Two Sisters finally get to go to WDW together! - TR has started!

[Flossbolna]

I find all that funny as well-it's so interesting how words translate, and don't translate. What do Germans do when they get brain freeze? Just excuse themselves for a moment until it clears up? Americans shout "AH! BRAIN FREEZE!!!" and sometimes it becomes a bit of a laughing matter! :goodvibes


I some times wonder wether Germans are less prone to brain freeze? :confused: But really, it's just as you say, you just are quite for a bit until it goes away. And if I say something like: "this hurts, I was eating my ice cream too fast", very often people stare at me and think I am crazy. :confused3

Magdalene,

Sorry for just lurking and not posting.

I'm been enjoying your PTR with all your interesting pictures and stories.

Kathy

Hi Kathy, wonderful to see you posting! I hope I did not make you feel bad by my comment to MEK, it wasn't meant that way!! :goodvibes I can still see that people are reading what I write by the number of views I get! :goodvibes

[Flossbolna]

I promised you a Nuremberg update some time in August I think... Well, with only another 10 days until we leave, I think I really need to do that. Also, I can now offer you Nuremberg in summer and in winter!

Nuremberg is an old city, nobody knows for sure when it was founded, most likely some time between 1000 and 1040. At that time Germany was not a modern state like today, there was the “Holy Roman Empire” goverened by an Emperor - it all really dates back to the Romans somehow. The Romans aren't important for Nuremberg, but the Emperor is. The Holy Roman Empire in that time covered most of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, northern Italy, western Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and eastern France. But it wasn't one state as such. It was made up of various smaller unites governed by kings, dukes, princes and the church. And then there were also cities which were directly under the emperor. They were governed by the citizens themselves. These cities were called free imperial cities. Many of the big cities in today's Germany were free imperial cities, for example, Cologne, Hamburg and Frankfurt. They managed to become centers of trade and commerce and were very successful.

Nuremberg was such a free imperial city and it was also one of the residences of the Emperor. The Emperor generally traveled around the country and had a number of castles, on of them is the castle in Nuremberg which is still there and makes Nuremberg's skyline:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05967.jpg

you can see it on top of the hill behind the church.

Nuremberg was built with a city wall all around it (as every city in Europe was in the middle ages). The castle is part of that city wall. And the city inside the wall is split into two halfs by a river running through it in a valley between two hills. The two halfs are named after the churches dominating each quarter: St Sebaldus and St Lawrence. The picture above was taken from the Lawrence quarter and the church in front of the castle is St Sebaldus.

I live to the left of the castle outside the old city walls. But when I walk into the city (about 20 minutes walk) I walk down towards St Sebald and this is what I see:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05488.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05489.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05492.jpg

The house to the right in the last picture is where the pastor lives.

Walking around it there is St Sebaldus' choir to the right and the town hall to the left. The town hall is one of the few renaissance buildings in Nuremberg. Nuremberg was very rich and successful in the middle ages, but then did not do so well later on. This is the reason why so many really old buildings survived. At least until the 1940s when Germany got itself into a war which resulted in the destruction of nearly all of its cities... Nuremberg did a pretty good job of rebuilding, but if you see old pictures, this place would have been incredible. Nuremberg was actually nicknamed: “the jewel box of Germany” because it was so pretty.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05494.jpg

If you turn around where the last picture was taken and look back, you are looking towards the castle up on the hill (but not really visible, still a nice street view):

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05496.jpg

Now we are nearly at the city center which is the big market square, but first let's take a look back at St Sebaldus:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05500.jpg

Do you see the umbrella's in front of it? This is a wonderful restaurant which specializes in Nuremberg sausages. Here is a closer look:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05497.jpg

It is in a very touristy spot, but it is a favourite of the locals as well!

Nuremberg sausages are grilled bratwurst sausages which are really very small. And you order 6, 8, 10 or 12 with them with a choice of potato salad or sauerkraut or plain. There is bread (rolls and pretzels) on the table, but you are charged for the bread, so when you get the check, they will ask how much bread you had. The sausages are eaten with mustard or horseradish. I would love to have some right now....

We are now at the main market square which has a market on every day except on Sundays with vegetables, fruit, flowers, cheese, sausages, honey and of course Lebkuchen (ginger bread). I love to shop there. The main sights at the market square are the “Beautiful Fountain” and the “Church of Our Lady” which is now the main catholic church of Nuremberg (which is otherwise a mainly Lutheran city). You can see them in this picture:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05505.jpg

And here are a few impressions from the market:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05511.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05510.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05509.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05508.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05507.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05506.jpg

Continued in next post!!

[Flossbolna]

The market square is also home to the Christkindles market – the famous Christmas market. Then the market looks like this:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05983.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05982.jpg

The next pictures shows the sausages being grilled to be sold as take away food. Then you get three of them in a bread roll (need to stop writing about sausages!!)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05981.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05980.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05979.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05978.jpg

The next stand sells “Zwetschgenmännla” - which means “little men made from prunes”. And that'S exactly what they are. They were a gift for kids for christmas, I guess very much like the chocolate Father Christmas which we have in Germany for Christmas today:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05976.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05977.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05975.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05974.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05973.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05971.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05970.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05969.jpg

And because I have been talking so much about the two churches and you have seen so much of St Sebaldus (which btw is the church where my parents got married) I am ending this with a picture of St Lawrence:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC05529.jpg

This concludes our small tour around Nuremberg, but there is much more to see and explore! I hope if anyone of you ever comes to Nuremberg, please get in touch. I would be delighted to show you around in person!

[PNO4TE]

How spectacularly beautiful, Magdalene!! :love: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this little vignette of your city! Now I want to come visit. :goodvibes

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Oh how homesick I am now! :) Ich liebe Nuernberg!! :lovestruc You did such a fantastic job with your descriptions and your lovely pictures. You live in such a lovely area, I tell ya! I know I've mentioned it before but I really miss shopping in the old town and grabbing a brat and/or a pretzel. I miss Mueller's, Karstadt, etc. Did I ever mention to you my ex-boyfriend (I'm married now) still lives in NUE? I think you could know him because he was in a few well known bands... :) The next time I'm over there, I promise I'll let you know so we can at least have a tea or coffee together!

I have heard that Germany has had a lot of snow and cold weather this year. My Dad is actually flying over tonight (for the Kaiserslautern area) and we were talking about the cold weather. It finally thawed out a bit here on the East Coast and it's such a relief to be anything but 15 degrees! I'm so excited the weather is looking warmer for you two!

You are so close!! I remember when you were first talking about the trip it felt like so long ago! How very cool for you both! :banana::banana:

Enjoy your weekend!
Heather

[glennbo123]

Oh good! I showed up just in time for a tour of Nuremberg. Thanks for showing us around town.

I think every trip report should mention sausages every now and then, and pictures are a definite plus. Thanks for pointing out a good place to find them in Nuremberg. Maybe I'll get to look that place up some day.

[manntra]

What a yummy update!! Now I'm hungry! At the F&W festival in Epcot last October I had what was said to be a Nuremburg sausage...It was a small sausage in a pretzel roll with mustard and maybe sauerkraut. All I can say now is I am super hungry for my Biergarten dinner! The pictures are stunning...love the architecture and market. Looks like a very lovely place to wander around and eat sausages ;)
Ohhhh the iPhone.....if you have any questions ask away..it is always by my side :goodvibes I am relatively sure that once you download the apps you don't need internet to use them..pay for them once and that is it. With the phone plan here it is always on the 3G network or I can access wirelessly.

The ones to search for are:
WDW Dining (use this a lot:thumbsup2) WDW maps is useful also, WDW wait times is fun to look at but I don't think it is very accurate. One of the most comprehensive is the one from the Dis :thumbsup2 I think it was around 5 dollars or so but it has up to date park hours, dining info, reviews, and you can also access trip reports and the boards. This one I would have to say is accessed by the internet or wirelessly because it is an internet site :confused3 Maybe this is something you can ask your provider? It would be very convenient to have but then I wouldn't want to see you hit with ridiculous fees. :)
Well it's Saturday night and time for a Lambic :rotfl2:

Tracy

[PNO4TE]

What a yummy update!! Now I'm hungry! At the F&W festival in Epcot last October I had what was said to be a Nuremburg sausage...It was a small sausage in a pretzel roll with mustard and maybe sauerkraut.

We had the small sausage also. However, most people I know who were at the F&W Festival received much larger sausages.

Here is ours:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/PNO4TE/Mobile%20Uploads/1005091239a.jpg

Here is an example of the ones others were served! :eek:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/oybolshoi/Stuff/October%202009/45.jpg

After Magdalene's description, I think we got the one that was more appropriate.

[If U Had Wings]

I love all the pictures. They make me want to hop on a plane right away for a visit.

[RachelTori]

How spectacularly beautiful, Magdalene!! :love: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this little vignette of your city! Now I want to come visit. :goodvibes

Me too!!! :yay:

Beautiful pictures, Magdalene. :cloud9: Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and a bit of the history of your beautiful city. :goodvibes

And I'd love an order of Nuremberg sausages with potato salad please!! :flower3:



See ya real soon!! ::MinnieMo

[MEK]

Wow. thank you so much for sharing those wonderful pictures of Nuremberg. How beautiful and educational. My next door neighbor was born and raised in Germany, but has lived here in the states for many years. What an interesting city. The pictures of the old churches and buildings are spectacular. What I wouldn't give to be able to tour such an beautiful place.

[manntra]

We had the small sausage also. However, most people I know who were at the F&W Festival received much larger sausages.

Here is ours:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/PNO4TE/Mobile%20Uploads/1005091239a.jpg

Here is an example of the ones others were served! :eek:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/oybolshoi/Stuff/October%202009/45.jpg

After Magdalene's description, I think we got the one that was more appropriate.

Elin....we had the one in the second picture!!!:scared1: That is very interesting that there were two totally different ones...AND I think you were there (I remember your name from an October PTR) around the same time....I was there in the beginning of October. I can't remember the dates. :rotfl2: It was good but looked kind of strange in the roll!! :lmao:

Tracy

[PNO4TE]

Elin....we had the one in the second picture!!!:scared1: That is very interesting that there were two totally different ones...AND I think you were there (I remember your name from an October PTR) around the same time....I was there in the beginning of October. I can't remember the dates. :rotfl2: It was good but looked kind of strange in the roll!! :lmao:

Tracy

Tracy - I think we were there at the same time! October 1-8. It was so strange to see everyone else's pictures of the same food we had eaten, but have it be so very different! :rotfl2:

[DW2010]

Hello there. I need to catch up on your trip report. I just had to say that I lived in Nuremberg years ago, from the time I was 4-7. My dad was in the army :).

