The Legend of…St. George, the dragon slayer

August 27, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

St. George, a top a fountain, slaying the dragon. Ettlingen, Germany

St. George, doing his slaying, Karlsruhe, Germany

According to the Golden Legend, the narrative episode of Saint George and the Dragon took place somewhere he called “Silene”, in Libya; the Golden Legend is the first to place this story in Libya as a sufficiently exotic locale, where a dragon might be found. In the tenth-century Georgian narrative, the place is the fictional city of Lasia, and the idolatrous emperor who rules the city is called Selinus.^[7]

The town had a small lake with a plague-bearing dragon living in it and poisoning the countryside. To appease the dragon, the people of Silene fed it two sheep every day. When they ran out of sheep they started feeding it their children, chosen by lottery. One time the lot fell on the king’s daughter.^[8] The king, in his grief, told the people they could have all his gold and silver and half of his kingdom if his daughter were spared; the people refused. The daughter was sent out to the lake, dressed as a bride, to be fed to the dragon.^[7]

Saint George by chance rode past the lake. The princess tried to send him away, but he vowed to remain. The dragon emerged from the lake while they were conversing. Saint George made the Sign of the Cross and charged it on horseback, seriously wounding it with his lance. He then called to the princess to throw him her girdle, and he put it around the dragon’s neck. When she did so, the dragon followed the girl like a meek beast on a leash. The princess and Saint George led the dragon back to the city of Silene, where it terrified the populace. Saint George offered to kill the dragon if they consented to become Christians and be baptised. Fifteen thousand men including the king of Silene converted to Christianity. George then killed the dragon, and the body was carted out of the city on four ox-carts. The king built a church to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George on the site where the dragon died and a spring flowed from its altar with water that cured all disease

(text is from Wikipedia)

A day in Ruins, Waldkirch, Germany

August 22, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Marktplatz, the town center square where a lot of hubbub occurs, a great place to drink coffee and people watch

The country road view of Waldkirch, a quaint small town

A lovely church with lyrical bells chiming

Fortress--noble ruins Waldkirch, Germany

Fortress Ruins on the hillside above Waldkirch. Closed today but still beautiful. Just everyday life in Germany.

A day ‘ruined’ when taking an alternate route back to my abode. Absolutely Stunning!!! I never found this place on a map for tourists or anything but with some digging, some history was learned and stumbling upon some ruins is a treasure—life off the beaten path sure has some old perks.

The people in this small town are also very friendly, it seems the further away from big cities, the better the atmosphere.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Creativity and Coffee

August 20, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Anna Potthoff —trying Turkish Coffee for the first time, Strasbourg, France

I admit it, I am a coffee and postcard addict. I crave to sample and savor beans and caffeine wherever my feet go, taking a moment to send a postcard to a friend or family member.

I also collect ‘smashed’ pennies, kind where you insert a coin and a payment, turn the crank, and out comes a small souvenir. They provide great souvenirs and I hope to collect enough to create a charm bracelet-

I am, in short, an adventurer with with a yearning to expereince all. Alas, adventures are not free, so I am getting creative.

I go to local Flea Markets–held rather frequently and find goodies–putting them on eBay to fund my adventures. A portion of every sale also benefits a charity–the treasures are forever changing, so please, check back frequently.

Happy shopping!!

my eBay

Writing a postcard and realizing I am out of coffee

Penny Souvenir Crank, Strasbourg, France

Postcards Addict

Academie De La Biere Cathedrale

August 19, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Academie De La Biere Cathedrale

Chevre, honey Flammkuchen Amazing

The walking tour guide recommended that we eat here and he lead us in the right direction!! Absolutely amazing!!

A friend and I ordered 2 different Flammkuchens and Fries, amazing!!

Learning the Language

August 18, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

My fellow students in my First German Course

Last Day of Second German Course

Learning a new language is part of my bucket list (which also includes adventures.) German is not an easy language to learn and pick up but there are plenty of opprotunities to practice here…and boy, do I practice!!!

Taking classes at a local venue-school has proven to be super helpful in building basic vocabularly and grammer–and I have made some really nice friends along the way–and what is life without human interaction?

