StringGrrl sees the World

"World Cup FIS Ski Cross-Country takes place on the banks of the Rhine. For the eighth year running, the International FIS Ski Association has opted for Düsseldorf as venue for the World Cup." StringGirl tries to get in on the action at the Skiweltcup. Somewhere around 60 Santas also joined in the festivities. This was all part of the larger Weihnachtmarkt or Kriskindlmarkt (Christmas market) hosted in the Altstadt (oldtown)

Lolcats link-o-rama So I don't exactly know why, but apparently little pictures of Cats that people can add questionably funny captions to get a lot more interest than photoblogs of little wooden girls posing in front of interesting places around the world. So this is a first attempt at getting more traffic here. We'll have to see if it works. A little shameless SEO

String Girl visits the Water Tower at the top of the Magnificent Mile in Chicago--Saturday night it was nearly 65 degrees out as we arrived in Town. After setting up the booth we made it into town for some Pizza at Bacino's. Bacino's in Lincoln Park Our room was on the 32nd floor of the Historic Intercontinental Hotel on the Mag Mile. With a view of the Tribune Building. Later on in the week we paid a visit to the Fogo de Chao for Brazilian Rodizio style cooking.

StringGirl made the trek to Chicago to attend the Annual Sheet Metal Forming and Fabricating trade show. The applications engineers from AutoForm gave her a very moving demo of the sheet metal forming simulation software. Then posed for this picture. Tonight we go for Chicago Stuffed Pizza at Bacino's in Lincoln Park.

In a rare guest appearance, Eric poses with String Girl in front of a section of the original Wall at Potsdamer Platz. It is hard to believe that it has been 20 years since the Wall Fell. They are not just quaint over sized Urban Art Pieces.

String Girl hanging out at the Kam Aquarium. Entrance was free (it is a very small aquarium, but she is a small girl). The Fish's names are Silvertail, Tekka Maki, and Toro. String Girl enjoys a brief respite from the life of a World Traveler.

String Girl and Dimitrius pose in the streets of Riquewihr d'Alsace France.  It is an area with Germanic and French influences, near the boarder to Switzerland and Germany. It was only an hour or so drive from Zurich to visit and a pleasant way to spend the weekend. For lunch we had Tarte Flambee in a little cafe in Colmar . (not a picture of the ones we ate, we were hungry and did not pause long enough for a photo op). NOT a pizza. but a light crispy pastry dough topped with cheese and your choice of toppings cooked in what must be an incredibly hot oven. A Big old Church in Colmar.

StringGirl strikes a pose in front of the Parthenon. They charge 20 euro to visit the grounds of the Parthenon. It is a short walk up hill from the City Center or the Parthenon Museum (which is not included in the price of the Parthenon grounds). Waldemar Kubli, CEO and founder of AutoForm, gives StringGirl a boost. After all these monuments are huge compared to little girls of wood and string. Please don't climb on the ancient marble. Get down Right NOW!

String girl takes in a nice afternoon by the Zurich See. Just off the Bellevue area she gets to enjoy the sunshine and very temperate conditions (this picture was taken in June 2009). Any summer day you will find lots of activity along the See here and maybe even find a live band, or other entertainment. Eric likes to get a Wurst and GoldenBurli (fresh bread served on the side not "american styel") from the famous Wurst stand across the street. But they also have an outstanding Schnitzel Brot (Weinerschnitzel on bread with lettuce and onions and sauce Toasted just for you). String Girl tries her hand at mixed doubles tennis with Alan "Baraba" Stimac. Unfortunately they don't make rackets in her size.

String Girl in front of the Brandenburg Gate

The Tetrahedron monument outside Essen Germany (Ruhr) Okay, everybody should get a monument of some sort. But what the Tetrahedron is a monument to, I Don't KNOW. It is impressive, and certainly worth a visit. Just don;t go on a windy day if you are not sure about heights. The designers made sure to give the illusion that the tetrahedrons ladders, stairs, and platforms are just about to fall. Stepping out onto the platform does give one the feeling that there is very little supporting you or it. The platform was a stiff wire mesh, and the platforms are mounted separate from the stairs. As you climb the stairs the little bit of sway in the ladder supports will not match the sway in the platforms. Giving one the most intense vertigo as you step from one to the other. Getting up this high is one thing, but the wind makes it very unnerving. A Cappuccino will hopefully settle our nerves after that Tetrahedron. Street food fair in Essen has very tasty food and even a nic...

Penns Landing Franklin Square

StringGirl takes in the sights at the Zurich-See. NOt far from Bellevue in the Zurich Centre, nice boardwalk decent street food and people watching here. And occasional live entertainment, all accessible for the price of the Tram Ticket On board the #4 Tram from Escher-Wyss platz to Bellevue

The Sagrada Familia La Sagrada Familia- Two Hundred years and they still haven't finished it. An epic piece of architecture a few years in the making. The legacy of Gaudi lives on as the Barcelona continues to toil on his original design. The cranes of that surround the site only add to the bizarre appearance of the church. Someday if it is ever finish it could probably play large in a Dan Brown novel. The symbology is odd and who knows just what Gaudi was thinking. If you believe "Eoin Cowlfer" and his  Artemis Fowl series it was inspired by Time Warping Demons.

StringGirl in front of the Fountain Rotunde' in the Centre of Aix-en-Provence

Enjoying the ancient tea ceremony in a very nice Japanese Garden located in Tokyo. It was the beginning of the Cherry Blossom Festival- only a few blossoms to see. The flash spoils the shot of the Cherry Blossoms, put me down and take a proper picture! That's better. Our hosts took us out for Okonomiyaki next. But that will be a different post.

Here we are in the plane. This is a Northwest flight. I am not sure exactly where we snapped this picture but StringGirl is cozy in the sleeping bag that Clarissa lent her (it used to belong to the Posey bear).

String Girl just happens to be the most well traveled cardboard girl you may ever meet. What started out as a simple gift from my Daughters has turned into an obsession. So let's find out where StringGirl goes next