[tarak]

Okay - I think I finally caught up with your PTR. I've been hopelessly out of the loop on the dis. I love the pictures from DLP - that version of Space Mountain sounds really great! You have such a short time left until you leave - you must be so excited!!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Hey M,


I have no idea how I missed this wonderful update yesterday...:confused3

This is FABULOUS...beautiful architecture, history, food, a Christmas market...these are all some of my favorite things...:goodvibes

I have to go back and reread your post because of course I will have questions and I need to get out my Atlas and look to see actually where Nuremberg is...:idea:

What lovely reading to begin the day...:goodvibes

[Flossbolna]

How spectacularly beautiful, Magdalene!! :love: Thank you so much for taking the time to do this little vignette of your city! Now I want to come visit. :goodvibes

I am glad that you enjoyed it! Nuremberg is a great place to visit - but it's not a very "musical" town - besides the Wagner opera "Die Meistersinger" there really isn't any musical connection in Nuremberg, no composer born there etc. Writing that, I remember that Pachelbel was located in Nuremberg at some time I think (he is a rather obscure composer, but I am sure you would know him...). But then a trip to Germany would give you the possibility to visit a lot of "musical places"! :goodvibes

Oh how homesick I am now! :) Ich liebe Nuernberg!! :lovestruc You did such a fantastic job with your descriptions and your lovely pictures. You live in such a lovely area, I tell ya! I know I've mentioned it before but I really miss shopping in the old town and grabbing a brat and/or a pretzel. I miss Mueller's, Karstadt, etc. Did I ever mention to you my ex-boyfriend (I'm married now) still lives in NUE? I think you could know him because he was in a few well known bands... :) The next time I'm over there, I promise I'll let you know so we can at least have a tea or coffee together!

I have heard that Germany has had a lot of snow and cold weather this year. My Dad is actually flying over tonight (for the Kaiserslautern area) and we were talking about the cold weather. It finally thawed out a bit here on the East Coast and it's such a relief to be anything but 15 degrees! I'm so excited the weather is looking warmer for you two!

You are so close!! I remember when you were first talking about the trip it felt like so long ago! How very cool for you both! :banana::banana:

Enjoy your weekend!
Heather

Hi Heather, I am glad that you enjoyed it!! I am impressed that you used to go out with a local VIP! :rotfl: I am not sure that I know any person in Nuremberg who was in well known bands, but I am really not an expert on bands... :rolleyes1 Of course now I am very curious...

I think it is so funny that you would miss a Mueller! But I guess that's the tiny things one misses most about a country where you lived for some time! :goodvibes I really hope you get in touch when you come to Nuremberg, would be wonderful to have a DISmeet at home!! :woohoo:

Oh good! I showed up just in time for a tour of Nuremberg. Thanks for showing us around town.

I think every trip report should mention sausages every now and then, and pictures are a definite plus. Thanks for pointing out a good place to find them in Nuremberg. Maybe I'll get to look that place up some day.

Hi Glennbo, welcome to my PTR!! Great to have you here, even though there isn't much more planning to do for us! Who knows, one day P-Chef might send you to Munich, if they already sent you to Vienna, and Nuremberg is just an easy train ride of one hour away! :goodvibes

What a yummy update!! Now I'm hungry! At the F&W festival in Epcot last October I had what was said to be a Nuremburg sausage...It was a small sausage in a pretzel roll with mustard and maybe sauerkraut. All I can say now is I am super hungry for my Biergarten dinner! The pictures are stunning...love the architecture and market. Looks like a very lovely place to wander around and eat sausages ;)
Ohhhh the iPhone.....if you have any questions ask away..it is always by my side :goodvibes I am relatively sure that once you download the apps you don't need internet to use them..pay for them once and that is it. With the phone plan here it is always on the 3G network or I can access wirelessly.

The ones to search for are:
WDW Dining (use this a lot:thumbsup2) WDW maps is useful also, WDW wait times is fun to look at but I don't think it is very accurate. One of the most comprehensive is the one from the Dis :thumbsup2 I think it was around 5 dollars or so but it has up to date park hours, dining info, reviews, and you can also access trip reports and the boards. This one I would have to say is accessed by the internet or wirelessly because it is an internet site :confused3 Maybe this is something you can ask your provider? It would be very convenient to have but then I wouldn't want to see you hit with ridiculous fees. :)
Well it's Saturday night and time for a Lambic :rotfl2:

Tracy

Hope you had a great Saturday with your Lambic! I did cook with red wine this weekend, so I am forced to finish the bottle and am enjoying a glass of Tempranillo right now! :goodvibes

Thanks for the recommendations. I hadn't realized that the DIS App has menus, so I now just bought it to check it out. I think I can figure out if it uses the internet by putting the iphone into "flightmodus" and then see how it works... I am already looking daily at "lines" the iphone website from touringplans.com it's free for subscribers at the moment. They show estimated wait times as well as those which were sent to them from visitors in the park on that day. That's a lot of fun!! :thumbsup2

(more on sausages below...)

[Flossbolna]

We had the small sausage also. However, most people I know who were at the F&W Festival received much larger sausages.

Here is ours:
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c69/PNO4TE/Mobile%20Uploads/1005091239a.jpg

Here is an example of the ones others were served! :eek:
http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l213/oybolshoi/Stuff/October%202009/45.jpg

After Magdalene's description, I think we got the one that was more appropriate.

Elin....we had the one in the second picture!!!:scared1: That is very interesting that there were two totally different ones...AND I think you were there (I remember your name from an October PTR) around the same time....I was there in the beginning of October. I can't remember the dates. :rotfl2: It was good but looked kind of strange in the roll!! :lmao:

Tracy

Tracy - I think we were there at the same time! October 1-8. It was so strange to see everyone else's pictures of the same food we had eaten, but have it be so very different! :rotfl2:

Elin, I think you got the real thing, the other one is too long for a real Nuremberg sausage! :thumbsup2

BUT: never serve sausages in a pretzel roll!! :scared1: That's just wrong... If we combine pretzel with sausage, the sausage would be served on a plate and eaten with fork and knfe and the pretzel (or pretzel roll or pretzel stick) would be eaten at the same time. But if served inside a roll: only plain (but crusty, we don't do soft) rolls are appropriate.

And since we already talk about it: we never put sauerkraut inside the roll with the sausages.

Elin, even though you got the right size, we usually have three of them in a roll, so this was a tiny serving!! :eek:

And just to add more random sausage facts: the term "Nuremberg sausages" is actually a protected name within Europe, only sausages produced within the city limits of Nuremberg can be sold under this name. We have a number of those protected names - the technical term is Protected Designation of Origin. Other examples are Champagne, Camembert, Black Forrest Ham, Parma ham and Feta cheese (must all be from a certain region) - the US don't accept this protection.

And just because this seems a good point to mention it: never put the sauerkraut on top of a sausage in a roll!! :scared1:

[Flossbolna]

I love all the pictures. They make me want to hop on a plane right away for a visit.

Well, most of the pics are from summer and the others from December - at the moment, even Nuremberg is cold and grey! Better hop on that plane in June, July or August!! :thumbsup2

But really, I think that a trip to Europe is much easier than a lot of people think, but I guess you know that since you already visited Austria! :goodvibes

Me too!!! :yay:

Beautiful pictures, Magdalene. :cloud9: Thanks so much for sharing the pictures and a bit of the history of your beautiful city. :goodvibes

And I'd love an order of Nuremberg sausages with potato salad please!! :flower3:

See ya real soon!! ::MinnieMo

You know, I just thought that we should bring you a can of sausages (they sell them canned and they are actually quite good :laughing: - but then I remembered US custom regulations: no meat allowed to enter the country... :headache:

We are really looking forward to meeting you soon!

Wow. thank you so much for sharing those wonderful pictures of Nuremberg. How beautiful and educational. My next door neighbor was born and raised in Germany, but has lived here in the states for many years. What an interesting city. The pictures of the old churches and buildings are spectacular. What I wouldn't give to be able to tour such an beautiful place.

I am glad you enjoyed the tour of Nuremberg! It is a wonderful city to live in as well! AS I wrote above, I think a trip to Europe is really not that difficult, getting around with English has become much easier in recent years, especially in the bigger cities and everywhere where there are tourists. Of course, there are cultural differences, but that's part of the fun of travelling. It's one of the things that brings me back to the US again and again. the fascination of how even small things can be different! :goodvibes If the Dollar-Euro exchange rates becomes a bit better for the Dollar side, a trip could even be quite affordable (of course besides the air fare...). :thumbsup2

Hello there. I need to catch up on your trip report. I just had to say that I lived in Nuremberg years ago, from the time I was 4-7. My dad was in the army :).

It's so interesting to see so many DISers with connections to Nuremberg here!! I am sure you don't remember that much about it? :goodvibes

Okay - I think I finally caught up with your PTR. I've been hopelessly out of the loop on the dis. I love the pictures from DLP - that version of Space Mountain sounds really great! You have such a short time left until you leave - you must be so excited!!

Can you believe it, the time went by so quickly!! Great to see you back on the DIS! You will see, soon it will be time for your big trip!! :thumbsup2

Hey M,


I have no idea how I missed this wonderful update yesterday...:confused3

This is FABULOUS...beautiful architecture, history, food, a Christmas market...these are all some of my favorite things...:goodvibes

I have to go back and reread your post because of course I will have questions and I need to get out my Atlas and look to see actually where Nuremberg is...:idea:

What lovely reading to begin the day...:goodvibes

This happens to me all the time as well. Somehow threads drop out of my list of new postings and then I don't notice them... I hope you could find Nuremberg in your Atlas, but since it is the second largest city in Bavaria (with 500,000 inhabitants) it hopefully is on the map! And otherwise you could use google maps. But an Atlas has much more style! :thumbsup2

[Flossbolna]

Ok, I don't know what is correct, but Tourguide Mike claims it's 9 days until my trip, my ticker says 8 days and Katharina's ticker says one week and 5 days!! :confused:

So I have decided that today is the day for the single digit dance!!!

:cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::cheer2::c heer2::cheer2::cheer2:

(And Katharina already reassured me that she is still planning to board that plane together with me and not 4 days later!)

I did some more shopping the last few days and here are the result:

I picked up more stuff at the drug store:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06028.jpg

tissues (sorry, no other country is able to produce useful tissues like my Tempos, so we need a good supply for cases of emergency), Vitamin C + Zinc (in order to prevent such emergencies), salt water nasal spray (to keep the nose moist in the dry air plane, in my opinion also helps to prevent said emergencies), anti-bacterial wipes (I am not a germaphobe, these are just a reassurance that I have something if it is really needed, I don't wipe down the hotel room!!), wipes for cleaning glasses (great for sun glasses), refreshing foot lotion with grapefruit and mint, more travel containers: shaving gel, high protection sunscreen for sensitive skin and hair gel and finally and most importantly (and the reason why I went to the drug store): a waterproof disposable camera for some fun at Typhoon Lagoon!! :beach:

I also got a new cute skirt - it was still on sale from last summer and very cheap:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06032.jpg

The best thing about the skirt is that it is a European size 36 which translates into a US size 6!! I can't believe that I fit into it. :scared1::scared1: I tried it on two sizes too large first... :woohoo::woohoo:

And today after work I walked to Galeries Lafayette, the Paris department store, which has its only branch in Berlin, very close to where I work and got this:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06035.jpg

It will be passed on to my travel mate on 2/3... :cake:

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hi Magdalene! YIPPEE for the single digit dance!!! :cool1: I know you both are getting so excited!! I'm so excited for you guys!

