Daisi Posted December 24, 2020 #1676 Share Posted December 24, 2020 2 hours ago, gnome12 said: Here in Toronto it suddenly looks like we will have a “perfect Christmas” even though it is currently mild and raining. After a cold front goes through later it is supposed to turn colder, the rain will change to snow and we expect 5-10 cm. For those interested Environment Canada has definitions: White Christmas means 2 cm of snow on the ground Christmas morning Perfect Christmas means a White Christmas with snow on Christmas Day. In normal years, we generally head down to Niagara Falls just before Christmas, looking for warmer weather and no snow. We always joke that it's our trip "south". Guess we will be glad we can't go this year. You guys take care down there, enjoy our weather, we'll enjoy yours! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted December 24, 2020 #1677 Share Posted December 24, 2020 (edited) 35 minutes ago, Daisi said: In normal years, we generally head down to Niagara Falls just before Christmas, looking for warmer weather and no snow. We always joke that it's our trip "south". Guess we will be glad we can't go this year. You guys take care down there, enjoy our weather, we'll enjoy yours! A few years ago - I went to our Lied Center for Performing Arts and saw an Irish Dance family perform (with all of their talented kids). They are amazing and from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. https://www.natalieanddonnell.com It was funny as we were having an awful winter and they got stuck several times during their tour and said how excited their kids were for this trip to "go South for the winter". We just laughed. If anyone ever has a chance to see Natalie McMaster and Donnell Leahy (and family) -they are worth seeing. I will look for their CD to play this Christmas. Edited December 24, 2020 by Coral 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ritabob Posted December 24, 2020 #1678 Share Posted December 24, 2020 Gnomes seem to put a smile on everyone's face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 28, 2020 Author #1679 Share Posted December 28, 2020 Thanks Ritabob, I looked up the shop, it is in Strasbourg. Would love to see the town finally, any season would be nice but I think before Christmas would be special. They say the first report of a decorated tree comes from Alsace. I was looking through my photo archive before Christmas and found very few digital photos that relate to rivers for cruising or towns nearby. I came across a couple that are eligible as regards the rules of the quiz but I do not think anybody could come up with the solution, not fair for guessing. So, my interim photo is this one: This was taken in a (new) river cruise port. The town is called Neuwied and lies a little downstream from Koblenz on the Rhine. I went to the Christmas market there in 2015. They focus on food and drink and children's huts and displays. Quite nice for children. It is not too memorable or worth a detour as a tourist, but it has got a unique feature popular for selfies and group photos - a snow dome! It is bigger in real life than it looks in the photo, the sleigh for two in it is life size. With the trees and lights around it, it looked pretty. This year they had no Christmas market and, alas, no snow dome. Why new port? I read in the newspaper that they have nearly finished the refurbishment of the embankment and can accommodate two river cruise ships simultaneously at the dock from 2021. Now to the game: we still have a wild card from dogs4fun, who would like to post the next photo for us to guess? Wintery or festive photo, or any season, feel free to post a river cruise port scene or nearby excursion. Where did you go? Share your memories with us and relive happy travels! notamermaid 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ritabob Posted December 28, 2020 #1680 Share Posted December 28, 2020 (edited) Alsace may claim to have the first decorated Christmas tree, but Riga, Latvia did have the first!...(or so they claim 😄) I think the date is 1510 on the other side, but the inscription does say it is where the first decorated Christmas tree was located. I love the giant snow globe! RB Wild card is still available for someone. Edited December 28, 2020 by Ritabob Fact check 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted December 29, 2020 #1681 Share Posted December 29, 2020 On 12/24/2020 at 1:44 PM, Ritabob said: Gnomes seem to put a smile on everyone's face. I am probably one that doesn't appreciate gnomes. I did a Norway cruise 2 years ago and there were trolls everywhere. I found it creepy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1682 Share Posted December 29, 2020 I also think trolls are a bit creepy! Name what is in the photo. First guess the river. After that name the place in the picture. The person who first guesses correctly gets to post the next photo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1683 Share Posted December 29, 2020 The photo pertains to a holiday, but not Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 29, 2020 Author #1684 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Most attracting my attention in this photo is the huge advertising poster for Henkell sparkling wine, a German company based in Wiesbaden. I would say though that this place does not look that German. There is an Art Nouveau building in the background which could be in Vienna, Budapest or Prague. So, basically I have no idea. The holiday I am not sure about, it could be New Year's Day as the people are wearing thick jackets but it could also be a national holiday. The displays on the stall I cannot make out on my smartphone, but they look colourful. