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Gabrielle Ingram
Gabrielle Ingram

Gabrielle Ingram

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    The view across the valley to Motovun
    DrivingLove the cobblestone hereThrough the main gateWalking up the main street into MotovunA gate leading up to the main square. Quite steep and gorgeous paving.The main squareWalking along the wallsOur very warm restaurant was a welcome relief to the 3-4°C outsideOlive and truffle tapenadeTagliatelle and black truffle sauce 😋Craig's chicken and homemade gnocchiGO TO THIS RESTAURANT IF YOU ARE EVER IN MOTOVUNKate found another catWorth bottling 😄

    Hilltop village of Motovun

    4. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    About 40 minutes drive inland is the medieval hilltop of Motovun, smack bang in the middle of truffle territory... And olive oil territory... And vineyards...

    We almost had the entire place to ourselves to wander around. There was only one restaurant open from what would have been at least a dozen if not more, so that combined with the fact it had a loo, meant that was where we had lunch.

    And OMG, these places are why I love food so much. We were told later it was the best restaurant in Motovun. I had tagliatelle with truffle sauce, the kids had soup, Craig had a 1/4 chicken with a cheese sauce which unexpectedly came with a side of homemade gnocchi in a crispy cheese basket. The parents had omelette where truffle was shaved by hand over the top at the time of serving.

    We were given olive and truffle tapenade with house made bread as starters on the house, and after the meal complimentary red wine liqueur specific to Motovun. It was like Christmas in a glass, and sent us back up the hill to the distillery shop where we had some tasting of limoncello and orangcello. And then bought a bottle of the limoncello and aforementioned red wine liqueur called teranino.

    And after Jeff made us dinner of poached eggs, a wee limoncello has gone down a treat. We have already looked up where we can restock on our trip 🫢.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    1Best view from a car park ever!
    Inside the amphitheatreNot sure this bull fight would be considered historically accurateGreat view for a bit of blood sports if that's your thingUnder the arenaExhibition under the arenaDouble arch gateIt was time for lunch according to FinnTemple of AugustusForum now town squareBeautiful old buildingsKatie found another cat (I suspect this will be a theme)Nice lunch spot with a great view of the streetFinn traded his bowl of salad for Kate's bowl of wedges. He has a nice sister.My lunch, and a giant bowl of salad was very welcomedTriumphal archThe citadelView of the amphitheatre from the citadel

    Pula

    3. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ ☀️ 7 °C

    We drove about one hour on the back roads to Pula which is also on the coastline, has a large port, and is known for its Roman ruins. Parking is free on Sundays so I chose a car park right next to the Roman amphitheatre (built 27 BC to 68 AD), and the view was already amazing! We paid to go in and had the entire place ourselves. The downside to travelling in winter in Europe is that lots of places are closed, upside is that when they aren't, you are not sharing with too many others! The added benefit today was clear blue skies.

    We then wandered through the streets of Pula where the old Roman Forum is now the town square with a beautiful temple (Temple of Augustus). Came across several Roman gates to the city. Porta Gemina was the twin arch gate (2nd century) and a stage was being set up near the Triumphal Arch Sergii. We then went up steep streets to find ourselves walking around the perimeter of the Pula Citadel.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Nothing bad ever comes from a bakery
    Wet blustery dayA walk through the old townKate found her first Croatian catThe black and white cat was not quite as welcomingThe streets to ourselvesHam and salad focaccia for lunch2Luckily Craig doesn't suffer from bread cutting anxietyClosed down resort and really strong windI found my first dojo!View looking back at Poreč from further up the coastlineSquid was excellent, pizzas were large

    Poreč

    2. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ 🌧 13 °C

    In July this year the Croatian government legislated for no trading on Sunday to promote better work life balance and closer family relationships. So we stocked up at the Spar! After having found a sour dough bakery, we bought some focaccia for lunch and pastries for lunch dessert. Yum! The kids came across their first few very well fed and quite friendly cats which Croatia seems to be renowned for.

    Craig and I took a long walk north along the coastline during a break in the very windy and rainy weather. Loads more resorts which look like they have been under construction for some years, and plenty more which have closed down for the winter.

