Krampus Laufen

Tonight we have seen something I don't think we will ever see in New Zealand! We went to see the Krampus Laufen. For those of you that know the festival of St Nicholas on December and his sidekick Black Peter. Well in the mountain regions of Austria - that is near Reinhold's home town of Salzburg the Black Peter takes the form of a Krampus. A scary monster that is meant to punish the naughty children. So in the days before St Nicholas Day of 6 December the Krampus run through the town and scare the children. It has been a little sanitised now and they go through the streets like a Santa Parade but the masks are really grotesque and they go up to the children and hit them around the legs with a switch which I can confirm does hurt cos I got hit twice!! Helen Clark and Sue Bradford would not be amused but the children I saw seemed to enjoy it and egged the Krampus on to come and hit them?! There is a lot I don't understand but I can see a lot comes from the history. Things go a long way back here and change slowly. All part of the travelling learning experience. I also got to meet St Nicholas and shake his hand so maybe I have been good and will get a Christmas present!!

http:wikipedia.org/Krampus

The old teddy bear is in Salzburg

Well would’nt you know it – we are in Dubai and just come of a gruelling 14 hour flight. Took a tablet and only got 10 min sleep.
Watched Harry Ford and his crystal skull and Hancock. No James Bond yet. Mamabear watched Wall-e. We both muffle and are in desperate need of a shower. Still the flight was in total darkness and boy both Sydney and Dubai where sooooo hot and muggy. Wonder what Munich will be like weather wise. Rach_who took a pic of Dubai shop but missed Sydney will have to do this on return.
Dearest Jade – did you get out txt from Sydney?
At point of writing jonno will be at work and Michael will pass his exams with excellence – we hope!!Trust they fed them selves and also the other wildlife got enough food.
Gah next time we travel – Scotty do me a favor JUST BEAM ME ACROSS!!Got that Scotty?????

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Stardate 29112008.125823
Ok after we arrived in Munich we had no trouble going through customs – in fact the Austrian cheated and entered under the non-eu countries. It pays to have a kiwi wife. So we got picked up and then on to the rental car. Wow – a brand new Peugot 307 wagon. Whohoo – I’m so gonna miss it when we get back. Then on to my sister’s place on the autobahn. Sadly there is too much traffic nowadays and we could only averg 140km/h. Still we covered the 170km in less then 90 min. Not bad given the traffic!!!! And i wish we could travel like this to Dunedin, just imagine. . .
Jet leg is catching up with papabear - he was awake from 3 am onwards. Today we had –5 degree frost in the morning. We will be going to a “Krampus run” – something that happens every year here, but I had forgotten. Boy – that will be a shock to the system for Mamabear.

krampus


We are with my Oma for a luncheon meal after we had a leisurely breakfast and a quick stop at the local mall. Will let you know how it went tomorrow – if I still have a wife!
Wonder who won the rugby??