Profile For marina12 - I've been married for 6 yrs and have a 2.5 yr old daughter. Unfortunately we live pretty far away from both of our families- so we save our pennies to visit them as often as we can.
I don't know of a brand name that is sold in Europe, but Borax is "a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen and water." Where I grew up, we always used it as a water softener when doing the laundry. In the US it's sold in the laundry/cleaning supply aisle at the super markets. I hope this helps you locate Borax or an equivalent in Malta. ... View related article.
These are great ideas, but where can you find old windows? I want to make a faux window in my kitchen. You mount a poster with an outdoor scene behind the glass and hang it on the wall. I just can't seem to find an old window. ... View related article.
You might want to check out the network of youth hostels (for example http://old.web02.djh.de/international/html/index.jsp ), depending on how open you are. There is a great deal of variation as far as quality goes but all are very affordable and offer very affordable meals. All you need is to rent your linens at each hostel. You are guarenteed to meet many friendly travelers who can give you tips and ideas for other things to see and do as well as what to avoid. Another idea is to check at each towns information office (denoted by their giant red "i") to find bed and breakfasts or even families who rent out their spare rooms as "Gaestezimmer." The prices are usually very good and the best part is the way you really get to know the people. As far as tips on eating cheaply: sample Bratwursts (and other grilled items) from the stands- each state has it's own special variation/spices that are in the sausage, buy fresh bread, cheese and veggies to make your own sandwiches on the go, and be sure to check out the Doeners (similar to Gyros- kind of) sold at Turkish restaurants and stands- they are always a bargain for the amount of food and flavor that you get. As far as traveling within the country, I would recommend getting a EuroRail Pass (http://www.eurail.com/ )- however it really depends on how long you'll be there and how many stops you intend on making. You can rent a car but keep in mind that parking in any large city is a hassle and can be expensive, not to mention it can be stressful sharing the road with Germans- I can say this from experience and I'm married to one :) ... View related article.
