Erfurt's Fairy Tale Automaton

 Forgot to post this window wunder from Erfurt. 1 Euro brought it to life!

Do you like it?

Mit Rucksacks to Kronach

 We are now in the Bavarian town of Kronach in the Franconian Forest region. Compared to the megopolis of Erfurt in neighbouring Thuringia it's a bit sleepsville, but what we needed to relax.

Again, quite beautiful, clean, quiet, it's fairy-tale like.

Hard to believe that the large building above is a listed functioning remand prison with views of distant forested hills.

Space Attack Unit

 I really like this cheapos spaceship. That rear silver dish really rings a bell too.

There's lots going on here.

I wonder what the blue button does?

That's a definite R2D2 looker sat at the rear.

It's part of a Space Attack Unit boxed set.

I wouldn't mind one at all cheapos or not. You? 

Paya's Over the Moon

Check out these fabulous space toy vehicles by Paya of Spain. Those boys are in remote control on the moon! There's nods to SpaceX and Century 21 too. How cool are they and Project SWORD sized too! 

They were advertised in the II Festival Mundial del Circi 1971-72 programme. Not sure what that was, although it looks like a circus from the cover!

Sesame Street, Erfurt

 Some comical characters on the streets of Erfurt.

These boys are in the river.

And this shop was stuffed with muppets. Or are they Sesame Street?

Some of them I just don't recognize. You?

Effortless in Erfurt

 Ensconced in Erfurt, we are so impressed with this city, the big capital of Thuringia in the former DDR.

 It's as if we have been transported back to the middle ages with sunglasses on. Everywhere is ancient, everywhere is outdoor eating. It's hard to think that this city was behind the Iron Curtain a mere 36 years ago, as there is no trace except for Yuri Gagarin Straße.

Two vast cathedrals.

Thousands of outdoor eateries. 

Medieval artifacts and relics galore. 

A bridge over the river lined with dozens of shops on both sides! The bridge that is.

And electric trams criss-crossing the whole city.

Erfurt makes fabulous look effortless.

Have you been?

Cart for Cart's Sake

 I was pleased with my 1 euro plastic blue cart from the Eisenacher fleamarket.

I was hoping it was an original DDR toy, which I'm sure it is now.

Mine's just missing the red cart connection arm shown here on one a available on German Kleinanzeigen.

The Bear Essentials

I was hoping for a Wartburg but I was chuffed with this Märklin BMW. A Kaiser's ransom at 1 Euro in a pop-up shop fleamarket. It's a tidy thing. All the doors and bonnet and boot open and I love the metallic green. I had no idea that Märklin released die-casts. You?

Much harder to ID is this ceramic bear we picked up in Eisenach. 

A simple stylized look. The bare base stamped with numbers doesn't help either. It's a mystery.

As is this young ceramic boy with his frilly shirt. Sat down, he seems to be scratching his head. Maybe he's taken a bump to it?

No markings whatsoever except the residue of card and glue underneath. He was adhered to something. Another mystery 

Any ideas?