbrulHUs_Iu18Arsvz8M_5epMar9tzyhcaMl5KHdchX62V_JVGV9OtHO84e_7eXWSJFTSGyd4dRMzugZqffOu53_K6MydcmjjWfQ3FeggWINFJFaUM/s1600/IMG_2960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhvfPFnX47MiaPEEVlO71pUy3LMbrulHUs_Iu18Arsvz8M_5epMar9tzyhcaMl5KHdchX62V_JVGV9OtHO84e_7eXWSJFTSGyd4dRMzugZqffOu53_K6MydcmjjWfQ3FeggWINFJFaUM/s1600/IMG_2960.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E taking a picture. We nearly slid down the path to the bottom of the mountain. Snow is pretty, and dangerous!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF7Uf_XR9TfAz4HKLNE4GUgSqaaPjL40_YJH3GK5we5mRneQEQVrpoJE0HsZdjVsiWRISXWficvY_cApfnqEpxDVeDOANwkoXzIOfvCOOF6Gi_4LIobFLqXW8_Fs5myAVfazwBg398nE/s1600/IMG_2962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF7Uf_XR9TfAz4HKLNE4GUgSqaaPjL40_YJH3GK5we5mRneQEQVrpoJE0HsZdjVsiWRISXWficvY_cApfnqEpxDVeDOANwkoXzIOfvCOOF6Gi_4LIobFLqXW8_Fs5myAVfazwBg398nE/s1600/IMG_2962.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Bob's father.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmiPHEDCsd8CLboFqkX1LqhCinWEMnzaAk_i-fYvRip2Xj2yBMgX02E-5uOJfizMXvaHP8beLg-l0s0NYTWjHJoHne-cZan2O7larhIvAR-V0LhV99DstEgREoiMMDthk78YAqJHNgCI/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmiPHEDCsd8CLboFqkX1LqhCinWEMnzaAk_i-fYvRip2Xj2yBMgX02E-5uOJfizMXvaHP8beLg-l0s0NYTWjHJoHne-cZan2O7larhIvAR-V0LhV99DstEgREoiMMDthk78YAqJHNgCI/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salzburg College Alum '05. We hung out here for a bit, getting a free coffee and using the free WIFI. Back in my day, there was no WIFI at Salzburg College. How things have changed!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQuMq1ZIdeG625OvtO-YOkFALbYK9yQGBNMZikOIJTVVwH2eC2OT6lNRTocWZPi0FndkiDgOzufPbg1YXkE7_66Yy2ig9WUgiqRAxxgz6T2GezXe7EAty2rJ7Z3eA0zdltIB9NW0W5YQ/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQuMq1ZIdeG625OvtO-YOkFALbYK9yQGBNMZikOIJTVVwH2eC2OT6lNRTocWZPi0FndkiDgOzufPbg1YXkE7_66Yy2ig9WUgiqRAxxgz6T2GezXe7EAty2rJ7Z3eA0zdltIB9NW0W5YQ/s1600/IMG_2974.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinach dumplings with browned butter and Parmesan. This was sooooo yummy, even though I couldn't finish it. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlRUyDDHnAdl8Jhm7xMgYPeW9JK9qtotCLFqkYZs9VKoiUaFAlvZyyUTKg8C1yOQVDBE9wegmg62a8XP0QHN31cq04dRYFvk7Y58V5NuQYBcmPLrqfePwJ3FqxqyLFeWBgOAcKXYydlA/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvlRUyDDHnAdl8Jhm7xMgYPeW9JK9qtotCLFqkYZs9VKoiUaFAlvZyyUTKg8C1yOQVDBE9wegmg62a8XP0QHN31cq04dRYFvk7Y58V5NuQYBcmPLrqfePwJ3FqxqyLFeWBgOAcKXYydlA/s1600/IMG_2975.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famous Salzburg dessert - whipped egg whites, sugar, and raspberries. Very delicious, very big!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNzH5tjgw6MyMwEhsaJSuJXyPdAkYlOUinNCjYklTsZ8Jv83qVj7qP8TRsN6p2H17reRPmaoSOWjWCcasvbT9AV4oo_wvPMBGc5k9MZkIntoDIsaEutZnmcKTxzRDyue1aCcM4x-OTMo/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNzH5tjgw6MyMwEhsaJSuJXyPdAkYlOUinNCjYklTsZ8Jv83qVj7qP8TRsN6p2H17reRPmaoSOWjWCcasvbT9AV4oo_wvPMBGc5k9MZkIntoDIsaEutZnmcKTxzRDyue1aCcM4x-OTMo/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfcDzXjzZn_8dZwAaYZqBeSUVib3h30yjT19dyls9C987Zg7-Zr8hyphenhyphenuaA3VHvGQOxBFUXR_EGob9NZQ7O1DILJarCtIwx8N1EKWMFynh_wf-u7A_swEmishcDII-e4n6Xy170ebCxQ8U/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfcDzXjzZn_8dZwAaYZqBeSUVib3h30yjT19dyls9C987Zg7-Zr8hyphenhyphenuaA3VHvGQOxBFUXR_EGob9NZQ7O1DILJarCtIwx8N1EKWMFynh_wf-u7A_swEmishcDII-e4n6Xy170ebCxQ8U/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This photo is awful, but I had to post it, because the idea behind it is so marvelous!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_VTYjnPBK_DU8t-jgPcJOs0ZyTyt5v9v8HRdLQK6OwOiTXOGm7muh0V-EHaip4Eg60hIsjtPaJVA8bHAMRwm7WD6XZwfkw10gtVt2DiUkfPOx31QfIS13l0s9YL2KJld1CAI6DeLmr4/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_VTYjnPBK_DU8t-jgPcJOs0ZyTyt5v9v8HRdLQK6OwOiTXOGm7muh0V-EHaip4Eg60hIsjtPaJVA8bHAMRwm7WD6XZwfkw10gtVt2DiUkfPOx31QfIS13l0s9YL2KJld1CAI6DeLmr4/s1600/IMG_2979.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Augustinerbraeu - my favorite hang-out in Salzburg. Monk-brewed beer, without preservatives, and a spirited atmosphere. The beer is great! L even finished hers, for the first time ever!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCx7HtT6rI8ECYL57aHWTAcg8JIzeV6v98_2PwPSR9ulhOKvF7AsvbZh-NJ62_5iQydCt8295xNADE_-OOxKQX_xLMN2j01mNKaj-XFmoSLYGyapiHoSV9s77cGA5VoVpea54ukRW7jM/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCx7HtT6rI8ECYL57aHWTAcg8JIzeV6v98_2PwPSR9ulhOKvF7AsvbZh-NJ62_5iQydCt8295xNADE_-OOxKQX_xLMN2j01mNKaj-XFmoSLYGyapiHoSV9s77cGA5VoVpea54ukRW7jM/s1600/IMG_2980.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S and her four beers. Actually, we each had one; she didn't drink all four!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSgtL_hhtG7OUOg6414IFoz1gB50Ml3wJLYYi10xzCHzH-9U0_u4BRxXS1elmkAXdhrKMd4XOT128lf3VKSzLgxzIG8jD_H7m2Mg4srC5ZW6xA2cQrTtBsN-u2nKoSYCPgsXOSoXgm1s/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSgtL_hhtG7OUOg6414IFoz1gB50Ml3wJLYYi10xzCHzH-9U0_u4BRxXS1elmkAXdhrKMd4XOT128lf3VKSzLgxzIG8jD_H7m2Mg4srC5ZW6xA2cQrTtBsN-u2nKoSYCPgsXOSoXgm1s/s1600/IMG_2988.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Many Humboldtian greetings from Salzburg!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-63538242142185454812012-12-16T08:56:00.001-08:002012-12-16T08:56:40.465-08:00Salzburg ChristkindlmarktSalzburg's Christmas market is a serious business. Their brochure remarked that about 1,000,000 people visit their market every year. That is crazy! I already had seen some scenes from Salzburg's market, as have you all, if you watched Rick Steves' video from my last post. I feel like this market is really professional. The organizers know tons of people are coming, so they have made it possible for these mobs to make it through the stands. The stands are very spaced out, and there are just two main squares with vendors, one in front of the Dom, and one to the south of the Dom. Enjoy the pictures!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLaCrnXxXsSgLXu2C8mNj3OUUAGtgeFAVHToM-BQkbKRZLbN7OfebfXEMwe9mJl_z_yQMatsUYnejsRdCYqg7inE0hvJATB7jC2i-VvfMOMczw-Ja7HQQNbXDUBKjBFkV5UylaXDftkA/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLaCrnXxXsSgLXu2C8mNj3OUUAGtgeFAVHToM-BQkbKRZLbN7OfebfXEMwe9mJl_z_yQMatsUYnejsRdCYqg7inE0hvJATB7jC2i-VvfMOMczw-Ja7HQQNbXDUBKjBFkV5UylaXDftkA/s1600/IMG_2966.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Christmas market!!!! I found the backdrop of the church to be wonderful! I love how Europeans like to light up their churches at night.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINjOJ-xX4o2CRF7wrxGcVGG5ashJmLbvQB_s9oWcxA_dd4HcIqHBALWYHAWzoez0M0GzH-NFAfkyF5rzjfQEkXTO0b_e97yU0ZWd0pqvBMYBt9_iTrNgo2Pp8BQ7YT5ZR49yss70gRXw/s1600/IMG_2967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiINjOJ-xX4o2CRF7wrxGcVGG5ashJmLbvQB_s9oWcxA_dd4HcIqHBALWYHAWzoez0M0GzH-NFAfkyF5rzjfQEkXTO0b_e97yU0ZWd0pqvBMYBt9_iTrNgo2Pp8BQ7YT5ZR49yss70gRXw/s1600/IMG_2967.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More little animals! These guys were super cute! A lot of vendors had intricate items for sale! If I knew what I'd do with all of these things, I would buy some. I am already wondering how I am going to get everything back to the USA after my year here, not to mention what I need to bring with for Christmas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4pSfOrGlEXXmF0-T9AQU0c_xq2M8OIfXh_R0uNYJRA04PiqPPtAYgL_m-R6VciRQRf5XrlrTXJcPKpVxj6UYVySKLyabpjE3ybxIr4PtW-W3a5C-4ZJ1XbLUjnoBctGOnQOHaEObrmQ/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4pSfOrGlEXXmF0-T9AQU0c_xq2M8OIfXh_R0uNYJRA04PiqPPtAYgL_m-R6VciRQRf5XrlrTXJcPKpVxj6UYVySKLyabpjE3ybxIr4PtW-W3a5C-4ZJ1XbLUjnoBctGOnQOHaEObrmQ/s1600/IMG_2968.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a pretty tree! The two trees in Bonn look like Charlie Brown trees in comparison to this. I think that people are afraid someone will steal the lower light strands from the trees in Bonn, so they look very dark close to the ground. This tree, however, is much better!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh101aLMWX7Q3v6iB1FOi-OeSAhWgXovlbMzUA4_AE4EOI3sVqhh8H73Qd6_CNUCA3xrttTHMPtS6Cs3z0fIfB3hxrmALlBikvDZBu6m2HiqLhOVP4Itd2vk_e7ixCe39redVBa0RhB1PY/s1600/IMG_2970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh101aLMWX7Q3v6iB1FOi-OeSAhWgXovlbMzUA4_AE4EOI3sVqhh8H73Qd6_CNUCA3xrttTHMPtS6Cs3z0fIfB3hxrmALlBikvDZBu6m2HiqLhOVP4Itd2vk_e7ixCe39redVBa0RhB1PY/s1600/IMG_2970.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Gluehwein! Here you can see how wide the walkways were. This Gluehwein was pretty good, but nothing too earth-shattering. My friends tried the blueberry Gluehwein, which apparently tasted like the traditional version.