    It was Saturday night and not much was open, but we went to a pizzeria a few minutes walk from the apartment.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Nice view of the Adriatic Sea from my bed
    This posh apart had a Pierre Cardin blanket... The only time I'm likely to ever sleep on one.Beautiful views from the dining room, but I'm amazed by how healthy this fig tree is.Breakfast viewLovely old staircase in our buildingKatie in our apartment on the 2nd floorWalking along the Riva (waterfront)Impossibly clear waterBeautiful streetsLove these streetsDerelict buildingCute... ok, and the husband too!Another derelict building1Coffee in the main square

    Old town Poreč

    1. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Craig and I meandered through the old town of Poreč this morning. Lots of Italian influence here and some of the narrow laneways reminded me of Venice. Not many shops are open so you can certainly tell this is a town heavily reliant on tourist season. We tracked down a konoba (traditional tavern) I've had my eyes on but it was shut with a hand written note taped to the door which said "see you next year"! No konoba delicacies to be had in Poreč for us. Oh well, we will have to try out one of the many pizzerias or seafood places instead.Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Craig on the way back from the shop
    Juliet waiting for Romeo ❤️Sun!Adriatic sunsetChristmas lights and no peopleThe main squareScouting for tomorrow night's dinner optionsPluck Your Quack BoutiqueKatie playing some bassThe great push-up challenge

    Poreč at night

    1. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    At about 4.15pm this afternoon the clouds cleared enough to get a brief glimpse of a sunset over the Adriatic Sea.

    After dinner Craig and I partook of an evening constitutional through the old town to see the more modest Christmas lights of Poreč. We came across the best name for a beauty business... "Pluck Your Quack"! ☺️Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja

    Dormant resorts

    1. joulukuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    Craig and I went for a walk this afternoon heading south along the waterfront as we could see several headlands jutting out. After we got past the marina we came across a lot of parkland which morphed into resorts which looked abandoned, but looking them up on booking.com, they are still a going concern, so obviously just being mothballed for the winter season. It was incredibly bizarre. Pretty sure we have scouted an excellent location for another offshoot series of The Walking Dead.Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Just cleared the Viennese traffic and now on the motorway at about 120km/h
    Driving in light snowThe Austrian marketing machine + our carOur lovely waterfront apartment for the next 7 nights

    Driving from Vienna to Poreč in Croatia

    30. marraskuuta 2023, Kroatia ⋅ 🌧 12 °C

    Today was a day of driving through various forms of precipitation... snow, extreme rain and fog. On the wrong side of the road. In a foreign car. What could go wrong?

    Thankfully nothing! Craig and Jeff were exhausted from excessive concentration by the time we made it to our lovely waterfront apartment in Poreč, Istria, Croatia.

    We stopped at a raststation for coffee and soup for lunch. A strange sort of Austrian style of Macca's extreme marketing. Still, a welcomed stop.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Waking up to a small amount of snow
    Mozart coffeeLunch with RebeccaKaiserschmarrnA glimpse into the national library1Gluhwein at Schloss Schönbrunn Christmas marketsThe back yardAll of us with RebeccaThe view of the back of their summer residenceOut of the coldChristmas lights on steroids1Can't get enough of this churchOur walk through a tiny amount of snow2Christmas lights

    The Danube, Schloss Schönbrunn & Rebecca

    29. marraskuuta 2023, Itävalta ⋅ ☀️ 3 °C

    We woke up to a thin layer of snow on the cars in the street, which didn't seem to melt all day, probably because it didn't get above 2°C. A little bit exciting!

    Craig and I went out to forage for some pastries for breakfast, and not long after we set off for a walk to clap eyes on the Danube River. The Blue Danube by Austrian composer Johann Strauss II was the piece I played at my first piano recital in 1978 (I assume an abridged version for novice players), so it didn't seem right to be staying so close to the river and not actually see it. It also meant we got to see more of the modern Vienna. We also saw all the long ships that older generations cruise the Danube on lined up along the bank. The Viking one looked the most tired... More like a floating fibro shack, so we thought we'd feel a bit ripped off if you rocked up to get on the Viking one and you were docked next to all the other significantly more fancy ones!

    Walking back into the old town it started to snow. ❄️

    Finn was not impressed that we decided to have a coffee sitting outside with snow wafting around with a great view of St Stephen's Cathedral.