I am often a little shy in using my German my language level is defintily not at a very high standard yet–but I can now order food, ask and give directions, and reading signs and packaging is much easier now. Woohoo!! The essentials are in practice as I continue to expand my language skill…and that the vocabulary grows.

Over the River–and into Lauterbourg, France

August 17, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

A new friend’s invitation drove me to the edge, over the river, and thru the woods to a local French Restaurant—Au Bord Du Rhin

Changing countries in this part of Europe is easy, by American standards. Planes, trains, automobiles, trams and so much more make it convienent and super accesible to cross borders.

The menu was divided into three langues–French (of course), German (which I am in the prelimary classes of learning) and a very unique version of English. When the ingredients or key words of a dish are still foreign, guessing (or asking) is best when ordering and finding yourself lucky and on the receiving end is always a pleasant surprise.

French Desserts–Caramel Flan with a vanilla sauce and fresh fruit–including St. Johns Berries

The Restaurant’s Logo placed artistically on a plate

French Mouse (chocolate) with cream sauce adn fresh seasonal fruit

Monika, a local German friend, showing me the ropes of French Cuisine–from lochs to Chevre and so much more

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

St. Martins Church, Ettlingen, Baden-Wartümberg, Germany

August 16, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

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One lovely, very sunny (and thus hot day), I leisurely went into St. Martins to enjoy the shade and for prayers. The church was silent, in reverence of peace and quiet–the church being void of other humans.

I bolted upright from a very bizarre sound, not from the ding dang dong of the musical bells, for it was only 10:12 in the morning. Thinking something amiss, I searched for the source of the disturbance and was but awoken by the reverberations of my own rumbling snores echoing off the walls.

St. Annas Potthoffs 2780 Martins Church, located in downtown Ettlingen (Kirchplatz) is a lovely place to visit–the church has different periods of construction (having been destroyed at points during previous wars.) The Spire is original and is easily seen from about anywhere in town. Annas Potthoffs 2777

Upon looking up (once inside) the painting on the ceiling will fascinate as it is not rendered in the traditional sense.

The wooden, standardized pews are a lovely way to sit, relax and enjoy the divine presense of our Lord Saviour.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Hobbled by Cobbles, Freiberg, Germany

August 7, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Once upon a time…a long, long time ago, I dreamt of excitment, not tripping over uneven cobble stones, which is how I literally stumbled across some amazing things on the streets of Freiburg–I think, therefore I am not sure, that these were once markers of cities, trades or something that were once welcome into the markets of Freiburg, and there they remain.

Thomas and I stopped and had a ice-cream Sundaes and my cobbled legs got a rest….

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

City Trade markers

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Turkish Delight–Döner

July 29, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Döner Teller–amazing

Locally owned and operated.

A definite ‘must’ in Karlsruhe–a family restuarant/locally owned business that is just simply amazing!!

Located on Kronenplatz, Karlsruhe, Germany, it is a must for any local or traveler.

The Döner Teller is filled with shaved, roasted meal, a yogurt dressing atop a fresh salad, a potato side with a orange sauce..incredible. The falafels were also a hit with our friends.

Treasure hunting is so much fun–and it is helping to create great and awesome products on my eBay.

Friends enjoying great food.

An exchange student and an American come together again

July 21, 2016April 25, 2017Anna--The Adventurer

Jenny F. with her 2 daughters and boyfriend

Way back when, okay, so in 1996 and 1997 my family hosted an exchange student from Germany–and we have kept in touch all these years.

Before leaving Colorado, I wrote to Jenny, telling her I would be moving to Germany–and she came to see me.

The last time I had seen Jenny in person, I was 15, she was 18. Now, we are older ( a lady never reveals her true age) and Jenny has two beautiful daughters.

Jenny and her family drove 6 hours to spend a weekend with us the Black Forrest and A joyous day makes all the difference.

We enjoyed the Botanical Gardens (Karlsruhe, Germany), Schloss Karlsruhe and so much more. It is awesome to get to see old friends and spend time together.