#sargans

[hansdurrer]

Sargans, Switzerland, 7 April 2024

#Flowers #Photographers on tumblr #Flores #Blumen #Fotografie #Fiori #Fleurs #Sargans #Switzerland

[greenbagjosh]

Sunday 3 August 2003 - Fribourg to Düdingen FR - crossing the Röstigraben at least twice - night train to Ljubljana - first visit to the former Yugoslavia - the beginning of the horrible heat dome - evening along the Ljubljanica

Sunday 3 August 2003 + Monday 4 August 2003

Good morning!  Today we will spend a little time in the Suisse Romande before going to catch the night train in Zürich to Ljubljana.  We spend a little time in Lausanne before going to Fribourg and Düdingen, to see what life is like on both sides of the Röstigraben.  In Zürich we catch the night train that goes to Ljubljana, passing through Liechtenstein, Tirol including Innsbruck and Wörgl, Villach, Jesenice and Bled.  It will be the first time that I visit the former Yugoslavia but not the last time.  Hope you will enjoy today's adventure.

Guten Morgen! Heute verbringen wir ein wenig Zeit in der Westschweiz, bevor wir in Zürich den Nachtzug nach Ljubljana nehmen. Wir verbringen ein wenig Zeit in Lausanne, bevor wir nach Freiburg und Düdingen fahren, um zu sehen, wie das Leben auf beiden Seiten des Röstigrabens ist. In Zürich nehmen wir den Nachtzug, der nach Ljubljana fährt und durch Liechtenstein, Tirol inklusive Innsbruck und Wörgl, Villach, Jesenice und Bled fährt. Es wird das erste Mal sein, dass ich das ehemalige Jugoslawien besuche, aber nicht das letzte Mal. Ich hoffe, Sie werden das heutige Abenteuer genießen.

Bonjour! Aujourd'hui, nous passerons un peu de temps en Suisse romande avant d'aller prendre le train de nuit à Zürich pour Ljubljana. Nous passons un peu de temps à Lausanne avant d'aller à Fribourg et Düdingen, pour voir à quoi ressemble la vie de part et d'autre du Röstigraben. À Zürich, nous prenons le train de nuit qui va à Ljubljana, en passant par le Liechtenstein, le Tyrol, y compris Innsbruck et Wörgl, Villach, Jesenice et Bled. Ce sera la première fois que je visiterai l'ex-Yougoslavie mais pas la dernière fois. J'espère que vous apprécierez l'aventure d'aujourd'hui.

Dobro jutro! Danes bomo preživeli nekaj časa v Suisse Romande / Zahodna Švica, preden bomo ujeli nočni vlak v Zürichu za Ljubljano. Nekaj časa preživimo v Lausanni, preden gremo v Fribourg in Düdingen, da vidimo, kakšno je življenje na obeh straneh Röstigrabna. V Zürichu ujamemo nočni vlak, ki pelje proti Ljubljani, pelje čez Liechtenstein, Tirolsko vključno z Innsbruckom in Wörglom, Beljak, Jesenice in Bled. To bo prvič, da bom obiskal nekdanjo Jugoslavijo, vendar ne zadnjič. Upam, da boste uživali v današnji avanturi.

Dobro jutro! Danas ćemo provesti malo vremena u Suisse Romande / Zapadna Švicarska prije nego što u Zürichu uhvatimo noćni vlak za Ljubljanu. Provodimo malo vremena u Lausannei prije odlaska u Fribourg i Düdingen, da vidimo kakav je život s obje strane Röstigrabena. U Zürichu hvatamo noćni vlak koji vozi za Ljubljanu, prolazi kroz Lihtenštajn, Tirol uključujući Innsbruck i Wörgl, Villach, Jesenice i Bled. Bit će to prvi put da posjećujem bivšu Jugoslaviju, ali ne i zadnji put. Nadam se da ćete uživati u današnjoj avanturi.

Buongiorno! Oggi trascorreremo un po' di tempo nella Svizzera Romanda / Svizzera occidentale prima di andare a prendere il treno notturno da Zurigo per Lubiana. Trascorriamo un po' di tempo a Losanna prima di andare a Friburgo ea Düdingen, per vedere com'è la vita su entrambe le sponde del Röstigraben. A Zurigo prendiamo il treno notturno che va a Lubiana, passando per Liechtenstein, Tirolo comprese Innsbruck e Wörgl, Villach, Jesenice e Bled. Sarà la prima volta che visito l'ex Jugoslavia ma non l'ultima volta. Spero che apprezzerai l'avventura di oggi.

I had much fun the previous day in Geneva.  It was my first parade since the one in August 1998, but with a bit of francophonic flavor.  There was still a bit yet to visit, particularly Fribourg, which I had visited in 2001, but only to change trains.  I had previously visited Neuchâtel in April 2001 as well, so there was no point in going there this time.  As I did not know if Fribourg had proper lockers, I decided to place my luggage in Lausanne, where I knew there still were proper working lockers.  

I had breakfast about 7:30 AM, and was ready to check out by 8:30 AM.  I took the bus from the hostel to Territet station, took the westbound REV to Lausanne, and deposited my rolling suitcase.  I had a look around the station.  The cog rail system that I remembered from 2000 and 2001, had been shut down.  This was because the local public transit company wanted to replace the cograil system with a bidirectional adhesive system using MP89-like cars.  I would return in February 2012 to ride it.

After looking around the Gare CFF Lausanne, I took a train to Fribourg, which was a SBB Dosto, or double level quality train pulled by a premium electric locomotive, similar to the ones I rode in September 2000 and November 2002.  It did not stop in Vevey, but went up the REV S5 and S6 routes to Puidoux VD, Moreillon VD, Palézieux, Oron, crossing into the Fribourg canton, Romont, Villars sur Glâne and Fribourg.  I exited the train at Fribourg.  Fribourg has a connection to the Bern S-Bahn system, which has a stop in Düdingen, which I would visit sometime later in the afternoon.  I walked along Boulevard des Pérolles.  As it was a Sunday, shops were closed, so I could only do "leche vitrine", or window shop.  The day was fairly nice, not too warm, maybe +27 C / 80 F.  I found a place to eat after walking a while.  I had a lunch portion of pasta with a Cardinal beer.  It tasted almost like a Feldschlösschen or an Eichhof.  

After lunch, I walked back to the rail station, and boarded the S-Bahn for Düdingen.  At the time, the Poya rail station was not yet built, so the next station from Fribourg CFF was across the Schiffenensee in Düdingen.  The Schiffenensee was also considered the local Röstigraben, crossed by the Viaduc de Grandfey.  Across the Schiffenensee, everything changed from French to German.  Soon enough, the train stopped in Düdingen.  I first passed through Düdingen about 11:30 AM on Sunday 10th September 2000, while going from Lausanne to Zürich, not knowing if it were in the canton of Bern, or still in Fribourg.  Fribourg is mostly a French-speaking canton, but it has some communities that speak German.  The Röstigraben generally does not follow cantonal boundaries.  Even the Polentagraben follows the Uri-Ticino cantonal boundary, but when it comes to Graubünden, that is a different story.  The canton of Wallis and to some degree also Neuchâtel, are mainly French-speaking, also with German-speaking towns closer to Bern.  I did not speak with many people in Düdingen, but I suspect their dialect of German would follow that of Bern.  

In Düdingen I walked sort of northeast of the SBB rail station.  I walked along the Hauptstrasse to see the Saatzucht Genossenschaft Düdingen silo, where they grow agricultural seeds.  Düdingen is not particularly large, but it is a notable town, in my opinion.  On a Sunday there was not much going on.  I decided to return to Fribourg and catch the next train to Lausanne, fetch my luggage and take the next Inter City train to Zürich.  Before I did that, I went into the Kiosk store, on the Düdingen SBB station premises, and ordered myself a chocolate ice cream on a stick, I think a Magnum white chocolate.  It was really good, just right for summer.  When I finished that, I waited for the next S-Bahn train to Fribourg.  The train to Lausanne was not quite at the station, so I looked around.  I found a payphone that took not just Swiss Francs, but also Euro.  Normally Swiss phones take only Francs, but the one I saw, had a blue and yellow "€" sign with the familiar twelve yellow stars.  

I took the next fast train to Lausanne.  It was a Dosto and travelled nonstop.  At Lausanne CFF, I fetched my rolling suitcase, and walked to the platform where the next train to Zürich would leave from.  I found a Dosto.  I sat in the lower floor of the first class compartment for the quietness.  The upper level is a bit noisier, and also has the Elvetino rail bar rolling through at times.  It was a nice quiet ride to Zürich.

In Zürich, I would have at least an hour layover until the train would be ready to board.  I had my reservation with me.  I would be sleeping in the lowest bunk of a three person car.  The train would go through, but not stop everywhere, southwest of the Lake Zürich, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke, Sargans, Schaan FL, Feldkirch, Bludenz, Innsbruck, Wörgl, Salzburg, Zell am See, Villach, Rosenbach, Jesenice and finally Ljubljana, and then on to Zagreb.  I walked with my rolling suitcase to the bridge to Central and the north end of Niederdorferstrasse where the bottom station of the Polybahn to ETH Zürich is located.  I had a look at the Limmat south to Bellevue and Lake Zürich, but did not walk there at that time.  From 8th to 11th August, I would spend more time in Zürich, so I decided to not take too much time, and to be ready for the train to leave.

At the rail station, the train had arrived about 7:30 PM local time.  I found my car, and showed the reservation to the conductor.  He showed me to my compartment, and I was on the lower bunk.  He took my ticket and passport, and he said he would return it after we cleared Slovenian customs.  He would also put entry and exit stamps as appropriate.  The compartment had three people on a three bunk bed setup.  There was a sink in the room.  The toilet would be down the hall.  Meals were not included, so it was a good thing that I had some food before boarding, and I also had leftover bottles of grapefruit soda and similar.  I was not so interested in carrying around much beer.  The train left about 8:30 PM.  

After the train left at 8:30 PM, it went on its route on the south end of the St. Galler Oberland mountains, crossed the Rhine at Buchs into Liechtenstein at Schaan, just north of Vaduz, then through Feldkirch, Bludenz, Innsbruck, Wörgl, Salzburg, Villach and Rosenbach.  Much of the night, the train was moving about 75 mph or 120 km/h at most.  Sleeping was kind of like I was lying down but being pulled in one direction.  It felt similar to when I went on 11th November 2002, from Hamburg Hbf to Zürich HB, arriving on 12th November.  

