October 26, 2014

Frankenstein's Castle


10/25/2014

Although Burg Frankenstein is not the exact location where Mary Shelley actually wrote Frankenstein, this was the actual castle that inspired her story.  We thought that since we were here, in Germany, why not choose an ultra cool, once in a lifetime, place to celebrate a spooky holiday?

Next year, we will go to Romania and spend a couple days in Curtea de Arges, right next to Castle Poenari, or Vlad Tepes's castle.
Castle Poenari
Our last Halloween in Europe, we will go to Cologny, Switzerland by Lake Geneva and visit the actual place where Mary Shelley spent the summer and wrote Frankenstein.  We aren't into the fantasy of the novels, more that we will grasp any opportunity to adventure about in historically significant places while we have the chance!
The Villa Mary Shelley stayed in while writing Frankenstein

So the day finally arrived for us to visit Berg Frankenstein!
Trying to get a selfie before we headed out.  Jack was NOT cooperating.
We drove to post to meet up with our friends and catch our bus to Darmstadt, Germany.  We met up with our friends Sabrina, Curtis, and their daughter TyBrea and our friends Nick & Jayde Antonio.  The bus ride was about 4 1/2 hours there because we stopped at a McDonalds on the way over.

Our McDonalds and "liquid courage" lunch!
Sabrina & TyBrea on the bus...or I should say Samara from The Ring & Wednesday from The Adams Family
Our slightly crowded bus
Jayde & Nick...or the back of their heads :)
These pictures don't do the sunset justice...it was spectacular!
I sure wish the bus could have stopped for a sunset pic...
When we arrived in Darmstadt, we got off the bus and took a shuttle up to the castle.



It was just getting dark and as we walked down a dark forested path, we couldn't help but expect creatures to jump out and grab us...did I forget to mention, in Germany, all the creatures are allowed to grab you.  Not just grab you, but put you in a box, coffin, cage, a pile of hay...what ever tickles their fancy...not to mention they are allowed to tickle you too!

Just random spookiness!

Heading into the haunted portion
We walked into the Vampire section first but honestly, I didn't see many vampires since there were so many people there and they had so many other creatures out...
More random spookiness
Creepiness
These guys jumped off their posts and could grab you!
Yes, they could put you in a coffin...
This very scary lady was on a bridge and would hang down and touch people


We stood in a very long line for about 25 minutes and waited for, what?  We had no idea but while we were standing there to go into what could be our imminent demise, a creature walked down the line and what was Jayde's reaction?  She turned her back to the creature, stood face to brick wall and yelled, "No!".  It was hysterical as defense reactions go!  :)

We finally made it to a brick room and were shuffled in and put against the walls.  Then the super scary, leather clad, dungeon people started growling at us and grabbed a lady to put her on a torture cross.

Poor lady
Strapping her in!
Luckily, they were actually pretty nice and only smacked her around with a whip a little bit...and tickled her mercilessly.  Next they grabbed her partner and he wasn't so lucky!  They pulled up his shirt, jiggled his abdomen fat, and put ice down his pants.  It...was...awesome!  We were so relieved that they were funny and not out to massacre us all in a very old dungeon!



Getting ready to put ice in the poor fellas pants!
One thing I have been impressed with is the joyfulness and playfulness of the German people.  This was the best haunted house I've ever been to.  There was so many scary moments but in the end, the creatures either tickled you, gave you wet willies, or tapped you on the butt which made the whole event fun and made my stomach hurt from laughing so much!  Here are some pics of just a few of the "creatures" that were roaming around...
Pinhead from Hellraiser
Creepy guy chopping things
I think she was one of the zombies
Zombies!
Another zombie!
Devil dude
The Headless Horseman
Frankenstein's creature
The devil from Labyrinth
Frankenstein's creature putting some poor lady into a box
When we were done with the haunted portion of the castle, we made our way to the shops and of course beer tents.
This was actually a pic from when the crowds were thinning out
The Candy Coated Nuts tent smelled amazing!
Trust me, they tasted as good as they smelled!
Nick taking a breather
Beetlejuice and his bride
When we were ready to be done with our very fun night, we made our way back to our bus and slept the four hours it took to get back to post.  It was beyond fun and once again, I am humbled by this, once in a lifetime, experience.  It's no wonder I am deeply in love with Germany!







October 19, 2014

Blog Love


So one of my closest friends here in Germany, Amber Infante, had a great little blog that talked about all the things she finds important in this life.  Some mean spirited, unknown person, somehow stole her blog...after many, many months, she was unable to gain control of the blog and had to create a new one.  I love this blog!  She has the very best sense of humor and as a mother of four, very lively, and truly sweet boys, It's amazing how she keeps such a joyful attitude!

