More Vacation Photos

I finally was able to go through my vacation pix and reformat some of them. Hubby actually took TONS -- over 4GB worth! My camera battery ran a little low, but even it it hadn't I don't think I would have taken 4GB of pictures!

We went to Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Belgium. I really wish I also had time to go to Austria and Switzerland, but I guess I need to leave some unexplored so that I have an exuse to go again, right? Originally, for this much needed vacation, I had wanted to go to Southeast Asia, but hubby's friend was able to get lots of Soccer World Cup tickets through his job at Yahoo. So, we changed our plans and went to Europe instead. In terms of vacation travel, I don't really care where I end up, so long as it's somewhere with lots of culture and somewhere I have not been.

I'm not a huge sports fan, but I did go to one game - went to the Brasil v. Ghana quarterfinal. How can you not go to one game? I gave my other tickets to my bro-in-law, who is a die-hard soccer fan. So while the boys went to their games, I was able to go off on my own and see all the sights I could squeeze in and soak in the local culture in the various German cities.

All in all, it was a really nice vacation, especially since I haven't been on vacation for several years. The 2 downsides include the extreme heat towards the second half of the trip (no AC in many places!) and the cost of a European vacation. In one hotel, which was over $100 a night, they concierge almost laughed when we complained that our room had no AC (we thought the hotel had AC), because apparently, the rate we paid for didn't cover AC rooms.

Anyway, here are some Germany and Luxembourg photos. I'll have to add the Netherlands and Belgium photos later. For Fiber Lovers: I did stumble across 3 yarn shops in Hanover, Germany. Also, I visited several places where they had antique linen presses, looms, etc. I'll have to find and post those later.


GERMANY -- (1) At a widow's commune in Hamburg. The commune was actually progressive for it's time because women would otherwise have to go to a nunnery or something. This allowed women some freedom without being totally harrassed an looked down upon by society. (2) "cooking" in the kitchen at the Goethe Haus in Frankfurt. (3) Hubby and me at the Brasil v. Ghana quarterfinal game. (4) I can't believe they let this guy through security with this giant prop! (5) Hubby joining allo the other crazy fans. (6) In front of the Hamburg rathaus (town hall). (7) At the altstadt plaza in Hamburg.

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LUXEMBOURG -- (1) View of the valley in Luxembourg city from the casement wall. (2) Castle in Vianden. (3) Hubby got sent to the gallows in the castle. (4) At the entrance of the Vianden castle. (5) Castle window framing the city view.

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Crafting Superstars Update

In June, I posted about a TV show for which I got my friends to submit with me. Well, we have been selected to be on a least one episode of Uncommon Threads, a new show that just aired on the DIY network. They want us to do some of the felted sweater re-creations that we submitted. The taping is tentatively scheduled for September, and it is for Season 2. They just aired Season 1 on July 3.

I had submitted other ideas, and it looks like we may have a chance to do another episode based on pet-themed stuff. It's still not final yet, and it doesn't look too promising, but I am keeping our fingers crossed. I submitted a yoga-themed idea that the producer like, but the studio execs didn't, so we are definitely not doing that.

So between now and September, the girls and I have to get ready and do all the peices for the demo parts. We already wrote out and submitted all the instructions and other paperwork. So exciting!!

Btw- I have not heard anything from the folks at The Art of Knitting regarding our knitting group's filming. I sent Marcy, the producer, an email requesting information on the status. Everyone in the knitting group is eager to find out and see whether we are on the video or ended up on the cutting room floor. At the time of filming, Marcy did say that she would give us a couple of copies.

Back to the Daily Grind

I'm Back! Hubby and I came back from our lovely vacation last week. We had a great time seeing all the cool places and soaking in all the local culture and history. I am very proud that I left packing very light, and came home the same way. Hubby cannot say that about his luggage. We led quite a nomadic life over these weeks, and I certainly wore down the soles of my sneakers with all the walking and traveling!

As much as I want to write about the vacation, I am a little reluctant to post the places and talk in detail because I am participating in a Secret Pal exchange in one of the groups I am in. I sent my secret pal postcards from my travels to my Secret Pal, so she knows where I went. We're supposed to be anonymous until the end of August. The group membership is small, so what if she happens to peruse my blog? The secrecy is part of the fun and I don't want to spoil it. Unless anyone out there has better ideas, I guess I will be a little vague and non-specific. :( Bummer.

Without saying where I went exactly...One of the cool places I visited was a Town Hall building that had Gothic and Rennaissance architectures. The Town Hall was first built in the 12th century next to the city's Jewish quarter. Then, in the 14th century and new building was built on top the old one, and subsequent updates, towers and buildings were added in the 15th and 16th centuries. After WWII, damage revealed some of the original structures that were erected in the 12th century -- parts covered up in the 14th century. What they found was a Mikwe, a Jewish ritual bath. It was enclosed, so I couldn't get many pictures, but you can see how deep it is, and the plaque description.

In another city, I visited this traditional open-air museum, where a little homestead and small community built in the early 18th century around some marshlands are maintained in the same manner and lifestyle of people in that time. I went by myself and was able to walk around the property. However, since the open-air museum only had tours of the interiors of the home, barn, blacksmith shop and other buildings once a day (which I missed), I was not able to see any interiors except through the windows.
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Photos: (1) view of some buildings once you enter the property; (2) note the thick grass roof on this building; (3) a loom inside the main house seen through the window looking in; (4) 2 antique spinning wheels, unprocessed wool and some roving in the back, seen through the window looking in; (5) baby goat that followed me as I walked around

Ok, I must go to bed now. I will write about yarn shops I visited on the trip in my next post.