About 6 AM, the train pulled into Villach, in the Bundesland of Kärnten.  The sun had risen sometime while we passed through Spittel an der Drau.  This would be the only time I would be awake to see Austria that year.  This would be a major stopping station for the train.  Some people would exit the train, some would board it.  The train would make one last stop in Austria, at Rosenbach.  I received a stamp in my passport before departing for Slovenia.  About 8 AM, the train would be in Jesenice, Slovenia.  At Jesenice, the customs officials checked passports, and gave me an entry stamp.  This was my first entry into Yugoslavia.  The train went on to Ljubljana through really nice countryside, including Bled and Kranj.              

About 9 AM, the train arrived in Ljubljana, at Glavni Stanica.  In 2003, in Slovenia, although it had ascended to the European Union, it was neither a user of the Euro, nor was it part of the Schengen Agreement.  Instead, Slovenia used the Tolar, which was about 110 Tolar to the US Dollar.  I had to withdraw some money to be able to buy basic items.  I think the highest valued money I had was a 1,000 Tolar bill.  There did not seem to be any subdivisions of the Tolar that I was aware of, no coins under 5 Tolar were used.  In 2008, Slovenia started using the Euro.  In 2022, Croatia followed suit, using the Euro and being part of the Schengen Agreement.

At the station, I found the bus station, and bought myself a bus pass for the entire day, which would give me unlimited bus rides all around the city. The youth hostel was not particularly far away, it was called Dijaski Dom Tabor, along Kotnikova Ulica.  It did not seem too far to walk from the station, but by the time I walked all the way, I was very tired.  The hostel had its familiar blue on white Hostelling International logo, and the door had "Dijaski Dom Tabor" on the top.  I checked into the hostel, and my room was ready.  My room was a double room but no one other than myself was booked for that room for the two days I would stay.  I took a shower and changed clothes in the private bathroom, then I was ready to take the bus into town.  

The traffic lights in Slovenia are not particularly special.  They are mostly large head signals, about 12 inches or 300 mm per head.  At the time, they performed R-RY-G-Y similar to Switzerland and Germany, but there was a period of three flashes of green before going yellow.  I doubt that in 2023 that the signals do that anymore, but merely do the same sequence as Germany.  To get to downtown, I had to walk to Komenskega ulica, and board the bus at the 3 Illirska ulica bus stop.  I went as far west on the bus as Tivolska Cesta and south into the city.  Eventually I ended up about 3 PM that day in the cathedral square at Cankarjevo nabrezje.  That is the old town and major shopping center for Ljubljana.  The castle is high on the hill nearby.  It was neat to see the canal containing the Ljubljanica river.  I would visit there later that evening.  

About 3 PM I was starting to feel a bit of heat stroke.  I think it was a mistake to book a very cheap room at the hostel, particularly in that part of Europe.  I had to go back to the hostel and take a nap.  This was kind of like the 20th/21st June 1998 when I was in Salzburg, it was a particularly hot weekend.  In 2003 on the other hand, there would be about five days of hot weather, which would not let up until I went on to Munich, after visiting Zürich.      

I left the hostel about 6 PM when the weather cooled down a bit.  I took the bus into town, across the Mesarki Most across the Ljubljanica.  I walked around the Giril Metodov Trg to find a nice place.  I found one restaurant with an interesting menu.  Sadly I only remember the beef tongues with dijon mustard that I had as an appetizer.  I don't think I had the cevabcici.  At the restaurant, there was a guitar player playing live.  One song I remember him playing, was "Pandajero" by Cantoma.  I did not know that song at the time, and it would not be until November that year, that I would actually hear it on the radio.  Somewhere I still have that recording on an audio cassette.

After supper, I did a bit more walking around the Preseren monument and eastward along the Ljubljanica.  The sun had set about 9:30 PM, so the weather was a bit more comfortable.  The youth hostel was not too far that I could not walk there on foot.  When I was back in the youth hostel, I took my radio and recorded a few hours of Slovene radio.  Slovene radio at the time contained international music, including some songs from Italy, but mostly English.

Please join me tomorrow, when I check out the timetables for Milan via Venice, have an encounter with the local Jehova's Witnesses trying to sell me a copy of "Vatchtover" [sic], take the train to Zagreb, ride the tram across town, find a place to eat pizza, return to Trg Republika, take the train back to Ljubljana about sundown, and sleep until 1 AM.  Hope you will join me then.  Good night!

Bitte kommen Sie morgen zu mir, wenn ich mir die Fahrpläne für Mailand über Venedig anschaue, eine Begegnung mit den örtlichen Zeugen Jehovas habe, die mir ein Exemplar von „Vatchtover“ [sic] verkaufen wollen, mit dem Zug nach Zagreb fahre, mit der Straßenbahn quer durch die Stadt fahre, Suchen Sie sich einen Ort zum Pizzaessen, kehren Sie zum Trg Republika zurück, nehmen Sie gegen Sonnenuntergang den Zug zurück nach Ljubljana und schlafen Sie bis 1 Uhr morgens. Ich hoffe, Sie kommen dann zu mir. Gute Nacht!

S'il vous plaît, rejoignez-moi demain, quand je vérifierai les horaires de Milan via Venise, que j'aurai une rencontre avec les Témoins de Jéhovah locaux essayant de me vendre une copie de "Vatchtover" [sic], que je prendrai le train pour Zagreb, que je prendrai le tram à travers la ville, trouvez un endroit pour manger une pizza, retournez à Trg Republika, prenez le train pour Ljubljana vers le coucher du soleil et dormez jusqu'à 1 h du matin. J'espère que vous me rejoindrez alors. Bonne nuit!

Prosim, pridruži se mi jutri, ko bom preverjal vozne rede za Milano prek Benetk, se srečal z lokalnimi Jehovovimi pričami, ki mi poskušajo prodati izvod "Vatchtover" [sic], šel z vlakom v Zagreb, se vozil s tramvajem čez mesto, najti pico, se vrniti na Trg republike, se z vlakom vrniti v Ljubljano pred sončnim zahodom in spati do 1. ure zjutraj. Upam, da se mi boš takrat pridružil. Lahko noč!

Molim te, pridruži mi se sutra, kada budem provjeravao vozni red za Milano preko Venecije, susreo se s lokalnim Jehovinim svjedocima koji mi pokušavaju prodati primjerak "Vatchtovera" [sic], išao vlakom za Zagreb, vozio se tramvajem preko grada, naći mjesto za pojesti pizzu, vratiti se na Trg Republike, sjesti vlakom natrag u Ljubljanu oko zalaska sunca i spavati do 1 ujutro. Nadam se da ćeš mi se tada pridružiti. Laku noć!

Per favore, unisciti a me domani, quando controllo gli orari per Milano via Venezia, incontra i Testimoni di Geova locali che cercano di vendermi una copia di "Vatchtover" [sic], prendi il treno per Zagabria, attraversa la città in tram, trova un posto dove mangiare la pizza, torna a Trg Republika, prendi il treno per Lubiana verso il tramonto e dormi fino all'una di notte. Spero che ti unirai a me allora. Buona notte!

#Switzerland #Suisse #Montreux #Territet #Lausanne #Vaud #Fribourg #Düdingen #Röstigraben #Polentagraben #Dosto #SBB #CFF #FFS #ÖBB #Zürich #Central #Limmat #Sargans #Buchs #Liechtenstein #Vaduz #Feldkirch #Österreich #Schweiz #Kärnten #Villach #Rosenbach #Slovenija #Slovenia

[atlasparrichada]

Apartment Building Peter Märkli Sargans, Switzerland, 1986

#architecture #private #concrete #facade #residential

[theballadofmortimerlepastorale]

SLW 2023, episode 30 (2023_08_26)

FIRST LIVE BROADCAST AS A TWO HOUR SHOW!

Broadcast: KTQA-LP 95.3 FM Tacoma, streaming address at KTQA.org

Voice-Over/Intro, music in the background: playlist selection #1

01. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - The Rider Song (London, England 2005)

02. Tom Waits - Big in Japan (Los Angeles, California 1999)

03. Bauhaus - King Volcano (Northampton, England 1983)

04. Einstürzende Neubauten - The Garden (Berlin, Germany 1996)

05. Judy Collins - Dress Rehearsal Rag (Denver, Colorado 1966)

Voice-Over/First Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Cat Parkour (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

06. Nuxx Vomica - Perpetual Night (New York City, New York)

07. Ascenship - К​​​а​​​л​​​и​​​н​​​и​​​н​​​г​​​р​​​а​​​д (Indianapolis, Indiana 2023)

08. ben. - Holy City (Lily Of The Valley mix)(Northern Ireland 2023)

Voice-Over/Second Break, music in the background: Black Light District - New End (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

09. Distance H - Reason to rush (feat. Liset Alea)(Paris, France 2023)

10. Familiar Affections - Human Warmth (Buchs & Sargans, Switzerland 2023)

11. Preoccupations - Fever (Calgary, Canada 2016)

Voice-Over/Top of The Hour Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Pale Blue Dot (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

12. Das Noir - Made Of Flesh And Blood (Athens, Greece 2023)

13. Depeche Mode - Death's Door (Basildon, England 1991)

14. Death And Vanilla - Perpetuum Mobile (Malmö, Sweden 2023)

15. Replicas - Waiting (Tacoma, Washington 2022)

16. Stu Phillips & Glen A. Larson - Knight Rider (Hollywood, California 1982)*

Voice-Over/Forth Break, music in the background: Black Light District - Traction (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

17. Licorice Chamber - This Love Is Dark (Codename Lola Mix)(Tacoma, Washington 2021)

18. The Sisters Of Mercy - Valentine (Leeds, England 1983)

19. Joy Division - Dead Souls (Manchester, England 1980)

20. The Cure - Just One Kiss (Crawley, England 1983)

21. The Velvet Underground - The Murder Mystery (New York City, New York 1969)

22. Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - The Rider Song (The Proposition)(London, England 2005)

23. Other - A Summoning (Seattle, Washington 2021)

Voice-Over/Last Break, music in the background: Black Light District - House Arrest (Kyiv, Ukraine 2022)

