Theo and The Fake Real Alaska

 Dare I say it? After our last "museum" experience, Theo has become, more or less, a fan. If the museum has animals, any kind of animals, he's all in. At least today, that's his story!

We try to explain. We're still in Fairbanks, Alaska, and want to visit The Morris Thompson Center--which has world class exhibits.

I'm in awe. Who doesn't want to see a bald eagle up close and personal that looks alive but isn't? The fake real.

Then there's a bear that is staring at us--only a few feet away. Not real, but he looks real. Another fake real.

We walk along, agog at the exhibits. 

"Well, Theo, what do you think?"

Of course, he's too busy sniffing and staring to respond. He would love to jump into the exhibit and check it out. Are they real? Fake? Gosh.

We move on. To the clothing exhibits. Frankly, this is where Theo gets his snack as we marvel at the colorful, intricate clothing. Now this is authentic and begs the question--what was it like to live in Alaska, in frigid temperatures, surrounded by snow and ice, with no central heating?

The next few exhibits show an Alaska that few see:

We save the most interesting until last. Outside, as we're leaving, we spot an arch made of 100 moose and caribou antlers called "Farthest North Antler Arch." The antlers were donated by local hunters and farmers to represent the region's hunting history and culture. The arch was built in 2010.

I've wanted to visit Alaska for a long time. "Can you believe this?" I say to Dan and Theo.

We step closer, to examine the antlers more closely and to, of course, give Theo a chance to sniff. And sniff. And sniff. 

"This is real, mom." And so it goes.

Theo in Rothenburg-Another Disneyland?

I first visited Rothenburg years ago, and I remember one thing in particular--the famous Christmas store. Yeah, I know, I should have remembered that Rothenburg is a magical city with a strange backstory. But when you travel with someone who could play/watch tennis 24 hours a day (Dan) and a gangster cat (Theo) who has the attention span of a flea, the Christmas store is what you talk about.

Kathe Wolfhart is famous all over the world. The store is several floors and has room after room of everything you could ever want to decorate your house or your tree. Located on a street that also has a giant bear at a store entrance nearby, you enter and are immediately greeted by a moveable display of a fairytale village. 

We stand there too long--watching. Theo is enthralled. At first he's content to be held in Dan's arm and watch the magical figures. Then he gets another idea. He meows and begins to wiggle free.  We've seen that behavior before. He wants to jump into the display.

"Forget about it," we tell him. "There's no room for you in there."

Even so, we are now in the mood to tour Rothenburg. Imagine stepping into a place that offers beautiful scenic views, half-timbered houses, and a quaintness beyond compare.  

The Christmas store is near the main market where, it seems, everyone gathers. I now understand why Rothenburg is considered the German version of Disneyland for adults, minus the rides. Partially destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II, the town rebuilt itself with money from the Marshall Plan. During that renovation the town was made even more fairytale like. In fact, Germans visit Rothenburg and consider it a wonderful tourist attraction. 

Here is just a sampling of the countryside that surrounds the Christmas store:

Can you imagine living here? I'm enthralled with the greenery, the old fashioned houses, fences, stone walls and passageways. You are in another world. Dan is happy and Theo is, well, hungry, but what's new about that?