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61zPrtzMKM9p2_PvpXRyiOoYnCmyZrztQEnrENMoj8-ZHEgHjpZJsAt2a8Jj5JUHAn9hfCKxlN3nlU5C2x8aDtS1eV1zgyda4yPDDICb4V43YfLiPinXFdfVz2iq4M-ihqA2WKKF_3PM/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61zPrtzMKM9p2_PvpXRyiOoYnCmyZrztQEnrENMoj8-ZHEgHjpZJsAt2a8Jj5JUHAn9hfCKxlN3nlU5C2x8aDtS1eV1zgyda4yPDDICb4V43YfLiPinXFdfVz2iq4M-ihqA2WKKF_3PM/s1600/IMG_2971.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garland and light strands were a nice touch!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQj-jKFmCtNnRsunXg_RwJb53oeb-up1I_srh_5akzhmL8KPI7vsGmmBxOXAXkJ8uGl2hpZCjotGir-So4IwPSqFmA47Y2Rqn31k06QqCggwz5QWPIL3dHdKqbHtVlOlyOa1E05gUBZ2I/s1600/IMG_2972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQj-jKFmCtNnRsunXg_RwJb53oeb-up1I_srh_5akzhmL8KPI7vsGmmBxOXAXkJ8uGl2hpZCjotGir-So4IwPSqFmA47Y2Rqn31k06QqCggwz5QWPIL3dHdKqbHtVlOlyOa1E05gUBZ2I/s1600/IMG_2972.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies with their mugs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA3s3AsGQ7BoQwdD-s5LR7r_chh_WUecOLBEhhMvaTnLqhvj3vMGXG2I_nbyY7FL5z1Xmu4bIex349yEFlv0XcKhsnFfrhaY6xSLjAHX0a2vms95WXlT2oOoCqfyqb6qa8FtbRIMud2A/s1600/IMG_2973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVA3s3AsGQ7BoQwdD-s5LR7r_chh_WUecOLBEhhMvaTnLqhvj3vMGXG2I_nbyY7FL5z1Xmu4bIex349yEFlv0XcKhsnFfrhaY6xSLjAHX0a2vms95WXlT2oOoCqfyqb6qa8FtbRIMud2A/s1600/IMG_2973.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last market picture. I don't think all one million visitors were there on Monday night. I imagine it is completely packed on the weekends.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6doXUU0axgr4t3EgKByg0-jLcd5GrL8HlnxhSnqlRkLLUsVcooW7hCDc0iTwKguKYMnsb8M1apYLi52nSjGqJ7lC1z6zg_sbSPt_remPIgo4MpCtwISV1Cf7HI2nNN2eN1_WJzJImuxQ/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6doXUU0axgr4t3EgKByg0-jLcd5GrL8HlnxhSnqlRkLLUsVcooW7hCDc0iTwKguKYMnsb8M1apYLi52nSjGqJ7lC1z6zg_sbSPt_remPIgo4MpCtwISV1Cf7HI2nNN2eN1_WJzJImuxQ/s1600/IMG_2948.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mozart! This plaza hosts the ice rink, and it is right next to the Christmas market.</td></tr>
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Goodbye, Salzburg! Bis zum naechsten Mal! I hope I can get back sometime soon, but I really need to go back to Freiburg. I lived there even longer, but it is more difficult to get to than some other places in Germany and Austria.<br />
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Get excited for my next posts! Siegburg, Aachen, and Hamburg are all on the books for the next couple of days.Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-32953611563589754642012-12-14T05:10:00.000-08:002012-12-14T05:10:39.380-08:00Hark the Herald Angels Sing!Saturday was a great, and tiring, day! I had my first choir concert in Germany. I sang with Vox Bona, the chamber choir of the Kreuzkirche in Bonn. This Christmas concert was a "thank-you" concert for those who donate to the music ministry at the church. I got to invite a lot of friends to the concert, and two of my friends from my fellowship program even made it! I really enjoyed having them there! Of course, E and I went to the market before the concert! Following our Bonn concert, everyone had to drive to Cologne for an encore performance. I met up with E and S in downtown Cologne, allowing me to add to my Christmas market count: +2 markets in Cologne!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">E with her rum Gluehwein. This is right before she was introduced to Poffertjes, when her life changed forever, for the better!</td></tr>
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Enjoy these videos that E took for me!</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/WTz9Prd0I54?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Here is Ola Gjeilo's "Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium)."</div>
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My favorite, and my director's favorite, "Ave Maria" by Morten Lauridsen.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5LlpSUM1HBR27uDgf1R69v5A6-KZH-mEp8i_A0n84VnjHgA0xcTAjdTfHXlaD1o9oeE2jbJeuLaUfzJ4DtiCwY3vLJLpq5ZlvGvbkfH9jhSEN4dyDT78pUYGMT4fmu0cNP56GhrXJS0/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5LlpSUM1HBR27uDgf1R69v5A6-KZH-mEp8i_A0n84VnjHgA0xcTAjdTfHXlaD1o9oeE2jbJeuLaUfzJ4DtiCwY3vLJLpq5ZlvGvbkfH9jhSEN4dyDT78pUYGMT4fmu0cNP56GhrXJS0/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a shot from my concert! I am the second person from the right in the first row.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RG2E2QtH8j7arzS6IYyGar7VH6aa-AWKC1E7J21fhk8bjI-aXMuDRlX7DssbWrp-LAbZLPcQ6MNxBl6iLTLkfybhr4BnOeZRRpxk623XqW8xpFn6LnUK1t3wy4fH12Jp6D1QzTiRck/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-RG2E2QtH8j7arzS6IYyGar7VH6aa-AWKC1E7J21fhk8bjI-aXMuDRlX7DssbWrp-LAbZLPcQ6MNxBl6iLTLkfybhr4BnOeZRRpxk623XqW8xpFn6LnUK1t3wy4fH12Jp6D1QzTiRck/s1600/IMG_2894.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cologne Christmas market No. 1. The main market is right by the Dom, near the main train station. The church in the background makes this one of the prettiest markets, but the cookie-cutter, mall-kiosk style stands make the market feel generic and sterile. The Gluehwein was okay. The walk around was a bit stinky; I think there is some sort of stinky cheese dish that you can buy at this market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdeRHaH-qUm7wwdjaLcrPlZDB8TtWberavh4qg6dsBTbOJbqm4sPyF3I8Tvrcue1umcHem1VDYa_jVYJsgeVZZpgSehM6WyQvL1i8Mq9y6o050KIAxRYHDAkZ8Mjj3f0Fxs15W3bPUsY/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdeRHaH-qUm7wwdjaLcrPlZDB8TtWberavh4qg6dsBTbOJbqm4sPyF3I8Tvrcue1umcHem1VDYa_jVYJsgeVZZpgSehM6WyQvL1i8Mq9y6o050KIAxRYHDAkZ8Mjj3f0Fxs15W3bPUsY/s1600/IMG_2897.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree and lights at the center of the market are stunning! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cDlQagCtpkI8iTN_KNRroYn_EmcH6UPfXod-dnDUyPW2E2dOZ1hbWawM6VykvyFcXPVwbTSMSP-GfE5K2Rmoa7kR1py0BT2i9WtY-Szexsb1U4U_b95Al15y57ApmFwg-SSUkQ-GMgE/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3cDlQagCtpkI8iTN_KNRroYn_EmcH6UPfXod-dnDUyPW2E2dOZ1hbWawM6VykvyFcXPVwbTSMSP-GfE5K2Rmoa7kR1py0BT2i9WtY-Szexsb1U4U_b95Al15y57ApmFwg-SSUkQ-GMgE/s1600/IMG_2902.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cologne Christmas Market No. 2. I am not sure if this was the Neumarkt market, but it was less generic and the decorations were unique to each stand. We were trying to get to a restaurant I had eaten at this past summer, so this market was an accidental find.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmgzfqXoTugaJRoS0tC-ij0qrYLmNC9qsB6FxvTAzpxF6EeiQ9mWmJZZ_2EG7CRrp88sA4mvsezk2DE91vqeGbZgHI5a6d_XndBdy7nK9qnG_EEnFr1AS-zkV2WvjCtu33eZN1GE04Zw/s1600/IMG_2907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtmgzfqXoTugaJRoS0tC-ij0qrYLmNC9qsB6FxvTAzpxF6EeiQ9mWmJZZ_2EG7CRrp88sA4mvsezk2DE91vqeGbZgHI5a6d_XndBdy7nK9qnG_EEnFr1AS-zkV2WvjCtu33eZN1GE04Zw/s1600/IMG_2907.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lighting was cool here too. I loved the purple!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ybw0DZI962COzWCSYT6Q9C3hGHtfZ8w1H45zv0mIF20tztw85uySiKgo7YPyQ-RGkxlgFpUgpmSKUt_qad8MuNWGjSen5tbx8YOcx0czFl473na-BoQmyuHryckNCczlrYHdZLcyJs8/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ybw0DZI962COzWCSYT6Q9C3hGHtfZ8w1H45zv0mIF20tztw85uySiKgo7YPyQ-RGkxlgFpUgpmSKUt_qad8MuNWGjSen5tbx8YOcx0czFl473na-BoQmyuHryckNCczlrYHdZLcyJs8/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">S and I at Loewenbraeu, the only place that had space for us to eat! Generally I don't go to Munich-based restaurants in places other than Munich, but the food and Gluehwein were tasty!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi1WPpkc-MWHAG9bMlaNVe18SPb5xrfkiLP1EAIoSx2tLtruWBx28puNiwZY0Jsso4nriC-ZzHi8wDWFSD9tIFKz3geNYsoh4TSNS5tA-A1KAnoQmWo7SZQ8kP8Ip-iV2Jz3LWu_7SAM/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOi1WPpkc-MWHAG9bMlaNVe18SPb5xrfkiLP1EAIoSx2tLtruWBx28puNiwZY0Jsso4nriC-ZzHi8wDWFSD9tIFKz3geNYsoh4TSNS5tA-A1KAnoQmWo7SZQ8kP8Ip-iV2Jz3LWu_7SAM/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schnitzel "Hawaii" with Bratkartoffeln! I haven't eaten this much food in awhile!</td></tr>
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Get excited about the next posts: all snow and Salzburg!</div>
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-23083016394076022232012-12-12T23:33:00.003-08:002012-12-12T23:34:37.144-08:00So many new things!The last week has been a whirlwind. I have not posted anything for days, not because the weather was gray and nothing was happening, but because the weather was white, and I haven't stopped since Thursday! I have tons of things to share, but I am going to spread it all out over a couple of posts.<br />
