Author: janoseagle

Ackbar Returns

After a full 15 months of travel from The US to Canada to Panama Canal to Germany to The Netherlands to France, Ackbar and I have returned home and now it’s time to sort through thousands of photos and memories. We spent a month in Papenburg, Germany from April to May of 2022.

Papenburg, Germany is situated on the Ems River in Lower-Saxony. For Disney fans this is where the Meyer-Werft Shipyard is located and the Disney Cruise LIne ships – Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Wish have been built. Each ship starts it journey along the Ems to the North Sea on it’s way to new adventures.

A charming city of canals, windmills and sailing ships, Papenburg is a delightful escape from Germany’s more metropolitan cities. With a population of about 40,000 people, the city has a very laid back feel. There is something for everyone here, fine dining, shopping, culture events and historic sights.

The Rathaus is Papenburg’s City Hall. Located on the Haupkanal, this Neo-baroque building was built in 1913.

One of six sailing ship replicas on display in the canals of Papenburg, The Freiderike is situated outside the Rathaus. These stand as a symbol of the area’s rich shipbuilding tradition.

Meyer’s Mill, erected in 1888 is between the canal and the city park.

Muhle’s Mill is near the city center.

We can’t talk about Papenburg without talking about the many wonderful restaurants. Be sure to brush up on your German as many of the residents do not speak English. Despite the language difference, we managed to dine at these restaurants on multiple nights and eventually made friends with the owners who remembered our favorites.

Wirsthaus am Zeitspeicher has excellent wienerschnitzel

https://www.wirtshaus-am-zeitspeicher.de/

Adriatik had an amazing filet

https://www.restaurant-adriatik.de/

Olympia had the most delicious Beef Stroganoff

https://www.olympia-papenburg.de/

Bellini served Italian favorites, I highly recommend the Filet Gorgonzolo with Pasta.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063545115044

Mediterra served us a memorable meal in their upstairs dining room.

https://www.mediterra-papenburg.de/

Papenburg has a convenient train station where you can roam around Germany and Europe. We visited Koln and Bremen from here.

by janoseagle

The Rise of The Resistance

SPOILERS AHEAD – YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

The newest Star Wars attraction at Disneyland and Walt Disney World is the most technologically advanced ride ever.

After you’ve maneuvered The Millennium Falcon to safety, explore the temple ruins and current Rebel Base.

Board your own Transport and get ready! I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

After narrowly escaping the Empire, you have one final foe to face.

If you are planning to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World, plan your day carefully. Rise of The Resistance is a hot ticket and there are limited opportunities to enjoy it!

by janoseagle

Searching for Easter Eggs…

Avenger’s Campus is full of Easter eggs for the entire Marvel universe. Keep your eyes peeled and you never know what you might see.

In WEB, Worldwide Engineering Brigade headquarters teenage superheroes in training have been assembled by Tony Stark to develop new technology. On the way to your look for the hallway full of lockers. So many young heroes are taking part in the Campus, Miles Morales, America Chavez and Harley Keener have all decorated their own lockers.

While waiting for your turn, don’t forget to check out the bulletin boards.

Even the cleaning supplies in WEB Slingers may hide a secret. Do you know characters Monkey Joe, Wal Rus, and Goom? WDI 1401 is a reference to Walt Disney Imagineering at 1401 Flower Street, Glendale, Ca.

Over in the Web Supplies store, you never know what may be lying round in plain site. Look up high and read the labels.

by janoseagle

A Galaxy Not-So-Far Away

If you ever wanted to feel what it was like to be Luke Skywalker, look no further than Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Walt Disney World.

Every inch of this land, is full of eye candy and Easter eggs. Build your own lightsaber or droid, rub elbows with other fans at Oga’s Cantina or fly the Millennium Falcon. This land is the stuff that 12 year-old me could only dream of.

One of my favorite Easter eggs is this transport parked on top Cookie’s restaurant. The 3 cargo containers are labelled with the year of the Original Trilogy’s release. “77” for Star Wars: A New Hope, “80” for The Empire Empire Strikes Back and “83” for Return of The Jedi”. Keep your eyes peeled for even more hidden details.

by janoseagle

You’ll believe a man can fly!

The latest attraction at Disneyland in Anaheim, CA is a tribute to the superhero franchise, Marvel Studios. Whether you’re a fan of the comic books, TV shows or Movies, Avenger’s Campus is the place to be.

Situated in Disney’s California Adventure, this new land brings the stories of the Marvel heroes to life. Train with the Dora Milaje, watch your favorite superhero, like Shang-Chi, battle villains or just take in the atmosphere of this former Stark campus.

