Prague

Prague - a beautiful and expensive city. 

Just after Christmas we caught the train from Berlin to Prague for 3 days.

The weather was cold - but without snow or rain. The Old town is not very big, but there are lots of interesting and beautiful things to see!

St Vitus' cathedral.
Cameron really showed a flair for digital photography - he would only hand the camera back when his hands got so cold that he would have to put gloves on! He certainly has an eye for it,some very interesting shots. The good thing with digital cameras is he can take as many photos as he likes, they can be quietly edited/deleted later. The stained glass inside the St Vitus' cathedral - inside the castle. Spectacular! We saw this both on a bus tour, and also when we covered the city by foot. We guess that we walked 12-15km, each day. A lot more if you count all the side tours into souvenir shops. As Cameron asked "Why is baby Jesus wearing a propeller hat???" - anyone have an answer? This is one of the statues on the Charles Bridge. A view to the castle, with the Charles bridge in the foreground. Enjoying a sausage in bread for lunch in one of the town squares. There was still a bit of a Christmas market going and the sausages smelt and tasted delicious! Here is a tip for Theo and any other builders. If you stuff it up, get a good painter! Note that 4 of the windows are painted on (not real) to achieve symmetry. This was up near the palace -really interesting relief in the stone-work created by etching. Did I say cold? The water wheel was having a little trouble because it was iced over. This is one of Alexander's photos. In a groovy cafe that we stopped for morning tea (and to slightly defrost!) Alexander found this 'Rudolph' on the back wall. Great coffee, and nice to feel my fingers and nose again...(wish we could say the same thing for Rudolph) Not quite Buckingham Palace.. At the palace, the ceremonial guards were on duty, and Alexander and Cameron thought this would be a great photo - standing at attention with him! We met some fellow travellers (with 2 girls) who told us about the Barbie exhibition. Cameron and Alexander's response was "no way - you won't get us in there!" We happened to find the exhibition, and we offered the boys all sorts of bribery to go in, but there having none of it. From the castle looking back towards the old town. Here is an example of Cameron's photography from within the castle. It is the St George's basilica with Christmas tree in the foreground. Alexander and Cameron in St Wenceslas Square, on the horse statue. We did a 3 hour bus tour of Prague the first day we arrived. We were amazed to find out that all the statues around Prague (and there are many), are all replicas. The originals are in the museum for preservation purposes from the acid rain from Communism times. The 'famous' Astronomical clock on the front of the town hall (Alexander's photo, I think!). Notice the two small doors on the front? We were told that there was a display on the hour - so we duly got a table in the coffee shop opposite, got the boys hot chocolates and waited 5-10 minutes for the top of the hour. Tip to future Prague visitors - don't blink or you will miss it! Some 'Saints' whiz by behind the doors for a few seconds, the show ends, and the bill comes for the most expensive coffees in Prague! Ever wanted time to run backward? Here is a synagogue (Prague has a very interesting Jewish history) with two clocks - the top clock runs clockwise. The lower clock has Jewish numerals and runs anti clockwise. Prague has the oldest Synagogue in Europe. It has the largest collection of Jewish archive material in all of Europe. During WW2, many Jewish items were brought here for the purpose of turning the Synagogue into the "Museum of an Extinct Race" once the war was over. Scary stuff! Here are two excellent tourists on Charles Bridge with the castle on the hill in the background. We had a wonderful time in Prague, and it is well worth a visit.

Xmas Lunch

Too busy with a drink in my hand to take photos, eating, drinking and sharing stories and much laughter!

    

We had a terrific lunch. Sonia organised main course, Terry the Turkey was cooked perfectly, and the veggies, stuffing and extras were great. We organised the desserts, pavlova, Nigella Lawson's chocolate pudding and chocolate cake, and lots of gingerbread and chocolate balls. 

 

We all ate and drank lots and had a great day together. It's hard being away from family on Xmas day, but the Ramsay's have become our family in Berlin, and it is highly entertaining. The Karaoke machine didn't make an appearance this year! This is the "supermodel" pose After lunch we settled on the couches Alan tries his new scarf

Christmas 2007

Xmas morning is always fun. The boys didn't wake us up until 7am, so that was a good start to the morning. Surrounded by all the wrapping paper and tinsel, we all had a great time unwrapping presents Santa popped in with some toys, ate his cookies and drank his milk. The reindeer ate their carrots on the terrace. I am thankful they did not come in and leave hoof prints on the carpet, and knock down the tree. Alexander was thrilled with his presents, and there was more Lego to be built! Cameron was wrapped with his presents, and he flew this helicopter all morning! Katherine gave the boys a treat from Australia.....yum yum!

They both got guitars for Xmas from us. We have found an English speaking teacher, and they will begin lessons in the New Year. Cameron really wants to learn fast, so he can get an electric guitar like his cousin Dylan! Nicole playing with her umbrella swift and wool winder Phil always seems to end up with the tinsel on his head!

Xmas Eve

The boys invited a friend over to play. Harry from Alexander's class and Mohammed in Cameron's class.

I was in the kitchen preparing lunch for Xmas day.

I set the kids the task of decorating some gingerbread cookies we bought from the Swedish Xmas Markets. They had a great time, although I think more Smarties went in their mouths than on the cookies. 

Harry and Mohammed took their cookies home, so they could leave them out for Santa that evening.

Can't catch us

This is what we were busy making this afternoon after school 

The kids spent the afternoon decorating them, and taste testing the different lollies.