    We then had the absolute thrill of having the company of Rebecca (#5 and our last au pair) for the day. She booked the train across from Germany yesterday as a last minute thing and it was so special to see her. She could also be our translator for the day. It was a welcomed relief to spend several hours in a traditional Austrian restaurant with great bier, schnitzel and kaiserschmarrn for dessert.

    We poked our heads into the National Bibliotek (and I wasn't even wearing a cardigan), and Rebecca's Austrian friend Rahel, who she met in Noosa, joined us as our unwitting tourist guide. We caught the train out to Schloss Schonbrunn... more incredible Christmas markets, glühwein, and a wander through the gardens. We then went to the nachtmarkets which was like a long linear version of the Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne, took refuge from the extreme cold in a small pub, and then later got the full Christmas lights experience back at St Stephen's Cathedral.

    Sadly it was then time to say goodbye to Rebecca 😞. Thanks for visiting us!    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Cafe Melange and apfelstrudel
    Belvedere PalaceBelvedere PalaceCafe cultureBretzel for lunchCannot get enough of this. Photo taken at 4.30pm.Belvedere PalaceBelvedere PalaceChristmas lightsCafe cultureWalked past Hotel Sacher, famous for torteThis place was over the top

    Cafe Hawelka, Belvedere Palace

    28. marraskuuta 2023, Itävalta ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Today's adventure started a bit later due to the drizzle, but after a bit of meandering we ended up stumbling across Cafe Hawelka and got a table straightaway in a cafe which has been in operation across 3 generations since 1945, so was a well worn environment. We then set off to the opera house. Glen and Jeff headed off on their own, and we set off to Schloss Belvedere. We had a quick lunch at the Christmas markets set up in the garden, before spending time in the Upper Apartments which has now been converted into a museum. Notably it houses Gustav Klimt and a few Monets. I have several jigsaw puzzles based on Klimt, so I was surprised to learn of their actual aspect ratios being nothing like my puzzles. Beautiful to see the real artworks.

    The kids headed home, Craig and I spent a bit more time in the city centre. By 4.15pm we had a glimpse of the Christmas lights on St Stephen's Cathedral and through the streets. Rain forced us home after that.

    Despite feeling like we walked for ages today, it was only about 14.5km. Vienna is so flat and easy to walk.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Breakfast in our itty bitty kitchen
    A sneak peek at Kirche St PeterSt Stephen's was spectacular. A Christmas market was in full swing nearby.The Christmas markets at RathausplatzGluhweinFancy hotdogs for lunch

    Vienna

    27. marraskuuta 2023, Itävalta ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C

    Craig and I woke up early(ish) and went to the local supermarket to stock up on some breakfast items. A little bit drizzly out. Breakfast back at the unit with the best supermarket home brand muesli ever (seriously thinking of buying some to take home with us!). Then we just headed off and wandered around Vienna with no real destination in mind. We came across Kirsche St Peter (baroque church), Domkirche St Stephan (medieval church) with Christmas markets, then wandered over to Rathausplatz.

    Here we had käserkrainer for lunch with some extremely delicious glühwein which had the dual purpose of tasting great and warming our hands! Each market has their own ceramic mug design. You pay a deposit for the mug and it saves the environment.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramVienna & CroatiaMatkaaja
    Technology alreadyDoha airportThe rainforest in Doha International AirportReady for the next legSchnitzel and bier at Schöne PerleAnd it was delicious!

    Brisbane to Vienna via Doha

    26. marraskuuta 2023, Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    Leaving late in the evening made the entire trip seem to go past really quickly. Doha International Airport was huge outside, quite lovely inside with a domed rainforest setting. We arrived to a temp of 1°C in Vienna. After a great schnitzel and bier at Schöne Perle around the corner from our accommodation, we all had an early night, in bed by 7pm.Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Waiting at Hamburg Airport
    Our ride home

    Home again, home again... the verdict

    27. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Finn's favourite things:
    Snow, Germany

    Kate's favourite things
    Seeing Mena and Mia again, the summer toboggan, top of the Eiffel Tower, and Mum in the pharmacy in Paris saying "Excusez-moi, je ne parle pas Anglais"