I just sent you a PM in reference to the VIP. :)

I try not to sound like a "snob" when it comes to things that are real German or real Italian (since I've lived in both countries) but I knew the bratwurst was not the "real" thing. When I read on the menu it was served with a pretzel roll, and/or sauerkraut in the roll, I rolled my eyes and said forget about it! It must be served with fresh brotchen and real German mustard. :) It's not the same w/out a Spezi or Mezzo Mix either! I love to try real authentic food but it's truly hard to find over here, in my experience.

That skirt is adorable and good for you for getting a smaller size!! I know it always makes us smile, doesn't it? ;) I immediately saw your "Tempo"s and smiled. My Dad brings them back every trip too! We have a Kleenex packaging that is very close but I know they aren't always easy to find. They are also great quality.

I promise, next time I'm over there we'll have a Dismeet! :)

Heather

[MEK]

Congrats on single digit dancing! :banana::cool1::thumbsup2:yay::woohoo::dance3: I love your items you got at the drug store. And that skirt is really cute! Don't you just love finding clearance summer items? They are so much more fun than clearance winter items. :laughing:

[PNO4TE]

I am glad that you enjoyed it! Nuremberg is a great place to visit - but it's not a very "musical" town - besides the Wagner opera "Die Meistersinger" there really isn't any musical connection in Nuremberg, no composer born there etc. Writing that, I remember that Pachelbel was located in Nuremberg at some time I think (he is a rather obscure composer, but I am sure you would know him...). But then a trip to Germany would give you the possibility to visit a lot of "musical places"! :goodvibes

You might be surprised at how well known Pachelbel is, Magdalene! He wrote a canon for a string quartet (of sorts) that is probably the most easily recognized piece of Baroque music! Kind of like Fur Elise or the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Every parent who comes into my studio wants their child to play those three pieces! Of course, they want them to play the "real" music after a couple of months. :rolleyes:

[nodnol]

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06035.jpg

It will be passed on to my travel mate on 2/3... :cake:

:banana::banana::banana:

[manntra]

Woo Hoo for Single Digits
:hyper::jumping1::hyper::jumping1::hyper:

MEK and I are almost to double digits!! :rotfl2:

Tracy

[brookelizabeth]

Wow oh wow! You have really stirred the desire in me to visit Germany!!! It has always been there, but now it's even more strong! I can see why my Mom cried when she had to leave, how beautiful!

I will get there at some point in my life, I will!!

Thank you for taking us on a tour. The sausages look deeeeeeeeelish, and reminds me of our meal this past trip at Biergarten. :cloud9:


And just because this seems a good point to mention it: never put the sauerkraut on top of a sausage in a roll!! :scared1:

:rotfl2: I take it you think it's pretty appalling that Americans do this?? :goodvibes I love sauerkraut on top of my brat in a big crusty roll! :rotfl: BUT, when I am in Germany at some point, I will keep this in mind so people don't look at me like I'm nuts! :)

HAPPY SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!
And HAPPY SMALLER SKIRT SHOPPING!!!! :dance3::dance3::dance3: Single digits till trip, single digit skirt size. :thumbsup2

Looking forward to finding out what that gift is....!

[Flossbolna]

Hi Magdalene! YIPPEE for the single digit dance!!! :cool1: I know you both are getting so excited!! I'm so excited for you guys!

I just sent you a PM in reference to the VIP. :)

I try not to sound like a "snob" when it comes to things that are real German or real Italian (since I've lived in both countries) but I knew the bratwurst was not the "real" thing. When I read on the menu it was served with a pretzel roll, and/or sauerkraut in the roll, I rolled my eyes and said forget about it! It must be served with fresh brotchen and real German mustard. :) It's not the same w/out a Spezi or Mezzo Mix either! I love to try real authentic food but it's truly hard to find over here, in my experience.

That skirt is adorable and good for you for getting a smaller size!! I know it always makes us smile, doesn't it? ;) I immediately saw your "Tempo"s and smiled. My Dad brings them back every trip too! We have a Kleenex packaging that is very close but I know they aren't always easy to find. They are also great quality.

I promise, next time I'm over there we'll have a Dismeet! :)

Heather

Thanks for the PM, will reply properly to it!

I know what yo mean about being a "snob" with regard to authenticity. I think very often foreign things take on a life of its own when brought to another country. I still remember my first trip to Italy when I was so dissappointed with the pizza I got there! It did not taste like good pizza to me. :goodvibes

But I think it is a bit of a shame that a festival that is supposed to be about food from around the world tries to improve a very nice thing by combining to specialities that don't belong together. They could have easily sold the pretzel roll with some Emmental cheese sprinkled with paprika. :love:

When Katharina and I were in the US in 1992 we visited friends in Texas who took us to a town that was founded by Germans and was supposed to be very authentic. We had lunch at a restaurant and were surprised by the offerings! They had Bratwurst sandwiches, a suasages split in half lengthwise and stuck between two slices of bread. It was delicious, but not authentic. Also the houses looked a bit Bavarian, but the streets were still wide and straight. So to us it looked very American, while for American's it looked Bavarina. I guess people always notice the elements that are uncommon to them much more than the similarities. :goodvibes

Funny that your father imports Tempos! :laughing: The ones I got even have some aloe vera on them and you can survice a nasty cold without getting a red nose if you use them. They are wonderful. I also love the ones which smell of menthol... Actually, they started selling tissues in boxes here in Germany a few years ago and at home I now think having a box at my bedside table is much more practical!

Congrats on single digit dancing! :banana::cool1::thumbsup2:yay::woohoo::dance3: I love your items you got at the drug store. And that skirt is really cute! Don't you just love finding clearance summer items? They are so much more fun than clearance winter items. :laughing:

I guess you are right - I would never think "oh what a lovely wollen sweater" in the middle of summer, but a short summer skirt in freezing January is just the thing to get. :woohoo:

You might be surprised at how well known Pachelbel is, Magdalene! He wrote a canon for a string quartet (of sorts) that is probably the most easily recognized piece of Baroque music! Kind of like Fur Elise or the Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Every parent who comes into my studio wants their child to play those three pieces! Of course, they want them to play the "real" music after a couple of months. :rolleyes:

That's interesting! Katharina and I played the recorder for quite a long time (Katharina the soprano recorder and I the alto recorder) and we played a lot of baroque music, but I think it was mainly Händel and Purcell. It's still a style I like a lot, but I never really knew about Pachelbel until one of his brother's decendants was a colleague of mine and he was always asked wether he was related to the composer.

:banana::banana::banana:

I thought you might like that! :rolleyes1

[Flossbolna]

Woo Hoo for Single Digits
:hyper::jumping1::hyper::jumping1::hyper:

MEK and I are almost to double digits!! :rotfl2:

Tracy

Our time between doubel digits and single digits passed sooo quickly, you will be there sooner than you think! :banana:

Wow oh wow! You have really stirred the desire in me to visit Germany!!! It has always been there, but now it's even more strong! I can see why my Mom cried when she had to leave, how beautiful!

I will get there at some point in my life, I will!!

Thank you for taking us on a tour. The sausages look deeeeeeeeelish, and reminds me of our meal this past trip at Biergarten. :cloud9:

:rotfl2: I take it you think it's pretty appalling that Americans do this?? :goodvibes I love sauerkraut on top of my brat in a big crusty roll! :rotfl: BUT, when I am in Germany at some point, I will keep this in mind so people don't look at me like I'm nuts! :)

HAPPY SINGLE DIGIT DANCING!
And HAPPY SMALLER SKIRT SHOPPING!!!! :dance3::dance3::dance3: Single digits till trip, single digit skirt size. :thumbsup2

Looking forward to finding out what that gift is....!

I was thinking of you and your mother when I posted the pictures! I really hope you will be able to come to Germany one day and see where your mother lived. And don't worry, you won't be able to get sauerkraut at the stands which sell bratwurst in bread rolls, so no danger of people thinking you are nuts!! ;)

[Flossbolna]

One week from now our plane from Berlin will (hopefully) just have landed at Franfurt airport. We will have then nearly 4 hours to explore the airport and eat lunch! :banana:

Also I tried online check-in for AKL yesterday and it worked brilliantly. I could even see that we are booked for ME. So verything seems to be falling into place. :cool1:

[2xcited2sleep]

Hurrah for one week and online check-in!!! :woohoo::dance3::woohoo:

[PNO4TE]

It is finally a week away!!! :yay:

[John's Mom]

You and Katharina must be doing the happy dance!

:woohoo::woohoo::yay::yay::banana::banana:

[If U Had Wings]

Well, most of the pics are from summer and the others from December - at the moment, even Nuremberg is cold and grey! Better hop on that plane in June, July or August!! :thumbsup2

But really, I think that a trip to Europe is much easier than a lot of people think, but I guess you know that since you already visited Austria! :goodvibes


You are right. I had no problems when I was in Europe, and that was years ago. After this year, I'm thinking of taking a Disney break for a year and going to Europe. I love Disney, but I'm really feeling a need to see something brand new.

Congrats on the single digit dance! It will be here before you know it!

[mickeysmyboy]

WOW! Thanks for the tour of Nuremberg! It's absolutely beautiful!

You must be getting so excited for your trip now!!!

I have my new TR up and running if you would like to come over and joing the fun! the link is in my signature!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Well congrats on one week...:woohoo:


(I posted yesterday at the top of the page under Brook...but it must not have taken it...:eek:...very strange...:cool2:)

I think my post was something to the effect that I think that a trip to Germany and Northern Italy would be fabulous...and I may have asked what places do you think are must sees in your country...:confused3

(it was much better when I wrote it yesterday...oh well...)


Congrats again...:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[Flossbolna]

Hurrah for one week and online check-in!!! :woohoo::dance3::woohoo:

Isn't it wonderful!! :banana:

It is finally a week away!!! :yay:

I can't believe it! And in three weeks time it will already be over... :sad1: - no, I am not thinking about that!! :lmao:

You and Katharina must be doing the happy dance!

:woohoo::woohoo::yay::yay::banana::banana:

Yes we are! :thumbsup2

You are right. I had no problems when I was in Europe, and that was years ago. After this year, I'm thinking of taking a Disney break for a year and going to Europe. I love Disney, but I'm really feeling a need to see something brand new.

Congrats on the single digit dance! It will be here before you know it!

Sounds like a wonderful idea if you want a Disney break! If you want any input on Europe, I will be happy to help, if I know the region you want to see! :goodvibes

WOW! Thanks for the tour of Nuremberg! It's absolutely beautiful!

You must be getting so excited for your trip now!!!

I have my new TR up and running if you would like to come over and joing the fun! the link is in my signature!

Thanks for the nice comment on the Nuremberg tour! Will immediately jump over to your TR, hadn't realized that you have started yet, but was already looking for it today! :goodvibes

Well congrats on one week...:woohoo:


(I posted yesterday at the top of the page under Brook...but it must not have taken it...:eek:...very strange...:cool2:)

I think my post was something to the effect that I think that a trip to Germany and Northern Italy would be fabulous...and I may have asked what places do you think are must sees in your country...:confused3

(it was much better when I wrote it yesterday...oh well...)