*REQUESTED MUSIC

#tacoma #community radio #playlist #nick cave #warren ellis #tom waits #bauhaus #Einstürzende Neubauten #judy collins #nuxx vomica #Ascenship #ben. #Black Light District #Distance H #Familiar Affections #preoccupations #Das Noir #depeche mode #Death And Vanilla #replicas #Stu Phillips #Glen A. Larson #knight rider #Licorice Chamber #the sisters of mercy #joy division #the cure #the velvet underground #Other #soundtracks

[tagluff23]

Till samlingen av tåg och stationer. Bilder från 4/4: Sargans, Wädenswil, Biberbrugg, Arth-Goldau och Flüelen. Alla i Schweiz. (Publicerat 5/4)

#stationshus

[realmofash-rpg]

CONTEXTE

TW : maladie, mort, meurtre

Confins de terres miroitant paysages et splendeur, le royaume d'Ash sous la dynastie Erfior voyait l'usage des arcanes comme une bénédiction des éléments, un don à l'usage si particulier. Innée et rare, la capacité à invoquer la magie n'était cependant pas donnée à toustes. Les Erfior détenaient la bénédiction d'avoir en leur lignée un nombre important d'arcanistes, presque tous les nouveaux nés de ce sang avait la capacité de faire appel à la magie.  Cette majorité leur attribua un grand pouvoir et une importante influence, leur donnant de grâce la couronne à la création du royaume. Leur règne avait débuté en toute sérénité sous le culte de leur maison et la magie des arcanes. Cette quiétude connût cependant un déclin alarmant lorsque de génération en génération, les Erfior devinrent de plus en plus aveuglés par leur titre royal ; arrivant au règne du roi Freyr II qui, durant son ère, laissa le peuple d'Ash périr seul face aux maux de la pauvreté, de la violence et de la Fièvre Ecarlate que même la magie ne parvenait à guérir.

De la lumière à la noirceur de l'âme humaine, les différents confins d'Ash sentirent rapidement l'agonie du royaume, une décadence cruellement ignorée par le roi Freyr II dont la priorité était des préserver les privilèges de ses semblables arcanistes et de sa famille au dépit du bien de son royaume. On le disait alors fou, surnommé le Roi Sans-Coeur par la foule qui ne pouvait comprendre l'égoïsme de son clan. Face à son incompétence en tant que monarque, plusieurs Grandes Maisons commencèrent à s'allier dans le plus grand des secrets, souhaitant mettre fin à ce règne de désastre et guidée par nulle autre que la Maison Arlaar.

Générations d'âmes oubliées par la magie, ce noble et puissant clan n'avait jamais eu quelconque ascendant capable d'appeler la magie, accueillant en son foyer nul·le arcaniste depuis sa création. Cependant, les Arlaar étaient célèbres pour quelque chose d'aussi grandiose : leur pratique de l'Alchimie. Science métaphysique permettant à ses connaisseurs de manipuler et de modifier la matière à l'aide de l'énergie naturelle, les membres de clan et leurs fidèles firent rapidement deux grandes découvertes : un remède contre la Fièvre Ecarlate et l'Azurite, matière transmutée par l'alchimie permettant d'affaiblir - si pas effacer -  la présence de la magie autour d'elle. Cette trouvaille marqua le réel début du Soulèvement contre l'injuste élitisme des arcanes et la dynastie Erfior.

En l'an 890, à l'aube de la nouvelle année, les troupes des Arlaar menées par Sargan Arlaar et leurs alliés s'introduisirent à Mont Royal pour mettre à l'acte leur coup d'état contre la royauté et leurs fidèles. Combat acharné de plusieurs jours se terminant sous la victoire écrasante du Soulèvement, sacrant le même jour Sargan comme leur nouveau roi ; annonçant alors une nouvelle dynastie et d'une nouvelle ère où nulle magie ne serait autorisée et où l'Alchimie, accessible à toustes, serait alors la discipline universelle. Des principes et un idéal qui se verront être instaurés aux moyens peu conventionnels si pas extrêmes.

Nous sommes actuellement en l'an 1022, sous le règne du roi Cyrsas, plus d’un siècle s'écoulé depuis la bataille de l'Aube et bien des choses ont tourné. Toutefois, une malédiction semble sévir le royaume d'Ash : celle de la boucle historique. Maintenant que l'Alchimie est imposée de manière catégorique sous la censure de la magie, certains habitants d'Ash ont l'impression de revoir certains traits du règne des Erfior dans celui des Arlaar... de plus, car tout tourne dans l'histoire, une insurrection s'entremêle aussi dans les ombres : celle des effacé·e·s de force, les Arcanistes.

#forum rpg #projet rpg #french rpg #forumactif #realm of ash #got #game of thrones #fullmetal alchemist

[444names]

russian forenames and cities + roman place names BUT including "a"

Abaga Abagory Abain Abidny Abium Abnyak Aborov Aborsk Abriye Abury Abytki Acaea Acansk Accan Aceriae Adinsk Adynsk Afonnov Aforov Agacha Agadom Agaglia Agals Agalù Agari Agarioz Agasnom Agata Agavip Agilkov Aglensk Agnia Agnium Agrassk Agryari Alabria Alcae Alcan Alerna Aleya Alimol Alium Alizovo Allia Alovo Alsky Amysk Angrad Aninsk Anozavl Anskovo Antinsk Apionsk Aporin Apytki Aquinsk Arimir Ariysha Arkhov Arnovsk Arovka Arrinsk Artin Arurav Arvol Ashim Ashva Asinst Aslay Asnoly Asoch Asulov Ataysk Atorsk Ausull Avalum Avdaca Avdavil Avderta Avdima Avdimry Avdinsk Avdis Avdom Avena Avetsk Avichi Avigal Avinov Avinsk Avisk Avkalts Avladsk Avlexey Avlov Avlovo Avlyarg Avressk Avrov Avsky Avvalia Aznem Azyaria Babrsk Bakhov Bakhovo Bakopan Balavsk Balensk Balovo Barsk Battely Baysk Berkhva Binaid Blugola Boria Borra Bovdoma Bryusma Bugadan Burae Burmeia Burona Butsa Buzna Caeap Caeshli Caetsk Caevsk Camsk Camyzra Carkhny Catano Catom Chaysov Chevan Chirat Chkash Chnya Chnyan Chugay Chukha Chulan Chyoray Clansk Corla Dainka Dakha Dakir Dalek Dalen Dalogo Damyzhi Dandri Danta Dantim Dataria Dedae Deliba Dinairy Dionae Diyar Dmica Doreka Dubay Dudonna Dunya Duria Durna Ebaly Elnekha Ertary Fanov Fansk Fansta Furasno Gadan Gafim Galsk Gaplyan Gatka Gdalma Geliana Gepota Glipat Golka Gonogda Grair Gransk Grasim Graysk Gubakov Gudnya Gukhtia Gukhva Gulkali Ilinada Istasno Istia Ivalù Ivaysk Kacheka Kachi Kalum Kamuny Kamytin Karolsk Karom Karpuk Karsk Katal Katiant Katkada Katrod Kayevsk Khakhta Khana Kholyan Kinan Kiroma Klishan Komay Konia Kopasno Koradsk Kotsar Kovalsk Kovka Koyass Koyazhi Kozhna Krabdak Kranart Krashin Kunaz Kuray Kutna Lachiy Lakarae Lapyov Latavil Lavaye Lavia Lekana Lenka Lexansk Lgoza Lutansk Lyankal Lyaril Lyuza Madorsk Magarsk Maglish Magush Makhov Makhty Maksium Mamana Mamysk Mangert Mansk Marsk Mazhak Mentayk Mikoyan Minavsk Mosibak Murav Mysenka Mytansk Nadny Nadsk Naforsk Nakonia Namensk Nariv Natetsk Nazhi Nazim Nicat Noalaga Nogra Nomna Novarya Novoa Nyalya Nyaza Odina Okhayma Olzavy Opotkal Oshvar Osnorna Padim Panza Pasny Petan Petsay Petura Polman Polya Poria Prach Pramsk Priae Psenzha Pugana Pusha Pustada Pyary Pyazrae Pytva Rachi Rachin Ransk Ranton Rasinsk Rasno Reuta Rosta Rovia Ryard Rybna Ryuna Safimay Salavia Saldov Samen Sanov Santium Sargan Sarino Saroney Sarsk Sarsky Sartema Sebora Semyan Senadol Senapa Shakhov Shalan Shapasy Sharas Shcha Shkamur Shlia Shtya Sivarsk Slach Slatay Slyarim Snodan Soboyar Solan Solla Sosta Sreya Stansk Stinta Strenak Stronna Surae Suraza Surta Taben Talmsky Talsk Tamboga Tamedul Tantaye Tardar Taverna Tavla Tislavo Togorna Tomaga Torista Tovka Tropia Tsina Turadny Tvica Tyubia Ucharsk Udimar Ugacel Ukhari Ulluza Ulyukan Ushima Ustay Valadny Valae Vanarsk Vandya Vantis Varoks Vartsk Vayev Vaysk Vekara Veria Vetyan Vicia Vidoma Vikhano Virecha Vladima Vlakhi Vlyubak Voscia Voteria Vudalsk Vyara Vyazov Vyazy Vytka Yansk Yaran Yariysh Yatayl Yazinad Yazybny Yekach Yekarsk Yelaks Yestay Yevay Yevkali Yuzar Zameso Zanazh Zania Zaorkh Zavorsk Zheka Zhnya Zlyansk Znaes Zveleka Zvetlya

#444 names #444names

[worldcakecakecake]

Good Luck Friedrich

A series of video diaries by Isabella Beilschmidt for her baby brother, Friedrich, where she details and explains the lives of their hectic family.

                                                    Video 6.2

They talked about it at the next dinner. Aldrich didn’t really understand anything, Isabella was trying to, but the eldest? They jumped, they celebrated, already going on with surely the adventures they expected of Paris and Vienna. They left their dinner to instantly start packing, wondering all the things they would need and what they should leave behind. Ludwig had to go up there to tell them that they weren’t leaving for months and that for now they should be focusing on their dinner and finishing their school year in Switzerland. Feliciano had to remind Ludwig that they hadn’t even called Francis or Roderich and Elizabeta with their decision. They called two days from then, on speaker for all to take part. It had practically been a party, with all that dancing, screaming and heavy chats on plans that already began to take off. Feliciano and Ludwig had begun with filling all the necessary paperwork, while over in France and Austria, the respective parties dealt with the inscriptions that came easier than they had expected. Before they knew it, they were officially in the system and the train tickets with their date of departure were bought. The kids’ excitement was contagious, and Ludwig and Feliciano joined in, counting the days and spending them going on shopping sprees, getting them clothes, games and even new equipment as luggage or pencil sets. 