    Craig's favourite things:
    Certaldo in Tuscany, sculpture gallery in San Gimignano, cooking school even if it was to prove that the Italian culinary tradition gets in the way of innovation, our canal boat in Southern France, meeting Mena and Mia's family and seeing the girls again, Berlin was strangely intriguing,

    Gabby's favourite things:
    Spending 9 weeks with my family, seeing Mena and Mia again, and pretty much anything we saw, did or ate (rosé, gelati, cheese and bread rate a special mention). Our day in the Dachstein Mountains in Austria was pretty spectacular, the canal boat was a great experience and relaxing after a week or more of hustle and bustle of Paris and London, the WWI history of the Western Front was haunting, Tuscany was delivering up different experiences every day, and Germany was full of quaint villages and a mix of interesting WWII history. Our AirBnbs in le Bar-sur-Loup and Certaldo are worthy of special mention as was the fact that we got to create travel memories with Glen and Jeff.

    It was all incredible and we can't wait for our next big adventure.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja

    Kiel

    25. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    It was then on to Kiel to meet up with Mia after she finished Uni. Mia did try to give us the fishbun experience of Kiel, however the weather was not being kind to us and the food trucks along the waterfront were not open. It was great moody weather for a sea-side location though and we did get to watch a big liner which does an overnighter to Oslo depart from the harbour.

    After lunch we went back to Mia's house to meet her mother, father and sister who had driven in from Hamburg for the day, (and Digby the dog) - lovely! We were able to present Mia with the travel guitar, which had been our plan before leaving Australia. We didn't give Mia a going way gift because we decided we would buy her a guitar in London, travel with it, collect stickers from each country we visited, and then give this to her as her memory of her time with the Ingram Family in Australia.

    We had the best restaurant meal of Germany at one of their local restaurants on the promenade, before saying goodbye to Mia for what will be a long time too! It has been fabulous to meet up with all three of our au pairs in Germany over the last 2 weeks!    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    The Stolper family
    Mena receiving "sticky" which Finn carved with his pocket knife back on the canal boat

    Hamelin

    25. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    We had a beautiful breakfast back with the Stolper family. The kids got to feed and hold Britte's rabbits, we had a tour of the tractors and said farewell to Mena for a long time to come now.

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Playing aroundMena and the kids at the Wernigerode SchlossWernigerode SchlossWe made it to the other side!Paying your rates wouldn't be so bad in this Rathaus (City Hall)Very long suspension bridge

    Berlin to Hamelin via Wernigerode

    24. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    Up bright and early this morning to set off for Wernigerode which was 3.5 hours drive away to pick up Mena en route to Hamelin where we were staying the night. Mena made us a lovely lunch in her apartment before showing us the quick sights of Wernigerode - a brisk walk up the hill to the local castle, through the Altstadt (beautiful old town!) before we drove out to the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge. I was looking this up before to find out that it was only the world's longest suspension bridge for a few months because Switzerland went and opened up a longer one in July! Poor Germany. It was quite cold on the suspension bridge, which is built by a rather large dam wall. Crazy people were using a zip lone that would have been over 1000m long starting at the top of the suspension bridge and whizzing down toward the lake. Other crazy people were dropping off a platform built below the suspenion bridge attached to a long rope which would then swing under the bridge above the lake. We elected just to talk on the bridge from one side to the other and back again. That was enough.

    We then drove to the village just outside of Hamelin to meet the Stolper family. What a lovely evening!!! We had a beautiful meal, and the kids got to sleep in Mena's room for the last time whilst Craig and I stayed in the hotel down the road.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Oberbaum Bridge
    1The first magnet-caught bikeThe second magnet-caught bikeAustralian bear

    Berlin - Fishing at Oberbaum Bridge

    22. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    We ended up at the Oberbaum Bridge, which was an impressive structure. It signified a divide between two boroughs of Berlin so has since become an important symbol of reunification.