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If you all remember, last Friday we were supposed to get snow in Bonn. Although I don't think we got the 10 centimeters we were supposed to, it did snow, and it was beautiful!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf4-pkQXIt2H2obabgTgiRbSoOEpnbqFPLxft03l9n0KWjTJYDK1huyO_QonvtqEDkqY2Rv-VR31mYpWsmykaZhBoWLo1WFp48l63LLoNwYrpvqV_8uNTjCVI4QaEwno8OmicudUW2Gg/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGf4-pkQXIt2H2obabgTgiRbSoOEpnbqFPLxft03l9n0KWjTJYDK1huyO_QonvtqEDkqY2Rv-VR31mYpWsmykaZhBoWLo1WFp48l63LLoNwYrpvqV_8uNTjCVI4QaEwno8OmicudUW2Gg/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At times we even had big, fluffy snowflakes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdQXdA1qDiwVBkdJqOW6Pey0xAct4AXKYfAZESfniafeHtoh-woxGVCRgJXCxFEUMIDNM6_KJtWnoN8ojwA7BioWKuq_cDZhoZ-BnnhJWp0s_UQu9E-Kg2FYYaRcNkIhY6pwIdA7an-I/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdQXdA1qDiwVBkdJqOW6Pey0xAct4AXKYfAZESfniafeHtoh-woxGVCRgJXCxFEUMIDNM6_KJtWnoN8ojwA7BioWKuq_cDZhoZ-BnnhJWp0s_UQu9E-Kg2FYYaRcNkIhY6pwIdA7an-I/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is actually a photo from Saturday morning. Everything was so peaceful!</td></tr>
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My main activity on Friday was baking. My German tandem partner picked me up in the afternoon, and we bought the necessary baking ingredients for "Hausfreunden," macaroons, and molasses cookies.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN7CILzGBmAdNb87bqAcPoUlHj4XlqigM426DIGaACyTsxyWozzM1O9MczYAPqRbsMZT7T_RNeeaoY-5xC56qHdqrRg5R9awog84ZIDHTTTTHknZLVKqkPedprYp1vGaBQDo3msSg8ts/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIN7CILzGBmAdNb87bqAcPoUlHj4XlqigM426DIGaACyTsxyWozzM1O9MczYAPqRbsMZT7T_RNeeaoY-5xC56qHdqrRg5R9awog84ZIDHTTTTHknZLVKqkPedprYp1vGaBQDo3msSg8ts/s1600/IMG_2876.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My grandma's molasses cookies! These are my all-time favorite Christmas cookie! I make these for nearly all of my holiday gatherings, and they are loved everywhere I bring them. They taste like Christmas!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT280xcasQrMKDR3JEnZPV20sfzhVxeVEuLMfq_7lG0VrvedwQKqSkf-Nlv8TspV4CC9RvCPuGSQbkYuGvvkwZPzrIsvi_qq2GAPnLjofudpD5KOSbYgNLdvYWkvkwOdu3RWzDjkgnqI/s1600/IMG_2879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsT280xcasQrMKDR3JEnZPV20sfzhVxeVEuLMfq_7lG0VrvedwQKqSkf-Nlv8TspV4CC9RvCPuGSQbkYuGvvkwZPzrIsvi_qq2GAPnLjofudpD5KOSbYgNLdvYWkvkwOdu3RWzDjkgnqI/s1600/IMG_2879.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hausfreunden" are a layered cookie, with sugar cookies, two layers of apricot jam, and thin circles of marzipan. We dipped them in a mixture of milk and dark chocolate. These were a lot of work, but they were worth it! If you are wondering what "Hausfreunden" means, it is basically the lover of a married woman. So, I have been calling these pool boys. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99bNd1ZrJWRig6HKzUh7zNiE6splISI3XrW8lp9xsfB0ulQp8qBXTsU7DPwOixfNDnBo_Bmfk6LOyB8Fw_TJ1LZoKJ1chEsMdUKfZGKzhKFIa9i7zMl1GSLo9NESAXG9mQBSl548hL3M/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99bNd1ZrJWRig6HKzUh7zNiE6splISI3XrW8lp9xsfB0ulQp8qBXTsU7DPwOixfNDnBo_Bmfk6LOyB8Fw_TJ1LZoKJ1chEsMdUKfZGKzhKFIa9i7zMl1GSLo9NESAXG9mQBSl548hL3M/s1600/IMG_2881.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had never made macaroons before. These we also tasty, and probably the easiest to make, except for separating the egg whites from the yolks. My tandem partner requested that I do the separating.</td></tr>
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All of the cookies are gone now, after I took some to Austria with me, as well as sharing them with BuKa friends and my Bible study friends last night.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsSJa1AbXBLNG8T7MqLv8Z34-71amYxCEMlWVg_AOJ8ECmWsG5b7Fx7i-wvZsUJdH5UjpCxfZKKZWEeT8-eIwBIIl677gs7X3pSyfvcRBelb_bCskuTnLwn52hCENECAVhGA9kIZeURg/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsSJa1AbXBLNG8T7MqLv8Z34-71amYxCEMlWVg_AOJ8ECmWsG5b7Fx7i-wvZsUJdH5UjpCxfZKKZWEeT8-eIwBIIl677gs7X3pSyfvcRBelb_bCskuTnLwn52hCENECAVhGA9kIZeURg/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did you know that snow makes Weihnachtsmaerkte even more beautiful!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-71621698905942370042012-12-06T13:17:00.000-08:002012-12-06T13:17:15.750-08:00Blog DarknessSorry about my recent absence from Blogland. When I embarked on the challenge of writing about German Christmas markets every day, my wise husband suggested that I avoid repetition. Otherwise I might lose my readers! So, the last few days have been relatively slow - Christmas-market-speaking. I feel like Bonn has been trapped in a wet darkness for a week, and going to the market has either been inconvenient, because I've been working on other things, or completely undesirable, as the rain and wind would make the walk unbearable!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3B38hZ48WeLOHFaTBCA6wgCEGn5kgmDnif866D0HOszCKHdjo8NW0ntE0XDZ4zru-RRib2hfFaxMoaQncBhWUtaFqSIwAbhRW9SkubmQGB8N3xo1C42kyizu8xoVgq631yQQXdeMEfE/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beethoven is getting sick of the rain and long nights too!</td></tr>
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The darkness that blankets Europe in winter reminded me that I actually have it better than my neighbors to the north: Scandinavia! As I type this, I am watching a show about Norway (in the summer, so it actually looks amazing!). I also thought of another one of Rick Steves' Christmas clips! I know you all were wondering how one celebrates Christmas in Norway. Check it out!<br />
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Today was an important day during the German Christmas calendar: Saint Nicolas Day, or Nikolaustag! Traditionally, children leave their shoes out on the night of the 5th, and they wake up to sweets or gifts in their shoes! As a child, my mom treated my brother and I to this celebration a few times! (This was a definite nod to my mom's German-ish roots.) I decided to celebrate by surprising my roommate with some chocolates and a personalized greeting from St. Nikolaus himself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhSrIvskBKgrbXGxa8UU4kMvLzvADKuuDlTfdD5uoIjE6NkrSDKcJ83jilMdLkttjyMOprCX7WDxN0aKDsiZe8LxwMgWjzdxnmTMMTXaGCTpF_uaqmNfcnvtTLBHnTl2-7XE6bBzHYK0/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUhSrIvskBKgrbXGxa8UU4kMvLzvADKuuDlTfdD5uoIjE6NkrSDKcJ83jilMdLkttjyMOprCX7WDxN0aKDsiZe8LxwMgWjzdxnmTMMTXaGCTpF_uaqmNfcnvtTLBHnTl2-7XE6bBzHYK0/s1600/IMG_2863.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check it out! I still have mad drawing skills, even they are a bit rusty. It reads, "I wish you a nice St. Nicolas day!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR22E0rv9eeIAwY1CEPUrtNYMmim75g_qmfou3yJOkBSyJPAfTAlFMHeBe6h8sVdZydK150VpAI4IXge9kI50-enJyzfRYGYv69UahGroKvMcVIJZXjq1oevqTBU8MRxT9li0wbTHc-M/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyR22E0rv9eeIAwY1CEPUrtNYMmim75g_qmfou3yJOkBSyJPAfTAlFMHeBe6h8sVdZydK150VpAI4IXge9kI50-enJyzfRYGYv69UahGroKvMcVIJZXjq1oevqTBU8MRxT9li0wbTHc-M/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As I was getting some shopping done today, I spotted him! Live and in the flesh! I think he looks a lot like my drawing.</td></tr>
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Today I also went to Koblenz, and as I headed further south, I saw snow! It had even coated the ground a bit, and you could really see it in the mountains around the town. Bonn did not have any snow on the ground this morning, keeping true to its reputation as a semi-temperate locale in winter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp7LKyQ5_weNdrz1F-lqko4QcK_SCxMP1I8AHJlgGV4alaFcmWNNSWvX-0WDRop6d_sYCgNo2Segm9AlUXCyS8eqGX0UadX-B1EBryPVkMU5t1DnFIKBf4EO3tCY2MKaSjyU00-yaU8I/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIp7LKyQ5_weNdrz1F-lqko4QcK_SCxMP1I8AHJlgGV4alaFcmWNNSWvX-0WDRop6d_sYCgNo2Segm9AlUXCyS8eqGX0UadX-B1EBryPVkMU5t1DnFIKBf4EO3tCY2MKaSjyU00-yaU8I/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a shot from my bus stop at the Uni, located near the Mosel River.</td></tr>
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I am really hoping that this preview of snow will be in my near future...<br />
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We have a weather warning for snow tomorrow! All day! We could get 10 cm! I am very excited! To make things even better, I am going to be baking Christmas cookies with a friend tomorrow, and possibly visit a new Weihnachtsmarkt!<br />
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Stay tuned, world, things just got a lot more exciting in Blogland!
