Mannheim

The conference I am attending is in Mannheim, Germany. There's really not much to see in Mannheim, as far as I can tell, but I can say that after a couple of days here, it seems to be really a lovely place. People are always out; it's basically spotless; and even if it doesn't have as much architectural charm as other European cities, it's got most places in the US beat. Here are some photos; the first is of the "castle" where the conference is (it's actually a University building now). My hotel room looks out on the plaza where the round tower is.

Heidelberg

I'm in Germany for a conference this week. I arrived early on Sunday morning, so to prevent myself from taking a nap, my graduate student (Vasanth) and I took the train to Heidelberg. We wandered through the city center and up to the castle. It was decently enjoyable, though it was a bit chilly and drizzly. I apologize for the quality of the photos below; I didn't bring our good camera, and I think this point and shoot is on its last legs.

The Pink Parasol

And here's the pink parasol... (it says "Maya" on it.)

Disney Day 4: Hollywood Studios

On our last day in Disney World, we headed to our fourth park, Disney Hollywood Studios. First, if you're planning to head to Disney World with JUST a toddler and no older kids, skip this one. We had an OK time, but the park is smaller, and Maya was big enough for only about half of the rides, and some of the ones she was big enough for freaked her out anyway. We started off with a Little Mermaid show (which Maya liked, but was a little freaked out by the special effects, for example water misting on her during the "storm"). We then headed to the Playhouse Disney show, which was perfect for Maya. We tried to get tickets to the Toy Story ride, but the earliest fast passes we could get were for 8pm. So we missed that. We crawled around a bit on the "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" playground. We couldn't do the Backlot ride because it was closed for renovation, so we did the Great Movie Ride instead (Maya did NOT care for our tour guide being run off by a mobster NOR by our mobster driver being "done in" at the Indiana Jones temple). She DID like seeing Mary Poppins. We watched the parade, which was alright, but no competitor for the one in Animal Kingdom. Then we had a late lunch at this restaurant that was supposed to be like eating in a 60s sitcom. But our waitress really didn't much get into her part, so it was a little lacking. We ended the day back at Downtown Disney, where we found another "Up and down horse" ride, which was the perfect finish to Maya's trip.

Disney Day 3: Epcot

On Wednesday, we headed to Epcot. I think it's still my favorite. We rode a ride called "Living with the Earth" that was all about how to grow food economically and in an environmentally friendly way, and the we rode a Nemo ride. Dad and I rode "Soarin," which was super neat (Maya was too little). We rode Spaceship Earth, which is still cool, and did a ride through our senses (Maya didn't like the startling bits on the ride, but she was a pretty big fan of running and jumping on the noisemaking carpet). We wandered all the way around (and back) through the different nations; Maya got to make a mask and collect a charm for it from each of the different nations. WE also saw some Chinese acrobats---Maya was awed. We had dinner at a German restaurant---the highlight of which was Maya's "chicken dance." In Mexico, we went on a Donald Duck themed boat ride, which Maya really seemed to like. But not as much as the "pink parasol" she took home as her souvenir that day. (It reminds me of the parasol I got as a child when we went to Epcot. I wonder where that thing is...) By the end of the day, Maya was a little overtired. She demanded having her picture taken with every different flower or character shrub imaginable, and also insisted on inspecting an entire display of Bonsai trees with grandpa.

Disney Day 2: Animal Kingdom

On Tuesday, we decided to go to Animal Kingdom. It was actually a really neat park. It's done up so that different areas of the park pretend to be cities/towns in different continents in the world. They've done a really good job of making things appear authentic. We did a safari ride first and then saw a show with birds (a Harris Hawk flew right over Maya's head). We saw a Nemo show, had some BBQ for lunch, bugged out of the "It's a Bugs Life" show (I told you Maya doesn't like 3D) saw a really nice parade and a Lion King show... It was a great, fun filled day. And Dad got his Bahama Breeze at the end of the day.

Bad breath

Maya and I were laying in bed yesterday morning, talking about how I was about to leave on my trip. Maya says "Mommy, you have poopoo in your mouth. Talk from over there." It took me a minute and some questioning to figure out that she meant I had bad breath...

When I get bigger...

[I know you all are really waiting for more Disney posts, but I haven't had time to mess with the photos yet... for now, cute Maya speak instead.]

Yesterday as we were leaving Maya's school:

Maya: Mommy, when I get bigger, can I drive to school?
Me: Sure, when you get A LOT bigger, you'll be able to drive to school.
Maya: OK, good.
Me: You know, it will be a different school; you won't be driving to THIS school.
Maya: Oh. OK. Will that school still have a playground like mine?
Me: Well, sort of. It will be a different kind of playground where big kids play.
Maya: Good. [Pause] Where will you be?

Disney Day 1: Magic Kingdom

On our first day in Disney World, we couldn't possibly have thought of keeping Maya any more days from seeing the "princess castle." So we headed to Magic Kingdom. We didn't plan to come back (and didn't), so I planned an itinerary nicknamed online as "Dumbo or Die." We did a great job getting a complete tour of a toddler's fantasy of Magic Kingdom, though we didn't have the energy to stick it out for the parade at the end of the day. We started with a walk up Main Street and to the princess castle. We happened upon Cinderella's step mother and step sisters, then we headed straight for the Dumbo ride. Maya had that as her first ride, then we knocked off the Winnie the Pooh ride (Maya did not care for Pooh's nightmare), Cinderella's Golden Carousel (the "up and down horses"), and the Peter Pan ride (Peter Pan is apparently Maya's new favorite... and she loved the ride). We then saw Mickey's Philharmagic (Maya decidedly does not like 3D movies) and rode It's a Small World. We also saw the Country Bear Jamboree and the Enchanted Tiki Birds and took a flight on Aladdin's Magic Carpets. Maya took a little snooze as we walked back around the princess castle and waited in line for the tea cups. As we came off of them, Maya saw the Speedway, and insisted on taking me for a racing spin. We also rode Pirates of the Caribbean and then finished our day with a visit to ToonTown (and Mickey and Minnie's houses). We took the train back around to the front of the park and then stopped by a grocery store for the makings of a pasta dinner back at the condo.