Hello, my dear travel friends and cuddle fans!
It's your Little Viki again! Can you believe it? Christmas is almost here! My little hedgehog legs have been twitching with excitement for days, and on Saturday, December 20, 2025, the time had finally come. A huge excursion was on the agenda. Mommy and Daddy packed their backpacks, and of course, I—the star of the show—couldn't be missing. After all, you need a competent tour guide who knows exactly where to find the best treats.
The day started off quite adventurously. We parked our big car, the family cruiser, at the Ulm Science Park. That already sounded very scientific and important, almost as smart as me. From there, we took the tram to the main station. I love riding the tram! You can look out the window so wonderfully and watch the world go by without having to move your little paws at all.
The Hunt for the Golden "Landjäger"
As soon as we arrived at the station, my little hedgehog stomach spoke up. Yes, I know, we had only just left, but adventures make you hungry! Our first mission was vital for survival: procuring provisions. We stormed a butcher shop to snag a little snack in the form of crunchy Landjäger sausages. Oh, the smell! And because you have to think about the future (meaning the next morning), we also packed some Weißwürste for Sunday breakfast. A hedgehog has to be prepared, after all.
Drama in the Toy Department
Before we could plunge into the hustle and bustle of the Christmas market, we made a strategic stop at Müller. I thought maybe we’d buy something great for me – a new bandana or maybe a little hedgehog bed? But no! Mommy and Daddy headed straight for the shelves with the other stuffed animals.
I could hardly believe my little button eyes. There they sat: plush bears, dogs, cats... and my owners actually stopped and said things like "Oh, look how cute!". A wave of indignation rose inside me. My quills stood up straight! We looked at these potential "cuddle friends," but I immediately exercised my veto. With a devastating look and an indignant huff, I instantly crushed my parents' budding hopes. AFTER ALL, I AM THE STUFFED ANIMAL OF THE HOUSE! There can be only one hedgehog, and the spot on the sofa is definitely already taken. Phew, that was a close one, but I successfully defended my territory.
Feasting at the Ulm Minster Square
After this emotional stress, we urgently needed some soul food. We headed straight for the Christmas market. From afar, I could see the lights twinkling and – more importantly – smell the delicious scents.
Our first stop was the mulled wine stand. The steam rose from the cups and warmed my nose, even though I wasn't allowed to drink any of it (hedgehogs can't handle alcohol, everyone knows that!). But the warmth alone was wonderful.
Then came the culinary highlight: Mommy and Daddy headed for the 'Illerbuben Foodtruck'. There, they ordered a Chicken Cheese Burger. Guys, I'm telling you, it was torture! That burger looked so incredibly delicious. The cheese was stretching, the chicken was steaming... I tried to make myself really tall and wave my paws to order my own portion. "One burger for the hedgehog, please!" I wanted to shout. But as it often goes in the life of a little hedgehog: you just get overlooked at the counter. It's so unfair! I had to settle for watching Mommy eat and letting out a longing sigh every now and then.
But my sadness didn't last long because dessert followed hot on its heels! We visited the booth of 'Brot und Stühle & Oh My Waffle!'. The name alone sounds like music to my ears. We had a chocolate-nut waffle. Hmmm, it was particularly delicious, soft, and so wonderfully "chocolaty." A tiny bit of chocolate might have gotten stuck on one of my quills, but that will remain our secret.
The Mysterious Case of the Chewing Sheep
After our bellies were full, we made our way across the Danube to the Neu-Ulm Christmas Market. I had high expectations, but oh dear... what was going on there? Or rather: what wasn't going on? Unfortunately, the market was quite empty. The mood didn't really kick in, which might have been due to the drumming performance. For my sensitive hedgehog ears, it was much too loud and, to be honest, a bit unpleasant. That's when you just want to curl up into a ball.
But there was a bright spot – or rather, a mystery. We discovered three little sheep in an enclosure. They stood there and chewed. And chewed. And chewed. Very meditatively, with an almost dreamy look. I watched them for a long time and came to the conclusion: that wasn't normal grass. They must have been secretly snacking on gummy bears! I can't explain that blissful constant chewing any other way. I tried to ask them if they’d share some with me, but they just said "Baaa." Suspicious.
Shopping Marathon at Glacis-Center
To escape the cold and the drums, we fled into the warm Glacis-Center. There began the next part of our odyssey: shopping! We made stops at NiuNiu, Thalia, and Tedi.
And what can I say? Mommy couldn't help herself. Again, she stopped in front of shelves and gave other stuffed animals hope. I had to summon all my authority as Head Hedgehog to remind her who's number one here. It's really exhausting having to constantly defend your position, but someone’s got to do the job. I made sure no other plush competitor ended up in the shopping bag.
The Great Trek and the Ice Debacle
From Neu-Ulm, we walked all across the city – quite a march for short hedgehog legs, which is why I let myself be carried most of the time. At the theater, we got back on the tram and rode back to the Science Park to get our car. But the day was far from over! Our next destination: the Donaubad.
We wanted to go to the ice rink there. Well, "we" is relative. Mini Christopher (who can be a bit lazy sometimes) decided to stay in the warm car. He said ice was too cold and too slippery for him. But not me! I, Baby Viki, am made of different stuff. Brave as I am, I ventured out onto the smooth ice.
The spectacle that followed was Oscar-worthy. Mommy had her initial struggles with the skates. Let's just say: Bambi on ice was a pro figure skater by comparison. Her legs just wouldn't do what they were supposed to. But luckily, there's Daddy. He took Mommy firmly in his arms, and me too of course, and so we spun our circles.
For Daddy, this was hard labor. Supporting Mommy, balancing me, and trying not to fall down himself... after a short time, several large drops of sweat formed on his forehead. I watched very closely. If we had stayed five minutes longer, the drops on his forehead would have gathered so much that I could have opened my own private Baby Viki Ice Rink right on Daddy’s head! Now that would have been an attraction!
Pure Relaxation in Bad Ditzenbach
After this physically exhausting experience for Daddy (and a very entertaining one for me), we had enough of the cold. We jumped into the car and drove straight to the Bad Ditzenbach Thermal Baths.
Oh, that was exactly what we needed! The warm water, the steam, the peace... after the hustle and bustle of the market and the slippery ice adventure, we could finally relax here. I imagined myself floating through the thermal water on a tiny air mattress, with a little cocktail umbrella in my paw. Wonderful!
We let the evening wind down very comfortably. At home on the sofa, snuggled in soft blankets, we had some delicious tea. That's when I closed my eyes and dreamed of waffles, gummy bear sheep, and my private ice rink.
What a day! Full of dangers (competitor stuffed animals), culinary discoveries, and peak athletic performances. I'm already excited to see where we'll end up next. Maybe somewhere where they have hedgehog-sized burgers?
Where would you like to travel with me, and do you think Daddy would let me skate on his forehead?
Until the next adventure,
Your Little Viki