Category Travel

German hiking socks…

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Last year, I was on the hunt for good quality socks. Lately, all I see in the American stores are fuzzy socks. I’m not sure why the socks have become ultra plush, like the blankets they make now. They feel soft, but no weight, no wool, or quality to them.

Recently, I was in Germany in a department store. I happened to walk through the sports department. I saw these FALKE (German since 1895) socks, merino wool blend. I immediately liked the feel of them. They felt like normal old fashioned socks. They even had an added cushion at the ball of the foot. They were a bit pricey, but worth it. They wash well, I’ve already washed them. I don’t put them in the dryer.

Good marketing – Style (TK2) and size on the bottom of the foot. Brilliant!

They only had one pair of women’s socks in my size, so the top photo with blue socks is men’s size. I decided to give them a go. You see they fit perfectly. The women’s socks were girly in color.

I can wear these FALKE socks for walking and hiking. An added bonus, they tell you what foot to put the sock on Left/Right. One day, I didn’t pay attention. I put the socks on the wrong feet. My daughters were traveling with me. I said, “Why do these socks feel so strange?”

One of my daughters looked down and said, “Mama, you have them on the wrong feet. Follow directions!”We all laughed. A new concept, having to think when you put your socks on.

A major win with FALKE!

Nashville – A music city!

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This past weekend I was in Nashville. It was a lot of fun. I did feel like I was back in College. You can see the strip here is full of bars. Each one had a band. Lots of drinking, dancing, partying. Lots of cowboy hats and boots. Enjoyed seeing the cowboy/cowgirl styles.

I was surprised to see one of these old fortune teller machines.

A lot of people were jumping up on the bar to have a picture taken with this sign behind them.

This was a band from another bar.

I did buy a shirt. Don’t they say, “When in Rome, dress like the Romans.” So, when in “Nashville, dress like the cowboys/cowgirls.” It is easier to dance to country music with cowboy boots on, my opinion.

This bus went by, I think it would be fun. We were only there two days, so not a lot of time for touring.

I look forward to going back. Next time dressed like a cowgirl! 

Canada (Whitehorse, Yukon) – Hair Freezing Contest

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Have you heard of the Eclipse Hot Springs Hair Freezing Contest in Yukon? It’s been taking place yearly since 2011. They have different categories you can win, ie best female, best male, most creative, best group, etc. Each winning category receives $2,000, not bad for sitting in warm water, dunking your head, pulling head out, sculpting hair and having photo taken. Done!

Visit the site and you’ll see so many fabulous frozen hair styles. Don’t worry, as soon as you dunk your head back into the water, the freezing hair melts. So your hair does not break into a million tiny pieces.

The site doesn’t have details on timing for this. However, I was reading in past articles that photo taking takes place in February. Last year they said with warming temperatures, it was becoming hard to find the right cold days for hair to set. Maybe that’s why the website doesn’t have contest dates.

Well, right now, Chicago has been having freezing temps. We could certainly do a Freezing Hair day here.

So… Are you in? Do something FUN, win $2,000!

Germany, Customs & Arnold Schwarzenegger, BIG fines over Luxury watch…

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Have you seen this in the news? I still don’t understand it completely. Why did Schwarzenegger have to declare the luxury watch. I travel to Europe quite often and I’m never asked to declare anything. Only when I am coming back to America. I don’t think Germany allows for dual citizenship unless that law changed.

Maybe this is because he was going to Auction off the watch in Austria, so then it goes from being a “personal watch” for himself to “selling goods” for profit? So, he had to declare it at the first point of entry into the EU? Someone must have alerted Customs to this.

He had to pay hefty fines: $38,000, including $4,000 tax value and approximately $5,000 penalty. The comedy in this, is that Custom’s credit card machine was not working. So, they brought Schwarzenegger to a bank, which was closed and he could not withdraw enough money due to withdrawal limits.

Curious, the value of the watch was $30,000, so he was paying more than the watch was worth? But then he was going to Auction it starting at 50,000 euros.

Luckily, Schwarzenegger had good humor. His mind immediately went to — GREAT COP MOVIE!

It would be funny to see a movie made out of this situation, with him as the main actor!! Did you know he is 76 years old now. Wow, getting close to 80.

Here is the YouTube video from the Today show.

Great movie idea. I’d go see it!  

From Bavaria, Christmas decorations…

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Walking in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, they had so many beautiful Xmas scenes in the windows. Look at this one of the Angel orchestra, how clever.

Another nice touch, they decorate with small Christmas trees outside their homes. They have electric candles on the trees. In the old days, they actually used real lit candles.

Here you have stuffed bears in the windows. This was a Teddy Bear shop.

This was such a simple tree. I’ve always liked hearts, what a great idea! The red felt hearts stand out because of the light wood. I would do this.

This was interesting, so earthy the way they decorated their window with wood, etc. The cakes, I didn’t touch them, but they look like hardened sand, clay or concrete? 