Congrats again...:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

Oh, what a shame that the DIS lost your lovely post from yesterday (and I sure it was really lovely!!)

I was a bit confused about where the Northern Italy came from... But then I realized that this propably was not related to my posts, but your idea of what you wanted to see. Or perhaps Heather put you up to it since she wrote about that she lived in Italy!! :goodvibes

It could definitely been done in one trip, but it isn't really that close together. But Munich has a large international airport, so flying into Munich and then getting a car driving around southern Germany and over the Alps to Italy would be doable. You can also take a train from Munich to Italy or hop on a cheap one hour flight.

Really difficult to decide what are must see places in Germany. According to Wikipedia it is about the size of Montana (and not that much smaller than California) and has 82 million inhabitants (which is more than double the number of people who live in California and about 9 times as many as in Montana). So we are talking about a pretty big country and densely populated. Add to that that you can find buildings dating back to the Romans, so 2000 years of recorded history. I am sure you are aware of that, it really is very similar in France and Great Britain, even though they are less populated. It just equates to so many things worth seeing that it is really difficult to pick a "best selection".

I think it's best to not try to see it all. Obviously Berlin and Munich come into mind, but then Hamburg and Cologne are definitely worth a visit, too. There are also so many smaller cities which have a lot to offer: Frankfurt, Leipzig, Dresden, Lübeck, Nuremberg, Bamberg, Würzburg, Freiburg, Heidelberg. And these are just the ones I know personally. Then there are intersting landscapes (however, they aren't as impressive as anything in the US): the Rhine and Mosel valleys, the Harz, the Black Forrest, the Bavarian Alps, the Bavarian Forrest... You see, really difficult.

Personally I would say: stick to Bavaria and perhaps go to Berlin for a few days as well. Berlin and Munich are very different big cities. And Berlin just has so much history to offer...

I am afraid, this really doesn't make much sense at all... :lmao:

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

YEAH!!! Single digit dance!!! :banana: I'm so excited for the two of you! It will be here before you know it. I'm glad the online check in went smoothly too - it puts a smile on your face the whole time you're doing it, doesn't it? :cool1:

Funny mention about the Germany and Northern Italy! I think we should get a travel site going! I agree with everything you said and I always loved taking the train from Nuernberg to where I previously lived in Italy (Vicenza) which some might know is not too far from Venice. The train ride is absolutely stunning going through the Alps but it does take about 9 hours and a few changes. A great experience! :)

Heather

[Lady Lallie]

WOO HOO for ONE WEEK!! :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[TyRy]

:yay::banana::yay: for just a couple of days to go!! :yay::banana::yay: You both must be very excited now. And I'll say have so much fun and a wonderful trip right now just in case I don't make it back on before you leave!

Thanks for the wonderful pictures of Nuremberg, it really looks like a wonderful place...so very picturesque!!!

[brookelizabeth]

I was thinking of you and your mother when I posted the pictures! I really hope you will be able to come to Germany one day and see where your mother lived. And don't worry, you won't be able to get sauerkraut at the stands which sell bratwurst in bread rolls, so no danger of people thinking you are nuts!! ;)

I was thinking I should email her those pictures! :goodvibes She would love them, I'm sure.

Good to know about the sauerkraut. :laughing:

Your trip is almost here!!!! You are planning the "One week from today...." game!!!! :dance3:

[Flossbolna]

YEAH!!! Single digit dance!!! :banana: I'm so excited for the two of you! It will be here before you know it. I'm glad the online check in went smoothly too - it puts a smile on your face the whole time you're doing it, doesn't it? :cool1:

Funny mention about the Germany and Northern Italy! I think we should get a travel site going! I agree with everything you said and I always loved taking the train from Nuernberg to where I previously lived in Italy (Vicenza) which some might know is not too far from Venice. The train ride is absolutely stunning going through the Alps but it does take about 9 hours and a few changes. A great experience! :)

Heather

Actually I have only ever crossed the alps by coach, car or plane and it was either dark outside or cloudy... Never did the train trip, really should do that one day! :goodvibes

WOO HOO for ONE WEEK!! :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

Time is running sooo fast!! :cool1:

:yay::banana::yay: for just a couple of days to go!! :yay::banana::yay: You both must be very excited now. And I'll say have so much fun and a wonderful trip right now just in case I don't make it back on before you leave!

Thanks for the wonderful pictures of Nuremberg, it really looks like a wonderful place...so very picturesque!!!

Nuremberg is really pretty! Thanks for the good wishes for our trip, it is soo close now!! :banana:

I was thinking I should email her those pictures! :goodvibes She would love them, I'm sure.

Good to know about the sauerkraut. :laughing:

Your trip is almost here!!!! You are planning the "One week from today...." game!!!! :dance3:

I can't believe it. Fortunately, one week from now we still have three and half a day at Disney ahead of us - and we are leaving the day after tomorrow!!:woohoo:

[tiggrbaby]

Safe and magical travels for both of you! Looking forward to seeing you pics and reading about your adventures!

[Flossbolna]

It's Monday evening here - and we are going to leave Wednesday early morning. We really are nearly there!! :rainbow::rainbow:

And my ticker is one day off...:confused3

I had my last day at work on Friday, but Saturday Katharina and I were once again busy volunteering for "our" exchange organization. Unfortunately we won't get a Disney Day for the day we gave, but that's fine. :goodvibes

Sunday I was battling a horrible headache - I tend to get these when the stress I had is over. Pretty annoying. But Katharina, Remy and I still managed to get pizza popcorn:: and a movie. We finally saw another Disney movie! :cool1: It was the only one which Remy would consent to see as well: Mickey, Donald and Goofy as musketeers. I thought it was quite sweet. But Remy hated it because they were singing in it and he hates musicals. Well, he was the one who picked the film! :rolleyes1

The pizza was a special cow's milk and tomato free variety. broduced by ourself! We used vegan pesto (which consisted of nuts, basil and olive oil) from a jar, parma ham, black olives and feta cheese (which is only sheep with a bit of goat). The first batch was rather dry and it was all a bit salty from the feta and the ham... In order to practice for WDW I took some food porn:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0022.jpg

Today I was busy running errands (including having breakfast at my favourite cafe, which actually is run by an American living here in Berlin, so I had a lovely bagel with peanut butter with my coffee!:cloud9:). I also had to drop off our birthday present for our mother at the post office, her birthday is on 2/2, so we will be in WDW then. I also finally hunted down some socks that can be worn in sneakers. We did not want the ones that are so short that they disappear into the shoe at the heel when you walk around a lot. Not easy finding summer socks in the middle of winter!! I had been checking all kind of department stores, even tried the flagship store, the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens - Department Store of the West). It was called that before there was an East and a West Berlin, but it ended up being in the West. It must be the most luxurious department store in Germany. Well, there they had some in strange colours like red, beige and black. All of these colours would not go with white sneakers (actually now, I realize that Katharina has red sneakers, she might have liked those red socks... :headache:). So I was really disspointed, but since I was in Berlin's main shopping street, I ventured on. And just because I thought I should try even the faintest possibility, I went into the Puma store. Puma is a German sneaker brand (which when I was small nobody wanted to wear) which has become extremely trendy over the last years. Didn' t really expect to find practical socks there, but I did!! :banana: And because I wanted three pair for each of us, I got two packets and they had an offer: 20 % off if you buy two items! So we each got three pair of socks for 6.36 € (about 9 $). They even show the brand name, so now we have very trendy socks for not much money. Those beige socks at the KaDeWe would have been 7 € for the pair! :woohoo:

Here are those wonderful socks! ;)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0032.jpg

And because I am having so much phone taking pics with my Iphone, here is the display in the KaDeWe for their "theme" at the moment, it is called "The Beautiful South":

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0028.jpg

The KaDeWe is most famous for their food department, which also stocks a number of delicacies from the US:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0031.jpg

And then I went to see a film tonight and passed by Checkpoint Charlie, a very famous crossing point between the Soviet and the American sector, i.e. between East and West Berlin, during the cold war. It is now just a copy of the original guard house there, but it is a huge tourist attraction. The picture was taken from the American side towards the Soviet sector. I think it shows very well what it meant to the city to be divided like that.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0033.jpg

AS you might be able to see from the picture, there still is snow on the ground. We had freezing temperatures for nearly all of January so far and the last few days have been really cold again. We have around -10 °C here as our high temperatures, that's around 15 °F. We are making ourselves much too nervous about the Orlando weather, but so far it looks like the high for Wednesday there is supposed to be 20 °C and that's quite a big jump. :cool1: 20 °C are about 68 °F. Not hot, but warm enough for us!! And it is supposed to warm up a bit more: 77 °F on Friday....

Unfortunately it looks like we won't be able to make use of those temperatures at the AKL pool. :confused3 The refurb was supposedly extended until mid February. The good news is however that there is a nice shuttle at the moment going between Jambo and Kidani. So at least we will make sure that we check out the Kidani pool. And the spas at Jambo are open! :thumbsup2

I will check in tomorrow. Perhaps I will even manage to get another DLP update going. This really fits much more into a PTR than a TR... :confused:

[mickeysmyboy]

Great update!!! Sounds like you've had a great few days, except for the headache!

Very cool pictures! That department store looks very nice! I love the display of American food!!

Wishing you a wonderful trip!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[glennbo123]

Hey, your iPhone does a pretty good job at taking pictures. Thanks for including the Checkpoint Charlie one -- that's interesting.

Have a safe trip and say "hi" to AKL for me.

[kschafer]

I just discovered your PTR today and am here just in time to wish you safe travels and a magical trip :wizard: I'll look forward to hearing all about it on your return

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Ahh...I'm here to wish you and Nodnol a wonderful trip! I wish you safe travels and a ton of fun and good weather. Ich wunsche Ihnen viel SpaB! (Did I get that even half way close?) :rotfl2: I don't have umlauts on my computer....

Love the KaDeWe - too funny and just like Karstadt with the "American section". I always crack up when I see it but I do agree the items are pretty authentic - especially the peanut butter! :lmao:

We'll miss you while you're away but we'll be thinking about you and anxiously awaiting your report when you return! :banana:

Heather

[PNO4TE]

Magdalene - I hope you and Katarina have a WONDERFUL trip!!!

[Flossbolna]

Great update!!! Sounds like you've had a great few days, except for the headache!

Very cool pictures! That department store looks very nice! I love the display of American food!!

Wishing you a wonderful trip!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Isn't the display nice? Thanks for the good wishes!

Safe and magical travels for both of you! Looking forward to seeing you pics and reading about your adventures!

Thanks! I did not see your post yesterday, you managed to jump in between my posts! :goodvibes

Hey, your iPhone does a pretty good job at taking pictures. Thanks for including the Checkpoint Charlie one -- that's interesting.

Have a safe trip and say "hi" to AKL for me.

