Thanks for stopping in for a look at my blog!

Jake is home...or at least he is back here with me and Ann-Marie and Brandon. He arrived in country (he's been gone since April) ...anyway, arrived here last Friday. And guess what? We're headed to Vicenza Italy. So for the avid reader of the Gnome news and travels you will have a lot of news in the upcoming months.

Anyway, Jake got home Friday and did some 'inprocessing' type stuff. Then Saturday morning we headed out on a day trip to the Czech Republic. We bought some chandeleirs and had a great lunch and walk about town. Then that evening Brandon babysat and the two of us went to the famous Bamberg Sandkerva festival in downtown Bamberg. It was very crowded and fun....but we were happy that we were able to 'snag' a table at our usual hang out in the Irish pub because it was extremely crowded on the streets. The fest lasts from a Thursday night until Monday night. Anyway, as you will see from the pictures as the night went on...things got a little crazy! But we had fun. Hope you enjoy the pictures and feel free to make comments and please let me know when you visit! By the way, my current email is going to stay the same when we move and I will continue the blog whenever I can.

This is a picture we took in a market in Cheb, Czech Republic. We actually took the photo so we could figure out how to put our chandeleir back together. But, the problem is, is that they started taking it apart before we 'thought' to take a darn picture so we'd know what to do. Anyway, this chandeleir is ours and you see it as it is half taken apart. These nice people are the owners of the store. We bargained to get a good price. They are from China and have lived in the Czech Republic for 10 years. We ended up buying two chandeleirs from then. One that is in gold trim with bohemian crystal and one that is pure bohemian crystal. If someone is interested in what we paid for them combined please email me...I'd be glad to let you know if you happen to be shopping for a chandelier made from bohemian crystal. 

Just some plants in the restaurant in Cheb, Czech Republic. I took this photo from where I was seated. Really lovely atmosphere and pretty cheap prices (4 euro for entreee- extra for drink) and very surprising service (prompt and courteous plus wearing tuxedo type dress), menus in English, Czech and German and the food was really nicely prepared by someone who cares about food appearance if you know what I mean. (ok, so I am not a foodie...but you know, someone delivers your food and you look at the plate and think...wow...someone took the time to decorate this plate with food!) And it tasted good. Ann-Marie and I had the chicken and vegetable spaghetti and Jake had the 'rump steak'. 

Jake and Ann-Marie at the restaurant in the Czech Republic. This is the same restaurant that Mom came to with us when she visited in July. Ann-Marie has her little bunny gift in the picture. 

Gnome and Jake! (for those of you NOT following- you know I have to add a pic of the 'travelin' gnome every-so-often) So I have named this the 'gnome reunited' 

Here is Ann-Marie and Jake at the top of the black tower at the Cheb Castle. Ann-Marie was set on climbing the tower as soon as she heard we were going to Cheb, Czech Republic. 

In Bamberg is a big festival in the middle of August every year...near the end of August actually. It is called the Sandkurva. Our friend Jools knows the meaning of the festival...I know, because he told us but I can't remember except it started as a religious festival. (jools- leave a comment and tell us all what it means!) 

Here is our group last Saturday...Mike, Tanja, Amy and Jake. 

Amy and Jake together....again (finally!!!) 

Ok, this picture was taking rather late in the evening as you can imagine.... They were locals having a good time with us so I thought I'd take their picture too! 

A picture of Mike and Tanja...some friends we met here in Bamberg. 

Here we are again! 

Here we are after arriving at the Irish Pub in Bamberg. 

click on this picture so you can enlarge it. This is the street in Bamberg. It was the most crowded place I have ever been. We were walking down this street because I wanted to show Jake some different places I had found while he was in the USA. However, we never found those places because it was so darn crowded and we HAD TO GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE! This experience made me realize how people become trampled at BIG EVENTS. We had little control over whether we went left or right and we couldn't have stopped if we tried. 

I'm not sure; maybe the gnome was trying to goose me in this picture.  

Here is a picture of Jake and at first glance the guy behind him looks like my step Dad!! 

Here is the band at the Irish pub in Bamberg last weekend. They played several Irish songs, plus some classics such as "American Pie" and some Credence Clearwater Revivial, Garth Brooks and other American country plus Rock. 

Bamberg Volksmarch last weekend!

Volksmarching is fun! You get to walk all sorts of trails, go through parts of the towns and at the end you can drink beer and listen to Omp-Pa music! Volksmarches are held all over Germany every weekend. This one was put on by the German American Volkmarch Club in Bamberg. It started right near our house. We pay about 3 Euro and get our tickets, then just start walking the trail. We did this last Saturday morning. You can start the volksmarch anywhere from 6am until 11am and it was held on Sunday too. People come from all around and some even come in on buses. Young and old, even people using crutches and canes. People wearing traditional German pants with socks pulled all the way up (really very smart to keep the ticks away). It is fun.

Ann-Marie is pointing the way. She is holding our tickets (you get your tickets stamped off along the way (they also have refreshments there) so that you can prove you did the walk when you pick up your prizes!). You have to be sure you take the correct route. Last year Jake and I did a volksmarch by ourselves and had planned on taking the 10KM walk but somewhere along the way took a wrong turn and did a 20 KM walk. So I had Ann-Marie on the look out for the right way. Turns out she is a darn GOOD navigator. 

Here is Ann-Marie after the Volksmarch. She is showing her awards that she got from the volksmarch. We are sitting at the picnic tables and enjoying our bratwurst (and beer for me) and Apfelschorl (apple drink). In the background it looks like empty tables. Not sure how the picture ended up like that because there were people all around us, listening to the live music and resting after their long walks.