    Down by the river below the bridge we found a couple of guys with a bit of rope attached to a super-powerful magnet chucking it into the river. By the time we got there they had already fished out a chair and were in the middle of pulling a bike out of the river. ‘Tis amazing how entertaining this can be to watch. We hung around for a bit only to see them hook another bike, although it was taking a bit of effort to unleash it from the mud using the magnet! I would suggest that this is way more rewarding than trying to catch “real fish”, mainly because I have never been successful at the real deal.Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja

    East Side Gallery (I)

    22. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Given we had seen everything on the sightseeing schedule and it was only just after lunch, we decided to walk to the East Side Gallery, a 1.3km section of the Berlin Wall which was established as an international memorial for freedom with over 100 artists across the world invited to contribute art in 1990. It was a 5km walk from our apartment. I am not sure if it was some sort of psychological effect, or whether it was true, but there was a marked difference between the main city (and Westside) areas we had been in on the morning, and the Eastside offerings. For starters, a LOT more graffiti, a lot of building in disrepair or derelict, and then some real anarchist type dwellings with humpy-type villages set up along the river.

    I could see how film scouts could be forgiven for thinking this part of Berlin was a perfect place to shoot The Walking Dead at times.

    Then suddenly we were at the East Side Gallery and there were tonnes of people. The graffiti art on the walls was interesting, and colourful, or bleak, depending on the artist. I suspect the husband will disagree with me on this one, but there was a lot of “graffiti vandalism” on the artwork which in some cases detracted, and in some instances added to the art work. I like things in neat little boxes (so cut out for my current profession!) so I was finding myself miffed by the “vandals”. That said, the graffiti on the buildings and infrastructure actually seemed to make the place a bit edgy and quite cool. I guess I can’t have it both ways ;-)    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Political gathering of some description at Brandenburg GateCurrywurst

    Berlin - Brandenburg Gate

    22. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We were at the Brandenburg Gate on a Sunday morning, and a stage was set up right outside the gate with some hip-hop artists singing something, people were carrying placards, rainbow flags waving. Haven’t been able to work out from Google Translate or the web what it was all about. I did read that parliament is reconvening on Tuesday... perhaps related?

    We had a currywurst for lunch, as promised, in view of the Brandenburg Gate.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Funky building at Potsdamer Platz
    Inside the Sony CentreRoof of the Sony CentreThe Sony CentreAussie restaurant, German styleMemorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, dedicated to victims of the HolocaustMemorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, dedicated to victims of the HolocaustMemorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, dedicated to victims of the Holocaust

    Berlin - Potsdamer Platz

    22. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    The Potsdamer Platz housed the Sony Centre which has a rather spectacular roof and we found the Corroboree Bar where you can apparently enjoy a currywurst with Corroboree curry sauce and Aussie cut fries!

    We then moved on to another outdoor memorial called the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, dedicated to victims of the Holocaust. I have been so impressed with the respectful way that the atrocities of WWII have been dealt with in Germany. The memorial sites are well curated, memorials or commemorative sites are tastefully presented and don’t shy away from the past. The simplicity of this particular memorial, without plaques or descriptive plates, is enhanced by its impressive scale.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    Hard to see what you could have a museum about, but they wanted €10 to enter!
    Checkpoint Charlie signAnd the other side...Checkpoint CharlieThe pink and purple pipes of BerlinTopography of TerrorBerlin Wall at The Topography of Terror memorial siteTrue!The Berlin Wall line

    Berlin - Checkpoint Charlie

    22. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    We had a massive walking day today of just over 15km! Berlin is very flat so walking is quite easy, and I think I had underestimated just how much we would be able to get through on foot in one day. The kids did remarkably well – they were asking by 3pm if we could catch public transport home, but in fact it was almost the same amount of time to walk as to catch a bus/train, so walking it was. They have been superstars on the walking front over the last 8 weeks - we really have been blessed with kids that are pretty amenable to going with the flow.

    To be heard circa 4pm this afternoon…

    Craig: “How’s your little legs going, Kitty?” | Katiekoozle: “Good. How’s your little legs going, Dad?”

    Just around the corner from home is the Deutsches Currywurst Museum Berlin. For some reason, the kids were desperate to go to it, but we said no - earmarked currywurst for lunch instead.