I am rather impressed with the quality of the pictures myself. Even in the dark they come out quite ok. Checkpoint Charlie is a bit cheesy, during the days there all kind of stands selling "authentic" Soviet flags and hats and such... :rolleyes1

Will say hi to AKL! I think there are a number of AKL fans around here on my PTR! :goodvibes

I just discovered your PTR today and am here just in time to wish you safe travels and a magical trip :wizard: I'll look forward to hearing all about it on your return

Welcome!! And thank you for the good wishes, we are really getting very excited! :cool1:

Ahh...I'm here to wish you and Nodnol a wonderful trip! I wish you safe travels and a ton of fun and good weather. Ich wunsche Ihnen viel SpaB! (Did I get that even half way close?) :rotfl2: I don't have umlauts on my computer....

Love the KaDeWe - too funny and just like Karstadt with the "American section". I always crack up when I see it but I do agree the items are pretty authentic - especially the peanut butter! :lmao:

We'll miss you while you're away but we'll be thinking about you and anxiously awaiting your report when you return! :banana:

Heather

Love the B instead of the ß!! :goodvibes Otherwise it was absolutely correct! :thumbsup2 And if you would ever need them, you can replace any umlaut by using ae, oe or ue (And you have done so in the past I thin? :confused:) and for the ß you can always just use "ss". That's what the Swiss do anyway, they don't have an ß. :goodvibes

The American section is really funny, I am always intrigued by this product called "Fluff" which appears to me a marshmallow spread? :confused:

And thanks for the good wishes, we will try to have a great trip to write about afterwards! :goodvibes

Magdalene - I hope you and Katarina have a WONDERFUL trip!!!

Elin, thanks! We are really looking forward to it! :banana::banana:

[All7OfUs]

I figured since we banter back and forth a lot on Glenn's PTRs, it would be good to get some of that going over here too. :goodvibes Looking forward to getting to know you more!


It's Monday evening here - and we are going to leave Wednesday early morning. We really are nearly there!! :rainbow::rainbow:

And my ticker is one day off...:confused3

I had my last day at work on Friday, but Saturday Katharina and I were once again busy volunteering for "our" exchange organization. Unfortunately we won't get a Disney Day for the day we gave, but that's fine. :goodvibes

You have a great attitude about volunteerism!! Good for you doing something that helps others without any ulterior motive! :thumbsup2

It must be a great feeling to know that you're done with work until after vacation!! :woohoo:


Sunday I was battling a horrible headache - I tend to get these when the stress I had is over. Pretty annoying. But Katharina, Remy and I still managed to get pizza popcorn:: and a movie. We finally saw another Disney movie! :cool1: It was the only one which Remy would consent to see as well: Mickey, Donald and Goofy as musketeers. I thought it was quite sweet. But Remy hated it because they were singing in it and he hates musicals. Well, he was the one who picked the film! :rolleyes1

Uh-oh!! NO headaches allowed!!

Too bad Remy didn't like the movie HE picked out! Next time, he should let you pick :)


The pizza was a special cow's milk and tomato free variety. broduced by ourself! We used vegan pesto (which consisted of nuts, basil and olive oil) from a jar, parma ham, black olives and feta cheese (which is only sheep with a bit of goat). The first batch was rather dry and it was all a bit salty from the feta and the ham... In order to practice for WDW I took some food porn:

I'll have to say that pizza looks fabulous!! I love pesto!! It's so easy to make too. We often make a bunch of it in that late summer and freeze it for winter use.

I think you're going to do just fine in your pursuits of food art. ;)

Today I was busy running errands (including having breakfast at my favourite cafe, which actually is run by an American living here in Berlin, so I had a lovely bagel with peanut butter with my coffee!:cloud9:). I also had to drop off our birthday present for our mother at the post office, her birthday is on 2/2, so we will be in WDW then. Here are those wonderful socks! ;)

last minute errands. I'd say breakfast at your fav. cafe is a tolerable enough errand. :lmao: How sweet to think of you mom before you leave!! :hug:


And then I went to see a film tonight and passed by Checkpoint Charlie, a very famous crossing point between the Soviet and the American sector, i.e. between East and West Berlin, during the cold war. It is now just a copy of the original guard house there, but it is a huge tourist attraction. The picture was taken from the American side towards the Soviet sector. I think it shows very well what it meant to the city to be divided like that.

Great picture of a piece of important history!! May we never forget!

AS you might be able to see from the picture, there still is snow on the ground. We had freezing temperatures for nearly all of January so far and the last few days have been really cold again. We have around -10 °C here as our high temperatures, that's around 15 °F. We are making ourselves much too nervous about the Orlando weather, but so far it looks like the high for Wednesday there is supposed to be 20 °C and that's quite a big jump. :cool1: 20 °C are about 68 °F. Not hot, but warm enough for us!! And it is supposed to warm up a bit more: 77 °F on Friday....

YOo're warmer than us, and we are notorious for being super cold. Not

I agreee, not warm enough!! When you come from a place like here in the winter you want hot, hot, hot!!

Unfortunately it looks like we won't be able to make use of those temperatures at the AKL pool. :confused3 The refurb was supposedly extended until mid February. The good news is however that there is a nice shuttle at the moment going between Jambo and Kidani. So at least we will make sure that we check out the Kidani pool. And the spas at Jambo are open! :thumbsup2

Kidani looks amazing!! If pool hopping were allowed... :rolleyes1;)I know you'll enjoy it!


I will check in tomorrow. Perhaps I will even manage to get another DLP update going. This really fits much more into a PTR than a TR... :confused:

Fun to be here!

[Lady Lallie]

Have a wonderful trip!! :wizard:

[glennbo123]

The American section is really funny, I am always intrigued by this product called "Fluff" which appears to me a marshmallow spread? :confused:


Fluffernutter! Yes, you got it exactly right. Either my mom or my mother-in-law introduced my kids to fluffernutter sandwiches (peanut butter and fluff). Something neither my mom or MIL would have let their kids eat when we were growing up, but it's their job to spoil the grandchildren, right?

[jenjolt]

Have a great trip!!! I wish you both an amazing time!!!

[If U Had Wings]

Hope you have a wonderful trip!! Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

[John's Mom]

Magdalene, I hope you and Katharina have a safe and magical trip! :goodvibes Here's some pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust: for great weather.

Kathy

[manntra]

Hope you both have a very magical trip! :goodvibes

Tracy

[Flossbolna]

I figured since we banter back and forth a lot on Glenn's PTRs, it would be good to get some of that going over here too. :goodvibes Looking forward to getting to know you more!
Fun to be here!

Welcome, great to have you here! I have lurked in your blog a bit now and then and was rather intrigued! :goodvibes Sorry, don't have the time for a proper reply now!!

Fluffernutter! Yes, you got it exactly right. Either my mom or my mother-in-law introduced my kids to fluffernutter sandwiches (peanut butter and fluff). Something neither my mom or MIL would have let their kids eat when we were growing up, but it's their job to spoil the grandchildren, right?

Interesting, I think I might have to buy a jar of Fluff one day to try the fluffernutter sandwich! :thumbsup2

Have a wonderful trip!! :wizard:

Have a great trip!!! I wish you both an amazing time!!!

Hope you have a wonderful trip!! Can't wait to hear all about it when you get back.

Magdalene, I hope you and Katharina have a safe and magical trip! :goodvibes Here's some pixiedust:pixiedust:pixiedust: for great weather.

Kathy

Hope you both have a very magical trip! :goodvibes

Tracy

Thanks to all of you for your good wishes!

My suitcase is packed:

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/IMG_0045.jpg

It is 16 kg, we are allowed one piece of 23 kg, so I can buy 7 kg of souvenirs, that's 15 lbs! :cool1:

Now I only need to pack my hand luggage, do the dishes and then it is off to bed for an early start tomorrow morning at 5:45 am!! :scared1:

I might check in briefly tomorrow morning, but if I don't, see you all on 2/6! We will hopefully be back with many great stories to tell, we already discussed how to do the TR today!! :goodvibes

:cheer2::banana::banana::yay::yay::cool1::cool1:
party::rainbow::jumping1:

[klacey1]

I'm too late, but I hope you have a wonderful time!!

[Flossbolna]

I'm too late, but I hope you have a wonderful time!!

You are not too late, I could not resist, to spend a last relaxing 15 minutes with the DIS before I am off to bed! :goodvibes Thanks for the good wishes!

[brookelizabeth]

Your light is still on, I think I caught you before you left! :goodvibes HAVE A GREAT TRIP! I look forward to reading all about it!!!

:dance3:

[Flossbolna]

Your light is still on, I think I caught you before you left! :goodvibes HAVE A GREAT TRIP! I look forward to reading all about it!!!

:dance3:

Yes, I am still around!! :goodvibes Excitement makes me not wanting to go to bed.. I will regret that tomorrow. So this really needs to be my final post today and no more green light!!

We are planning on having a great trip and are looking forward to writing about it!! :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

[glennbo123]

Interesting, I think I might have to buy a jar of Fluff one day to try the fluffernutter sandwich! :thumbsup2


I'm laughing thinking of you trying to spread Fluff for the first time. It's not easy to do without ripping the bread....good luck!

Have a great trip! We'll be eagerly waiting to hear all about it.

[All7OfUs]

Have a wonderfully magic-filled trip making oodles of happy memories!!

See you when you get back!:goodvibes

[Flossbolna]

I'm laughing thinking of you trying to spread Fluff for the first time. It's not easy to do without ripping the bread....good luck!

Have a great trip! We'll be eagerly waiting to hear all about it.

Have a wonderfully magic-filled trip making oodles of happy memories!!

See you when you get back!:goodvibes

Thanks, I am leaving for the airport now!!

It is 1°F (-17°C) here at the moment, can oly be better in Orlando! :goodvibes
:rainbow:

[Flossbolna]

We have checked in (with a bit of difficulty) and are now waiting for the flight to Frankfurt. The flight is slightly delayed, but that doesn't matter we have plenty of Time to get our connection. :goodvibes

[All7OfUs]

We have checked in (with a bit of difficulty) and are now waiting for the flight to Frankfurt. The flight is slightly delayed, but that doesn't matter we have plenty of Time to get our connection. :goodvibes

:scared1: This sounds like great TR fodder!

[Flossbolna]

:scared1: This sounds like great TR fodder!

It wasn't that bad.:goodvibes

we are allready taking Lots of notes and pics. Sitzung at the Gate in FRA now and this will now finally Be the last Time in the DIS for me until 2/6.:yay:

[PNO4TE]

I can't wait to read all about this trip!

[PracPerfPatricia]

Oh M,

I'm so sorry to have missed your send off...:sad1:

I had been hoping to catch you before you left...

I'm sure your trip will be fabulous and I can't wait to hear all about it...:goodvibes

[annichan]

Ideally I would want one of those 40% off PINs, but I have never gotten a PIN - I guess they don't send them out to foreigners... :sad1:


Hey Magdalene, I've just followed the link over from your last dining report, and I realize you are at WDW right now - so exciting, I hope you have a great time!

I've only finished reading the first 5 pages of this PTR so I'm way behind, but I'd still like to comment on your remarks regarding the PINs:

They do give them away to Germans as well, I've already received five of them starting last June!

(Always called something like "A special rate for the *our last name* family".)
I have no idea how precisely I triggered it, but if you like, when you're back we can try to find out together what I may have done differently and work on getting you some of those PINs? :cheer2:

EDIT: Okay, now a week later I have finally managed to read up to the point in your pre-trippie where you mention that you have received a PIN code yourself - that's great! So, just forget all I wrote before ;.)