A little over a week ago, she asked if she could come over and take pictures of my home for her crafty blog.  I was so thrilled that someone with such amazing taste in decor and with an outstanding home of her own, she wanted to photograph MY home!  ;)  Of course I jumped at the chance!  My little fur face, Killian, followed poor Amber from room to room, jumping up on the furniture and posing like she just needed to be in the pics!  The pictures turned out even better than I imagined and it was such a treat to see my home through the eyes of someone I admire so much!

If you love all things crafty, and enjoy a serious giggle while yours eyes feast on amazing ideas, this is the blog for you!  Check it out if you get the chance!  A Half Dozen at Home



October 16, 2014

Road Trip to Italy


10/11/14
Day 1: Orienna and I packed up and started driving around 9am on a overcast Saturday morning.  We had such a good chat and then listened to and audio book until we reached Munich and had lunch at our favorite Thai place, Manam.  After lunch, we finished driving to Italy.  The drive was actually pretty amazing.  I'm always taken aback with Austria's absolute loveliness.  The massive mountains or rolling hills...the green pastures are so picturesque.

When we reached Sacile, where our friend Emily and her husband, Brian, and their baby girl, Charolette, all live.  After we got settled and then headed to Sacile's food festival.  We met some of Emily and Brian's friends, drank lots of wine and ate some pretty delicious food.  Mainly cheese, but with a little bit of bread and other bits too.

On our way to Sacile Centro for the festival
Me, Emily & Orienna having a little Prosecco
Emily, Charlotte, Brian, & Orienna talking at a cafe.
It fluctuated between raining and being really warm and nice
Emily, Orienna and I stayed out until around 2am when all the food vendors were packing up and getting ready to leave.  We walked home and called it a night!

10/12/14
Day 2: When we finally woke up and got moving, we walked to the train station and started off our journey to Venice!  It wasn't a terribly long ride and we talked the whole way there so it seemed to go quickly.


The grand canals of Venice!
It's no wonder there are so many paintings of Venice...
Love the gondolas
We realized we were very hungry and started looking for a nice place to eat.  The views along the way were pretty incredible.


We found a really cute cafe that had delicious food and great Italian coffee.

Our view from the cafe
Emily & Orienna waiting for our food
Surprisingly I actually liked the clams and muscles.  They had a delicious white wine broth!
Italian cappuccino
After lunch, we kept walking towards the Rialto bridge and St. Mark's square.





I just love the details on the buildings
So many tourists!



The shops were also pretty fantastic.  A little expensive to just buy anything I wanted but I wanted to save my money for Nove and all the ceramics the next day so I kept on my budget and happily just enjoyed the sights.
I would have loved to have gotten the body made of metal masks...

They looked delicious but were actually all pre-frozed, frost bitten and pretty bad.

The Rialto Bridge

Before heading back to Sacile, we got to spend a little time in St. Marks Square.










St. Mark's Square


Emily, me & Orienna in St. Mark's Square








After our glorious day in Venice we headed back.  We were well happy and ready for our day of shopping the next day.

Farewell Venice
10/13/14
Day 3: Nove day!!!  I was so excited to go back to the ceramics store and load up on loot and gifts!





A portion of my Nove buys. 
I'm so in love with the Vietri Pitcher!
After we shopped until we almost dropped, we went home and started cooking for Canadian Thanksgiving!  Orienna and Emily are Canadian so we got to have delicious turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes...the whole works!
Canadian Thanksgiving
Settlers of Catan was our post dinner game!
10/14/14
Day 4: For our last day in Italy, we met up with a couple more of Emily's friends, Cayla & Leena, and began our day of wineries and fresh Italian food.  We began our trip to Valdobbienne and the Villa Sandi Vineyard.  Although they had said they would open by 10:30 and could accommodate us, they were actually getting ready for a large party and weren't really excited about giving us a tasting.


Little restaurant across from Villa Sandi Vineyards
Orienna, Leena, Cayla, & Emily heading into Villa Sandi

The ladies looking at the wine selection


They had a great wine tasting room in the back
Very cool gift shop room with reasonable prices
We only spent about 30 minutes at the first place since the guy really didn't want to help us much.  It didn't stop us however from buying Prosecco from them!  :)

The next place we went, we found just by driving around and seeing the building!  The lady that helped us at Torre Zecchei could not have been nicer and her family owned the vineyard.


Emily, Leena, & Cayla listening to our hostess


This was such a fun place to visit and I look forward to visiting again sometime.  After Torre Zecchei's, we went to lunch at a great little place that also acts as a hotel.

Our view during lunch


Leena & Emily having a giggle while me & Orienna took pictures
The lovely Orienna

I had rabbit and some delicious Prosecco & Pear Risotto

A little after lunch machiato
After lunch, we went to La Tordera winery before heading home.  We of course bought a ton more wine there!

Me, Cayla, Emily, Leena & Orienna at La Tordera
The map we used at our tasting.  It shows the wine areas.
The picture mounted at La Tordera of their vineyards
Parts of the actual vineyards
Emily & Orienna cramming all our wine into the car
A perfect ending to a perfect holiday!