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Ritabob Posted December 29, 2020 #1685 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Valentine's day? On the Danube? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare gnome12 Posted December 29, 2020 #1686 Share Posted December 29, 2020 There is a stuffed rabbit hanging. The holiday is Easter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1687 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Danube is correct. Notamermaid mentioned the city. Holiday is not Easter nor Valentines Day. I’m sorry I don’t have a clear photo of the items for sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogs4fun Posted December 29, 2020 #1688 Share Posted December 29, 2020 (edited) Are some of the trinkets souvenir pigs? If so, perhaps the Mangalica Festival in Budapest? There are also bears but I have no clue what holiday they might indicate. Edited December 29, 2020 by dogs4fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farang Posted December 29, 2020 #1689 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Looks somewhat like Namesti Republiky (Republic Square) in Prague. Just a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted December 29, 2020 #1690 Share Posted December 29, 2020 23 minutes ago, Farang said: Looks somewhat like Namesti Republiky (Republic Square) in Prague. Just a guess. I think you are right. Restoration Day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1691 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Not Budapest nor Prague, so that narrows it down to the city. The photo was taken exactly two years ago today. What is being sold are trinkets, and many are pigs. Also popular are lady bugs, or lady birds, which I show here, next to a Euro for perspective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 29, 2020 Author #1692 Share Posted December 29, 2020 (edited) Good luck on New year's Eve - I mean tokens to give to people for the New Year? In Vienna on the Danube. But as to the exact location, some square with buildings of the type that one finds in abundance in that city! notamermaid Edited December 29, 2020 by notamermaid Added info 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1693 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Extra points for anyone who knows why the trinkets are popular this time of the year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1694 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Notamermaid, I guess we were typing at the same time! The kiosk is at one end of the Graben. Yes, New Year good luck charms. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 29, 2020 Author #1695 Share Posted December 29, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, jklc123 said: Notamermaid, I guess we were typing at the same time! The kiosk is at one end of the Graben. Yes, New Year good luck charms. Uiihh! Does that mean I have won? I looked up "Graben". The building in the background is Julius Meinl Coffee shop, very traditional company. Fancy a street being called "Graben" - ditch - and then being one of the best shopping streets! Mind you, Koblenz has got a small shopping street in the old town called "Entenpfuhl" - duck pit! The fancy shopping street on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graben,_Vienna notamermaid Edited December 29, 2020 by notamermaid added link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jklc123 Posted December 29, 2020 #1696 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Yes, it’s back to you again, Notamermaid. Interesting how streets are named, and what they used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 29, 2020 Author #1697 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Thank you. Here is an easy one, although I have cut off some architectural bits, with what is missing right now and I would like to see - snow! Name the river and the structure you can see in the photo, add the town if you like or alternatively name the town instead of the structure. The first one to guess gets to post the next photo. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare knoxclone Posted December 29, 2020 #1698 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Rhine river, castle Pfalzgrafen(?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jpalbny Posted December 29, 2020 #1699 Share Posted December 29, 2020 Pfalzgrafenstein Castle - the one on the island in the middle of the Rhine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare notamermaid Posted December 29, 2020 Author #1700 Share Posted December 29, 2020 17 minutes ago, knoxclone said: Rhine river, castle Pfalzgrafen(?) That is very close, but I am sorry, jpalbny got the full name. 17 minutes ago, jpalbny said: Pfalzgrafenstein Castle - the one on the island in the middle of the Rhine? It is! A close one between you two. Well done both. The town is Kaub, which it normally says on the sign I coloured bright yellow. This is the full photo: I took a train ride along the river bank in December 2014 and had a rare proper sight of snow covering the landscape in the valley. It was very nice. Over to you, jpalbny. notamermaid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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