Ludwig and Feliciano had thought it would last…but it turned so heavy and hurtful the day they stood at the St. Moritz station. They were all together, even Isabella and Aldrich joining in that goodbye. The three eldest had their own luggage, something simple to get settled with and they could carry on their trip alone. Everything else, Ludwig and Feliciano would send later on. 

“Here are your tickets printed. Keep it with you during the entire trip. I marked well the transfers the three of you have to do. Pay attention and constantly make sure you’re on the right train. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” Ludwig gave them each a map with names, numbers and heavy marks to be sure they noticed. 

“You’ll travel together to Chur and then separate. Heinrich, Alessandro, you go on to Sargans and from there to Vienna, Roderich and Elizabeta will be there to pick you up. Analiese, you go on to Zurich, and from there to Paris Gare De Lyon, Francis will be there for you,” Feliciano explained, the same demand as Ludwig pointing to the places while Ludwig kept on the lookout for the train that was to come in minutes. 

“In the phones we gave you, you have all the numbers you need. If anything happens, don’t be afraid to call.” The three took the moment to take out their small flip phones, nothing too excessive, just something for better connection and emergencies. 

“Ooohhh, look Heinrich! We’ll be in Germany for a bit!” Alessandro pointed to the point of the track where in fact they would be for some minutes. 

“And I’m going to Zurich all alone!” Analiese jumped and proclaimed as if it was a vacation. 

“Remember! Pay attention!” Ludwig recalled with a glare, one the three did well to nod to and obey. 

“Be careful and stay away from anything suspicious,” Feliciano went on. 

“Again, call us for anything, absolutely anything!” Ludwig repeated. 

“Look at the screens twenty times if you have to!” 

“Don’t go to suspicious corners just to get gummy bears!” 

“Try to stay together at least until you have to separate in Chur.” 

“Don’t cause too much of a ruckus either!” 

“But also relax and enjoy the ride!” 

“Watch your tickets!” 

“And-” 

“Vatti! Papa! Stop! Please! We get it!” Alessandro shouted, getting a headache, along with his brother and sister over these many commands. 

“We’ll be alright. We have the map here, and your numbers…and we can read…” Heinrich wanted to assure. 

“I’ll call you in the next stop if anything,” Analiese added. 

“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Feliciano sighed, letting one hand caress his girl’s hair, looking at her and leaving that glow, that excitement for something new, implanted well in his mind, reminding him of what this would be worth. 

The distant vibrations began, Ludwig could spot a small light coming from the distance…and he knew it was theirs…it was their time for goodbye. 

Feliciano wanted to bring all three tight to him, but they instead jumped and shouted, taking hold of their luggage ready to dash inside as soon as it halted. And soon enough it was there, screeching, doors opening, passengers coming down and others boarding. The three smiled between one another and quickly headed to make their entrance. Ludwig and Feliciano were about to help them with putting up their luggage…but they actually did well by themselves, all their bags well inside…now waiting for their owners. In their ecstatic…the parents thought they would just go on, down the corridor, their seat and away…Analiese and Alessandro checked the surroundings, wanting to understand everything…only Heinrich was still standing on the ground, for once taking notice of what exactly was happening. 

He was leaving…truly alone…to another country…a new school…only his twin brother with him. He wouldn’t see his parents…his younger sisters and brother…for a long time. Alessandro and Analiese came to the same realization…not daring to continue forward down the hall, in their place halted as if time was not ticking, wondering if this was the correct train…if this was even the right thing to do. 

No…this was a whole new experience, a whole new world to see, big, offering and making the future oh so much brighter. 

As Heinrich turned back to his parents, gripping and trying to breathe in whatever wanted to crumble…he realized he only wished they could all come together. But…their paths were set to course elsewhere…and they all had to settle forward, no matter separations and borders. Heinrich ran back and stumbled forward in both his parents’ embraces, Ludwig and Feliciano taking him well in, tight, warm and shining home…He was reminded they always had a place to come back and a family to always belong to.

Alessandro joined afterwards, Analiese followed right behind and they huddled all together, the moment in the station singular to them, tearful but kept and ever more loving. They would have happily stayed in what seemed like forever in this join…but bells rang and they were reminded of their waiting train. 

“Go! Hurry!” Ludwig had to insist, coughing away whatever break in his tone, hoping that his children wouldn’t see the tears that gathered in the dimness of this day. 

And they settled off, the doors closing right as they passed and were in the comfort of the train. They took seats by the window where they could still see their parents and youngest siblings, all waving, large enough to take whatever space they were in. The train began its march forward and yet they still waved, they still kept a hold if even not by touch, far into when the train was away, Ludwig, Feliciano, having to take Isabella and Aldrich with them to continue on their waves even down the station, remaining until the train was gone, into the distance to join the mountains, a pathway across the Swiss alps and away from home. 

Ludwig and Feliciano remained, their eyes frozen on those mountains as if they could still see the three of them waving their goodbye. Isabella and Aldrich grew impatient, letting go and beginning jumps and races in the station, shouts and laughter that was enough to bring Ludwig and Feliciano back to St. Moritz. 

“Vatti! Papa! Look how fast I can run! Look how fast!” And with a rumble from his own mouth, Aldrich dashed to the other end of the station in impressiveness that had Ludwig and Feliciano awing and clapping, using this to rid of tears and frowns. 

“I bet I can go faster!” And Isabella ran herself to join her little brother, reaching him in perfect time, up and down, up and down, in fits of laughter that Ludwig and Feliciano couldn’t help but join in. 

“You know, I feel like having something sweet now,” Feliciano smirked. 

“Hmm…how about…some chocolate?” Ludwig smirked back with a knowing gaze, both the children stopping their game to look up with great gleam on their big blue eyes. 

“What do you say? How about a visit to Hanselmann?” 

“Yes!” They both shouted, jumping down the stairs. 

Ludwig and Feliciano chuckled, following behind. 

“Come, hurry!” Aldrich shouted. 

“You can’t be so slow now! Chocolate! Chocolate! We’re getting chocolate!” Isabella shouted, a loud echo joining her, and so Ludwig and Feliciano ended up in their race.

Despite the coffee, cake and chocolate break, the excitement of having linguine with pesto planned for dinner…when they arrived home, the first thing Feliciano did was break down, in what he thought a mess, Ludwig taking him and assuring him as long as he needed to in his arms. Luckily, Isabella and Aldrich had hurried to play, getting boxes of puzzles to begin arranging. 

“We can finally play with the Toy Story puzzle without having Heinrich stopping us!” Aldrich shouted with his sister’s excitement, the box quickly emptied, the sound enough to hide more of Feliciano’s whimpers. 

Yes, the three of them called when they arrived in Chur, messages to let them know of each station they stopped at, and another call to let them know that they had arrived in Vienna and Paris respectively. They had met with Roderich, Elizabeta and Francis, and as the days passed, they dealt with settling, getting to know their new surroundings, new people and new schedules. Sure, they’d let their parents know of every little detail, but sometimes it was hard to know how they truly felt. 

As the weeks continued, what had been everyday calls turned into bi-weekly ones, school matters and other activities taking the full of their time. Feliciano had become too attached to his phone the last few days…every ring or vibration desperately hoping it was a call, a message with many words or excitement or wanting him to hurry to the computer for a web call. When it was not…Feliciano fell into a dejection that grayed him for the rest of the day. It was not the constant tears anymore…but Ludwig didn’t know which was worse. His heavy dependence to the point that he couldn’t do absolutely anything else, or his extensive wallowing and tears as he dealt with the emptiness of not having his eldest children in the house. Ludwig tried what he could to get him back to painting, to learning a new language, fixing Aldrich’s stuffed animals or helping Isabella make some new dance. He tried to hide it to his youngest, he would laugh and play with them, but a reminder always came that soured him for the rest of the day. 

Ludwig decided one day it was time to rightfully talk about this, to really understand and move on. He decided so one night after dinner, Isabella busy with trying to finish a Lego castle while Aldrich was well tucked into his bed, sleeping. He had time, he knew he would have Feliciano’s full attention. 

It was the height of autumn, chilly in these heights. No matter how much fresh air Feliciano wanted, he had to settle with an inner windowsill, wrapped with a blanket and a steaming hot cup of chocolate in his hands. He was trying to catch the stars between the clouds when Ludwig joined him, taking a seat, his own freshly prepared cup of hot chocolate in his hands. 

“They said it’s going to be raining all of next week,” Feliciano said sadly. 

“Eh, it would be good for Isabella. She can finally wear those boots you last bought her and she can jump in all the puddles she wants,” he rolled his eyes, already dreading the cleaning he would have to do in the front entrance as well as the boots and clothes that were sure to get muddy. 

Feliciano chuckled, as Ludwig intended, smiling at the beautiful brightness of his mate. “Who do you think taught her to do that?” Ludwig gave a smirk. 

“Oh no, don’t put the blame on me! It was Alessandro who did! He was the one constantly wanting to head out at the first drizzle! The rest saw him do it and just followed his lead.” Feliciano found himself looking at a particular part in the garden, knowing it was one of the many places Alessandro would skip about in a pour. 

“And in turn, who did Alessandro learn it from?” 

Oh, of course Ludwig was not letting him escape from this one. 

“It was a boring rainy day and I was trying to get the twins to have some fun!” 

“And by jumping in your own puddles as a grown adult, you established a whole tradition to mark all five of our children.” Ludwig made it sound like it was an accomplishment to be praised. It made Feliciano smile the brightest since their elder three left. “Lord knows if Alessandro is thinking about this too. Roderich will surely send us a message complaining about it tomorrow afternoon.” 

“Dirtying the Moschino boots,” Feliciano teased. 

“Those damn things cost us a hundred francs! I wouldn’t let him step back in the house!” 

“Oh, amore, no! What I would give to have Alessandro back in the house!” 

“Fine…we’ll put him under house arrest.” 

“No! No…not that either! They shouldn’t be cooped up in here like a prison either!” 

“Exactly! Which is why they’re in Vienna and Paris living the dream of many.” 

And at that moment Feliciano already saw the mission Ludwig had placed for this conversation. He came down from the sudden rush, meeting that idea, facing it and denying it as he always did. 