[brookelizabeth]

My Google weather says it is currently 69 degrees in Orlando....sounds just lovely! :cloud9: I hope you two are having a fantastic time!

[podsnel]

HELLOOOOOOOO!!!!!! :wave2: I have spent a good part of my day reading your PTR- just LOVE it!! Especially the parts about Germany- your photos were gorgeous and I enjoyed reading every word you wrote about Germany's history or about your life. :goodvibes Nuremberg is breathtaking, I even showed Pods the photos and we are definitely coming to Germany someday...although I think it's quite a few years away, unfortunately.

Anyway- I hope both of you are having a wonderful and magical vacation, talk to you when you get back! :goodvibes

Ellen :flower3:

[LuccaDrake]

Hello! I'm just finding this now and I love all the history you've talked about, both Disney and Germany. I especially loved the DLP pics as we are planning on going for my 30th birthday in two years. I hope you and your sister have a wonderful trip and I can't wait to hear all about it not to mention see all of the yummy food pics!

Beka

[Monny2AE]

Hope you are having a Magical Time! Can't wait to hear about it in a few days!

[Monny2AE]

Hope you are having a Magical Time! Can't wait to hear about it in a few days!

[brookelizabeth]

Today was your last full Disney day. :sad2: But, I hope it was a great one! Have a safe flight tomorrow, I look forward to reading all about it! :goodvibes

[annichan]

Hallo Magdalene und Katharina,

you should be landing in a few hours if I've read correctly, so I hope you two have had a safe and none too stressful flight, and here's a warm

:banana: WELCOME HOME - WILLKOMMEN ZUHAUSE! :banana:

Can't wait to hear all about your trip! :dance3:

[All7OfUs]

Hey Ladies!!

Today's the day you come home! Waiting anxiously to hear all about it!!

[glennbo123]

Already? The time must have flown for them.

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I'm so excited to hear all about it!! :) I sincerely hope our crazy weather on the East Coast has not impacted your travels? My Dad is flying home from FRA to PHL today and all flights were cancelled. I'm on hold (40 mins!) with the airline to see if he was lucky enough to get on the CLT route that left. I immediately thought of you two but I think you were going through ATL? I can't remember exactly.

Anyway, can't wait to hear all about your adventures together!! :cool1:

Rest up!

Heather

[PNO4TE]

Welcome home! We have missed you. :)

[Flossbolna]

Hello Everyone!!

I am amazed that we got a few more readers while we were away, Welcome!

I will do proper replies tomorrow, just wanted to check in that we arrived safe and sound and with loads of wonderful memories back in Berlin.

Four hours of sleep on a very bumpy plane ride (the snow in the Eastern US might be related to a huge storm sitting over the Atlantic) aren't enough to make very intelligent posts, so you will have to wait a bit.

But I can assure you that we have plenty of pictures and notes for a TR and I will let you know here when we start it.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed us home!! :goodvibes

[All7OfUs]

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME!!

Get the rest you need and we'll wait to hear all about it!!

[PNO4TE]

I let Laura know you and Katharina arrived home, Magdalene. She was worried about you all! :goodvibes

[Flossbolna]

I let Laura know you and Katharina arrived home, Magdalene. She was worried about you all! :goodvibes

We had such a great time meeting her, she is such a lovely person!! How sweet of her to worry about us! :goodvibes

[tiggrbaby]

Welcome back! I hope it was a magical trip!

[mickeysmyboy]

Welcome back! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Hello Everyone!!

I am amazed that we got a few more readers while we were away, Welcome!

I will do proper replies tomorrow, just wanted to check in that we arrived safe and sound and with loads of wonderful memories back in Berlin.

Four hours of sleep on a very bumpy plane ride (the snow in the Eastern US might be related to a huge storm sitting over the Atlantic) aren't enough to make very intelligent posts, so you will have to wait a bit.

But I can assure you that we have plenty of pictures and notes for a TR and I will let you know here when we start it.

Thanks to everyone who welcomed us home!! :goodvibes

Aww...so nice to know you guys arrived safely!! :)

Heather

[manntra]

Welcome home!! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!! :goodvibes Hope you both had a wonderful time!!

Tracy

[Flossbolna]

It wasn't that bad.:goodvibes

we are allready taking Lots of notes and pics. Sitzung at the Gate in FRA now and this will now finally Be the last Time in the DIS for me until 2/6.:yay:

I just realized how crazy this post looks! :lmao: Sorry, my Iphone tries to correct words for me and it was thinking that I was writing something in German not in English... :goodvibes

I can't wait to read all about this trip!

I hope we can get started on the TR soon! :thumbsup2

Oh M,

I'm so sorry to have missed your send off...:sad1:

I had been hoping to catch you before you left...

I'm sure your trip will be fabulous and I can't wait to hear all about it...:goodvibes

Hi PPP, don't worry, I knew from your PTR that you had other things to take care of! :goodvibes And it was great to get your belated send off now as well!

Hey Magdalene, I've just followed the link over from your last dining report, and I realize you are at WDW right now - so exciting, I hope you have a great time!

I've only finished reading the first 5 pages of this PTR so I'm way behind, but I'd still like to comment on your remarks regarding the PINs:

They do give them away to Germans as well, I've already received five of them starting last June!

(Always called something like "A special rate for the *our last name* family".)
I have no idea how precisely I triggered it, but if you like, when you're back we can try to find out together what I may have done differently and work on getting you some of those PINs? :cheer2:

EDIT: Okay, now a week later I have finally managed to read up to the point in your pre-trippie where you mention that you have received a PIN code yourself - that's great! So, just forget all I wrote before ;.)

Welcome to my PTR!! :goodvibes Thanks for the input about the PINs. I am actually registered with two email adresses and only receive the PINs (I got a second one a few weeks ago) for the one which I normally don't use... Very strange! :confused3

[Flossbolna]

My Google weather says it is currently 69 degrees in Orlando....sounds just lovely! :cloud9: I hope you two are having a fantastic time!

I do that too: Check how the weather is for those people I know who are at WDW at the moment. It's a lot of fun! :goodvibes

HELLOOOOOOOO!!!!!! :wave2: I have spent a good part of my day reading your PTR- just LOVE it!! Especially the parts about Germany- your photos were gorgeous and I enjoyed reading every word you wrote about Germany's history or about your life. :goodvibes Nuremberg is breathtaking, I even showed Pods the photos and we are definitely coming to Germany someday...although I think it's quite a few years away, unfortunately.

Anyway- I hope both of you are having a wonderful and magical vacation, talk to you when you get back! :goodvibes

Ellen :flower3:

Hi Ellen! Welcome to my PTR, even though it is nearly over now!! :goodvibes I am glad that you enjoyed the parts about Germany! And I hope you will manage to come and see it one day. :thumbsup2

Hello! I'm just finding this now and I love all the history you've talked about, both Disney and Germany. I especially loved the DLP pics as we are planning on going for my 30th birthday in two years. I hope you and your sister have a wonderful trip and I can't wait to hear all about it not to mention see all of the yummy food pics!

Beka

Hi Beka, welcome to the PTR!! I still have some more DLP pictures - I am thinking that I might do a few bonus updates on the TR, so there is more to come! :goodvibes

Hope you are having a Magical Time! Can't wait to hear about it in a few days!

Hi! We had a wonderful time! I kept my eyes open for you on our first day, but while one always seems to run into the same people, I did not see you and your family. I hope you had a wonderful trip as well! :thumbsup2

Today was your last full Disney day. :sad2: But, I hope it was a great one! Have a safe flight tomorrow, I look forward to reading all about it! :goodvibes

The last full day is always a bit sad... But ours had a wonderful ending (more on that in the TR... :rolleyes1).

[Flossbolna]

Hallo Magdalene und Katharina,

you should be landing in a few hours if I've read correctly, so I hope you two have had a safe and none too stressful flight, and here's a warm

:banana: WELCOME HOME - WILLKOMMEN ZUHAUSE! :banana:

Can't wait to hear all about your trip! :dance3:

The flight back was really ok, thanks for the welcome back! :goodvibes

Hey Ladies!!

Today's the day you come home! Waiting anxiously to hear all about it!!

We still will need some time before we get started with the TR... But I am really looking forward to it myself! :goodvibes

Already? The time must have flown for them.

Oh yes, it did fly! :scared1:

I'm so excited to hear all about it!! :) I sincerely hope our crazy weather on the East Coast has not impacted your travels? My Dad is flying home from FRA to PHL today and all flights were cancelled. I'm on hold (40 mins!) with the airline to see if he was lucky enough to get on the CLT route that left. I immediately thought of you two but I think you were going through ATL? I can't remember exactly.

Anyway, can't wait to hear all about your adventures together!! :cool1:

Rest up!

Heather

We were actually flying direct from MCO to FRA. I don't like connecting in the US, partly because of the weather danger, but also because on the way there I want to arrive directly after the long flight. :thumbsup2

I hope your father managed to come back without too much problems??

Welcome home! We have missed you. :)

Thanks!

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME!!

Get the rest you need and we'll wait to hear all about it!!

Thank you! Feeling a bit better, but my internal clock does not really enjoy being up at that time of the day yet...

Welcome back! I hope it was a magical trip!

Thanks! We had a wonderful time!

Welcome back! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Thanks! We hope to get started soon!

Welcome home!! Can't wait to hear all about your trip!! :goodvibes Hope you both had a wonderful time!!

Tracy

Hi Tracy, thanks for the welcome, we had a great trip!! :goodvibes

[Flossbolna]

Hi everyone,

this is the official "We are back"-update! We will still need some time sorting things out, come up with a title etc. So there will be a slight delay until we start the TR. Also, I would really love to have the Photopass pictures for the TR from the beginning. And I am not sure how long it will take to get the CD shipped to Germany... Also, there are some pictures where the magical enhancements don't show up, so I need to try to get photopass to fix that.

So please bear with us, I will post the link to the TR as soon as we have started it! It also looks like we will post a separate dining review. Since we don't need photopass for that, we might start this first!

In order to tide you over, we will start with a sneak peak of a DHS visit (not telling which day, but I guess you aren't too surprisded that we visited DHS during our trip! ;))

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06359.jpg

[All7OfUs]

You two look positively radiant!!! Lovely, I say!! :thumbsup2

I totally think you should start your dining review as soon as you can. Like you say, you don't need the photopass to start that, and you know we'd all be there reading! ;)

Why is it that coming up with a title is such hard work?? I know for this, it was like torture. It'll come to you.

Anyway, loved the sneek peek you gave us. Thanks!!

[Flossbolna]

You two look positively radiant!!! Lovely, I say!! :thumbsup2

I totally think you should start your dining review as soon as you can. Like you say, you don't need the photopass to start that, and you know we'd all be there reading! ;)

Why is it that coming up with a title is such hard work?? I know for this, it was like torture. It'll come to you.

Anyway, loved the sneek peek you gave us. Thanks!!

Thanks for the compliment! I hope Katharina will be able to come up with a good title for the TR as well as for the dining review, she is the creative of the two of us, she has a degree in journalism...

