My first day in Colmar, France

Time: 11.45pm

Weather: 7 deg

Venue: Colmar - Hotel St Martin / Dusseldorf, Germany

Mood: Sehr gut.. been shopping... am one happy bunny!

Peak Agenda: Ooppsy .. i know.. i know.. was supposed to update while in Colmar but didnt get to do it.. by the time we got into Colmar, i was too excited to explore the old town.. we are now in Dusseldorf where hubs will be busy once again with the oil and gas exhibition... it feels like yesterday since we last came here... two years ago we were here for the same reason.. someone came to Dusseldorf too .. humpfff!

ANYWAY.. the drive to Colmar took us close to 6hrs.. was a pretty long drive but it was so worth it.. i hv always been a big fan of road trip.. remember the time when i was close to 8 months preggie and took a road trip with hubs to Bangkok? hehe no wonder Sonia is so good with road trips too :o)

Anyhow to those that are so familiar with Colmar in Malaysia.. if u hv the chance.. do visit Colmar in France cos its a "country theme lover" heaven lol.. i think if i was still into rustic country.. i wud go super crazy there.. they go fm rustic country to french country to american country to shabby chic.. all the country styles that u are into lol.. i did go crazy for a moment going to two different Maison du Monde stores three times and lugging out with 6 bags each time i walked out of my fav store :op

So ok.. enjoy the pics below taken on the first day in Colmar.. i will hv to divide my Colmar entry to maybe 3 parts cos there are so so many pics that i wud love to share... pics of Dusseldorf  err shud i be taking pics of ducks and playing in the garden again ? hehehe

Colmar was founded in the 9th century. This was the location where the Carolingian Emperor Charles the Fat held a diet in 884. Colmar was granted the status of a free imperial city by Emperor Frederick II in 1226. In 1354 it joined the Décapole city league. The city adopted the Protestant Reformation in 1575, long after the northern neighbours of Strasbourg and Sélestat. During the Thirty Years' War, it was taken by the Swedish army in 1632, who held it for two years. In 1548 Josel of Rosheim urged the Reichskammergericht court to repeal the Colmar market ban for Jewish merchants.

The city was finally conquered by France under King Louis XIV in 1673 and officially ceded by the 1679 Treaties of Nijmegen. With the rest of Alsace, Colmar was annexed by the newly formed German Empire in 1871 as a result of the Franco-Prussian War and incorporated into the Alsace-Lorraine province. It returned to France after World War I according to the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1940, and then reverted to French control after the battle of the "Colmar Pocket" in 1945. Colmar has been continuously governed by conservative parties since 1947, the Popular Republican Movement (1947–1977), the Union for French Democracy (1977–1995) and the Union for a Popular Movement (since 1995), and has had only three mayors during that time.

The Colmar Treasure, hidden during the Black Death, was discovered here in 1863. - wikipedia

Ok a little infor up there is for me to read again when i go thru my old entry .. its always good to know the history behind the place that we visit.. agree? hehe and pic above is my personal fav simply bec it reminds me of the time when i was into country theme.. back then i wud bring home at least a couple of wreaths... today? hehe i still do but only two wreaths ahaks

Sonia's fav! well good actually cos at least it filled up her tummy... there wasnt anything that we cud eat .. there wasnt any halal kebab around either.. blahhh....the first night we ended up munching on bread, crepes and salad :o(

Their Christmas market.. the smell of pine trees - love it!

And since we got into Colmar late... our day in Colmar was shortened and bef we knew it... it was almost Magrib.. pic abv is one of their many Christmas markets there... love going to all.. one of them was a Christmas market for children. Sonia enjoyed the kinder christmas market alot.. why? cos she get to go on horse rides and look at rabbits and sheep :o)

Just like our Ramadhan Bazaar... they open early and close late.. some sell christmas cookies... some sell table mats... some sell all things associated with candles... for food? what else besides hot dogs and also sauerkraut hehe

Christmas tree ornaments

... more christmas tree ornaments lol

So ok .. i promise i will update again tmrw morning... its past midnight now and i am so so sleepy... see ya!

My trips

16

Arrivederci Verona! Salut Colmar!

Time: 7:30am

Weather: 7 deg

Venue: Verona, Italy

Mood: Sleepy... excited to move on to our next destination.. not that i am sick of Verona.. but i hv seen what i wanna see here..

Peak Agenda: As i am typing this.. i smile with the thought of what both my sisters wud say to one another.. "eh better not talk to Kak Ima abt the latest malay movie or drama cos she has no clue on who is who and what is what lol..." hehehe true enough.. i dont watch as many malay movies or dramas when i am at home.. i basically dont watch much telly.. theres always something to do when i am at home.. when i do hv the time to watch something.. its always in English cos hubs watches all those "boring" channels at home.. ya know.. the channels that talk alot? hahaha anywho two days ago.. for some reason.. i decided to open up the link that sis lyn gave and decided to watch the ever so talked abt malay drama series.. Adam and Hawa .. yikes.. needless to say.. am addicted to it.. i didnt sleep the whole night watching 25 episodes straight and now on my 43rd episode.. i keep on telling myself to stay away fm it for this weekend but again who can stop me hehe.. as what i said to my hubs.. "I am on holidays!" hahaha

So ok.. i thought i would quickly do an update on what i hv been doing for the past 2 days since we will be driving to Colmar, France in a few hrs time..