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-oUW02AwUJzA%2FUMEG8uM60NI%2FAAAAAAAAAp8%2F-oCA17urpQk%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2871.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD3B38hZ48WeLOHFaTBCA6wgCEGn5kgmDnif866D0HOszCKHdjo8NW0ntE0XDZ4zru-RRib2hfFaxMoaQncBhWUtaFqSIwAbhRW9SkubmQGB8N3xo1C42kyizu8xoVgq631yQQXdeMEfE/s1600/IMG_2871.JPG" -->Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-12382256355617049942012-12-02T12:30:00.002-08:002012-12-06T13:19:16.873-08:00Die lange Nacht!Friday night was Bonn's long night. The market was open until midnight, and a lot of shops near the market stayed open until 10:00 pm, which never happens in Germany. Germany is the land of conservative store hours. If you run out of anything food-wise on Sunday, you are out of luck. You will not be able to buy it until Monday morning. But Friday was all about celebrating and eating! I was accompanied by two friends, an American and a German, who I've met since living in Bonn. I was extremely happy that I had people with whom to experience the market. Both of them actually had not been to the Weihnachtsmarkt yet, so we got to spend a good time taking in all the stands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoa2u40sBfZzvYJiwLn4QZsM9EGPl_65quFxPtqt4Z0cGH3RObdDgWibRcmpn7_BtoNrpaDVye5iWI_ZfF4N2ln7zQb2VYGeBtdijg-_mMs0rrZcM2cvvi2XVerXBhb9F9Bvydmqaamk/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPoa2u40sBfZzvYJiwLn4QZsM9EGPl_65quFxPtqt4Z0cGH3RObdDgWibRcmpn7_BtoNrpaDVye5iWI_ZfF4N2ln7zQb2VYGeBtdijg-_mMs0rrZcM2cvvi2XVerXBhb9F9Bvydmqaamk/s1600/IMG_2849.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these strands of lights! I don't think I've posted a nighttime shot of them yet. I saw this style of light first in Toulouse. This is the view from Marktplatz towards the Muensterplatz.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now we are among the strands!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMKHfqn8ylbMblDNkgzcQx_an_8xVEySTgHCNwHaRCZR3ZxDlwFi3EBP-F4qVDIPUzP9qc0-jtChU51A5JCNcTmjapKu7ZlnGdqRzPPCLcYVpdVEWChYDkBQnYyioQU9tS2HcY8XtWQM/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlMKHfqn8ylbMblDNkgzcQx_an_8xVEySTgHCNwHaRCZR3ZxDlwFi3EBP-F4qVDIPUzP9qc0-jtChU51A5JCNcTmjapKu7ZlnGdqRzPPCLcYVpdVEWChYDkBQnYyioQU9tS2HcY8XtWQM/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend J and I! Friday was the first night that temperatures dipped to 0 degrees Celsius. Perfect Gluehwein weather!</td></tr>
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Friday I had two of the same type of Gluehwein. I liked this traditional version a lot better than the Gluehwein from the other night. My German friend said that the stand we went to allegedly has the best Gluehwein. The red version was also served with a slice of lemon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEPZjB8AVOEwEpeAJvwCOyOiIKlNrNla0tyF1Ql9UBPl-tNitbcWUcK2IYBsWL_NGTI7PZ9LATcIqKEjMPQjTLeA5gZFHV_4zksBBaCWVvnuWjO1_l1CAzlGKteiAR7mRUKypncZx5Yg/s1600/IMG_2854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEPZjB8AVOEwEpeAJvwCOyOiIKlNrNla0tyF1Ql9UBPl-tNitbcWUcK2IYBsWL_NGTI7PZ9LATcIqKEjMPQjTLeA5gZFHV_4zksBBaCWVvnuWjO1_l1CAzlGKteiAR7mRUKypncZx5Yg/s1600/IMG_2854.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">J and her Dampfnudel. I still haven't tried this fan favorite. But it is on my list! It is smothered in vanilla sauce and hot cherries.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My new experience was Poffertjes, or Dutch mini pancakes. Now, I enjoy pancakes as much as the next girl, but I am not obsessed with them. These little guys, however, were amazing! I got eight mini cakes, with Eierlikoer and whipped cream on top. And, to make it even better, all was served in an edible waffle bowl! So tasty, so good! How am I going to survive life once the Weihnachtsmarkt is gone!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7rG-DjWKvG5zmJWWBIbc8dJWRCd87FBjiAFbaYtHmWw3gbAT2hYt4V2BSE2GkcEkuKiZYiRzAZrezKfzVVddH-KeE1FOt7sdK45IfkEVBb413R7Hei9Rt818m0292GFeXsgZpbasfF4/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX7rG-DjWKvG5zmJWWBIbc8dJWRCd87FBjiAFbaYtHmWw3gbAT2hYt4V2BSE2GkcEkuKiZYiRzAZrezKfzVVddH-KeE1FOt7sdK45IfkEVBb413R7Hei9Rt818m0292GFeXsgZpbasfF4/s1600/IMG_2856.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poffertjes, aka Dutch mini pancakes. Yum!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JUQLs1Z90YGloCkUu3_h-4BEN11-VvPFVet54snM-IWMzS7Zda_JbI6nVGD-HGX_zfq-OjpznlKtUvyIdFO0vmWSfR3iYa6C2pUbwE7T-mQ3bgckwHPtarkz7U-rkuUL3r1Payf471Q/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JUQLs1Z90YGloCkUu3_h-4BEN11-VvPFVet54snM-IWMzS7Zda_JbI6nVGD-HGX_zfq-OjpznlKtUvyIdFO0vmWSfR3iYa6C2pUbwE7T-mQ3bgckwHPtarkz7U-rkuUL3r1Payf471Q/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped by the department store window. Check out the child-like wonder in J and J's eyes! Gotta love the reflection in the window too!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPpCGVOD5eQHEieQKqfqK2IY32Qzh6rxRRrlskqQBP7RyLSwfPYMUAjZoxWnbKU5Rb6LJYgf3FTNaORNIVUkCKYU2RbDnWqU6zs1Jn-2r7KOgt1XfiAa2av8YCPaJ0Mj3CVNNIuWlMGE/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPpCGVOD5eQHEieQKqfqK2IY32Qzh6rxRRrlskqQBP7RyLSwfPYMUAjZoxWnbKU5Rb6LJYgf3FTNaORNIVUkCKYU2RbDnWqU6zs1Jn-2r7KOgt1XfiAa2av8YCPaJ0Mj3CVNNIuWlMGE/s1600/IMG_2860.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also got a sausage! Krakauer, to be exact. Sorry about the angle; I can't rotate images once they get to Blogger!</td></tr>
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Saturday I took a quiet trip into town to run some errands, and I picked up another one of the bread-pizza things, but this time I got it with onions and cheese. Also good! Next time I need to try the bread, which is baked in a stone oven. So delicious!<br />
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Today I had waffles with one of my choir friends and his family. Also good times, even if there was no Christmas market visit today. In other news, it snowed in Bonn last night, and a bit this morning! I think winter is almost here!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-6151670017321749102012-11-30T09:23:00.002-08:002012-12-06T13:19:51.541-08:00Koblenz MarketAs promised, here is the low-down on the Weihnachtsmarkt in Koblenz. Yesterday, after meeting with my host professor, I headed out a bit earlier to snap some shots of Koblenz's market. As many of you know, I travel to Koblenz once a week to work at my host university. Despite being there almost 10 times, I have not taken the time to see more of the city, besides the train station and the Uni, which is located nowhere near the center of town. So, these shots are not only Christmas shots, but first shots of the city I don't really know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRrr5EARLGG0eMv5H6LlfSSMXv2TXqZDyGJwN5X74Nyn3tX1QxnnxKEWXXiqO4daOhehaqmUI3NKsG8rc0YgR3ZlZRpgcJf8zbxr7VewqmFWSPtrPH_Vl8hmP9ari9-6GWJQUeialxms/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRrr5EARLGG0eMv5H6LlfSSMXv2TXqZDyGJwN5X74Nyn3tX1QxnnxKEWXXiqO4daOhehaqmUI3NKsG8rc0YgR3ZlZRpgcJf8zbxr7VewqmFWSPtrPH_Vl8hmP9ari9-6GWJQUeialxms/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Koblenz does have some cute houses. The architecture in the city center is more traditional than Bonn's except for the city's new mall, the Forum, which is huge and has a green, fake leaf metal casing around it. (See below.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://www.haufe.de/image/forum-mittelrheinece-139718-large-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credits from <a href="http://www.haufe.de/immobilien/entwicklung-vermarktung/einkaufszentrum-forum-mittelrhein-in-koblenz-eroeffnet_262_139716.html">here</a>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDIP8J1cXi2AQcHRl2KgXp3qi9j8UnEgWuXkYNDe3s-1FwUckhRo4lolaowAteqemBkCujqCtHiwivXaU12qRR_ysmAJ2f8AVMchDzI1ZJR4xL6BB4jjCgHNWXM7p0wyqKAht96o2VKg/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLDIP8J1cXi2AQcHRl2KgXp3qi9j8UnEgWuXkYNDe3s-1FwUckhRo4lolaowAteqemBkCujqCtHiwivXaU12qRR_ysmAJ2f8AVMchDzI1ZJR4xL6BB4jjCgHNWXM7p0wyqKAht96o2VKg/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There wasn't a lot going on at the market yesterday. Partly that was because the weather was awful, and I was there in the early afternoon. Still the Gluehwein pyramids were ready for patrons!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AMKbxlCYYcwHOLno-089R4_GqjqlVN1VmDCLZ8_7nLxUatAQ4-8YjaOiJOR8ptunO0920FPtdlW8YPBRo8lLmsuBh5tGNQ4FNqWJvlJnvcA-GvjpMxOFHhcS6OtQUm6GT9HzAPGOr6c/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2AMKbxlCYYcwHOLno-089R4_GqjqlVN1VmDCLZ8_7nLxUatAQ4-8YjaOiJOR8ptunO0920FPtdlW8YPBRo8lLmsuBh5tGNQ4FNqWJvlJnvcA-GvjpMxOFHhcS6OtQUm6GT9HzAPGOr6c/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What, a statue on a market stand? Haven't seen that before!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtBWq8azkJBP3QnNGkXGYI8pwdfYDCe-Q3uAPWa9yg1b3LVCNt_K3jT3kJVPRRNElbgfmpLqA8D-8-elWZHUYTv-VpCJ7QoX_he60-1clp1z6D08EbdvBVoBbioaZ5jFFJ1xhAA323jA/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVtBWq8azkJBP3QnNGkXGYI8pwdfYDCe-Q3uAPWa9yg1b3LVCNt_K3jT3kJVPRRNElbgfmpLqA8D-8-elWZHUYTv-VpCJ7QoX_he60-1clp1z6D08EbdvBVoBbioaZ5jFFJ1xhAA323jA/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the most popular stand I saw. Koblenz's market is spread out on several different markets. For someone who had never been there before, I just sort of wandered around and hoped I'd find one of the areas with the market.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwglqEWtcgcXkwzWbQ9J9da4Gkc8SwznkzE-gLKRgAKrw3O5J_BG_UOBHq5jcc93wDXIexKnC4g3ROGRQvP33OKjlayXb9gXxOiv9niKwwuUiv97I408P47kM9MDPgJkCgaP-e-0lIlY/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwglqEWtcgcXkwzWbQ9J9da4Gkc8SwznkzE-gLKRgAKrw3O5J_BG_UOBHq5jcc93wDXIexKnC4g3ROGRQvP33OKjlayXb9gXxOiv9niKwwuUiv97I408P47kM9MDPgJkCgaP-e-0lIlY/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says Christmas in Germany like a Bitburger beer stand in the shape of a Dutch windmill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezsK_FvCXWm2Bo4Nx0K-dRHMJFqxCmcHQfnlu15QK7JjdGJqvzDPUSX1c5TJPaW1wHuBSo7D1pErm1m7JsqPje7YXE8j57aFI_oeZaBwMZH1oyWGVgAgUPlRLkk58PFvWKrbv0bTl1gc/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezsK_FvCXWm2Bo4Nx0K-dRHMJFqxCmcHQfnlu15QK7JjdGJqvzDPUSX1c5TJPaW1wHuBSo7D1pErm1m7JsqPje7YXE8j57aFI_oeZaBwMZH1oyWGVgAgUPlRLkk58PFvWKrbv0bTl1gc/s1600/IMG_2840.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is another Koblenz building, with images from German fairy tales.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqIHMVpM8-P6DbGVlxvtEOKM2jagy5gfQ_dd605_qJEjgIGwQy6H5H-dNIPye4OmgDKtuOdutj582nD5g3l8B2qa_UeZ_D1TICn5_34Bw54YNhlDqVsnnySmWZn_G1naMUDiz7Ssx2HM/s1600/IMG_2842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDqIHMVpM8-P6DbGVlxvtEOKM2jagy5gfQ_dd605_qJEjgIGwQy6H5H-dNIPye4OmgDKtuOdutj582nD5g3l8B2qa_UeZ_D1TICn5_34Bw54YNhlDqVsnnySmWZn_G1naMUDiz7Ssx2HM/s1600/IMG_2842.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the main Catholic church in Koblenz. It was very pretty!</td></tr>