[All7OfUs]

Thanks for the compliment! I hope Katharina will be able to come up with a good title for the TR as well as for the dining review, she is the creative of the two of us, she has a degree in journalism...

I'm sure it will fun and creative!

I'm planning on doing a separate dining review too, and I think I've already got a name for mine.

Nary a Burger Among Us

That just about sums up my high hopes for this trip as far as eating goes. :rolleyes1 If I can go the whole trip without one burger or nugget, I'd be in heaven!!

[podsnel]

You both look overjoyed to be in the park! Can't wait to read all about it! :yay:

Ellen

[Monny2AE]

Welcome back!!!!

Can't wait for the TR. Hope you get everything sorted out with the Photopass.

[PNO4TE]

What a gorgeous photo of both of you!

[glennbo123]

What a nice picture. You can sense the joy!

[Flossbolna]

I'm sure it will fun and creative!

I'm planning on doing a separate dining review too, and I think I've already got a name for mine.

Nary a Burger Among Us

That just about sums up my high hopes for this trip as far as eating goes. :rolleyes1 If I can go the whole trip without one burger or nugget, I'd be in heaven!!

Hie Liesa, that sounds like a wonderful title - but it would not fit our review - we actually wanted to get burgers!! :lmao:

You both look overjoyed to be in the park! Can't wait to read all about it! :yay:

Ellen

Thanks, it was a wonderful evening at DHS...

Welcome back!!!!

Can't wait for the TR. Hope you get everything sorted out with the Photopass.

Thanks! I really need to mail these photopass people. At the moment I am using my last vacation day for cleaning my fridge and doing laundry... :sad2:

What a gorgeous photo of both of you!

Thank you - I rather thought I's pick one of the better ones! But honestly I am very happy with the pics of myself so far. Having lost some weight in the last year really made for much better looking pictures of myself. :thumbsup2 Katharina always has been the pretty one, so she always looks great anyway! :goodvibes

What a nice picture. You can sense the joy!

We had a wonderful evening at DHS and were looking forward to more great things after this picture was taken... :rolleyes1

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

What a lovely picture of you two!! :thumbsup2 You both look awesome and the grins are priceless!

It took me 2 hours on the phone to find out my Dad was put on the flight to PHL for tomorrow and unfortunately, they're calling for another storm tomrrow! YIKES! Thanks for asking... :)

I did see your "sitzung" in your post but I decided not to give you a hard time about it! HA HA... :rotfl2:

Looking forward to the report!
Heather

[MiaBella05]

popcorn:: cant wait for the TR popcorn::

[mickeysmyboy]

Love, love, love the picture!!!! You two look so happy!!! Can't wait to hear all about it!

[Disneymom3304]

WOW I just finished reading your PTR and now I will be able to read along with your TR and Dining reviews.:yay: Welcome back! Hope you both had a great time. I cant wait to read all about your adventures at Disney.:thumbsup2

[tiggrbaby]

What a lovely photo! It looks like you were having a great time!

[If U Had Wings]

Welcome back! I can't wait to hear all about the trip. :cool1:

[All7OfUs]

Hie Liesa, that sounds like a wonderful title - but it would not fit our review - we actually wanted to get burgers!! :lmao:



I figured not! I remember you kinda were after the American delicacies like burgers and such. I can't wait for your dining review, though. I actually may sneak in ONE burger if we get to Beaches and Cream- because that's what you're supposed to get there! :rotfl:

[nodnol]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that Flossbolna didn't leave me behind, but I didn't feel fit for posting after our return. I seem to have catched something on the plane, had a sore throat and all that stuff AND had to got to work already yesterday...

So I wasn't really creative yet but will do my best with TR titles - just don't expect to much - English is a foreign languages for me ;)

And I guess I won't spoil anything in telling you already now that I liked my first trip to WDW a lot and would love to return some day :goodvibes

[jenjolt]

Love the picture!!! WOOT!! Welcome Home Can't wait to hear all about your trip!!

[All7OfUs]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that Flossbolna didn't leave me behind, but I didn't feel fit for posting after our return. I seem to have catched something on the plane, had a sore throat and all that stuff AND had to got to work already yesterday...

So I wasn't really creative yet but will do my best with TR titles - just don't expect to much - English is a foreign languages for me ;)

And I guess I won't spoil anything in telling you already now that I liked my first trip to WDW a lot and would love to return some day :goodvibes


Yay!! She's hooked and had a great time!! Congrats, Magdalene!

Take your time, jetlag is sometimes a killer to get over, and I'm not surprised you caught something. The air on those planes can get so dry; I always feel like I've been to the Sahara desert when I get off.

No one will flame you here, just tell your story as you experienced it, and we will all LOVE it!!

[glennbo123]

Katharina, welcome back! We can't wait to hear all about the trip. Thanks for making the effort to tell us about it even though the language difference is difficult for you. Don't let that bother you. You are doing much better than we could do if we tried to speak German.

You two ladies have the most interesting DIS screen-names.

[Flossbolna]

You two ladies have the most interesting DIS screen-names.

Actually both have a story, but I will let Katharina explain hers (it is actually pretty simple...).

Floss is the little town where my parents used to live until recently and where I grew up. It's correct name would be Floß, but if the ß is not available on a keboard it can be replaced by two s. And Bolna was the name of our first dog. It is actually Mongolian and means "well" or "good". Our family had a lot of fun reading a children's book about a German boy travelling through Mongolia with a Chinese boy and a Chinese soldier in the 1920s - they encounter all kind of strange customs and there are Mongolian words used throughout. There is a dog which is called "dog" in Mongolian and we first wanted to use that. But it was a bit difficult to say, so we chose the other word, those people in the book used all the time and that was "bolna". :goodvibes

After I came up with my name, I realized that floss actually is a word in English... :scared1:

More replies soon, I promise!! I will have a friend staying with me until Friday, but I hope to produce at least something during the weekend! :thumbsup2

[glennbo123]

Thanks for the information on your screen name. I see you had a whole post on Floss and your parents' home. Shows that I haven't done enough homework on the portion of your PTR before I subscribed. :rolleyes1

[All7OfUs]

I love the stories of people's screen names!! Mine is so absolutely boring and unimaginitive it will surely go into the annals of time as the most lame of all time. Seriously, after my TR next Sept. it's getting changed to SteppeSister.

I always wondered what the letter at the end was and how it is supposed to be pronounced. I love learning new stuff like that!!! Thanks! :thumbsup2

[nodnol]

Katharina, welcome back! We can't wait to hear all about the trip. Thanks for making the effort to tell us about it even though the language difference is difficult for you. Don't let that bother you. You are doing much better than we could do if we tried to speak German.

You two ladies have the most interesting DIS screen-names.

Thank you!

And here is the explanation: it's one of my most favorite cities - read backwards :) The other ones sound too strange, I think, or are already traditional screen-names of friends, like aharp, nilreb or gizpiel.

[nodnol]

Yay!! She's hooked and had a great time!! Congrats, Magdalene!

Take your time, jetlag is sometimes a killer to get over, and I'm not surprised you caught something. The air on those planes can get so dry; I always feel like I've been to the Sahara desert when I get off.

No one will flame you here, just tell your story as you experienced it, and we will all LOVE it!!

I feeling better today, but now my voice has vanished again, it tends to do that after a cold.... :sick: but that shouldn't prevent me from writing and the DIS!

[glennbo123]

Thank you!

And here is the explanation: it's one of my most favorite cities - read backwards :) The other ones sound too strange, I think, or are already traditional screen-names of friends, like aharp, nilreb or gizpiel.

:headache: I feel like I should have gotten that one! I just assumed I needed to know German to figure it out, so didn't really try.

[All7OfUs]

I feeling better today, but now my voice has vanished again, it tends to do that after a cold.... :sick: but that shouldn't prevent me from writing and the DIS!

Glad you're feeling a wee bit better! My daughter had been running a VERY high fever for 2 days (103.6F/ 39.8C). Here's hoping for both of you getting totally well very soon! It's no fun to feel bad! :sick:

Write when you can- we'll all be here when you do :)

[brookelizabeth]

I'm finally here to say welcome back! I'm excited to read all about your adventure!


The last full day is always a bit sad... But ours had a wonderful ending (more on that in the TR... :rolleyes1).

Looking forward to it! :hyper:


http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/magdalenesch/PTR/DSC06359.jpg

WONDERFUL picture! You look fantastic!! Love the hair too, it's shorter than last year, right? Very cute.

I love the stories of people's screen names!! Mine is so absolutely boring and unimaginitive it will surely go into the annals of time as the most lame of all time. Seriously, after my TR next Sept. it's getting changed to SteppeSister.

Look at mine. :laughing: BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORING! It's my NAME. Ooooh, creative one here! :rolleyes:

[All7OfUs]

Everything going okay?? Just wondering how your weekend was going. I won't be on the boards at all tomorrow until Monday AM, but was checking now to see if you had started anything. Enjoy!

Liesa

[brookelizabeth]

popcorn:: :goodvibes

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

:lmao: I'm with Brook on the popcorn! :)

Thanks,
Heather

[Flossbolna]

Hi everyone, I know you are waiting for the TR to start!! Unfortunately life has become rather busy here recently... a friend of mine used to live in Berlin and has a dentist here which she really likes and is at the moment in the process of getting a full "refurbishment" on her teeth. This involves weekly visits to Berlin and of course she is staying with me when she is here. Last weekend I was once again working for the exchange organisation and next weekend I will be in Nuremberg. I really don't know when I will find the time to get started... :confused3

But it is great to see that people are really interested to read what we will write, so thanks for the comments and the popcorn guy!! :goodvibes I hope to get a bit done soon!! I am afraid that otherwise we will forget even more about the trip... At least I was rather good in keeping a journal, only the last day is missing. I really need to write down my notes for that asap!! :scared1:

[All7OfUs]

Unfortunately life has become rather busy here recently...


I really need to write down my notes for that asap!! :scared1:

We are anxious, but all understand that life can get in the way of being on here. ;) Take the time you need to do what you need to be a good hostess, and you sure do need to at least jot some things down, so you don't forget your last day!! I'm amazed at how much I'd forgotten when I got to my last day when I wrote my first TR! It leaves so quickly!

[manntra]

Take all the time you need.....we will be here waiting for you :goodvibes we just might be a little full from all of the popcorn:: though ;)

Tracy

[TyRy]

Welcome back and so glad you both had a wonderful trip. You both look so happy in the picture from DHS...it's lovely of you! Can't wait to hear all the great details.

[brookelizabeth]

Take your time! We understand!! Enjoy all that time with your friend, I hope her teeth work isn't too painful!

[tarak]

Can't wait to read your TR! I missed your send off and have been mostly lurking the last while (not much time for the Dis while keeping my snow bound children from beating each other). I hope you had a great time. I love the picture of the two of you at DHS!

[PracPerfPatricia]

I missed your coming and going...:sad1:

but I'm here now...better late than never...:)

I agree that photo is lovely and looks like you both were having a great time...

