Hello my dearest, cuddliest, and most of all, Christmas-loving followers out there behind your screens.
It’s me again, your Little Viki. I have to start by sincerely apologizing for the tiny little break on my blog. But you know, life as a little traveling hedgehog can be quite exhausting, especially during the Advent season. I first had to digest my gigantic supplies of gingerbread, domino tiles, and chocolate Santas. When you're as small as I am, your belly might fit a lot of love, but the chocolate does need its space and a bit of time until the tummy is flat enough for new adventures. But now I’m fully back, my quills are freshly brushed, and I’m ready to tell you all about my latest trip.
Imagine this: I actually made it. I managed to convince my big human beings – you know, the ones who always lug me around and are responsible for my physical well-being – to take me to Stuttgart. And not just to the city for shopping, no, we went to a truly magical place: the Christmas Garden. And the best part was that this enchanted garden took place right inside the zoological-botanical garden, the Wilhelma. A hedgehog at the zoo, can you imagine! I was so excited that my little heart was beating faster than a hummingbird's wings.
The journey started in the afternoon. We traveled by car, which I especially love because I can look out the window so comfortably while the world whizzes by. But before we dashed off, we exemplary stocked up on provisions. You never know when a little hunger might strike in between. We had a thermos of wonderfully fragrant, steaming tea with us. The smell of cinnamon and cloves in the car immediately put me in the right mood. I sat in my seat of honor and made sure we took the right exit.
Once we arrived in Stuttgart, I was stunned at first. So many people! There were very tall humans who almost reached the sky, and lots of small humans who were almost as buzzy as I am. A happy murmur and laughter could be heard everywhere. We first had to join one of two queues. Normally, I’m the impatient type – after all, I don’t want to miss anything – but this time everything went very quickly. The anticipation made the wait fly by anyway.
But wait, I almost forgot the most important thing. Before we even went through the big gate, we absolutely had to do a professional photo shoot. The atmosphere in front of the entrance was already so fantastically illuminated that I simply had to insist on having a few pictures taken of my "good side." A world-class blog hedgehog always needs up-to-date visual material for her fans. So, I dressed up, draped my quills perfectly, and looked charmingly into the camera. I personally think the warm light of the lanterns is particularly flattering for me.
When we finally passed through the actual entrance, it almost took my breath away. Right in front of us stood a giant snowman. But not a normal one made of snow that can melt, no. This giant consisted entirely of sparkling fairy lights. He shone so brightly that I had to blink for a moment. He looked simply beautiful and seemed to be smiling directly at us. In that moment, I knew: this would be an evening I wouldn't forget anytime soon.
We followed the path, and I couldn't stop marveling. The bushes to the left and right of the path, the old walls of the Wilhelma, the trees – absolutely everything was decorated with millions of tiny lights. It was a single, vibrant sea of color. It glittered in blue, pink, gold, and green. I felt like I was in a fairytale forest where a new miracle waits around every corner.
And then came the animals. Of course, some of the real zoo inhabitants were already in their night quarters, but instead, there were glowing doubles. Zebras, giraffes, and giant elephants stood in the middle of the park, and they were all formed out of light. I didn't know where to look first with my little hedgehog eyes. I wanted to soak up every detail, save every light color, and not miss a single thing. My little head was constantly turning back and forth. The light displays were so artistically designed that it almost looked like the light animals were breathing or moving.
I found the floor projections particularly funny. You really had to watch where you stepped, because suddenly snowmen, little elk, colorful butterflies, and delicate snowflakes were dancing around on the asphalt. I tried to catch one of the butterflies, but it was faster than me and just scurried over my paws. That was fun!
There was a set circular route that was supposed to lead us through the whole park. But what can I tell you? We didn't just walk this path once, but twice! And do you know why? My Mommy – the tall one who always carries me – was actually seduced by an elephant. Well, not by a real one, but by one of those beautiful light elephants. She was so fascinated by the large trunk-bearer that she simply strayed from the official path to take a closer look at him. I just shook my little head vigorously. Typical humans, always so easily distracted. But actually, it wasn't bad at all, because through this little detour, we walked through an incredibly beautiful arch of lights twice. It was like a tunnel of pure gold. Yippee, I felt like a little princess on her way to the castle.
Despite all the lights, we were still able to discover a few real zoo inhabitants in the dark. We crept very quietly past the enclosures of the penguins and pelicans. They didn't let the hustle and bustle bother them at all and were already snoring away. It was so cute to see them sitting there all snuggled up. I would have loved to join them for a moment, but I wanted to see the rest of the garden.
At the very end of our tour, there was an absolute highlight. There stood an old, mighty tree that suddenly started to speak. Yes, you heard right. The tree told us a beautiful, short story. Its bark lit up in time with the words. My Daddy recorded it all quickly with his phone so we could take the story home with us. This is perfect for me. Whenever I have too much energy and can't fall asleep in my basket at night, I'll have the story of the speaking tree played to me. Then I'll nibble comfortably on my bedtime cookie and dream myself back into the sea of lights in Stuttgart.
It was a truly successful trip, and I’m still full of joy from all the impressions. It’s so beautiful when the dark season is made a bit brighter and happier by such magical lights. But for now, I’m lying on the sofa again, having my belly rubbed and already planning in my head where the next trip might go.
What do you think, where should I stick my quills into the wind next? Maybe somewhere where there are even more cookies?
See you soon, your Little Viki