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Overall, I was not very impressed with the Koblenz market. To be fair, I probably need to experience it during the evening, but it still had fewer vendors, and it just wasn't as exciting looking as Bonn's! Bonn ist besser! (Bonn is better!)<br />
<br />
When my roommate asked me yesterday if I wanted to go to our market, I thought about saying no, citing the rain and my cold as excuses, but then I decided, "I only live once!" I can always be sick on Friday (which I still am).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1PGEY21TSCpbluh9sfd1E9JEuzHj-O29ZyB_iDhvQ4sm_V7ao85wZX8UxE-wnFJ8ciyVyHO5hvfOJL-rv3hiKqGj-cn1t9oME2yXB6duyTiLpY5AOZ9y_W2KjknLHpU-lRbPjqDoW5Q/s1600/IMG_2844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1PGEY21TSCpbluh9sfd1E9JEuzHj-O29ZyB_iDhvQ4sm_V7ao85wZX8UxE-wnFJ8ciyVyHO5hvfOJL-rv3hiKqGj-cn1t9oME2yXB6duyTiLpY5AOZ9y_W2KjknLHpU-lRbPjqDoW5Q/s1600/IMG_2844.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To aid in comparative testing, I tried regular Gluehwein. It was okay, but not as good as my homemade recipe. I guess I should stick to trying the more exotic types, the ones I don't know how to make myself!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLlvUTx1Ghnr27neX84sKtDzpMBrOTO4QukSfZd9okOq1MtDNqJO11vXlws872p-QZqybAT87Fxry1JSN7fetqikWt3B1PkarIviB_ixMusmUEtrgKWZ5xWFiQ1WXWq5K2mFwyii68VM/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLlvUTx1Ghnr27neX84sKtDzpMBrOTO4QukSfZd9okOq1MtDNqJO11vXlws872p-QZqybAT87Fxry1JSN7fetqikWt3B1PkarIviB_ixMusmUEtrgKWZ5xWFiQ1WXWq5K2mFwyii68VM/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My second dinner: Reibekuchen mit Apfelmus. Potato pancakes with applesauce. This was soooo delicious! I shouldn't have thought otherwise. When ever are deep-fried potato products NOT delicious?<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Tonight I am going to the market again, so we will see how crowded it is with the extended hours. Have a great Friday, everyone!</span></div>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-9861523496991881112012-11-29T03:48:00.000-08:002012-12-06T13:21:30.899-08:00Catching UpYesterday, if you can believe it, I DID NOT visit the Christmas market! I know, I felt like a slacker for not eating anything sweet or drinking anything <strike>spiked</strike> spiced, but I am trying to get over my cold, and I need to be in tip top shape for the "Lange Nacht" on Friday. Only on this day will the Weihnachtsmarkt be open until midnight! I think that will give all cheer-lovers more than enough time to enjoy the market!<br />
<br />
Today I only have a few random things to share. First, after<a href="http://reneeatworkandatplay.blogspot.com/2012/11/whats-missing-in-your-life-is-it.html"> my post on mistletoe</a>, I quickly saw this stand, taking mistletoe to a whole new level!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ8Rgti4_6rAk4_tZDwG_zyAK5zdvfU0xVz-UbP2-x5sRoOgKz_ydxqy3MoYhme5jmh4Tk7r2bkI3lX5GbM-Ac8FnghgVAXo7FK0Ded2uFb8pHcorNy_AtR6SOmzoiLVWVUk1JKSHYi0/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZ8Rgti4_6rAk4_tZDwG_zyAK5zdvfU0xVz-UbP2-x5sRoOgKz_ydxqy3MoYhme5jmh4Tk7r2bkI3lX5GbM-Ac8FnghgVAXo7FK0Ded2uFb8pHcorNy_AtR6SOmzoiLVWVUk1JKSHYi0/s1600/IMG_2764.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sticks of mistletoe...on sticks!</td></tr>
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Last weekend I also had the pleasure of trying "Gluehbier." Yes, I had hot, spiced beer. I really had no idea what to expect, other than the hot part. Gluehbier drinkers get awesome glasses, which might actually make it worth taking these ones home. Many vendors offer Gluehbier, so I may need to try it a couple more times to make any definitive judgments.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZTgPrYQa21jMIXX8Fw4cnRhex21NuOGXONnpaJf1vvODizIK0EAEesuYCgdnoIs6Lq7ikOTjNB2cQ6xlWwaYqr91sLqGb9ohsUmgGvy8wujSHsN18U4EnySCfGdGTn0D6eT_7L991UU/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZTgPrYQa21jMIXX8Fw4cnRhex21NuOGXONnpaJf1vvODizIK0EAEesuYCgdnoIs6Lq7ikOTjNB2cQ6xlWwaYqr91sLqGb9ohsUmgGvy8wujSHsN18U4EnySCfGdGTn0D6eT_7L991UU/s1600/IMG_2779.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my Gluehbier! (Sung to the tune of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZphKq6WBpbI">"Me and my Llama"</a> - circa 1978, Sesame Street)</td></tr>
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I found that Gluehbier tastes similar to Belgian lambic beers, like Kriek (which means cherry, in Flemish/Dutch). And it was hot, not chilled, of course. I am a fan of fruity beers, as they usually have <strike>no</strike> a lighter beer taste and are sweeter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x3k5riN-rg2Xn7eEVn86nGD_XR-APFXESqSkEBKbtEW2rjqs8W_MhG2Nwm07VXz2439P8Z_E_9ITvf_TVENiy7QFsmU-R3CkttiBf7psm3xbzZr3nnBkJgxbfVsLxHuBNGC2hftr2mg/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7x3k5riN-rg2Xn7eEVn86nGD_XR-APFXESqSkEBKbtEW2rjqs8W_MhG2Nwm07VXz2439P8Z_E_9ITvf_TVENiy7QFsmU-R3CkttiBf7psm3xbzZr3nnBkJgxbfVsLxHuBNGC2hftr2mg/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liefman's Gluehbier</td></tr>
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(Sometimes I write up my synopsis of something European, and then only afterward do I think to research it. And, as luck would have it, I know more than I realize I know! <a href="http://www.liefmans.be/">Liefman's</a> Gluehbier is indeed brewed by Belgians and has cherries and spices! So, it is basically spiced up Kriek. It takes two years to brew Gluehbier, so I am guessing it is pretty expensive as an import in the USA.)<br />
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Finally, after my video post on animatronics, I remembered where I saw something similar. So, without further adieu, here is your second link to Rick Steves' Christmas Special: France. Around minute 3:00, you'll understand what I mean!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/KwAnG8k1bC4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friends, get excited, because today I am visiting my second Weihnachtsmarkt - in Koblenz, where my university is located. I'll have lots of new impressions and photos tomorrow!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nkatEvgpTE0-grEg2WLjRUnlFs1IrX2X0-NueJhAI6rfyVouM-qPZXiJrpcE0V8yhqVXckh56qH2wmqan0ZeHhK4HN7F6Shu1ICQB0I2Hag0e15eeCbF7K_Swk5c718oawrXDUBdOSg/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2nkatEvgpTE0-grEg2WLjRUnlFs1IrX2X0-NueJhAI6rfyVouM-qPZXiJrpcE0V8yhqVXckh56qH2wmqan0ZeHhK4HN7F6Shu1ICQB0I2Hag0e15eeCbF7K_Swk5c718oawrXDUBdOSg/s1600/IMG_2806.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bis morgen!"</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-37330499696150642192012-11-28T04:12:00.001-08:002012-12-06T13:22:12.119-08:00More (scary) animals<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1VbjfOlXCQgAwiKw3_eiMeTA088-yJM60qbkRpQUEul8wRIntBzJTzOdt2SVHmk05kSwuZWRHJkOeMJyBtTb5M-GItsN_Z7QmEbOdnO7p0pAG0quOrasGxwjHpuDwzbQ2RhImi_CG60/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1VbjfOlXCQgAwiKw3_eiMeTA088-yJM60qbkRpQUEul8wRIntBzJTzOdt2SVHmk05kSwuZWRHJkOeMJyBtTb5M-GItsN_Z7QmEbOdnO7p0pAG0quOrasGxwjHpuDwzbQ2RhImi_CG60/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the drink pyramids; so pretty at nightfall!</td></tr>
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Thanks to all of you who have commented on my blogs, either on this website, on facebook, or through personal communication! If you have any suggestions of what you'd like to see more (or less) of, I hope that I might be able to oblige!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE8zssGOAydcv1Im763zBb4bI4axsXE_IlxYztanhpnKNYruTZoIDiq-JtmtlhaFJ5lRd4hj6A0bz_ySt7hlmjp9J8PHNnzZWSUHznnLP3ijB7g5Kc_s7ck57gPGcGVz0fHs2a_Dhu50/s1600/IMG_2801.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE8zssGOAydcv1Im763zBb4bI4axsXE_IlxYztanhpnKNYruTZoIDiq-JtmtlhaFJ5lRd4hj6A0bz_ySt7hlmjp9J8PHNnzZWSUHznnLP3ijB7g5Kc_s7ck57gPGcGVz0fHs2a_Dhu50/s1600/IMG_2801.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunset was so beautiful last night! Photos don't really do the colors justice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyhQaEJ-pqqbkFbT90RnwNzD8uEM5IKUGwnL-wqbliRhuQbaMJ8OX3QjGBKfv6zeC_KwOGtFe9dOrgLOtyhAY5lonvekh83fjHadZeRz7-Jb5TJ-1bpHFuHlwwMoce2Np5zA9qEkPoIY/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmyhQaEJ-pqqbkFbT90RnwNzD8uEM5IKUGwnL-wqbliRhuQbaMJ8OX3QjGBKfv6zeC_KwOGtFe9dOrgLOtyhAY5lonvekh83fjHadZeRz7-Jb5TJ-1bpHFuHlwwMoce2Np5zA9qEkPoIY/s1600/IMG_2804.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stars!</td></tr>
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Yesterday's market visit was a bit spontaneous. Wait, who am I kidding! If I have to go to the city center for anything, of course I will stop by the market to see what is "los." My main objective was to purchase a big kid's choir folder, one made of leather with lots of methods for holding different types of scores. I was successful, despite the fact that the saleswoman I worked with did not believe the price on the packaging. She even called the main store in Cologne to try to confirm the "correct" price for the "luxus" (luxury) folder I wanted, as it cost the same as the simpler version without the three-ring binder insert. It all ended well, though.<br />