We just need to wait for the chocolate to dry, before we wrap them up for their teachers tomorrow

Christmas Tree 2007

Phil's plane was not delayed, and he was home in plenty of time for us to decorate the tree this evening. The kids have their own decorations, and we all put them up together. I can see some of my "obsessive compulsive organising" is starting to come through with the boys. They wanted to have the tree in sections..Santa's in one area, reindeer in another area. At one stage Alexander says "Where is the Penguin section?" Glad I bought a larger tree this year. Next year I may need to buy a roll of wire to "bonsai" the branches to make them a bit stronger. Maybe I should just stop buying more Christmas decorations. Pfft! Never going to happen.  I am sure the local hardware store will have the wire I need! Perhaps next year, I might need to buy 2 trees.  Now there is an interesting idea.  The finished tree!

Xmas markets & scary Santa

We caught the train into the Ku'damm this morning. We went searching for a Santa photo.  I thought our best chance would be KaDeWe. Santa photos are not a typical thing here.

We rated the KaDeWe Santa 2/10.  

Santa would have got extra points if he had smiled.  He would also have got extra points if he said hello to the kids and talked to them.  

Instead, he sat like a statue, and grumbled if anyone sat too close to him. Actually I think the kids were a bit scared of him.  Cameron's eyes were closed, but even I was too frightened to take one more photo in case I was told off by Santa! 

So, I am on the hunt for a friendly Santa...if anyone has seen one in Berlin, please let me know! On the plus size, the decorated trees in KaDeWe were lovely.

The markets are always fun to walk around. Better to go early in the day, when the crowds are not so big, especially with the kids. Here is a picture for Dad, of the chestnuts roasting....lecker, lecker, lecker! The German traditional Lebkuchen (gingerbread). Michelle sent one to her Mum in South Africa....it cost her 16 euros in postage, about 3 times the price of the actual Lebkuchen! I hope she enjoys it! Shock, Cameron says "take a photo of me Mum", and for once he is not pulling a face at the camera!!

Phil - Chicago via Finland

Christmas is fast approaching, and so is the end of my travel schedule for this year. 

This second last trip for the year (I have to go to Cologne for a few days next week) was really interesting 

First stop was Helsinki, where I'm sure I never saw daylight. I arrived late at night, was up early to take a 2 hour train ride to Turku (where our company has a factory) to have a some meetings and a site tour and watch the robots dance! The technology that goes into production lines is quite amazing!.

I transferred back to Helsinki by train, and even though we were rolling through the Finnish countryside, it was all dark.

After some further meetings in Helsinki, I flew to Chicago - my first visit to the home of the Blues Brothers.  Nicole, however, sees Chicago as the home of 'ER' and asked if I saw George Clooney anywhere. 

Chicago is a great city, I was really impressed. The Euro is killing the dollar, and I was able to get in an hour's shopping (ended up with new ice skates for the boys!). 

 

The meetings were really interesting (do I sound surprised?), but I was really sad to be away for the Christmas concerts and other events at home.  For some reason I missed putting them in my diary. Usually the personal events get put in the calendar first, and I work trips around them. I have some video footage to enjoy (but it is not the same, is it?). At least I convinced Nicole not to decorate the tree without me!

 

Huge snowstorms shut in the Eastern Seaboard, but luckily, Chicago missed it all and I got out in time - and glad to be home.

 

I am so looking forward to the Christmas break!

O Christmas Tree.

I picked out our tree this morning, and it was delivered in the afternoon.

The delivery service is a bargain. For 5 euros, the tree is delivered, carried up 3 flights of stairs, set up in your Christmas tree stand, and they make sure it is standing straight! Amazing service!

I promised Phil we would wait for him to get back from Chicago on Saturday afternoon before we decorate it together. We brought all the decorations up from the cellar. It is lucky that we bought a bigger tree than last year!

Fingers crossed Phil doesn't get snowed in at Chicago.  There are problems in New York, but the weather hasn't moved across yet. I don't think I could bear looking at this naked tree in our home for the entire weekend.

Christmas concerts

This week has been full on for the kids. 

Alexander has joined the school choir. sorry it is called the "vocal ensemble". He loves singing, and really enjoys taking part in it. 

On Sunday afternoon,they sang at St George Church for their Advent Market. They sang their set of songs, had a break for 45 minutes, and repeated the performance.

Tuesday night was the Year 3-6 Christmas production. Alexander sang in the vocal ensemble, and Cameron recited some Christmas greetings from different countries and the class sang songs about the story of Bethlehem. They both really enjoyed themselves. A Big thanks to Olga for the photo of Alexander, she has a great camera!! 

Thursday morning the choir was invited to perform at the Indian Embassy for their Christmas Carol day.

 His music teacher Mrs Schultz, played the keyboard andthe kids performed. (Alexander in front middle).

Thursday evening was a repeat performance of the Year 3-6 Christmas production. Cameron's class was involved in Tuesday night performance. Thursday was Alexander's class. Alexander read a Christmas poem, performed in the choir, and stepped in to sing a solo for the 1st Wise man, as the original Wise Man could not make it that night. He was really excited to be doing it, as only the Year 6's got the solo parts. As a proud mum I think he did really well. Phil and I have no idea how he managed to pick up a voice that can sing in tune, as neither of us can!

Wertheim windows

These are the Christmas windows of the Wertheim department store in Berlin on the Ku'damm. I am not quite sure what to say about these ones. 

At first I thought they were hideous. The second time I walked past then, I just thought they were plain funny. The third time, they are growing on me. 

The blue mannequin reminds me of David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King in the movie Labyrinth.

Cameron thinks the windows look disgusting (what great vocab, from the 7 year old), and Alexander thinks they look strange!