Woe to the Man Shopping in Rothenburg!

Ray and I have done a lot of travelling since May.  I am not sure how to write about all of it, because, there was just too much.  I wrote about airports and that seemed to work...to write about topics.  Today I will write about souvenirs.  I used to agonize during each vacation about what kinds of souvenirs to bring home to people.  For someone who does not like to shop...that could ruin a trip.  So now, I just don't buy souvenirs unless something just pops out at me.  For me, the pictures we take are our souvenirs...bringing back memories of what we did.

One of the Bags

One problem I have with this theory is this.  I saw something I thought my niece, Audrey, might like.  I bought that...but then, I must get something for Cooper, Abby and Cooper.  I searched at each little hamlet we visited.  Hmmm....I don't think Jackson's parents would want that cute armor set with swords.  That music box looks perfect for Abby...but costs 50 times what I got Audrey.  And Cooper likes Dr. Who...but we are not in London!  Maybe I shouldn't have gotten Audrey that simple little bag.  So what did I do?   Caved in and bought t-shirts, and two tiny bags for Jackson's and Abby's shirts. I didn't even know the correct sizes, so apologize for that if they did not fit.

Here we are in Rothenburg, Germany

I did see one funny incident in Rothenburg, Germany.  What a cool place.  I felt like I was visiting a medieval town.  The cobblestone streets were lined with quaint shops and homes.   I will have to write more about Rothenburg in a later post.  This incident happened in the middle of a narrow street of shops.  People were swarming from shop to shop, crossing the street with no regard to cars.  In fact, I don't remember seeing a car on that street, so maybe it was a lane between shops.  While I was walking, I saw a woman shove her oversized, flowery purse into her husband's arms, and then rushed into a cuckoo clock shop.  He stood there, holding this purse, looking a bit embarrassed and uncomfortable.  Then I heard him say, loudly enough for passersby to hear, "Wo is meine Frau?"  Which means, 'Where is my wife?'  He knew where she was, but seemed to think that if he said that, everyone would know that the purse belonged to his Frau.  He kept repeating it.  Ray even heard it, but he had not seen the wife leaving the scene.  I didn't take time to stay to see his relief when his wife returned to retrieve her purse, but I am sure he was.

I did buy myself a couple of things.  One, was a small collapsible, wooden Christmas tree.  The other was a case for my glasses.  And for those of you who guessed what design, picture or decoration that was on my case...for the contest I put out on Facebook yesterday...well...it looks like a few of you figured out with no problem that there are cats on the case.  These cats are the artwork by Rosina Wachtmeister.  Check out  Rosina Wachtmeister to see her work...there are lots of fun pictures.  As for the winners of the contest...First Place: Pam Hostetter Dargan, ( I guess I should not be surprised since I drew similar kitties while doodling on my high school notebooks.  Pam is a friend from high school.)  Second place is Barb Wiese.  You guessed that the picture was a German Cat...and so you have second place, only because there six cats...and Pam said, 'cats.' 

 The Austrian artist Rosina Wachtmeister is known for her cat paintings...and this is an example.

 

Kitties on My Eyeglass Case

My souvenirs are few, but the pictures and memories of our travels are many.  Now, it is time to finish writing about those experiences and adventures we had this summer.