    We are staying “on the East side” in an apartment on Charlottenstraße in Berlin Mitte which is one of the streets intersected by the Berlin Wall. A one minute walk from our front door is Checkpoint Charlie. There is a free open-air information section near the checkpoint which was very handy as it described a lot of history of the Wall, but also pointed out that the double cobblestone line running through parts of the city indicate where the Wall actually was.
    We followed the “Wall line” around to an exhibition called the Topography of Terror which has a remaining section of the Berlin Wall. It is also on the site of buildings which housed the central institutions of Nazi persecution and terror – the Secret State Police Office with its own “house prison,” the leadership of the SS and, during the Second World War, the Reich Security Main Office. We can’t really linger in some of these places as there is a lot to take in and the kids can’t be expected the read all of the panels which document the history, so I will put this on the list of something I would like to return to one day.    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja
    These things are mumma doonga
    That's a lotta wind turbinesParking the carPhwew!Only 2 out of 3 bedroom atrocities occurring here

    Bavaria to Berlin

    21. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    It was a day of travel today - 5.5 hours to Berlin. We were all packed up by 9.15am, only to discover that in checking the entire AirBnB for anything we left behind, we neglected to notice the car keys on the little nook we had been leaving them on in the hall. Closed the door locking the house keys in the house, only to find that starting the car was now a bit tricky.

    Sent emails and texts to the host, with no response, but luckily the cleaners arrived. Unfortunately, they were relying on our house keys being in the key safe. Oops! But luckily, they called the manager, he popped around with keys, and we were only an hour late leaving. Could have been worse I guess! In the meantime, we did have a great chat to one of the cleaning ladies whose ex-husband was English and she had lived just outside of London for 5 years, so she spoke excellent English.

    We stopped at our favourite wind turbine to take a picture - those things are dizzyingly big. Looking up at them make you feel motion sick! We passed one section of countryside where we ended up stopping for lunch that had over 50 wind turbines.

    Our drive was pleasant, except for the bits where the husband was driving at 175kph. That almost made me want to vomit from anxiety. I thought it would also be stressful driving into Berlin. It was simple (she says, not actually doing the driving). And then we got to the parking garage attached to our accommodation, which has one of those lifts that make you feel like your car is about to get squished on the ceiling.

    I was excited to see that our Berlin accommodation had only indulged in two of the three acts of bedroom heresy. If I had to name the top three things that have driven me insane in Europe, they would be the ridiculous European pillows with absolutely no stuffing in them whatsoever, the split mattress on the double/queen bed, and the two doonas situation. All three together are like the holy trinity of bedroom atrocities.

    My shoulder is steadily getting more painful each night I have to put up with the pillow situation, so the one thing I am looking forward to when I get home is sleeping with my four perfectly stuffed pillows again! Luckily our Berlin accommodation is only committing two of the three acts of bedroom heresy - the bed is not actually two separate mattresses. I think Europeans must all be exiting in a state of perpetual tiredness from fighting with their bedroom linen all night trying to get comfortable. Might even be a reason for re-running the Brexit referendum - they were all too tired to vote, or to vote with any sense due to ridiculous bedrooms?    Lue lisää

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  • Gabrielle IngramEuropeMatkaaja

    Our last night in Bavaria

    20. lokakuuta 2017, Saksa ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    A few other odds and ends from our time in Bavaria...

    Our day trips have included a lot of time driving on small country lanes in the rural parts of Bavaria. A few days ago we started to notice large piles of what looked like rocks from the distance, but up close, in fact, turn out to be large piles of swedes. These are apparently used as livestock feed during the winter.

    There are also a LOT of solar panels covering the rooves of farmhouses and sheds in this part of the world. There are also a lot of wind turbines. We have passed one in particular most days as we head out on our day trip. It has been having problems, so a technician has been in attendance most mornings. All working when we came home last night. Finn wants a picture with it, as they are quite impressive.

    We have also noticed a number of house doors in the villages have chalk writing on the tops of them. They will say things like 20*C+M+B+17. This is taken from a website:

    The letters are an abbreviation of the Latin phrase, Christus mansionem benedicat: “May Christ bless the house.” The “*” represents the star of Bethlehem. The “+” signs represent the cross, and the “20” at the beginning and the “16” at the end mark the year in question. Taken together, this inscription is performed as a request that Christ bless the homes so marked and those who live there. The chalking of doors is a popular tradition on Epiphany or Dreikönigstag in southern Germany.

    Craig has been convinced the bells outside our bedroom ring all night. I've thought they stopped at midnight and recommenced at 6am. Last night he recorded them at 3am, 4am and 5am. They go all night! Crazy.    Lue lisää

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