19 03, 2016

History of the Steiff Teddy Bear

By |March 19th, 2016|Categories: History, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

The first Teddy Bear started in Germany with an Elephant. Actually it was an Elephant pin cushion. By 1879 Margarete Steiff had a successful clothing business and had made an Elephant pin cushion but found that children liked to play with it. In just 6 years 5000 little Elephants had been sold, and Margarete started to make different animals. As the variety grew, the phrase "For children, only the best is good enough!" became the hallmark of the Steiff brand. In 1902 Margarete’s nephew created the design for the first stuffed bear with movable arms and legs. But it wasn't until 1906

5 03, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Fuzzy Sheep Magnet

By |March 5th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The first magnet I ever collected was from Dublin, Ireland, and it was a fuzzy, wool & wooden, sheep. I had never planned on collecting magnets, as I thought they looked cheesy on a fridge. But when I moved into a new place and the fridge was a hideous off-beige, and so the magnet collecting began. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

20 02, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Scottie Dog Plush

By |February 20th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

This little scottie dog is directly from Edinburgh, Scotland and plays "Scotland the Brave". I've had it for so long I don't even remember where I bought it. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

6 02, 2016

Shopping via Boat in Esna, Egypt

By |February 6th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

As the first small boat made its way towards our cruise ship, bumping up against the bow, people gasped. "Oh no! They crashed into us! Are they okay!" People asked while craning over the railing to get a better look. And then a second boat crashed up against us, and a third, and a forth. They just kept coming. As more and more small boats tied up against us, it became clear what they were doing. They unfurled towels, scarves, large table clothes, shouting at us to look. And then, they rolled it up, and chucked it clear up to

23 01, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Pressed Flower Art

By |January 23rd, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

When I visited Japan I stayed with a host family. One afternoon we drove up into the mountains near Suwa and visited my host Grandparents. After being introduced to dinner (a live chicken) and being very tired to the point I couldn't keep my eyes open I took a nap. When I woke up, the Grandmother had been told I liked art, and so beckoned me to sit next to her. As a hobby she made beautiful art with pressed flowers and presented to me a little framed piece of paper on my own. She helped me pick flowers out of

9 01, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: Moon Art

By |January 9th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

In 2012 I headed to Seattle & Portland for a short trip. But I was lucky enough to be able to wander through Portland's Saturday Market before I left. One stall had this amazing artist that had a lot of surreal pantings of trees and moons. I could only afford (and carry on) a small piece but was glad of my purchase. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

26 12, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Lebkuchen Ornament

By |December 26th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

A gingerbread stall at a Frankfurt Christmas Market Lebkuchen is the German version of gingerbread. It is a delicious spiced bread/cookie. Around the many German Christmas Markets you'll find decorated versions in various shapes, but the most common is in the shape of a heart.  This ornament appears to actually be a sugar cookie, decorated in the form of a Lebkuchen heart and then lacquered. My sister got it for me as a Christmas gift from the Munich Christmas Market. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

12 12, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Mugs from Munich’s Medieval Christmas Market

By |December 12th, 2015|Categories: Drinks, Geek, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

There are hundreds of Christmas Markets in Germany during the Christmas season. A of the unique one that I visited was in Munich, and it was a Medieval themed Christmas Market. Found in Wittelsbacherplatz, a short walk from Odeonsplatz it is called the "Adventsspektakel und Mittelaltermarkt" (Advent Celebration and Medieval Christmas Market). Since Christmas Markets in Munich date back to the Middle Ages, it is easy to get in the mood here, with the stalls decorated like a mini-renaissance festival. You'll see people in period dress and they play their roles well. You may also be treated to dancers or musicians for entertainment. The stalls

28 11, 2015

Souvenir Saturday: Ulbricht Night Watchman Nutcracker

By |November 28th, 2015|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

As I've written before, I really enjoyed the "Night Watchman" tour in Rothenburg ob der Tauber. On my last day in Rothenburg I stopped by the large Christmas store Käthe Wohlfahrt to get some souvenirs. This location is their head office, and actually spans multiple buildings and has its own Christmas Museum on site. One item that caught my eye was a wooden and leather mini Night Watchman Nutcracker made by Ulbricht. It stands a little less than 5 inches tall, but is beautifully crafted. He carries with him a traditional symbols of his job: the halberd and a lantern. I'm glad

14 11, 2015

The History of the Christmas Nutcracker

By |November 14th, 2015|Categories: Buying Guide, History, Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Nutcrackers at a German Christmas Market. Nutcrackers in some form have been around since ancient times. However, they were much different in design and from from what we consider the Christmas Nutcracker. Those didn’t appear until the mid 1700's when many Germany mines had shut down and the workers had to figure out other sources of income. They turned to the abundant forests and their woodworking skills to craft dolls, toys, Christmas Pyramids, angels, and nutcrackers. The first nutcrackers were made to look like authority figures such as kings or soldiers. These “nut cracking” officials symbolized the