“When you were their age…I remember you had those same wishes…going off to some…big city away from your family-” 

“With you,” Feliciano recalled as he turned to him with a promising smile. 

Ludwig shared in it with the hint of a blush, both taking it as a sign to scooch close, to lean and cuddle with one another in one of these moments of rare peace. “-with me.” 

“We aren’t nothing like them…” Feliciano recalled with a pout. 

“And we're learning to not do the things they did. We’re giving our children choices, we’re giving them the chance to be whatever they want to be without having to think of…titles or family members-” 

“They don’t have to depend on us to make themselves their own future.” And Ludwig was more than glad to see that he worded it. “I still…I still miss them so much,” he admitted. 

“I do too…and so do Isabella and Aldrich.” 

Feliciano chuckled, “it’s hard to tell. All I see is them enjoying the space and the extra things they have. Not to mention more attention from us.” 

“And isn’t that great for them?” 

Feliciano smiled, “yeah…now I actually know all the names of Aldrich’s stuffed animals…and that Isabella can sing beautifully. I know Aldrich likes his Nutella bread with banana pieces formed in a face, and that Isabella…is questioning the structure of breakfast and why it’s working against humanity.” They both shouted their laughs as they were reminded of that particular discussion a couple of mornings back. It was that instant that they heard hurried steps, suddenly having a seven year old jump upon their lap, finding her own comfort between them like they were but another cushion on the windowsill. The parents didn’t mind, they easily made her a place. Feliciano held her tight against him, a kiss on her head while Ludwig played with strands of her waved hair. 

“That was so loud! I couldn’t concentrate anymore! What were you guys talking about?” 

“You and your refusal to have breakfast.” 

“Because it’s all a conspiracy!” 

“Do you even know what that word means?” Ludwig questioned, now trying to finish the last bits of his chocolate. 

“Not really, but I heard uncle Gilbert say it once and it sounded fancy.” 

Both parents rolled their eyes but enjoyed a night with just one child, relaxed and quiet as it could be.

It was one night after they had gone out with Isabella and Aldrich to do a hike, small that they could both handle, but challenging enough so they wouldn’t be bored and they could learn from. This was Switzerland after all, at some point they had to learn how to face these immense mountains. They woke up and had a very early breakfast, lunch as a picnic with a majestic view and had dinner at a restaurant in the town center. By the time they returned home, even Isabella had to be tucked in to sleep, both exhausted but shining with the joy of the day. It was the glow that made Feliciano settle with a new wish…one Ludwig had no problem with doing his part to grant. 

It seemed they would never tire of having children in the house.

It was spring break and of course the eldest used it to return. 

How they missed these greens, these hills taller than whatever buildings they had seen in the cities they had gotten used to, the flowers, the quaintness and simplicity that was still their home, one they had dearly missed. Sure, they had spent Christmas there, but any month apart was sure to give them the same sense of fault. 

“Papa! Vatti!” Alessandro shouted with new heights, the first to run off from the van, uncaring to everything he left behind. 

“Alessandro! Come back here and wear your scarf! It’s still too cold!” Elizabeta shouted after him, the last few months losing whatever patience she had before for the twins. 

Roderich scoffed, “let him! He’ll learn his lesson when he catches the flu!” He had joined in his wife’s intolerance. At least Heinrich had stayed to help. For him it was enough that they were at least in front of the house. 

Alessandro didn’t bother. The front door was open, he crashed right in, the echo surely to ring all across the house. 

“Alessandro!” He heard his father’s heavy scolding, surely coming down the stairs, heavy steps trying to reach him. Alessandro didn’t know if he should trust that tone to be a greeting. He settled on finding his omega father, running down the first hall he saw, passing a bewildered Aldrich, practically pushing Isabella as she was just heading out of the kitchen. 

“Papa!” He shouted as he made his entrance to the kitchen, arms open ready for a much needed embrace. 

“Alessandro!” His omega father sounded happy, ecstatic. Feliciano was just drying his hands, quickly going through the cloth to turn and greet one of his eldest. 

How he had missed him, how he wanted him in his arms…but the boy suddenly stood, frozen, all that energy gone as soon as his eyes met the new bump on his father’s stomach. 

“What?” Feliciano questioned, not seeming to understand the realization his son was making. 

“…ma che cazzo!” 

Feliciano gasped, “Alessandro!” 

“I swear, he did not learn this from-” Elizabeta caught up to offer some sort of apology…but when she noticed…she shrieked and went to embrace Feliciano instead, both jumping and smiling. 

“What’s going on?” And here Analise arrived, dressed in perfection for the season…for a mere ten year old. Her uncle Francis was beside her in the same sense of style, both of them left as stupefied as the elder brother. Francis joined in the celebration, while Analiese joined her older brother in stupefaction. 

“Let me guess…Papa is pregnant again, isn’t he?” Heinrich didn’t have to be in the room…by now he could just feel when a new sibling was coming. When he reached them and saw he was clearly right, he only shrugged and waited for everyone to calm down before he very maturely gave his own congratulations. Alessandro and Analiese on the other hand were left without words to say for pretty much the whole day.

The day had cleared, warm and nice, the sun shining directly on their house as if it only existed for them. Giovanna for some reason thought it was perfect to run and race. She had placed her starting line and finish line, going back and forth, ending every single time with exaggerated jumps to exclaim her victory. It was the shouts that brought everybody outside. Ludwig made them some ice tea, Feliciano cut some fruits and they picnicked on the terrace, chatting, snacking and just enjoying the warmth of the day, relaxed. Friedrich had just woken, drinking a bottle of milk Ludwig gave him. Giovanna kept on in her race, to everyone’s surprise, not showing a moment of weakness. 

“I bet I could beat you!” Alessandro offered to finally join her, standing in all his usual cocky self. He showed off the muscle he had, stretching in preparation, jumping to show how tall, how prepared his legs were from all the football playing. He wanted to make it clear to his little sister who would be the winner…hoping already she wouldn’t feel so bad about it. Giovanna didn’t seem to care, she smiled and jumped, only excited to know that she was actually going against someone. 

“I wouldn’t underestimate her if I were you,” Heinrich commented, still comfortable in his seat in the shadow under the terrace. 

Alessandro scoffed, “please.” He took a clear gaze to the girl, smaller, innocent, fragile. But Heinrich pointed to her energy. Alessandro didn’t think it was enough. 

“All right, so, on your marks,” Heinrich shouted…in no way was he moving from his seat. 

The rules were clear, the entire family was watching in excitement, Isabella was taping the damn thing. 

“Get set…” 

Both the runners prepared themselves. 

“Go!” 

And they headed off. 

They all began to shout, some for Alessandro, some for Giovanna, all throughout as they made their spin on their slope. 

These climbs were something Alessandro was not doing as often as he had done as a kid, while Giovanna was in the prime of using them daily. She knew them well, where to jump, where to hurry, where to slow down. She knew very well how to use it to her advantage, until she was advancing before her eldest brother, reaching the end of their determined finish line as a champion, her arms raised in victory as the family applauded and cheered. Alessandro ended up exhausted and out of breath, accepting defeat and giving only but a thumbs up as congratulation to his sister. The camera shook as Isabella laughed, quite enjoying the state her brother was in. She then switched the camera to Giovanna, smug and proud, Ludwig taking her in his arms to rain her with kisses, much to the girl’s delight, clapping and giving him as much as she could herself. They went back to their snack pots afterwards, seeming done for the day. 

“Next race,” Heinrich began in between bites, “Vatti and Papa.” 

“Ooohhh!” They all instantly went, some like Aldrich and Giovanna standing on the sofas, jumping and excited as if it was to happen that instant. 

While they discussed, Ludwig and Feliciano let themselves to think and wonder. “Kinder, I don’t think we can do that. After all, your papa must be tired already,” Ludwig said out of true concern…it just didn’t sit well with Feliciano, who began an intense glare. 

“Tired?” He questioned. 

“Mmmmm!” The rest of the kids mumbled stuffed still with fruit.  

“I’m not tired! I’m ready to go across this whole valley if we were to do it,” Feliciano practically shouted in an insult. 

“Could you really?” Ludwig dared question. 

All gasped along with Feliciano. 

“Are you just going to accept this, Papa?” Alessandro said. 

That moment Feliciano stood, sleeves up, already stretching his legs before he walked over the decided starting area. All the kids jumped excitedly around him. 

Ludwig groaned, dropping everything on his plate. “Analiese, hold Friedrich.” The girl didn’t deny, smiling as she took a caring hold of her youngest brother. He then stood up and made his own physical preparations, joining Feliciano at that starting line. The kids feasted around them, some for their Vatti, some for their Papa, both parents seeming ignorant, only focused on seriously proving better than the other. 

Isabella’s camera rolled as they started, as they dashed down the field, down the mountain, in the end making their own route, much more complicated than any of them could make. Sadly, much to Isabella’s disappointment, that camera’s battery went out just as both parents were coming side to side to the finishing line.

< Video 6

#Good Luck Friedrich #gerita omegaverse #gerita #gerita fanfiction #gerita fanfic #gerita fic

[gordies57]

Sargans, 🇨🇭

[st-gallen-myths]

160. The Golden Skittles Game / Das goldene Kegelspiel

A servant, Friedrich, fell in love with the daughter of the lord of the castle. The latter strongly opposed the union. But the determined youth fled secretly with his beloved. In Sargans he hoped to achieve his goal. The furious Lord of the Castle, however, sent his other servants after him. They met the fugitives at Schollberg, and when they met, Friedrich killed one of the servants, his friend…

View On WordPress

#Castles #Golden Skittles #Knight/Lord

[hansdurrer]

Sargans, Switzerland, 6 April 2024

#Flowers #Photographers on tumblr #Blumen #Fotografie #Fleurs #Fiori #Flores #Photography #Sargans #Switzerland

[greenbagjosh]

Thursday 14 November 2002 - a very gray Bündner land visit - half price ice cream - The Hardhof near ZH Altstetten - supper at the Zeughauskeller

14 November 2002

EN  Hi everyone.  Twenty years ago today, I took a train from Zürich HB to Chur, past Thalwil, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke and Sargans.  I managed to record some Rhätorumantsch from the RTR station and buy a Rhätorumantsch newspaper.  Also a shop at the SBB rail station in Chur was having a half-off sale on ice cream, and rightly so because the weather was lousy, but not too cold.  I visited the  area, and had supper at the Zeughauskeller, close to Paradeplatz.  It was a nice end to a visit to Zürich.

