Bavarian Studies

Fred was at a design conference today and I had actually drafted a long list of chores today, but at the request of the boys we played hookie and went to the archeological museum. We looked at the large collection of everyday items, weapons, helmets, gold and jewelry and learned a lot about the times when Bavaria was part of the Roman empire (local lore has it that the people of Bavaria are actually the descendants of all the hookers, drunks and hairdressers the Romans left behind when they left).

The real reason to come to the museum was an exhibition on the "Ötzi", the mummy of a hunter who died over 5000 years ago in the alps and was found in 1991. He's from the copper age and the recreated both him and his gear quite impressively. He had an axe, some fur clothing and supposedly a sense of fashion, because he wore a knee-length coat with broad stripes.

They had also put up a few microscopes and let you look at ancient fleas and lice and ticks and parts of bones and fingernails. Big fun!

A great afternoon which of course had to be finished in style with snacks in top of the hill in the park.

1, 2 oder 3

This is last weeks news, but still so relevant! Karl and Henri's cousin Thora flew all the way from Southampton, UK to Munich to be part of the famous kid's game show 1, 2 oder 3. Thora, Benjamin and Marcus represented the Southampton German School and came in on a very close second place.

Karl was thrilled to be part of the audience and see the whole making of a TV show.

Since I used to watch the show when I was a kid myself, I'm still able to sing the 1,2 oder 3 Song. Much to the dismay of my son (embarrassing!)

Friend Canyon

It's hard to believe that we didn't have any snow (so far) this winter, but of course we embraced yesterdays beautiful springlike weather nonetheless. Henri and his buddy Florian spent the whole afternoon rummaging through our local park, pretending to be all kinds of Lego superheroes.

Btw.: It's crucial to leave your helmet on at all times, because then you can hit yourself with rocks in the head.

Varoom, varoom, the weekend's here!

The weekend was all here. And ever since Karl and Henri have been going to the same Kindergarten group (since September), they are definitely bonding (like listening to Supertramp on that little bluetooth machine that is our sorry excuse for a stereo downstairs).

Saturday started kinda rough for Henri ....

... although the discovery of the super slide from first floor to basement at the shoemakers all made up for the grooming pains.

Later on we met up with Jasper (and his mom and dad and baby brother) to hang out down at the river and tear up their new apartment in a post-cake sugar rush frenzy (they just moved back here from San Francisco and are great to have in town).

Sunday the boys and I hung out at our favorite pizza chain, which has a cappuccino lounge area, where the boys got to play on the iPad for almost an hour, because I had to do some telecommuting editing stuff for the paper.

Weather sucked, so one of the best museums in town for antsy rascals is the BMW museum. Beecause of their over designed architecture they have long stretches of bridges, hall- and gateways and a patient staff that doesn't mind running. Thing starts with a fascinating kinetic sculpture (it's all silver spheres on strings moving in unison to form shapes and waves).

But it's of course all about machinery. And some more bonding. Although there's a limit to that, because you gotta do some....

....growling four cylinder style....

...some serious varoom varooming...

....you gotta strike a coolestiest pose....

...and if you want the best of all worlds - try some Kung Fu on the latest super bike.