I fell in love with their door stops. I haven’t seen these in America, but I don’t think we have as heavy doors as they have. Where we stayed, in a charming old home, they had different door stops on each door. This HOME was on ours, but there was a cat that I liked.

As I walked the neighborhood, I came across a sewing store. She had patterns of a reindeer door stop. Of course, I had to buy it and a pattern for a cute bear, I bought that too.

So, there you have it. Another quick visit around Rothenburg ob der Tauber.

I have to say, it did get me in the mood to decorate, make Christmas fun in a NEW way!

Have a great weekend!

Merry Christmas! 

A Bavarian puzzle leads to Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany

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Last year, I found a Bavarian puzzle. I fell in love with this Bavarian city, but the puzzle box did not mention where this city was. I sent the photo to different people asking and asking, “Does this city exist?”

Finally, someone told me, it’s a medieval town in Germany called, “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” north of Munich. So, I started to formulate a plan to visit Bavaria. First Munich, then Rothenburg ob der Tauber for the Christmas Markets. Then fulfill another dream of seeing Andre Rieu in concert.

My daughters were on board and we started our pre-Christmas journey to Germany a week ago. Munich was lovely, so fun and festive to be there this time of year. We had plenty of sausages!

In Munich, we saw the Haribo store. Of course, we stopped in.

Then we headed to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. They had a Teddy Bear store, you can see in the photo that there was a Teddy Bear blowing bubbles from the window. What a great idea! It did catch our attention.

This was a lovely Advent Calendar. Each door we opened would play music and surprisingly there was enough space behind each door to put a chocolate or a small ornament as a surprise.

In Rothenburg, this was the main market where they had a lot of shops. It was wonderful to see the people out with their families enjoying the Christmas Markets, the food, the wine, etc.

Finally, after our visit in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, we headed to Maastricht in The Netherlands to attend the Andre Rieu concert. I’ve watched Andre Rieu on PBS for over 20 years. Always with a goal to see him in person. Realizing that he is now around 74 years old, it was time to go. Perfect for Christmas.

The music and his orchestra were fabulous. We had good seats, row 7 to the left of the stage. He had dancers on two ice rinks on either side of the stage and dancers also came in between the isles where we sat. So, it was extremely festive.

I wish all my Blogging friends a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! If don’t celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very HAPPY HOLIDAY!

On to 2024 soon!

Do you say Fall or Autumn?

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I have a question. Is it Fall or Autumn?

My daughter had lived in Ireland for a few years. She went to College there. When it was September to November, she would say, “Isn’t FALL beautiful.”

To which an Irish friend would say, “You Americans always try to simplify things. It’s Autumn, not Fall. You see leaves FALL from the trees and you say it is FALL.”

So, I ask you… WHERE did the word Fall for Autumn come from?

Toronto – Bathroom design…

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A friend of mine recently traveled to Toronto. When she entered her hotel room, she walked into the bathroom and saw this big space behind the toilet.

We couldn’t make any sense of this. There are two railings on the wall. So, a handicapped bathroom? But why the big space behind the toilet?

Curious minds want to know…

Travel: Going on a cruise? Bring your rubber ducks.

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It’s Wednesday, I thought we could use a funny post. Check this out on Amazon, a special on rubber ducks, tags, rubber bands, etc.

Do you really need that extra swim suit? Why not pack some rubber ducks and leave them around the ship. Yes, people are now leaving rubber ducks with messages on them around the ship for “other” passengers to find.

Have you found a rubber duck on your cruise?

Would you join in the fun?

My idea of a vacation… Finland declares phone-free zone on Ulko-Tammio Island

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I just read a great article on a vacation with no phones. Well, that’s the idea. Finland has declared that this summer they want tourists to enjoy the island of Ulko-Tammio, a national park, know as the “happiest country in the world” without using their phones. YES, without using their phones.

This was music to my ears. I’m tired of phones and constant picture taking. I just want to RELAX. The idea of going to a National Park and enjoying nature as we did “before” cell phones sounds marvelous. I talked with other friends, they feel the same. The constant pictures/selfies takes away from enjoying “the moment.”

I went to Google to see “where” Ulko-Tammio is as I have not traveled to this area. As you see, it’s very far North. My daughter was in Norway last December. She said it took a couple of flights to get there. Not always easy to make the connections, less flights, etc. However, once in Norway, so beautiful.

So, let’s see what happens. I do feel that the right people who want to enjoy nature will gladly put their phones aside. Laughing, wouldn’t this be funny. You are walking in the forest, you decide you just “have to have” the photo of a bird and you hear on a microphone, “Miss, this is a phone-free zone, please put cell phone away. PLEASE put cell phone away! Have a great day!”

Ah, but without my cell phone, how would I take a photo to PROVE I was there?? Wait, I could photoshop the perfect photo, you’d NEVER know! Then I could use AI to write my post. You see where I’m going here?

Finally, a happy and interesting story in the news!

New adventures await…cell phone free!