DE  Hallo allerseits. Heute vor 20 Jahren fuhr ich mit dem Zug von Zürich HB nach Chur, vorbei an Thalwil, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke und Sargans. Ich habe es geschafft, etwas Rhätorumantsch vom RTR-Sender aufzunehmen und eine Rhätorumantsch-Zeitung zu kaufen. Auch ein Geschäft am Bahnhof SBB in Chur hat Glace zum halben Preis verkauft, und das zu Recht, denn das Wetter war mies, aber nicht zu kalt. Ich besuchte die Gegend und aß im Zeughauskeller in der Nähe des Paradeplatzes zu Abend. Es war ein schöner Abschluss eines Besuchs in Zürich.

DK  Hej allesammen. For tyve år siden i dag tog jeg et tog fra Zürich HB til Chur, forbi Thalwil, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke og Sargans. Det lykkedes mig at optage noget Rhätorumantsch fra RTR-stationen og købe en Rhätorumantsch-avis. Også en butik på SBB-banegården i Chur havde et halvt rabatudsalg på is, og det med rette, fordi vejret var elendigt, men ikke for koldt. Jeg besøgte området og spiste aftensmad på Zeughauskeller, tæt på Paradeplatz. Det var en dejlig afslutning på et besøg i Zürich.

SE  Hej allihopa. För tjugo år sedan idag tog jag ett tåg från Zürich HB till Chur, förbi Thalwil, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke och Sargans. Jag lyckades spela in lite Rhätorumantsch från RTR-stationen och köpa en Rhätorumantsch-tidning. Också en butik på SBB järnvägsstation i Chur hade halvrea på glass, och det med rätta eftersom vädret var uselt, men inte för kallt. Jag besökte området och åt middag på Zeughauskeller, nära Paradeplatz. Det var en trevlig avslutning på ett besök i Zürich.

FR  Salut tout le monde. Il y a vingt ans aujourd'hui, j'ai pris un train de Zürich HB à Coire, en passant devant Thalwil, Pfäffikon SZ, Ziegelbrücke et Sargans. J'ai réussi à enregistrer du Rhätorumantsch de la station RTR et à acheter un journal Rhätorumantsch. De plus, un magasin de la gare CFF de Coire proposait des glaces à moitié prix, et à juste titre car le temps était maussade, mais pas trop froid. J'ai visité la région et j'ai dîné au Zeughauskeller, près de la Paradeplatz. C'était une belle fin de visite à Zurich.

Guten Morgen!  Good morning! After visiting Valais, Geneva and Frauenfeld, I thought it would be good to see Graubünden once more.  It would be my second visit since September 2000, when I also visited the Principality of Liechtenstein.  I woke up about 6:30 AM, took a shower, ate breakfast downstairs, checked the train schedules on the coin operated internet terminals, and then took the bus 33 and tram 7 to Zürich HB, to catch the Intercity train to Chur.  I was on a Dosto in first class and sat on the left side.  If you are on a Dosto riding from Zürich to Chur, you should sit on the left side, so that you can see Lake Zürich after passing through Thalwil ZH, and Walensee between Ziegelbrücke GL and Walendstadt SG.  Prior to the Zimmerberg base tunnel construction, you could have a good view, particularly between Zürich-Enge and Pfäffikon SZ.  Now it is only possible between Thalwil and Pfäffikon.

Along the way I was listening to the AM frequency of DRS2 and the local FM frequency DRS3, I think, out of the Chur region.  DRS2 was playing classical music, and I remember one song on DRS3 being "Round Round" by the Sugababes, followed by "Spiegelbild" by Swiss rap group Subzonic.  I made it a point, to record off the radio from the RTR frequency, as it would be in the Rhaeto-Rumantsch language.  For those who may not know Rhaeto-Rumantsch, it is a romance language with similarities to Latin, with some words sounding like they may be from French, Italian, and it sounds a bit like Latin being spoken with a Swiss German accent.  If you have ever seen Swiss Francs, from the 10 Franc to the 1,000 Franc banknote, you might notice next to the German-language "Banknoten sind strafrechtlich geschützt", there is the Rhaeto-Rumantsch translation:  "Las bancnotas èn protetgidas dal dretg penal", which basically means "banknotes are protected by criminal law".  Some places in Graubünden will have a Rhaeto-Rumantsch name different than the German name.  For instance Disentis is called Mustér.  

The train stopped pretty much at the same stations as when I was riding to Sargans on 11th September 2000.  There was even the transfer to Glarus at Ziegelbrücke, which I would visit on Sunday 10 August 2003.  The St. Galler Oberland across the Walensee from the train tracks was very nice to see.  The weather was generally not so good that day.  Was mostly soggy and chilly, but not freezing and there was no snow.  The train stopped at Sargans and passed through Bad Ragaz before crossing the Rhine into the canton of Graubünden.  The train passed through Maienfeld, some people will know this village in Graubünden as the home of the Heidi Village, from the literature written by Swiss author Johanna Spyri.  Landquart GR was the next stop before Chur.  The train arrived in Chur about 11 AM.  It is too bad that I did not plan to take the train eastward towards Davos or Tirano.  Those are reputed to be the most scenic train rides, and one of them even has the World Heritage certification.  

I had my radio set to the RTR station to record Rhaeto-Rumantsch.  Eventually I tuned back to DRS3.  To this day it is quite remarkable to have heard the Rhaetorumantsch translation of the hymn "How great thou art" and then on DRS3 to hear an uncensored version of Warren G's "What's love got to do with it".  Later on I would hear "If I were a sailor" by Midge Ure, formerly of Ultravox.  

At the local Co-Op grocery store, I bought some Emmenthaler, some ham and bread.  It was enough to make a sandwich.  I think I bought a bottle of Sinalco, the Swiss equivalent of Orange Fanta as found in Germany and much of Europe, but not the USA.  I did some shopping, and found a Buffalo clothing and shoe store.  I also went into the Manor department store.  Both stores offered me their 32-page minicatalogs for free.  

It was about half an hour before the train to Zürich HB would depart from Chur.  I went up to the Busbahnhof to see mountains in the direction of Liechtenstein and also Heidi's small village of Maienfeld.  There was not much snow.  The weather was a bit rainy, maybe just a shower, and temperatures about 43 F / +6 C.  Kind of really meh-weather.  

I took the train back pretty much the same way as I had come earlier.  I ended up in Zürich HB, and took a line 6 tram towards Werdhölzli.  That part of Zürich, I had not previously visited, other than along the trolleybus route 32 from Altstetten and Farbhof towards Schlieren.  There is a stadium close to Hardturm where FC Zürich plays its home games.  There was no match that day, but it was good to see where they played.  I took the tram 6 to Escher Wyss Platz and transferred to the tram line 8 to Bürkliplatz to see Zürichsee.  I walked from Bürkliplatz to Bellevue, then on the Niederdorferstrasse to window shop, but not much else.  I had already eaten at the Brasserie Johanniter, so I wanted to eat somewhere else, but maybe not the Blinde Kuh, near the Höschgasse tram stop on lines 2 and 4.  My parents had recommended going to the Zeughauskeller restaurant near the Paradeplatz tram stop, so I walked across the Rudolf Brun Brücke to Rennweg where the Modissa department store was located, then down to Paradeplatz.  The sign for the Zeughauskeller, the set of yellow calligraphed letters spelling out "Zeughauskeller", was brightly lit and was opened for business.  So I went inside.

The Zeughauskeller looked really well kept up.  It has been a restaurant only since 1926, but it was a warehouse of weapons from as far back as 1487.  There is even a working built-in clock on the wall.  I ordered a Zeughauskeller house beer in a liter glass.  It was really good.  With that, I ordered the veal sausage plate, which came with potato salad.  For dessert, I had something seasonal, walnut mousse with whipped cream.  I had that with an espresso.  It was excellent.  The only other time I had walnut mousse, would have been on 5th December 2016 in the Verkehrshaus (Transit Museum) in Lucerne.  

It was a really good end to my visit to Zürich that year.  Well, I had to go back to the hostel on Mutschellenstrasse, yes, the one painted mauve.  I had to sleep, because the next train journey, with luggage, would be long, namely from Zürich HB to Stuttgart, and farther north to Nuremberg Hbf.  Please join me tomorrow, when I take the train to Stuttgart and on to Nuremberg, try to find my way to the Höfener Garten hotel, and visit to the M>1 club as suggested to me by someone.

Gute Nacht!  Good night!

#Zürich HB #Enge #Thalwil #Schweiz #Pfäffikon SZ #Ziegelbrücke #Walenstadt #Walensee #Glarus #Sargans #Bad Ragaz SG #Maienfeld GR #Heidi #Johanna Spyri #DRS3 #Sugababes #Round Round #Subzonic #Spiegelbild #Rhätorumantsch #Retica #Viafier #RhB #SBB #Chur #RTR #Emmentaler #Sinalco #Buffalo #Manor

[korkutkalkan]