When you're ready...I can't wait to read all about it...:hug:

[Flossbolna]

Just to let everyone know that I spent three hours yesterday editing the photopass pictures and still have 50 to do... So far I have gone from 123 pictures to over 300 - I really like the borders! :rolleyes1:lmao: The first ones will expire on 2/27 and maybe I need to buy the extension...

But I am confident that I will get a start on something next weekend, most likely the dining review! Thanks to everyone for waiting so patiently and keeping posting. That's wonderful for getting motivation for starting the report! :goodvibes

[All7OfUs]

Just to let everyone know that I spent three hours yesterday editing the photopass pictures and still have 50 to do... So far I have gone from 123 pictures to over 300 - I really like the borders! :rolleyes1:lmao: The first ones will expire on 2/27 and maybe I need to buy the extension...

But I am confident that I will get a start on something next weekend, most likely the dining review! Thanks to everyone for waiting so patiently and keeping posting. That's wonderful for getting motivation for starting the report! :goodvibes


You're almost there!! 50 isn't so many! :cool1:

How much is that extension?? Our little group may do one too. Need to do more research on it.

Looking forward to the weekend!!

[glennbo123]

Great! That means we've got lots of pictures to look forward to.

[Flossbolna]

I know, I know you are all waiting for a link to the TR or the dining review and here I am just posting without any big news...

But I have small news! :goodvibes (Or is it little news? English is so confusing with so many different words for big and small... :confused3 I guess little news would mean not many??????)

Well, on to the news: I bought the photopass extension: 7 days for 4.95 $. That was kind of ok. And after a long evening yesterday and some time today I finally ordered the CD. I managed to multiply our pics... We had 123 when we came back, now we have 802. I really hate their editing pages: the pictures are so small that you can't really see wether they are good ones or not. So I ended up putting borders on nearly everything because I just couldn't tell which are the pics to keep and which aren't. :confused3 And it is such a slow loading page!!! :scared1: Well, I am done for this trip, so I can forget all about it! :goodvibes

It said international shipping should be 3-7 days (at the longest 14 days) from when the order is being shipped. Of course, when it gets here I will need to pick it up at the post office in order to pay customs duty on it. I wonder how much this will be...

Katharina and I are already working on titles for trip report and dining review. For the dining review we are thinking about "The Food Stared at Us" but we still had no good idea for the trip report! So if anyone might want to help us out, you are more than welcome to do so!! But we won't pay any money for it - we know that if you pay you get lousy titles!! ;)

[tiggrbaby]

802?!?! I'd say you got quite the bargain on your photopass!

[Flossbolna]

802?!?! I'd say you got quite the bargain on your photopass!

Well, I kind of put any border on anything that didn't run away fast enough... :lmao: I wonder how many CDs they are going to fill with those pics though...

[glennbo123]

But we won't pay any money for it - we know that if you pay you get lousy titles!! ;)

Hey, wait a second! I caught that! :rotfl2:

I'll try to think of something, but if my titles are any indication....you had better keep thinking too!

You're right about that photopass software. Very small pictures and they take forever to load. It's a very slow process. I also accidentally ended up with several duplicates. I think I re-clicked on things because they were taking so long and then got two of them.

[Flossbolna]

Hey, wait a second! I caught that! :rotfl2:

I'll try to think of something, but if my titles are any indication....you had better keep thinking too!

You're right about that photopass software. Very small pictures and they take forever to load. It's a very slow process. I also accidentally ended up with several duplicates. I think I re-clicked on things because they were taking so long and then got two of them.

:rolleyes1 Well, thanks to you, we all learned that! :rotfl:

I think I have quite a lot of duplicates as well, once I ended up with six times the same frame because I was a bit impatient. :sad2:

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Just checking up on you and waiting patiently! :) I'm glad to see the photopass pictures are coming along and you have so many to look forward to. No wonder it took so much time - yowsers! :rotfl2:

I'm really looking forward to your report (both of you!) :banana::banana::banana:

Heather

[All7OfUs]

You and Glenn are crackin' me up!! I caught that right away too, and was glad to see his was the next post. :rotfl2::rotfl2: This is what makes the Boards so fun! :thumbsup2

Opening up my PM box right now, Magdelene!! ;)

TR Titles??

Let me get my coffee; I'll get back to you!

[glennbo123]

Fortunately it was a time when I was actually reading, not just skimming! I had to read that sentence twice. "Hey, I think that was directed at me!" :lmao:

[All7OfUs]

Fortunately it was a time when I was actually reading, not just skimming! I had to read that sentence twice. "Hey, I think that was directed at me!" :lmao:

It most definitely was!! :lmao: I just now retrieved my coffee from the pot! It's a nice darker than coal, greasy bean from Peru I just ground up, and it's now safely being deposited into my still sluggish system.

I simply am coming up completely blank on a title for them!! Where's GB when you need him??

[glennbo123]

It most definitely was!! :lmao: I just now retrieved my coffee from the pot! It's a nice darker than coal, greasy bean from Peru I just ground up, and it's now safely being deposited into my still sluggish system.

I simply am coming up completely blank on a title for them!! Where's GB when you need him??

Sorry -- you're just getting the caffeine pumping through your veins and I've gotta go to sleep. Maybe I'll ponder the title for the couple of minutes it'll take me to nod off.

"The TR Title Contemplated 'Round the World"

There are at least 3 continents working on this! (Or at least 1 person on 3 different continents, but we don't have to get technical.)

[All7OfUs]

Sorry -- you're just getting the caffeine pumping through your veins and I've gotta go to sleep. Maybe I'll ponder the title for the couple of minutes it'll take me to nod off.

"The TR Title Contemplated 'Round the World"

There are at least 3 continents working on this! (Or at least 1 person on 3 different continents, but we don't have to get technical.)

Ohhh, I like that one!! I was trying to go at from the Sister's angle, but that's good!!

[Flossbolna]

Sorry -- you're just getting the caffeine pumping through your veins and I've gotta go to sleep. Maybe I'll ponder the title for the couple of minutes it'll take me to nod off.

"The TR Title Contemplated 'Round the World"

There are at least 3 continents working on this! (Or at least 1 person on 3 different continents, but we don't have to get technical.)

Ohhh, I like that one!! I was trying to go at from the Sister's angle, but that's good!!

Thanks for trying to come up with something. :goodvibes I kind of like the continents angle... The only title I was ever happy with was my first dining review. I would love to get the different perspective we have into the title. Perhaps I need to go to the TR board and read more titles of other TRs. :confused3

You made me think about the discussion nodnol and I had about the German pavillion in Epcot, but I don't want to reduce the essence of our trip on just this one part of the WS... Especially since we both enjoyed other parks much more than Epcot.

Perhaps we should go with an AKL/AK theme: "Meeting giraffes, antelopes and a baby gibbon" But isn't that a bit boring? Or what about "Travelling from Europe to America to see Africa"? (Sorry Liesa, Asia kind of got lost in there, but it seems like you rather wouldn't be there either... :rolleyes1)

[Flossbolna]

Just checking up on you and waiting patiently! :) I'm glad to see the photopass pictures are coming along and you have so many to look forward to. No wonder it took so much time - yowsers! :rotfl2:

I'm really looking forward to your report (both of you!) :banana::banana::banana:

Heather

Hi Heather, nice to see you around! I just had such a hard time deciding what I wanted... Will be even worse when I have to make a selection whoch pics I want to post in the TR!! :scared1:

[All7OfUs]

Hi Heather, nice to see you around! I just had such a hard time deciding what I wanted... Will be even worse when I have to make a selection whoch pics I want to post in the TR!! :scared1:

You could post them all.... :rolleyes1

[Flossbolna]

You could post them all.... :rolleyes1

I think noone is interested in seeing Katharina and me in the same pose with 10 different borders on the picture!! :goodvibes

Actually, I think the TR will have lots of pictures. I love seeing pictures in TRs, so we will include quite a few.

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

You could post them all.... :rolleyes1

That's the ticket!! :) :thumbsup2

Can't wait to see and hear about it! How is the weather over there now? I heard about the crazy wind storm and I saw a picture of a roof blown off an apartment building in Mainz. It seems like France really took a pounding. I remember those "wind storms" and lived through some of them.

Hopefully Spring is around the corner for all of us! :lovestruc

Heather

[Flossbolna]

That's the ticket!! :) :thumbsup2

Can't wait to see and hear about it! How is the weather over there now? I heard about the crazy wind storm and I saw a picture of a roof blown off an apartment building in Mainz. It seems like France really took a pounding. I remember those "wind storms" and lived through some of them.

Hopefully Spring is around the corner for all of us! :lovestruc

Heather

Western Germany was hit much harder than here in the East. Wind storms in autumn and spring really are very usual, but this seems to be one of the worst that ever happened. Weather has been a bit crazy here this winter. I am really looking forward to spring!

[Flossbolna]

Ok, this is the post you all have been waiting for and here it is:

From Europe to Africa in America - A Sisters' Expedition (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2413852)

Thanks to All7ofUs and Glennbo123 for the help with the title!! :goodvibes

See you over there!

[If U Had Wings]

Can't wait to hear all about the trip!

That's great about the photopass. I agree with you though about the editing features. It's just awful. You can't see anything, and the slowness drives me crazy.

When I was down in Disney last week, I thought of you and Nodol every time I heard someone speaking German. (Which was often. Seems like there were lots of germans vactioning while we were there). It's too bad our trips didn't fall at the same time.

[Flossbolna]

Can't wait to hear all about the trip!

That's great about the photopass. I agree with you though about the editing features. It's just awful. You can't see anything, and the slowness drives me crazy.

When I was down in Disney last week, I thought of you and Nodol every time I heard someone speaking German. (Which was often. Seems like there were lots of germans vactioning while we were there). It's too bad our trips didn't fall at the same time.

You know, I was just thinking I was going mad... I remembered that you had written about thinking about nodnol and me during your trip and couldn't find where you made this comment - it wasn't on one your threads and it wasn't on the TR either... Well I found it! And now I can say that this is very sweet of you to think of us! :goodvibes It would have been wonderful if we had been able to meet up at WDW! :banana:

[kid-at-heart]

Hello Magdalene and Katharina,
I bounced over here from your trip report and have throughly enjoyed reading about your family and your country. Thank you for sharing information and pictures of your beautiful land and culture. I think I have learned more from you about Germany's history and culture than I ever did in my "history/geography/German language" classes.
Personally, I would love more "mini-trip" reports. Perhaps you could call them, PTR - Post Trip Reports. :thumbsup2

Many thanks,

[Flossbolna]

Hello Magdalene and Katharina,
I bounced over here from your trip report and have throughly enjoyed reading about your family and your country. Thank you for sharing information and pictures of your beautiful land and culture. I think I have learned more from you about Germany's history and culture than I ever did in my "history/geography/German language" classes.
Personally, I would love more "mini-trip" reports. Perhaps you could call them, PTR - Post Trip Reports. :thumbsup2

Many thanks,

Hi Kate, thanks a lot for this wonderful compliment! :goodvibes I think we will for sure throw some side trips into our TR!

Actually I think, Katharina and I have learned a lot about American culture and way of life by reading on the DISboards as well! :goodvibes