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At the market yesterday I felt compelled to take my MIL's advice about drinking hot beverages to help with my cold! I don't think she meant to have Gluehwein! I tried hot white apple wine. It was very tasty, from what I could taste. I had to experience the white version for the sake of B, who is not a fan of traditional spiced wine. It didn't seem to have the same hint of cinnamon and cloves, but it was still delicious! This tasting made me think that I've been going about my experiments all wrong, though. I haven't tried normal Gluehwein yet; which I probably should, and then I can use that taste as the control for future variants.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfUJ-G21mI3pYZoMgXUwxWFjrvsgOQX7P3d9Ei0-YweVufLfM2AGXxz9aPFOIp8p847YA2bfGI_e_6-ppC6eWJZfNZKTJTtToTHwD-s6skWieuLVInKqWCqD_gU1hLH6UEY5Rzwsx2kk/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfUJ-G21mI3pYZoMgXUwxWFjrvsgOQX7P3d9Ei0-YweVufLfM2AGXxz9aPFOIp8p847YA2bfGI_e_6-ppC6eWJZfNZKTJTtToTHwD-s6skWieuLVInKqWCqD_gU1hLH6UEY5Rzwsx2kk/s1600/IMG_2814.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here was my target: "Weisser Apfelgluehwein fuer Kenner." Only for those who know about it?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXwvqje5pVuxlWQNiR5R9gboQH6EkxA7Gzm6PrYcgkaLz8B35RFLviSDRfUEFGbB1SnqR1ejfJbiSOaZkvzHhrSXgBNt-YX3K49hWUB8NiKzlRULH4ffczMZIf55poYCtEfuONDN-Qo/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjghXwvqje5pVuxlWQNiR5R9gboQH6EkxA7Gzm6PrYcgkaLz8B35RFLviSDRfUEFGbB1SnqR1ejfJbiSOaZkvzHhrSXgBNt-YX3K49hWUB8NiKzlRULH4ffczMZIf55poYCtEfuONDN-Qo/s1600/IMG_2817.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mug action! This mug depicts a scene from the Bochum Christmas market. I have no idea why we have glasses from Bochum in Bonn.</td></tr>
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One additional treasure that I discovered yesterday was this:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c-LXq2Nta1RAHYA1O8A338_8XJ-TNlwKrz3Iw6yb3QQ7uZbZeVQwrkpcyClocZwlQ-UpP3W3J6JKulQ62RiKnfp_jHtNfeTGN__8UPmyOgVaDaj3t0TX99YqDhJOLVFWQvWlCo59PBk/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8c-LXq2Nta1RAHYA1O8A338_8XJ-TNlwKrz3Iw6yb3QQ7uZbZeVQwrkpcyClocZwlQ-UpP3W3J6JKulQ62RiKnfp_jHtNfeTGN__8UPmyOgVaDaj3t0TX99YqDhJOLVFWQvWlCo59PBk/s1600/IMG_2805.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attack of the mechanized stuffed animals.</td></tr>
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That's right, Dad! More stuffed animals that move and sing! If you thought the moose was spooky, you clearly haven't seen this department store display! I never noticed this scene before, so maybe Galleria Kaufhof just revealed it on Tuesday. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_daQ3VBrVa3BD5ceoH4SG_aY6lAG11VryhbVy-L5WS_GUV2IveV-nzUcDV6RzB-S7MPLXOWO9uH_AVXaY-1Q2p-HYF5IZwKvQAqWD3AtR1NF8R59oz1zL9My0GPndkhIIrIYa9x7VLnE/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_daQ3VBrVa3BD5ceoH4SG_aY6lAG11VryhbVy-L5WS_GUV2IveV-nzUcDV6RzB-S7MPLXOWO9uH_AVXaY-1Q2p-HYF5IZwKvQAqWD3AtR1NF8R59oz1zL9My0GPndkhIIrIYa9x7VLnE/s1600/IMG_2808.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who is looking at who?</td></tr>
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And a video, so you can really get an idea of what is going on! My favorite is the monkey that is raking snow. Very few of the animals in this display seem to be native winter species!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5mMWio0dOBMwkgpPLhuNOSBw_eHZbTZ7aZ4gfh6Bqol52w8Fn5QO_p2yfsKcXYplyRa0GYqH-FieW_YYBRj-xkAlqebGLIZBk_8hFM2eb8gqxpf7FLunN0yGMFX3bxtLQkSsUgH5G9A/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5mMWio0dOBMwkgpPLhuNOSBw_eHZbTZ7aZ4gfh6Bqol52w8Fn5QO_p2yfsKcXYplyRa0GYqH-FieW_YYBRj-xkAlqebGLIZBk_8hFM2eb8gqxpf7FLunN0yGMFX3bxtLQkSsUgH5G9A/s1600/IMG_2818.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas lights!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Until the next Christmas market visit!<br />
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<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-72345258700675364382012-11-27T02:20:00.000-08:002012-12-06T13:22:49.204-08:00Time to shake things up a bit!Instead of featuring a drink today, I am going to focus on some of the food available at the Bonn Christmas market. Yesterday I went out specifically to get a waffle (and some cold remedies). Going during the day to the market is a lot less crazy. There were still plenty of people wandering around, but you could really linger at each stand and not feel pushed with the swells of people who were coming behind you.<br />
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I quickly found the dessert stand I wanted to visit. (Have I mentioned how great everything smells? The best smell comes from all the nut stands! Candied almonds really excite my nose!) I settled on the waffle with hot cherries, and I resisted the urge to get whipped cream too:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5BBWjtLYh_5HZglN9iK1zblD6DEVSyNmZqLpVZKr4iJmpWJhWTxtVkxtDNAc89sPV_cfeKQTpQKhbseiRCKxUo4-iJX3cIbueGK-FBEtCcCtb1fhD4jX7iPDHP3eMXG5x9XRN_7Z5IE/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq5BBWjtLYh_5HZglN9iK1zblD6DEVSyNmZqLpVZKr4iJmpWJhWTxtVkxtDNAc89sPV_cfeKQTpQKhbseiRCKxUo4-iJX3cIbueGK-FBEtCcCtb1fhD4jX7iPDHP3eMXG5x9XRN_7Z5IE/s1600/IMG_2787.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the hot steam coming off of the cherries!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip99l9XcguXLDk5hRUQLcWacInqjtasvoPldrh2lOTDHo4uD56deaWYUu5i72CDkxeuEkhgYCto1XBBi-yzz5sb5YS_WgkcM8MYn0zYjDeF-nCfShJTP2lcthEcgfPnBRqTo9YnZkgsNk/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip99l9XcguXLDk5hRUQLcWacInqjtasvoPldrh2lOTDHo4uD56deaWYUu5i72CDkxeuEkhgYCto1XBBi-yzz5sb5YS_WgkcM8MYn0zYjDeF-nCfShJTP2lcthEcgfPnBRqTo9YnZkgsNk/s1600/IMG_2788.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view from the side of the waffle vendor looking onto the market. You can also get twenty different types of crepes at this stand!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4atLPS8Gg3ZwNYJTZyquU_DE1xl26ocn07XkMXuAlErseVKyJ9Cf77uNHz3eGPgCD_-bEiLGqHOshqQ4UxnK0H7x9VQIAIP-XN76C6HpoWMy_ZypGK0PdvZjfQjSFsntMCHNUKu0wu3E/s1600/IMG_2791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4atLPS8Gg3ZwNYJTZyquU_DE1xl26ocn07XkMXuAlErseVKyJ9Cf77uNHz3eGPgCD_-bEiLGqHOshqQ4UxnK0H7x9VQIAIP-XN76C6HpoWMy_ZypGK0PdvZjfQjSFsntMCHNUKu0wu3E/s1600/IMG_2791.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"All fun things are either unmoral, illegal, or they make you fat." Words of wisdom at the Christmas market.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHjwzkd7sTDZrLZEYMl_Iix0pghMfzCVHwDg7fowWFwFmyHFr2DrX-0O9gdFCzg3ADKBC_OksMhxHqsxpQJfYsrw8FpKDOPqtlWo51rdaf03_1YXlYJMtsw7Zl-gGQWg9gWGi6oOuOQ/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauHjwzkd7sTDZrLZEYMl_Iix0pghMfzCVHwDg7fowWFwFmyHFr2DrX-0O9gdFCzg3ADKBC_OksMhxHqsxpQJfYsrw8FpKDOPqtlWo51rdaf03_1YXlYJMtsw7Zl-gGQWg9gWGi6oOuOQ/s1600/IMG_2793.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the "Sterngasse," or star alley. I find the lights are very fitting! This street connects the Marktplatz with Friedensplatz.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpcxLGRuO58SP-aKOjuCI0c7mViSRJsD7DuJQ5keDp-zgAMg6qTDCQbXMnNXAhL_3CyC8fkQr0Up6dqVhhn8l5tGHhW8JRfkfcBz1fvOBuTj3ncBfDgkGzIHl5BeiJjqLus09eEqBlBs/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpcxLGRuO58SP-aKOjuCI0c7mViSRJsD7DuJQ5keDp-zgAMg6qTDCQbXMnNXAhL_3CyC8fkQr0Up6dqVhhn8l5tGHhW8JRfkfcBz1fvOBuTj3ncBfDgkGzIHl5BeiJjqLus09eEqBlBs/s1600/IMG_2794.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is another view of the market. It is a bit easier to see what it looks like in daylight and with fewer visitors.</td></tr>
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For some reason, I decided that a waffle wasn't enough for dinner, or at least I quickly came to that conclusion after I walked past these:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfZTp98uOQJ6qN6Efg8lE9mBE-DppBBlNv2xlmYTn3eWXWXQ8Jb4tdK2Vr7wqB3OkvRYty0C42k2MJcItf3VkwfGvjjy8-oH3qCtyn2dsr5MA18yjY2acl2RCdAoOvKRuf_owXCZek6M/s1600/IMG_2795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfZTp98uOQJ6qN6Efg8lE9mBE-DppBBlNv2xlmYTn3eWXWXQ8Jb4tdK2Vr7wqB3OkvRYty0C42k2MJcItf3VkwfGvjjy8-oH3qCtyn2dsr5MA18yjY2acl2RCdAoOvKRuf_owXCZek6M/s1600/IMG_2795.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am not sure what these were called, but they were kind of like pizzas, but more in the style of "Flammkuchen," which has a white sauce instead of a tomato sauce. I had one with potatoes and cheese on top. After selecting this type, I decided that probably the best combination would be the one with onions and bacon! It was still tasty, and I could have definitely shared it with someone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm1z0P-uZoTiH3iguM0JIF12zXygpYNJUl450cbtGeumT8CT6QpKOPVd_rV4OS2VVsZYgbH3ge4cRdjL85vxoPeW6tta_EG9kcKAJPqxNUauj8_89AccTkDHZGntG26cvKy3TbzEsNtI/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm1z0P-uZoTiH3iguM0JIF12zXygpYNJUl450cbtGeumT8CT6QpKOPVd_rV4OS2VVsZYgbH3ge4cRdjL85vxoPeW6tta_EG9kcKAJPqxNUauj8_89AccTkDHZGntG26cvKy3TbzEsNtI/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had my food warmed up in this wood oven. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uR-C4lquIwMynI6MV0elEJsxqpqG6F7CBiKwjBRVSmd3LgfOyZHLpP3TTiuoLhgbnvDzceMv6O9uAa4nkD6kNUo7fem0-Qa_lmtZqIfZuRLDTRIXWSBD1ZQRqO_ZU-3-Wk8z8wbv3p0/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uR-C4lquIwMynI6MV0elEJsxqpqG6F7CBiKwjBRVSmd3LgfOyZHLpP3TTiuoLhgbnvDzceMv6O9uAa4nkD6kNUo7fem0-Qa_lmtZqIfZuRLDTRIXWSBD1ZQRqO_ZU-3-Wk8z8wbv3p0/s1600/IMG_2797.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner! So tasty! So much food!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9bp3fyht_AuXyjJ6WdWy_fDqOUZ3Tnm8DpwhiBZs2h-y8QumUpKcNXd0LE22ScD_dwfA0x8F-mHYf9SFpwc31qv6s-2C5dUaqZaHGvvVJp9LGwSUS7Q1mylweJY2XjUwBdmyQ7ZLlr4/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9bp3fyht_AuXyjJ6WdWy_fDqOUZ3Tnm8DpwhiBZs2h-y8QumUpKcNXd0LE22ScD_dwfA0x8F-mHYf9SFpwc31qv6s-2C5dUaqZaHGvvVJp9LGwSUS7Q1mylweJY2XjUwBdmyQ7ZLlr4/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As daylight became twilight, I found it much easier to take non-flash photography that equally captured the light decorations while not blurring everything around me!</td></tr>
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I've already shown you the animal heads on some stands, and I have noticed that they move. However, I was able to HEAR them this time. This moose is singing "Silver Bells." I guess the market just got a bit more kitschy, like we might expect in the USA.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsn8q_yz7Ke6nLZKplLlON8PI6LH_yXrNPRh4UfeZINHR1OCWMH_3yb7vT5FuPpzeFg7pZxol6XRiJ_-wWRSARCgHZt8qS-Je1lv5PAFs8D_yaqCaRl7WT0pyoyRnKwsllTRc1pvt3dI/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsn8q_yz7Ke6nLZKplLlON8PI6LH_yXrNPRh4UfeZINHR1OCWMH_3yb7vT5FuPpzeFg7pZxol6XRiJ_-wWRSARCgHZt8qS-Je1lv5PAFs8D_yaqCaRl7WT0pyoyRnKwsllTRc1pvt3dI/s1600/IMG_2789.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a trash can!</td></tr>