Denizlerde av yasağının 1 Eylül itibariyle sona ermesiyle Karadeniz'e açılan balıkçılar palamuta rastlayamadı. Karadeniz'de son yılların en bereketli av sezonu yaşandığı bu günlerde tezgahlar hamsi, istavrit, mezgit, barbun ve sargan balıkları ile süslendi.1 Eylül itibariyle denizlerde av yasağının sona ermesiyle denize açılan balıkçılar ağlarını hamsi ile doldurdu. Trabzon'un Moloz mevkiindeki Balık Hali'nde tezgahlarda bu yıl ilk kez çok sayıda balık çeşidi yer alırken, vatandaşlar ilk tercihi hamsi oldu. Son yılların en bereketli sezonunun yaşandığı Karadeniz'den çıkan balıkların havaların soğumasıyla daha da bol bir şekilde avlandığı belirtilirken, tezgahlarda hamsi 50 TL, istavrit, 50 TL, mezgit 60 TL, sargan 100 TL ve barbun 100 TL'den satışa sunuldu.Balıkçı esnaflarından Mehmet Örseloğlu hamsinin yavaş yavaş bollaşmaya başladığını, uzun yıllar olmayan balık çeşidinin bu sezon tezgahlara yansıdığını belirterek, "Hamsi yavaş yavaş bollanmaya başlıyor, inşallah böyle devam eder. Geçen sezon palamut bol idi bu sezon palamuttan beklentimiz olmadı beklentimiz hamsinin bu sezon bol olması. Bu sene palamut olmadı ama diğer diğerlerinin hepsinin çeşidi oldu. Barbunu, istavriti, sarganı, izmariti, uskumrusu bu sezon gayet iyi güzel çeşitlerimiz var. Kaç yıldır böyle çeşit olmuyordu bu sene de Allah nasip etti hamsisinden mezgidine diğer balık çeşitlerimiz bol. Fiyatlar uygun 50 TL'den başlıyor hamsi 50 TL, sargan 100 TL, uskumru 75 TL, izmarit 75 TL, tirsi 75 TL" dedi."Önceki yıllara oranla bu sezon çeşit daha bol"Balıkçı esnaflarından Ahmet Çoğalmış ise, balık çeşitlerinin gün geçtikçe bollaşmaya başladığını ifade ederek, "Balık çeşitleri gün geçtikçe bollaşmaya başladı. Hamsi şu an 50 TL, ilerleyen günlerde inşallah fiyatı daha da düşer. Önceki yıllara oranla bu sezon çeşit daha bol. Geçen sezon palamut, istavrit satmıştık hamsi yoktu barbun çok azdı. Bu sene barbun, tirsi, torik, istavrit, uskumru, sargan, hamsi hepsi bol. Sargan 100 TL, mezgit 60 TL, barbun 100 TL, hamsi 50 TL, istavrit 50 TL. İnşallah sezon bitine kadar bu bolluk sürer. İnşallah hamside uzun sezon yaşarız fiyatı daha da düşer" diye konuştu."Umudumuz palamut idi hamsi bol oldu"Bu sezon umutlarının palamut olduğunu dile getiren balıkçı esnaflarından Gökmen Aydın, "Hava soğudukça hamsi bollaşmaya başladı. Umudumuz palamut idi ancak hamsi oldu. İnşallah bu sene hamsi daha da bol olur vatandaş bol bol yer. Fiyatlarımız, hamsi 50 TL, mezgit 60 TL, ispari 50 TL, uskumru 75 TL, barbun 100 TL inşallah hava soğudukça balık bollaşır fiyatı daha da aşağı gelir. Bu sene önceki yıllara oranla çeşit daha fazla" ifadelerini kullandı. 

[kirukkals]

Winter 2022 - Germany & more!

We had been wanting a holiday, a white christmas holiday and we got one. An unexpected work-related trip to Germany, and we grabbed the chance.

December 1st, 2022.

We boarded the Turkish airlines in Dubai and landed in Zurich. This was our second time in Switzerland, and our previous trip was in 2015 with our friend's family. We had been longing to come back. We didn't cover Zurich then, so ya, same country, but new city and this time during winter ! COLD! REALLY COLD! Ok, so it is not just Switzerland again. Our agenda was completely different. Read on…

A few days earlier...

Venkat calls mid day from work to tell me he has a business meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, during the 1st week of December. And as expected, my reaction was, yeaahhh.. I'm packing up.

We had been planning Germany for the past 4 years, and somehow it kept getting delayed - visa renewal, then we booked on a Russian airline for March 2020 & covid travel ban happened. When everything opened up, we didn't expect the Ukraine war, and Russian airlines were banned over EU airspace, so our Germany trip was far-fetched. Finally, it looked like it was time.

And I have to say, we were indeed very lucky to get a schengen visa appointment on such short notice. We quickly booked our tickets to the cheapest available option, which was Zurich, readied our papers for the visa process, and prayed a lot. It was all in a matter of 7 days, and when we received the visa sticker on our passport, we could already see snow.

We planned Switzerland & Germany, maybe the Netherlands if time permits. We never thought we would end up doing 7 countries in Europe in 13 days !

We decided to use the trains only for this trip, no self driving. Just mid the same year, we did a cross country drive in the Balkans. That goes in another blog for another day. So, let me stick to these 13 days now. We got a blast of a deal on the 10 day Global train pass over Black Friday sale, which can be used for most Schengen countries.

December 1st, 2022.

Zurich, Switzerland - Country 1.

We landed around 10.15 am. in Zurich. We were welcome to a 5 degree celsius kind of weather straight from a 25 degree in Dubai. As we stepped out of the airport to the train station, we realised the 2 layer clothing that we had would not be sufficient for the days to come. We took a train to our hotel Ibis. This is a really, really expensive country, and a triple room always costs more. A few years back, we had decided no more IBIS Budget, the room is always so small and the bathrooms… omg! Not again ! It was a transparent glass door for the shower with a translucent patch exactly where needed, not an inch higher or an inch lower. Separate toilet with proper door, but no lock. That is ok, but glass door for bath, and we travel with our girl (always!) She is 12 now! So, we pulled out the bedspread and hung it along the height of the door, creating the cover we needed, the first thing that we did after landing in Switzerland !!!

Evening, we went for a stroll to Lindenhof, and it ended up to be a hike, actually. The view from the top was spectacular. Being winter, no crowds at all. It was around 8 to 10 degrees celsius. And this time, we were prepared with jackets, gloves, snow boots, and all ready to take on the winter. So we assumed.

December 2nd, 2022.

Vaduz, Liechtenstein - Country 2.

Day 2, we decided to visit one of the smallest countries in the world, Liechtenstein. From Zurich, we took a train to Sargans and from there a bus to Vaduz, about 1.5 hrs for the total trip. Vaduz is one of the most beautiful, picture perfect little towns I would say. The castle towers over the entire place. The Prince of the country still lives there (lucky him!!), so the castle is not open for tourists. We just walked around the main town area for a few hours - castle, church, shops - beautiful & calm place. Definitely one of the richest in the world. We bought the smallest magnet to identify with the size of the country. We treated ourselves to a nice cup of Srilankan chai in the evening.

Evening we headed back to Zurich, to the Rapperswil, where the Christmas Market was put up. What a contrast to the calm Vaduz, it was buzzing with activity and lights, people laughing & drinking all the way! Zurich Lake is huge, and sunset was such a beautiful sight to watch! Temperature always starts to drop drastically after 5 p.m., and all around us, people are either smoking or holding a beer mug! We were the ones drinking hot chocolate and standing in front of the fireplace for some warmth.

Overall, it was a brilliant start to a much wanted vacation.

December 3rd, 2022.

Frankfurt, Germany - Country 3.

Here we come, Germany, finally ! Took the train from Zurich, about 4 hrs. As we entered Germany, the landscape changed visibly. You may call I am biased towards Switzerland, yes, I am, but still, I didn't find any beauty in the German landscape, not just yet. Just factories, lots of them, and more crowds everywhere.

Frankfurt, especially near the main station, where we stayed, was so crowded. You can see all kinds of people, immigrants, office goers, students, all busy running around, the place is not so clean, seemingly shady street corners, such a contrast from the neighbouring Switzerland, which was so neat, posh & calm. Frankfurt is a bustling business centre. We stayed in a place called Hotel Apollo, which had a big room, decent accommodation. The best part near where we stayed was Hotel Saravana Bhavan! What a blessing! And the train station connectivity helped us move around. We spent 6 nights in this place.

Christmas Markets in Germany are definitely quite famous and rightly so. It was ten, twenty, thirty times bigger than what we saw in Zurich! It was like a whole city in itself. The old town area was lit up in the evening, and the place was crowded like a music concert party ! We had to push through every street, like how we used to do in Ranganathan street, T.nagar during Diwali times! All Chennaiits can relate to this ! We had the famous kinderpunsch drink, tried the chocolates and pastries, so many small stalls, all handmade dolls, arty stuff and all so beautiful ! We walked and walked and that was the only day we were out late in the night I guess, for a long time despite the freezing cold ! (Temperature was 4 degrees or even less)

December 4th, 2022.

Black Forest, Germany.

My great friend from TCS days, Sara, lives in Germany. We met as a family in Baden-Baden and they took us for a drive to the Black Forest area. First, to the world famous cuckoo clocks in Triberg. What an amazing collection ! All handmade, authentic & beautiful wood art, 1000+ cuckoo clocks! Cost ranges from 50 Euros to over 1000 Euros! And yes, of course, we bought one for our home and to this day, our cuckoo coos beautifully, every hour.

We then went to the Triberg waterfalls and then the lake. Such a beautiful day, the weather was perfect, still very cold, but we did cope quite well. And we also managed to find an Indian restaurant, Rangoli, to have hot food in the middle of nowhere! An entire day spent with friends in such a lovely setting, is definitely unforgettable. Thanks to Sara & Mani for that !

December 5th, 2022.

Luxembourg - Country 4.

This country is a hidden beauty amidst Germany, Belgium & France. It takes about 5 hrs one way to reach from Frankfurt. We started early, so we could spend about 5 to 6 hrs in Luxembourg. All public transport is free here, people look cheerful & wealthy, yet another rich, well developed and maintained country. We walked to the main square, Grand palace, Notre-Dame, Christmas themes all around. We just had time to go to the town center where the mini Christmas market was warming up to welcome the crowds for the evening. We didn’t really have any agenda or particular places to cover, so we relaxed to take in the beautiful scenery around us.

Trams were crowded with university students in the evening, I in fact got left behind while boarding one, didn't have any money or mobile with me, but got into the next one quickly & I knew the stop to get down. Well, my husband's plan of leaving me behind didn't really work, haha! What a lovely place anyways to be left behind!

December 6th, 2022.

Brussels, Belgium - Country 5.

We boarded the train from Frankfurt morning, about 3 hrs to Brussels. Beautiful blue skies, amazing weather, (by this time, 7 or 8 degrees was actually pleasant for us), We indulged in Belgian chocolates, a must do thing. What a huge town square, architecture was especially notable in these buildings !!! Columns & Pillars in the Grand Palace were particularly intricate. Old style European architecture was all around, and we actually like such places. We visited the chocolate factory, but really, not worth all that hype. Think of it now, maybe we visited to escape the cold outside. Cadbury chocolate factory in the UK was actually much better and fun for kids & adults.

Unlike Luxembourg, Brussels was quite crowded and a big city, too. And yes, the most famous Mannekin Pis in Brussels! The story is that a little boy saved the city from dangerous fire by pissing on it. And so, there is this bronze statue in the city center, which shows a naked little boy pissing and creating a fountain. This is being decorated all through the year, some even worship, thousands of tourists visit to take pics, we did too. And the entire city had souvenirs showcasing this Mannekin Pis. So, later in the day, we headed back to Frankfurt after a stroll in the park.

