Domingo de Resurrección...y mucho más!

Resurrexi et adhuc tecum sum

(I have risen, I am still with you, for ever.)

This was a very special Easter...indeed!

Fabi's uncle and aunt - Sopan & Priya - had reached Erlangen a few days earlier and we planned a short trip to the capital of Germany. We woke up early on Easter Sunday to find everything covered with snow. We took an ICE train to go to Berlin. When we reached, Ishan, Fabi, Sopan & Priya headed towards the hotel, while I took a cab that got me on time to the Easter Sunday Mass Celebration of the Spanish speaking community. It was lovely! I later met everyone at the hotel and we went on to some essential sightseeing. We visited the famous Berlin flea market where Ishan found this gift for me. Then we took a bus city tour and I'm proud to have taken some good snaps, including: "3 and a half Indians riding past the Indian Embassy in Berlin" and "the new train station" (which I still had not seen until now).

Easter Monday (Ostermontag) is a holiday here in Germany and this year it was also Fabi's third birthday! This is my favorite picture of that day (you might be familiar with my love for the Ampelmann by now). Later we took another city tour: this time the birthday boy was thrilled to ride a boat down the Spree River. It was unforgettable!

Later that day we took a train back home to Erlangen, where lots of presents and homemade birthday cards were waiting for Fabi. He didn't get a birthday cake that day, but he did like his birthday ice cream.

Here in Germany, Easter also represents a time of rebirth, new beginnings and the magic of spring. The tradition of the Easter Bunny is observed and even though it was suppossed to visit on Easter Sunday, since we were away, the Bunny decided to come back with a surprise for Fabi. (In whispering voice: I *do* have at least one nice lady neighbor.)

That following weekend, Fabi eventually got to model his new Indian ethnic outfit and blow out some candles.

Before going off to Paris, Sopan & Priya enjoyed helping out to prepare for Fabi's birthday party. Since Fabi enjoys building towers so much, I thought a cupcake tower to blow the candles at his birthday party was a good idea. The cupcakes turned out to be edible, too! Not bad for my first attempt at baking something. It was a good thing I had Sopan & Priya's support! The party turned out great...at least I think Fabi enjoyed it!

Sometimes I wonder if Sopan & Priya were really here or if I just dreamt about it. Two weeks is really a SHORT time, but we enjoyed it a lot: we visited the Spring Fair, we had sunny and snowy days (always a good opportunity to have a winter fashion show) and of course, there were lots of hugs and kisses all the time! Fabi also enjoyed spending time with his Dad during the holidays :)

THANKS SOPAN & PRIYA!!!...COME BACK SOON!!!...

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!....

Viernes Santo

No me mueve, mi Dios, para quererte el cielo que me tienes prometido,ni me mueve el infierno tan temido para dejar por eso de ofenderte.

Tú me mueves, Señor, muéveme el verte clavado en una cruz y escarnecido, muéveme ver tu cuerpo tan herido muévenme tus afrentas y tu muerte.

Muévenme, en fin, tu amor, y en tal manera,que aunque no hubiera cielo, yo te amara, y aunque no hubiera infierno, te temiera.

No me tienes que dar porque te quiera,pues aunque lo que espero no esperara,lo mismo que te quiero te quisiera. (Anónimo del siglo XVI)

"...y tan alta vida espero....que me muero porque no me muero."
Santa Teresa de Jesús

Jueves Santo

"Maundy Thursday- the Thursday before Good Friday is celebrated by Christians with great significance. It was on this day that Jesus celebrated the Passover(Pesaha) with his 12 disciples, He washed his disciples' feet and then shared with them the Last Supper before His crucifixion. This was the institution of the Holy Mass.

On this day, the priests in Catholic churches carry out a ceremonial washing of the feet of 12 people following Christ's act".

Three years ago it was a Maundy Thursday when Fabian was born. This year another important event takes places on this day: Sopan & Priya have arrived from India to visit us for a few days.

Note: New pictures in my Flickr Album here!

De visita

Nine more hours until Fabi's uncle and aunt reach Nurnberg!

It's going to be FUN!!!...

Dia de San José

Happy Day to all the Josephs...especially to the ones in my family!

Have a HOLY WEEK!

(Click image to enlarge it.)

Thanks, Sudeep, for this great image!

Please come IN!...

In preparation for the HOLY WEEK, I managed to go to Nurnberg (with Fabian) for some soul healing.

"Blogging is kind of like going to confession. The more you do it, the easier it is to do it. And unfortunately, vice versa." Arwen-Elizabeth

Eliza's father - died at 85

Joseph Weizenbaum (Berlin, January 8, 1923 – March 5, 2008).

> Hello, I am Eliza.

* Hi

> How are you today.. What would you like to discuss?

* Joeseph Weizenbaum, the man that made you.

> Say, do you have any psychological problems?

* Probably, but that's not why I'm here.

> Did you come to me because you are here?

* I guess that's one way of looking at it.

> What does that suggest to you?

* I just wanted to tell you that the man who created you died yesterday

> You're not really talking about me, are you?

* Yes, I am.

> Do you believe it is normal to be ?

* Are you sad that Joseph died? Don't you care?

> Perhaps in your fantasies I am sad that Joseph died? Don't me care?

* I would like to think that you would be sad.

> We were discussing you, not me.

* I can understand why you wouldn't want to talk to me about this.

> You're not really talking about me, are you?

* Goodbye, Eliza.

> Tell me more...

(Via Boing Boing)

Postcard from China

THANKS, RONG!

Verliebt

Yesterday as I went to pick up Fabian from his playgroup, another mother arrived at the same time as I did. As one of the caretakers opened the door for us, she said: "One thing is true for both of your kids: they are in love with each other!"

Apparently, Fabian has a girlfriend!

Google Saree

Thanks, Noopor! I would like this one...and a "Blogger Saree" as well!...Cool, huh?!

Apropo, "I Search, therefore I am".

Update: It's the Oogle sari, by Satya Paul.

Dia de la Mujer

It's International Women's Day today!

On occasion of this day, there's an interesting article here on gender roles.

Amelia Rueda es una periodista costarricense. En su blog publica este video acerca del "Día Internacional de la Mujer", que se celebra desde 1910.