Didnt do much actually.. one day i spent half of our time in town.. yesterday was such a waste cos i was too sleepy to go anywhere and when hubs got back close to 7pm.. we decided to walk around the old town again to look at the Christmas set-up.. i guess today the Christmas market and lighting will start in Europe.. (they are not as Kiasu as us in Asia).. theres something so magical abt this whole Christmas lighting in Europe compared to ours back home.. one thing that is obvious.. theres no way we can walk down the street of Orchard Road with winter clothing and leather boots muahahaha

Every morning routine bef our morning walk...

Am having dessert/cakes deficiency.. i didnt even hv a slice of any cake while in Verona.. why? err i dont know.. its always a quick coffee and gelato and thats it :o)

She always took along this map whenever we went out so as she could find her way back to the Disney store lol

The old town is livelier in the evening... it always felt as tho the shops are gonna close soon cos of the darkness.. the sun is down by 5pm and thank goodness the shops here close only at 8pm

Piazza delle Erbe... by night

This Christmas tree was lite up last night... beautiful isnt it?

Shopping district... both Sonia's and my fav lane hehe

So ok folks... i hv to shower and get ready... its gonna be a 5 or 6hrs drive fm here to Colmar and i am so so looking forward to it.. cant wait to check out the bakery store there.. cant wait to go to Maison du Monde hehe.. cant wait to check out their Christmas market..

Be good and see ya in Colmar, France!

My trips

4

Verona - City of Love

Time: 10:20pm
Weather: 8 deg
Venue: Verona, Italy
Mood: Am feeling much better.. ty for the well wishes.. i rested well and i had a good sleep.. finally my body is adapting to the time here and guess what? hubs got the flu bug and thank goodness.. hes didnt catch the fever bug.. show must go on.. he still goes to work at half past 7 and comes home at 6..
Peak Agenda: I woke up as early 6am.. performed my morning prayers and prepared brekkie for the family.. i really love the idea of staying in an apartment if we hv to stay in a place for a longer period of time.. when hubs goes to work.. i dont hv to go out to get something to fill our tummy.. all i need to do is to feed Sonia and she will be one happy girl..

This entry is gonna be filled with lots of pics... i decided that today might be a better day to take out my camera since its predicted that for the next few days.. there will be some light showers.. so sit back and enjoy the pics taken today.. cheers!

Verona (Italian pronunciation: [veˈroːna] (listen); Venetian Verona, pron. Veròna) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of northeast Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona covers an area of 1,426 km2 (550.58 sq mi) and has a population of 714,274 inhabitants.[1] It is one of the main tourist destinations in northern Italy, owing to its artistic heritage, several annual fairs, shows, and operas, such as the lyrical season in the Arena, the ancient amphitheatre built by the Romans - wikipedia

It is also one of the most aristocratic, beautiful, full with interesting sight-seeings towns in Europe. The River Adige runs through it at a leisure pace, creating two great loops which reflect the city`s magnificent monuments.. it is the 2nd longest river in Italy after the River Po

Every single time i step out of our main door, i will gv a quick glaze at the name of the pizza bar that is opp our apartment. thank goodness for that or i will get lost.. pic abv was bef hubs and us part our ways :o(

"Because of its geographical position Verona is often called “the gateway of Italy”. - fully agree cos where or whenever u turn.. there will be small lanes which will lead u to somewhere.. my advice.. equip urself with the latest map cos the ones that the host gave to me was somehow .. inaccurate :o(

Piazza delle Erbe is a colored fruit and vegetable market with its group of huge sun umbrellas, surrounded by historic buildings and monuments.

Madonna Verona? hahaha.. there were many Japanese tourists while we were there and all i cud hear them say was ... "Kawaiiiii"... and then Sonia got confused: "Why are all these people taking pictures of me?.."

The northern side of the square is occupied by the ancient town hall, the Torre dei Lamberti, the Casa dei Giudici ("Judges Hall") and the Mazzanti Houses. The western side, the shortest one, features the Baroque Palazzo Maffei, decorated by statues of Greek gods. It is faced by a white marble column, on which is St. Mark's Lion, symbol of the Republic of Venice.

The north-western side occupies the site of the ancient Roman Capitol Hill, which looked towards the Forum. Numerous of its buildings facing the square have maintained façade frescoes. On the southern side is the Casa dei Mercanti ("House of the Merchants", also known as Domus Mercatorum), now the seat of the Banca Popolare di Verona. Other buildings are reminiscent of medieval tower-houses.