December 7th, 2022.

Frankfurt, Germany.

Oh yes, I did tell you all that Venkat had a conference, it was today ! So, here comes our Mom & Girl day out. We went to the Christmas Market again and got some little cute stuff for the upcoming dad’s birthday. We strolled by the lake side, went to Eiserner Steg, the Iron Footbridge. And what is the obsession about hanging those lovelocks in the European bridges?!! Every place we have been to, we have seen this! May all the love flourish! We were just out a few hours without our man, it actually does get boring after a while.

December 8th, 2022.

Cologne, Germany.

Day 2 of the conference, but thankfully it got over soon. We could visit Cologne, and the most popular Cathedral there. If Frankfurt was crowded, Cologne looked nothing less, we visited in the evening, and the place was lit up totally. The Cathedral with its Gothic Architecture, alongside the Rhine River and the bridge, looks majestic in the evening lights. We were basking in the glory of the train journeys by now. All trains were neat and clean, had a coffee shop and ran nearly on time. Using the rail pass was a breeze.

December 9th, 2022.

Amsterdam, Netherlands - Country 6.

If Frankfurt Hauptbahnhof is a very huge and busy train station, Amsterdam Central is equally big and very impressive. Of course, I like Switzerland trains and stations better, but Amsterdam follows closely. About 4.5 hrs from Frankfurt and we checked into Hotel Koopermoolen. The entire trip being train journeys and mostly exploring the city center by foot, we made sure all our accommodation was very near to the main station. We headed out immediately after dropping our bags, and I have to tell you, we felt the real cold from here actually. We had headed up north from Zurich. Temperature was around 4 degrees at noon! We started wearing layered clothing, woollen, 2 jackets, gloves, scarves, exposing only our eyes!

Amsterdam is known as the “Venice of the North'' and rightly so. The city center, the picturesque canals and those vibrant buildings all around, it has a definite charm. We walked to the Anne Frank house, unfortunately, didn’t know we had to book in advance, didn’t expect such a big queue there, all slots were fully booked for the next 2 days. We had to settle looking from just outside. Having read the Anne Frank Diary, it was disappointing not to visit the house, maybe some other time. And the Netherlands is definitely worth visiting more than once.

With Christmas around the corner, nightlife was extremely radiant and festive. My cousin Pavi & family live in Amsterdam. We met them for dinner, and they took us to a lovely Indian restaurant, Pind Punjabi. Food was yumm and we all needed the hot food and the warm indoors. Thank you Pavi & Karthik!

December 10th, 2022.

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands.

What is a visit to the Netherlands worth without seeing the windmills?! I have always wondered if those windmills will look really like the ones I have read in books about. The countryside, toy town look is what all those illustrations show. We went to Zaanse Schans along with our cousin's family.

What a cold, foggy morning it was ! About 1 degree, it also started snowing lightly. This place recreates the look of an 18th/19th century village. It is a residential area, though so many tourists visit all around the year, there is a sense of calm and peace. And after a few kms walk, we could see the first of the windmills, the fans of which cut through the thick fog. What a sight ! I don’t know what attracts me to those wooden mills, but true to the stories i have read, I was indeed taken back in time. The walk across the bridge on the river Zaan while it was snowing was magical. Then we saw those colourful wooden mills, all in a row, and most of them were still running. They are used for making chocolates now, house a restaurant or coffee shop and sell souvenirs. This place is a must visit for all those going to the Netherlands.

We had a train to catch at 3 pm to go to Hamburg, so had to say bye to my cousins as well as the mesmerising Zaanse Schans.

December 11th, 2022.

Hamburg, Germany.

We reached Hamburg the previous night, around 8 pm. Stayed at Hotel Novum for a night. And this hotel was actually very good, bang on the road, right opposite the station and a spacious room too. Went to Hotel Saravana Bhavan for dinner. What a blessing that we found this place nearby wherever we went on this trip. Now, the prime reason we had been planning to visit Germany for many years was actually for this - to visit the famous Hamburg Model Railroad museum. Not many are aware of this, but here is one of the largest miniature railroad museums in the world. Model railroading is a popular hobby in Europe, US & Canada, and because we follow it too, this was a must visit place on our list. To give a brief, modellers collect model trains, build a landscape for the trains to pass through, all in reduced scale. The landscape can be imagined or recreate some city or village as a miniature model.

Morning we quickly got ready and headed out to the museum. We have to book tickets in advance and book our time slots too. Definitely the place kept up to its name and fame. Various regions around the world have been recreated on a small scale. And once into that magic, one won’t realise it is a miniature world. If the Switzerland snow mountain is the theme, it includes the scenery, the train tracks all around the mountains, people hiking, all the snow games, the lights changing to show day & night set up and so on. What precise details !!! Lots to learn from every model that was there. I won’t delve more here, we spent more than half a day there, and worth every minute.

Caught an evening train to Munich, long journey, about 6 hrs. Reached our hotel, Amba, around midnight.

December 12th, 2022.

Innsbruck, Austria.

As I mentioned earlier, when we started this journey, we thought we would go to Switzerland, Germany and maybe the Netherlands. After getting the Global train pass, from Frankfurt we quickly did the neighbouring countries. Nothing planned ahead. But this last day plan of visiting Austria came all of a sudden, and we thought, why not! Was debating whether to take Munich to Innsbruck train or to take Munich to Salzburg train. And Innsbruck it was, all for the good.

It had been snowing heavily last night, and we stepped on thick snow mid day as we got out of the train. Weather was minus 9 degrees, it was freezing and sunny at the same time. The sight of snow capped mountains with the scattered clouds across the bright blue skies stays in the memory even today. Entire city center was neatly planned, roads parallel & perpendicular, all leading to the mountains. Amazing landscapes, we had a much deserving hot lunch buffet at an Indian restaurant, Masala, roamed around more till we could no longer stand the cold. We headed back to Munich later in the evening.

December 13th, 2022.

Munich, Germany.

Our last day for this trip, we had our flight in the afternoon to Dubai. In Munich, it was Marienplatz, the town centre and the architecture is known for its centuries old buildings. Lots of history to be explored, but as tourists, time flies in Europe, we always never get enough.

At the airport, we had another no boarding episode. After covid times, this is becoming quite too often, at least for us! Turkish airlines most likely overbooked passengers, they wouldn’t admit that, would they?! We thought our web check-in was complete, they just said you cannot board, please go to the ticketing office, which was right opposite. There, they requested if we are ok to take the Emirates, direct flight to Dubai instead of Turkey layover. Oh yes, that is an upgrade and definitely a bonus for us after a lovely 13-day trip. So took the ever so comfortable Emirates and landed in Dubai the same night.

More magnets were added to our fridge and more European memories !

As we look back now, it’s amazing to realise how well the Schengen states are connected. We travelled 7 countries, 3300 km, hopped on and off 36 trains, and did not feel tired. In fact, it has only left us wanting more.

[theballadofmortimerlepastorale]

SLW 2023, episode 39 (2023_10_28)

Broadcast: KTQA 95.3 Tacoma, streaming address at KTQA.org

A 2023 SO FAR PLAYLIST

Voice-Over/Intro, music in the background: Ron Grainer - Main Title Theme (The Prisoner OST (BBC T.V. 1968))

01. The Church - Ascendence (Sydney, Australia 2023)

02. Familiar Affections - Vampiresong (Buchs & Sargans, Switzerland 2023)

03. Death And Vanilla - Baby Snakes (Malmö, Sweden 2023)

04. urbandoned. - Für Immer (Germany 2023)

05. The Art Intel - In the Theatre (Dallas, Texas 2023)

Voice-Over/First Break, music in the background: Albert Elms - Fight Between No. 6 and No. 14 (The Prisoner OST (BBC T.V. 1968))

06. Ritual Howls - Dark Ceiling In Tennessee (Detroit, Michigan 2023)

07. Distance H - Twilight (Paris, France 2023)

08. Das Noir - No Place We Can Hide (Athens, Greece 2023)

09. Diary of Dreams - Mein Werk aus Zement (Germany 2023)

10. Nuxx Vomica - FTEV (New York City, New York 2023)

11. Da-Sein - Anatomy Of A Dead Man (Madrid, Spain 2023)

12. ben. - apollo (Northern Ireland 2023)

Voice-Over/Top of the Hour Break, music in the background: Albert Elms - Mini Moke and Speedboat Escape (The Prisoner OST (BBC T.V. 1968))

13. Iamnoone - together alone (Italy 2023)

14. Bunny Cult - Hexes (Seattle, Washington 2023)

15. HARSH R - Instagram Witch (Olympia, Washington 2023)

16. 2 Libras - Searching For A Home (Seattle, Washington 2023)

17. Ascenship - Электроника (Feat. IKONIZE)(Indianapolis, Indiana 2023)

Voice-Over/Third Break, music in the background: Albert Elms - Destruction and Final Report (The Prisoner OST (BBC T.V. 1968))

18. Lostsoundbytes - Mechanical Castle (Brussels, Belgium 2023)*

19. Inca pax - Body Industry (Bristol, UK 2023)*

20. Wosto - Body Catcher (Hamburg, Germany 2023)*

21. Ole Mic Odd - Don't Take It Personal (Los Angeles, California 2023)*

Voice-Over/Last Break, music in the background: Ron Grainer - Full Version: Main Title Theme (The Prisoner OST (BBC T.V. 1968))

22. The Art Intel - Saturnine (Dallas, Texas 2022)

23. Asymmetrical & LKSMN - Sibilla Cubana (Rome, Italy 2023)*

*Selections from the compilation "Devil Dancers" from Portuguese label Unrealistic Expectations

#Classical #Rock #Punk #Electronic #Alternative Rock #Cold Wave #Stage & Screen #Post-Punk #Goth Rock #Darkwave #2023 music #Tacoma #Community Radio #Playlist #Industrial #Madrid #House #Soundtrack #Italy #Alternative #EBM #Cyberpunk #Arcade Pop #Score #New Wave #Experimental #Minimal #Abstract #Los Angeles #The Prisoner

[tagluff23]

Från resan Innsbruck - Sargans (CH). Några olika stationer och tågtyper: Feldkirch (2) och Buchs. (3/4)

#stationshus