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Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-34897102883866618022012-11-26T04:54:00.003-08:002012-12-06T13:23:15.840-08:00The first experiment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On opening day at the Weihnachtsmarkt, I unwittingly tried a drink that is wholly local. Of all the signs I saw of non-Gluehwein drinks, the Verpoorten Punsch intrigued me the most. So on Friday, I had my first taste! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_NKSZ-y84djAeKxvzrlIalp0MRYglEFbeDIQV1TssT4moBsBEtlnPKG-FpzOSOkyaeOemlG0ZayKVzxcjBis_NdXsqJBaOw0dLvXV6D5D9GvvD9vBThy6LhTfHvCCZ1qfHyLM6HW2lY/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_NKSZ-y84djAeKxvzrlIalp0MRYglEFbeDIQV1TssT4moBsBEtlnPKG-FpzOSOkyaeOemlG0ZayKVzxcjBis_NdXsqJBaOw0dLvXV6D5D9GvvD9vBThy6LhTfHvCCZ1qfHyLM6HW2lY/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything about Verpoorten is yellow!</td></tr>
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Verpoorten Punsch is a warm drink, with Verpoorten Eierlikoer, or <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advocaat">Advocaat</a> (in English?), white wine, cinnamon, and whipped cream. For a recipe (auf Deutsch), visit the <a href="http://www.verpoorten.de/eierlikoer-rezepte/Cocktails/VERPOORTEN-Punsch.html">Verpoorten website</a>. Advocaat is a liquor made with egg yolks, brandy, sugar or honey, and sometimes cream or milk. I had tried Eierlikoer before; it is often served cold, on top of ice cream. This is amazing, by the way! From consistency, it is a bit thicker than Bailey's. I have never looked for Verpoorten, or other European brands, in the USA before, but I guess you could find it at liquor stores.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrkR5uQga921WbM5S0lLUFaH2f6iw5wlPWi-Y1y6PLxXYMpkoBSRqOu6PgiyEViDWqrfZrWZEEDtdVgsR28aCS_Wmq9mwQDrMlRmGnmHzd3KUrlQhHLsIFKsE6WiI5woJlmnARV1VvT4/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrkR5uQga921WbM5S0lLUFaH2f6iw5wlPWi-Y1y6PLxXYMpkoBSRqOu6PgiyEViDWqrfZrWZEEDtdVgsR28aCS_Wmq9mwQDrMlRmGnmHzd3KUrlQhHLsIFKsE6WiI5woJlmnARV1VvT4/s1600/IMG_2770.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drink in question!</td></tr>
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I found the drink to be very different! At first I wasn't convinced that it would be something I would frequently try, but it kind of grows on you. I will note that it is best enjoyed in small sips, and that it is particularly popular with the 45-65 and female age group. I didn't notice any guys trying it at this stand.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV1R7XXqdDrBMkbkmK9YJUF7ldYA_acHP0aUNJ3Vv1RhpafQy65JIDPqJFv0yuJ0LLBddUMOxAs9s4I4KoqtPzIE0hEhLzVlU9cwQwqyOLPBk4GAhf9kSJpU73I2P1Ap9PJhYhdqREwA/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUV1R7XXqdDrBMkbkmK9YJUF7ldYA_acHP0aUNJ3Vv1RhpafQy65JIDPqJFv0yuJ0LLBddUMOxAs9s4I4KoqtPzIE0hEhLzVlU9cwQwqyOLPBk4GAhf9kSJpU73I2P1Ap9PJhYhdqREwA/s1600/IMG_2772.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a close-up. The Verpoorten company does a good job of advertising its product, complete with recipe cards on tables for people to take home and try.</td></tr>
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Verpoorten began in 1876, when the first Verpoorten perfected the art of mixing egg yolks and alcohol to make a fluid consistency. In 1952, the company set up its headquarters in Bonn. I imagine that a lot of regional eggs head to this plant each day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmsOXyJ14nVbcwbSWmbvw2IPc-_5ifIYAmZmJsEcpf82qMAKVoAzwri7siI842_Ahv4G6hYtL3Uyl-lYp1Oa30xa1sVmTdmAGK9xq9KQH5AArQZnTtTrIaZRakVDvg83B1sGxbcH5SwQ/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNmsOXyJ14nVbcwbSWmbvw2IPc-_5ifIYAmZmJsEcpf82qMAKVoAzwri7siI842_Ahv4G6hYtL3Uyl-lYp1Oa30xa1sVmTdmAGK9xq9KQH5AArQZnTtTrIaZRakVDvg83B1sGxbcH5SwQ/s1600/IMG_2785.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Cheers from Bonn!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-68368064635907333602012-11-25T04:21:00.001-08:002012-12-06T13:23:44.773-08:00So little time...Today Bonn is taking a break from the Christmas market business. This is the last Sunday of the church calendar year, called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totensonntag">Totensonntag</a>," or Day of the Dead, in Lutheran churches across Germany. I sang with one of my choirs during services at the Kreuzkirche this morning. We sang Brahms' "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXbki8GXNps">Begraebnisgesang</a>," a beautiful piece of choir and brass ensemble. The pastor also read the names of all church members who passed away during the last year. It was quite somber, and the brisk wind we have in Bonn adds to the edginess of the day.<br />
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This Sunday is the only day until December 23rd that the Weihnachtsmarkt will be closed. One would think that one month would be long enough to take in all aspects of the market, but I would argue otherwise. I have been looking forward to Gluehwein for weeks now, but I was not expecting the assault on my senses of all the beverage options! Here are just a few photos of all the different things I need to try:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQgzPAP06-M2nvUwfpZfHm3paNVHjQo15ipne-w3BtaulbP7vPNMXVepI8eEjkhfHCWewfOGGyjDYWkv9Urju24yghsBfznhKoysn1znsQuYx3gGXuBG6liFAkTFfirkHMFnW2Yg457s/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQgzPAP06-M2nvUwfpZfHm3paNVHjQo15ipne-w3BtaulbP7vPNMXVepI8eEjkhfHCWewfOGGyjDYWkv9Urju24yghsBfznhKoysn1znsQuYx3gGXuBG6liFAkTFfirkHMFnW2Yg457s/s1600/IMG_2722.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At this stand you can order Gluehwein from grapes or cherries. Apparently one can also make Gluehwein using white wine.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoduNR2gqZAKGEylWUuRwZOTUwdG11Ahut9F81X_kg7ctECSDjLyjsAKN1MBjxNznK1dHCuVEaG19YmttR27XOeKpsTJmDKJFMpQCUyrfPSUlZ9P-T4Pihyzh0WEKa2wUJXUCGJ2JumE/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRoduNR2gqZAKGEylWUuRwZOTUwdG11Ahut9F81X_kg7ctECSDjLyjsAKN1MBjxNznK1dHCuVEaG19YmttR27XOeKpsTJmDKJFMpQCUyrfPSUlZ9P-T4Pihyzh0WEKa2wUJXUCGJ2JumE/s1600/IMG_2734.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oKY3Q3CrtE7cMoLXSQZOtsYCZspJ1YqxvrYO4vKI86vxuxGwX6a9bmhgTPUGhPsORm2IpZIAkE320bFWSV2ZAweiEpt8OExZREbdcAOXCC7ihjg5vIU8GchP-UB1eMX3EDR5SC5kPqo/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_oKY3Q3CrtE7cMoLXSQZOtsYCZspJ1YqxvrYO4vKI86vxuxGwX6a9bmhgTPUGhPsORm2IpZIAkE320bFWSV2ZAweiEpt8OExZREbdcAOXCC7ihjg5vIU8GchP-UB1eMX3EDR5SC5kPqo/s1600/IMG_2735.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionlZcSbErfyJX5J69jd9bYMH_KB13dwVPny73akisPPLI1MwflGyEKwxk-N5dSzMB9thDqFAZ1vkUcQ-uVSe317MfOKV-dpW70ZkuQkS0mn1xVSOgMjNK_dqIflxN7_v-Gqbo_15uqEY/s1600/IMG_2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionlZcSbErfyJX5J69jd9bYMH_KB13dwVPny73akisPPLI1MwflGyEKwxk-N5dSzMB9thDqFAZ1vkUcQ-uVSe317MfOKV-dpW70ZkuQkS0mn1xVSOgMjNK_dqIflxN7_v-Gqbo_15uqEY/s1600/IMG_2736.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD5FzM_q5wdPsFNDYUS6Hx-XNRjFb7xk2HaDpKjMRBxs7a8KOBsfU8_wPyeOl-K89LJXSXlUYM0IVCjiw5QHpwQ-GAiFxE3Zab1RAOuqt61Lm-V0Drd7BjancjCrAUEkKmvSgiHU7eAs/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCD5FzM_q5wdPsFNDYUS6Hx-XNRjFb7xk2HaDpKjMRBxs7a8KOBsfU8_wPyeOl-K89LJXSXlUYM0IVCjiw5QHpwQ-GAiFxE3Zab1RAOuqt61Lm-V0Drd7BjancjCrAUEkKmvSgiHU7eAs/s1600/IMG_2737.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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These four pictures are all from the same stand. You have your choice of:</div>
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- White Gluehwein</div>
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- Hot chocolate with Bailey's</div>
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- Apple-Amaretto Punch</div>
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- "Designated Driver" Punch</div>
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- a 10-punch card for Gluehwein</div>
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- Mon Chery drink, which I assume is similar to the cherry-chocolate candy?</div>
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- Dornfelder Gluehwein - I have no idea what makes this Gluehwein different from other types.</div>
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- Apple-Cinnamon Punch</div>
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- Coffee</div>
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- Latte Macchiato</div>
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- Cappuccino</div>
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- Honey Gluehwein</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iDCqh4hI2LrsOs5B9Xr20SBUDRSX_aZjbYWr-BBgkx7BTZk7cmDPTIGwq5FVmpvoM2PNctn7pVcgKp4ZWR2u2UrExNN_30ost9f14Ul1M0K1gFZiNPTx71lu9bccSGKJQWPO7DXhRoI/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3iDCqh4hI2LrsOs5B9Xr20SBUDRSX_aZjbYWr-BBgkx7BTZk7cmDPTIGwq5FVmpvoM2PNctn7pVcgKp4ZWR2u2UrExNN_30ost9f14Ul1M0K1gFZiNPTx71lu9bccSGKJQWPO7DXhRoI/s1600/IMG_2755.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verpoorten Punch, whatever that is!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5wBCMpaeMnBYQRGyhjILqnnjXOaK0Qfgjar6xQ5qAEbluQkLjcfTfWoE5kiJSA4ZKSTfcFk_DaZVp0DWpD-O8AM_O-D3PlnER1AqmWypUf69X4PElTd7QZYUNeaMniviWhqqseHs1uM/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5wBCMpaeMnBYQRGyhjILqnnjXOaK0Qfgjar6xQ5qAEbluQkLjcfTfWoE5kiJSA4ZKSTfcFk_DaZVp0DWpD-O8AM_O-D3PlnER1AqmWypUf69X4PElTd7QZYUNeaMniviWhqqseHs1uM/s1600/IMG_2773.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, there is even Gluehbier! The thought of hot, spiced beer does not really excite me the same way that Gluehwein does. Still, I saw lots of people drinking it!</td></tr>
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Perhaps the greatest hassle of trying all these things is the Pfand, or deposit. You pay a Pfand for nearly every type of drink you buy in Germany, especially at grocery stores. Restaurants are generally the exception. However, at markets like this, there is always the chance that someone will take their glass home with them. So, for every drink you have, expect to pay between two and three euros in Pfand. Of course you can simply return the glass after it is empty and collect your deposit, but sometimes the lines get really long, or you've had a couple glasses already and the Pfand begins to seem less important...<br />