Okoye from “Black Panther”, Captain America, Gamora from “The Guardians of The Galaxy” and Thor’s little brother, Loki, share the stage with the one and only Spiderman.

If you’re quick you may just catch Spiderman leaping high above the crowd.

A visit to Avenger’s Campus is ultimate adventure for anyone.

by janoseagle

Haunts of Hollywood

Graumann’s Chinese Theater has been a landmark on Hollywood Blvd. since 1927. Since then it has played a part in many motion picture premieres. In 1973 it became Mann’s Chinese Theater until Ted Mann divorced the wife, Rhonda Fleming. A year later he went bankrupt. It reverted to it’s original name until TCL, a Chinese electronics company purchased the naming rights 2013, renaming it the TCL Chinese Theater.

West Side Story, Mary Poppins and even Star Wars all premiered at the Chinese Theater over the years. Today it is still a hot property that Motion Picture Studios still try to book the theater for new movie premieres.

One of the most famous features of the theater is the celebrity handprints immortalized in cement. There are a number of stories about how they came to be, but the most widely retold, involves an actress, Norma Talmadge, accidentally stepped in wet cement.

Here you can see the handprints of John Wayne along with his fist. Whoopi Goldberg pushed a dreadlock into her cement and Mel Brooks wore a sixth finger on his right hand. Not all of the handprints are on display at any one time. With several hundred prints having been done, there are always some being repaired and just in storage.

Like many historic landmarks, The Chinese Theater is also haunted. In 1982, actor, Victor Killian was bludgeoned to death in his nearby apartment in 1982. He is purported to search the streets looking for his murderer. Employees have also reported strange noises and movement behind the theaters heavy curtain.

by janoseagle

Hooray for Hollywood

You can’t pay a visit to California without catching a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign. For the more adventurous among you, you can hike close to it via several trails. Be aware it could be a three hour undertaking. There are a number of stories about the sign and how it came to be. The publisher of the LA Times had the sign erected to advertise his upscale subdivision.

In 1923, the Hollywoodland Sign was erected on Mount Lee overlooking Lake Hollywood. Each letter is 30 feet wide and 43 feet tall. It was originally meant to last about a year and a half to advertise the new subdivision. It has been in place for over 80 years.

In the spirit of Halloween, the sign is said to be haunted by the ghost of an aspiring young actress. Peg Entwistle. On Sept. 18th 1932, a hiker found a woman’s shoe, jacket and purse under the sign. When she opened the purse, she discovered a suicide note signed P.E. Having climbed up a workman’s ladder, she threw her self off of the letter “H”.

Numerous hikers have reported seeing the figure of a beautiful blonde woman in 1930’s clothing. She is often seen on very foggy nights. Some say, they were overwhelmed by the aroma of Gardenias in the air. They were Peg’s favorite perfume.

Check out this website for more information about the Hollywood and how you can visit it.

https://hollywoodsign.org/seeing-the-sign/

by janoseagle

A Walk Down Hollywood Boulevard

The Hollywood Walk of Fame features over 2,700 stars and almost half of them are in the Motion Pictures category. Anyone can nominate someone for the honor, but the honoree (or their agent) must provide a letter of agreement to be considered. Each application also requires a sponsor to pay the $50,000 for the creation and upkeep of their star. The star is also obligated to appear at the star’s unveiling ceremony. Barbra Streisand was the only star that refused, however she did show up years later when hubby, James Brolin was honored.

Over the year’s four stars were stolen. Gregory Peck, Kirk Douglas, Jimmy Stewart and Gene Autry all were the victims of star theft. Gene Autry had 4 other stars on the walk, so it wasn’t a big deal. Douglas and Stewart’s stars were recovered from the home of a construction worker who was hired to secure them.

Gregory Peck’s star on the corner of Hollywood and Gower, was stolen in broad daylight. Men wearing orange construction vests cut a perfect square around the star, loaded the 300lb slab onto a truck and never were heard from again. The star has never been recovered.

The Hollywood Property Owners Alliance is responsible for the upkeep but today many stars in poor condition. The pink terrazzo and brass stars are sometimes cared for by the celebrities fans. You would think that the 20 stars issued ever year at $50,000 each, there would be plenty of money to keep Aerosmith’s star in good condition.

You don’t even need to be a real person to get your star on The Walk Of Fame. Mickey and Minnie Mouse have their own stars, so do Godzilla, Alvin and The Chipmunks and Shrek. Animal actors including Rin Tin Tin and Lassie have been honored with stars.

For more information check out this official website.

Frequently Asked Questions
by janoseagle