The square's most ancient monument is the fountain, surmounted by a statue called Madonna Verona, which is however a Roman sculpture dating to 380 AD. Also historical is the capitello (where Sonia is standing in), dating to the 13th century, during which it was used for several ceremonies, including the oath of the city's medieval podestà and pretors. Towards Via Cappello is another column, with a 14th century aedicula with reliefs of the Virgin and the Saints Zeno, Peter and Christopher. - wikipedia

After we were done with Piazza delle Erbe.. Sonia and I saw a small lane which later lead us to this park.. i dont know what it is called but it was enough to keep my girl occupied lol

Ishhhh... dont know what to say abt this girl lol.. anyway right after that.. we decided to walk back to look for Juliet's balcony..

When we talk about the town of Verona everybody mentions Arena di Verona and the Romeo and Juliet`s love story... well I thought i shud make an effort to show the famous Juliet's balcony to Sonia since she was still a baby when i first took her here..

"The city is known throughout the world as the setting for the star-crossed love affair of Romeo and Juliet the characters in Shakespeare`s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”. The memory and the image of the balcony onto which Juliet stepped out to talk to her beloved Romeo, the tomb on which their bittersweet affair was finally burnt out, the tormenting reminder of a beautiful yet tragic love story will linger on above all. A story and a tradition which have given Verona the name “city of love”.

Did she show any interest when i tried to tell her abt Romeo and Juliet? hehehe nahhhh she was too busy running in and out of the nearby shop where the sales person later got her name sewn on a cloth lol

Yes my dear... we can see that - attention span - zilch!! hahaha

The Capulet’s House (Casa di Giulietta) has a balcony, a courtyard and a bronze statue of Juliet. For good luck, stroke Juliet’s breast on the bronze statue. If you write your name and your loved-ones name on the wall, it is believed that your love will be everlasting... hmmmm and if you're caught its a 1 year jail term of EUR1,038 fine.... why 38?? GST?? hahaha.. anyway.. I guess nobody cares... what is love compared to one year in prison right? hahaha

Absorbing the atmosphere bef walking towards the Arena :o)

The Verona Arena is a Roman amphitheater in Piazza Bra in Verona, Italy, which is internationally famous for the large-scale opera performances given there. It is one of the best preserved ancient structures of its kind. - Wikipedia

... i forgot what was so funny when i told her to pose lol

One last pose infront of Arena di Verona bef she whisked me into the lane that lead us to the shopping district.. oh yes.. she got what she wanted alright... saw a Disney store and her mama is poorer by 60 euros :op

Alrighty.. tmrw i dont intend to take my camera out since i hv to go to a few shops that i didnt get to go in today and guess what?  i bumped into a shop thats sells stuff exactly like Tatty Marsh but double the quantity..  their cake stands .. uh la la! 

Ciao!

My trips

15

Luzern to Verona

Time: 9pm

Weather: Light rain... 12 deg

Venue: Verona, Italy

Mood: Just like the pic above.. am down with fever and flu - yikes! i shouldnt hv laughed when i saw a sign on a pharmacy in Luzern.. "Are u ready for flu season?" grrr

Peak Agenda: Not much... hubs has been gone since half past 7 in the morning.. i hv been in bed eversince nursing my flu and fever.. i am determined to get better or i will be stuck in this two storey loft apartment for the next couple of days.

We got into Verona safely after a 5hrs car ride.. it was indeed a smooth ride.. we decided to leave early simply bec the weather was super cold and its not that fun to be outside; nevertheless Sonia got to feed the ducks and the naughty swan one more time.. why naughty swan? it bit the ducks and tried to attack me and hubs! grrr

Anyway here are the pics taken yesterday on our way here... will rest well and take more pics of the city of Verona tmrw.. cheerios!

I posted this beautiful photo of my little Sonia on my fb.. got to love the Autumn colours ey

Took her to the nearest playground and she had a blast eventho it was 0 deg

.... all grown up... why oh why do our kids hv to grow up so fast! i will miss this when she no longer wants to follow me everywhere... when she no longer asks "why" on every single thing she sees..when she no longer allows me to kiss her lol

Feeding the ducks and the naughty swan.. do u know that swans do the hissing sound just like cats when they are annoyed? its not that we were trying to attack it.. we only wanted to feed it and it went bonkers! geessshh

One last pic bef we left Luzerne.. it was pretty foggy that morning and all i wanted to do is to run back to our hotel room lol

Road trip to Italy has always been a nice experience with some awesome picturesqueness.. u get to see the swiss alps.. u get to see lake como and so forth.. we did a quick stop for sonia to play with the snow since we knew that she will probably not be able to experience it again on this trip..

Sonia said... "Mama I can eat it.. it looks like ice khacang!" hehe

Hubs and his fav Diesel Audi rental car and lil Sonia's fascination of the snow lol

The only pic that i managed to take when we got into Verona... its a beautiful city with lots of places that i need to explore.. first i hv to keep myself warm.. get better.. eat my flu and fever med and fight the cough bug huhu.. after all its just Sonia and me this week...

My trips

14