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Happy Sunday, everyone!Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-80669194196119909952012-11-24T12:14:00.002-08:002012-12-06T13:24:10.353-08:00Welcome to Weihnachtsmarkt Season!In this part of Germany, along the Rhine between Cologne and Bonn, it is said that there are five seasons, or "Jahreszeiten," instead of four. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall and Carnival!!! Attending the opening of the Weihnachtsmarkt in Bonn, however, makes me think that there may be six seasons here!<br />
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The market is beautiful. Everyone has a sense of child-like wonder for all the lanterns, lights, crafts, and treasures. The air smells of cinnamon and bratwurst! Right now the weather hasn't quite transitioned into winter, so the rain from last night and the general "warmth" outside today didn't complement the market as nicely as crisp air with snow flurries. It is still early; we still have time for freezing temperatures.<br />
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So, enjoy some of the first shots of this year's official "Eroeffnung des Weihnachtsmarkts"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq-D2YSyj3HGejDzVRaxaN9xKlPzrHIO9MAvQCRjJhoHmx26DXw5-dVVN6prhBA9lSE-BWTcZZyD7bfkRCvmXI6rHuk6Bb4xMNzBsJyA0LyeFJ3Us9Lu88P11cVsrxyyj3t-WnxYZ6xE/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beethovenstadt Bonn - Ludwig watches over everything at the Christmas market. Blick auf dem Muensterplatz.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV_eKfyQoM2q7wk3W0UtaZcFIWzaLpQX79zNWrgFI9ZvCo2ky5xbJa5pDcMuHn_auEbqm8ViAQFvNiZKDJ-renxdjFwPZ51_HafUxeWN4FsgauPEY2_BjttZU8nv6_baUgSR1Lb84aKQ/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmV_eKfyQoM2q7wk3W0UtaZcFIWzaLpQX79zNWrgFI9ZvCo2ky5xbJa5pDcMuHn_auEbqm8ViAQFvNiZKDJ-renxdjFwPZ51_HafUxeWN4FsgauPEY2_BjttZU8nv6_baUgSR1Lb84aKQ/s1600/IMG_2765.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom, look at what I found! Do you remember these treats from Rothenburg?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR_z5nKe1aqgiKWjdnODw04VQMsb6vOfSehURniGkSSIcK8Z7qpKbjOJOfwwpeTydNK3t0FzftSyKPagwqi-1KSJu93Kbu2TMHY-gLn5m44NVEaBEy_dm59_eqAi4WhEfFXTW7-MjtKo/s1600/IMG_2766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoR_z5nKe1aqgiKWjdnODw04VQMsb6vOfSehURniGkSSIcK8Z7qpKbjOJOfwwpeTydNK3t0FzftSyKPagwqi-1KSJu93Kbu2TMHY-gLn5m44NVEaBEy_dm59_eqAi4WhEfFXTW7-MjtKo/s1600/IMG_2766.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Despite the rain, opening day was well attended!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiok-arzXnVMZLO1tbIG825acZO6O_o0i7Z6WWRVlsg5uyaMSqk1XG8CqhVLEENR_wv_IR9cfhO_dekR95HxkejOhystOOjnOXa8iYspsoz7ZT3SKThERg0i-BBjqctw_1ecEd8Qg4k/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7kiok-arzXnVMZLO1tbIG825acZO6O_o0i7Z6WWRVlsg5uyaMSqk1XG8CqhVLEENR_wv_IR9cfhO_dekR95HxkejOhystOOjnOXa8iYspsoz7ZT3SKThERg0i-BBjqctw_1ecEd8Qg4k/s1600/IMG_2767.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drink Pyramid - in all its glory!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTT-X4kHMEfvDeyQUYtXdKWP9to6X3u7gxv9dFRkaUcthWpQPQ7ER4zbYE13iEi8mPznK-I-63VjY3h1RLGlPfwduvDlu_H5IXJKgd2aXftGwDAJqJ_U0J9hw1Bdzci7HeIvgBUqj7MA/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTT-X4kHMEfvDeyQUYtXdKWP9to6X3u7gxv9dFRkaUcthWpQPQ7ER4zbYE13iEi8mPznK-I-63VjY3h1RLGlPfwduvDlu_H5IXJKgd2aXftGwDAJqJ_U0J9hw1Bdzci7HeIvgBUqj7MA/s1600/IMG_2775.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't tell from the photo, but these animals' heads move.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_cNAdznQ5VZ7Rv2Haai6GaKgOhNuS4g-poRDXAW5FlYs6koAjTzks-d3iPO0Bbo8z4YdWzj51YSIEB8HYu2eYjOCt_D9opHwoTo6Hv1f6BxtGrQQjGC3XGD8UGjn9TxzOCBOu3ScTH4/s1600/IMG_2776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY_cNAdznQ5VZ7Rv2Haai6GaKgOhNuS4g-poRDXAW5FlYs6koAjTzks-d3iPO0Bbo8z4YdWzj51YSIEB8HYu2eYjOCt_D9opHwoTo6Hv1f6BxtGrQQjGC3XGD8UGjn9TxzOCBOu3ScTH4/s1600/IMG_2776.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candles - it kind of looks like wax is dripping from the top of the stand.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsgDWP8EyQRvdKYcfyrQci0C6COpLFjPbN9v5BTlXYDeqWkD1IEPRPSUnOTfQwzNMbc8eNtGlxlruLyZ3RD9_9M9-KDHC7sMu3wdWEC354mKDpNLjLv6BSWzNGQVjgz8-ToObRC_vQF0/s1600/IMG_2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsgDWP8EyQRvdKYcfyrQci0C6COpLFjPbN9v5BTlXYDeqWkD1IEPRPSUnOTfQwzNMbc8eNtGlxlruLyZ3RD9_9M9-KDHC7sMu3wdWEC354mKDpNLjLv6BSWzNGQVjgz8-ToObRC_vQF0/s1600/IMG_2769.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More animals!</td></tr>
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I have already been blown away by the many different types of drinks and snacks one can enjoy at the market. The sampling has begun, and I am very excited to share my impressions and discoveries with you!
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-MjBMI_G87y4%2FULElMUzUj8I%2FAAAAAAAAAdg%2FptoBJzHPYiA%2Fs1600%2FIMG_2727.JPG&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuq-D2YSyj3HGejDzVRaxaN9xKlPzrHIO9MAvQCRjJhoHmx26DXw5-dVVN6prhBA9lSE-BWTcZZyD7bfkRCvmXI6rHuk6Bb4xMNzBsJyA0LyeFJ3Us9Lu88P11cVsrxyyj3t-WnxYZ6xE/s1600/IMG_2727.JPG" -->Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5721381619263362664.post-50232031605341131352012-11-23T01:03:00.000-08:002012-11-23T01:03:05.486-08:00Ode to Weihnachtsmarkt Tiere (Animals)Yesterday vendors were putting the final touches on their booths. The last light strands were being added to the pedestrian zone of the city. On my way to the gym, I observed a second, huge Christmas tree being raised at the Marktplatz. Plus, there are tons of smaller evergreens that have been attached to street lamps and poles all throughout the city. Not that I would do this, nor am I advocating it, but it seems like it would be pretty easy to borrow one of these little trees for one's own holiday decorations!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjombWG5Y4hUohdM9eAlAmaNAP0RrqSVFOyFRADH5brQOYVBc9Dyv-hnqGnkeFogsMd54mXtrE83K_Fa2fjBy7r4tJFL0-AEkQg9fzEnxOW-ktRDHNSEZRchQ_Ver0R54krE5GXuJv2n7o/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjombWG5Y4hUohdM9eAlAmaNAP0RrqSVFOyFRADH5brQOYVBc9Dyv-hnqGnkeFogsMd54mXtrE83K_Fa2fjBy7r4tJFL0-AEkQg9fzEnxOW-ktRDHNSEZRchQ_Ver0R54krE5GXuJv2n7o/s1600/IMG_2751.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooooo are you looking at?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk6X-Bv2p1pMm9jYUpj8wKuRqtHxextIDQUn9IGfWsqTSkQaH0xj-vj0TY97UfSNS9Ue34C8Y9y3Wevb2DKB051x8XJ_lIC0ztt6RSGJS2uK36FRJxUsea_tolesoWkwZtN1cHddm1NI/s1600/IMG_2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk6X-Bv2p1pMm9jYUpj8wKuRqtHxextIDQUn9IGfWsqTSkQaH0xj-vj0TY97UfSNS9Ue34C8Y9y3Wevb2DKB051x8XJ_lIC0ztt6RSGJS2uK36FRJxUsea_tolesoWkwZtN1cHddm1NI/s1600/IMG_2758.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vendors have adorned their stands with a lot of different animals.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5KMBQgIXcHGXY-eohd3ZAJhyphenhyphen-gIa8sxo-NYxPoFarJGttxCMRS7bHhQaFbNRS9flbNLpC8H4jvF3jquWI7mUCeuL8kxYdswY_idutd_v50GoD_C5kN4xETT6LPMxoQc48ZPRMJFfByE/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5KMBQgIXcHGXY-eohd3ZAJhyphenhyphen-gIa8sxo-NYxPoFarJGttxCMRS7bHhQaFbNRS9flbNLpC8H4jvF3jquWI7mUCeuL8kxYdswY_idutd_v50GoD_C5kN4xETT6LPMxoQc48ZPRMJFfByE/s1600/IMG_2761.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone a fan of roosters? Anyone? For your garden?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbmGtLotulIoY3nIz2QYiW-_azlfT2DkTmnUL7UwKqcCxJBvErBqg1FIbXPW9kI8zN5v7LTMChHXCh9nT-h1iJj4W_2L3wcbOQsyLw4BQgeowgNreUCB9BB4DM9tVe6x4XzJ_jWpaB50/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbmGtLotulIoY3nIz2QYiW-_azlfT2DkTmnUL7UwKqcCxJBvErBqg1FIbXPW9kI8zN5v7LTMChHXCh9nT-h1iJj4W_2L3wcbOQsyLw4BQgeowgNreUCB9BB4DM9tVe6x4XzJ_jWpaB50/s1600/IMG_2762.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Bin im Garten" - I'm in the garden. Well, I don't think frogs are in the garden right now, but maybe in the summer?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY7cUe4CUXsniJ8SBkKOzrH61dFwWMGaSOaN2KWtfzGnw1hqkNIBn6ck5sjWmDUFn0z5WzzBrSQpSTUldDZ-q92kFEVpX6_CHKt_6UiPydT40mghDlmEbOiz1sK6QZ6LAPawyKxwsavE/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGY7cUe4CUXsniJ8SBkKOzrH61dFwWMGaSOaN2KWtfzGnw1hqkNIBn6ck5sjWmDUFn0z5WzzBrSQpSTUldDZ-q92kFEVpX6_CHKt_6UiPydT40mghDlmEbOiz1sK6QZ6LAPawyKxwsavE/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Either this is ninja bear, hostage bear, or a gummy bear that someone has liberated from the Haribo factory.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVMPDsZIxrfclI6mDfEE41xJj__6GmimaNvED3YuYNFBTX-iJtKeM2EYQWOYTNk5sexcBeIUARkmMJKnjnNq-C_Iu6wPud__ADFS3scit7JktRxkowkZo5LPQOg-c4Fk2FTlXXvGyyCA/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVMPDsZIxrfclI6mDfEE41xJj__6GmimaNvED3YuYNFBTX-iJtKeM2EYQWOYTNk5sexcBeIUARkmMJKnjnNq-C_Iu6wPud__ADFS3scit7JktRxkowkZo5LPQOg-c4Fk2FTlXXvGyyCA/s1600/IMG_2711.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This pigeon I photographed on the way to one of Bonn's outdoor ice rinks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VYueLWQ4OLgMKd6xsrMK55foB4Eigak0VL4qQRAcMXUx3hqcsFnhfAZUyDnPIQ6ieoIPYfC3q8OZk5PVdw1e-R_cHwpkrXH5Oc_aBX94TBUlQhXa5VVTL9aupBQ4gC1qHVVLsIt0OgQ/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VYueLWQ4OLgMKd6xsrMK55foB4Eigak0VL4qQRAcMXUx3hqcsFnhfAZUyDnPIQ6ieoIPYfC3q8OZk5PVdw1e-R_cHwpkrXH5Oc_aBX94TBUlQhXa5VVTL9aupBQ4gC1qHVVLsIt0OgQ/s1600/IMG_2738.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who knew that moose were willing advertisers of Gluehwein?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwMGFmYDg_6j5OWq15PkBUiY6WyO6TUhP6q7de18rl2nn_A4XZlZFxXO6ZorrbviTPS1H5jkJATgoYZ_s3d1VcSr-UAoaMb1a9XHw_tqADa7gmdwYDgaZdnsXf6Foonsd7pzaob3wjYU/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwMGFmYDg_6j5OWq15PkBUiY6WyO6TUhP6q7de18rl2nn_A4XZlZFxXO6ZorrbviTPS1H5jkJATgoYZ_s3d1VcSr-UAoaMb1a9XHw_tqADa7gmdwYDgaZdnsXf6Foonsd7pzaob3wjYU/s1600/IMG_2714.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The final light strands were being stretched across the sidewalks today. I can't wait to see everything on at night! I do wish that I had a nicer camera and a tripod for capturing those dark shots!</td></tr>
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Today the market officially opens! I am going to need a lot of friends to visit with me, as I may be working up a plan to visit as many food/drink vendors as I can! And, who wants to enjoy all these things alone, right?<br />
<br />Reneehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18257771052943263043noreply@blogger.com1