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Remember yesterday when I said I had something planned for this week that would make the Grinchiest among us toss out the "bah hum bugs" and throw on a festive Santa hat?!
Well, here it is!
This coming weekend the Christmas Markets will open and I thought - what better time to share some of my very favorite memories of Germany and Europe with you?!
Seriously, guys, this is the very best part of Europe... at least for this Christmas nut. Ok, I'll be fair- summer here is gorgeous, and spring is kind of great when everything starts blooming... and of course I love autumn - all those gorgeous colors!!! - but nothing anywhere in the world compares with Christmas for me. And these Europeans, they do Christmas really, really well. I spend most of October and November looking forward to Christmas Market Season.
Oh, the rest of the world calls it winter? hmmm... weird. Whodathunk?
Every day this week, I'm going to share at least one of the markets we've visited over the past few years. You read that right- at least one. Meaning there may be more than one post some days.
Why not stretch this out over more than 7 days? Because if you live here and are checking these out, I want you know know what's available to you. If you don't live here, plan a trip! It's worth it! Or, you know, visit virtually; I'm happy to help make that happen.
Disclaimer: A lot of these pictures aren't great. No, no. I'm not feeling bad or apologizing for anything. I'm just being honest. I just got my camera when we moved here and simply didn't know how to use it. I'm still learning and don't know that I would do any better this year. So the pictures are what they are. Now, on with the show!
Today we are revisiting Strasbourg, France because it's very likely my absolute favorite Christmas Market. We've gone every year and every year I love it more. Strasbourg is a gorgeous little village in the Alsace region of France that Mike & I like to go to a lot, in all seasons. That Cathedral? You might have seen it at the beginning of Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows. It's the victim of a bombing in the opening scenes.
Shopping in the markets in the shadow of that gorgeous church is pure perfection. It feels quaint and cozy and very romantic. It's one of my favorite churches in Europe. The inside is very beautiful and the astronomical clock is worth seeing, even if you aren't religious or interested in churches.
Insider tip: Across the street from the "Christian" sign is an amazing chocolate shop with the best hot chocolates. I think the only better hot chocolate I've ever had was in Bruges, Belgium. I'm not actually sure which one is my favorite. I probably need to revisit them and compare, don't you think?
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Wanna see what kind of goodies you can buy at these markets?
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| I still want to go back and buy these plates if I can find them! |
Each market has it's own merchandise that is local to the area. Sometimes within the same region several markets will have similar things and you can almost always find Kathe Wohlfahrt ornaments and goods at any of them. But the local stuff is really fun to look at.
These pictures happened to be taken the year my sister and her then-boyfriend visited. I didn't include pictures of them, because, you know, they deserve their privacy... unlike these other unsuspecting people. ;)
But here's one of Mike & I (it was so nice to have someone else to take a picture of us, too!). I hope you check back tomorrow to visit another great Christmas Market with me!
Katrina, have you visited Gent? Lovely city. Old world and attractive/quaint. Often snowy this time of year. Has been sunny and not too cold there this week tho!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby has just returned from 2 days there with a friend. I've been before too, but we missed Zwarte Piet. :-(
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet
This year he makes his appearance on 6th December.
If you haven't indulged already, this has to go on your list!
(Unless the same happens in beautiful Bruge?)
Of course, the chocolates are ever present ...
I haven't been to Ghent! I wonder if I can sneak that on the list for this year?! Thanks for the suggestion - I love Belgium so much.
DeleteThis looks beautiful Katrina, thanks for sharing it, looking forward to reading more of your Christmas market visits.
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading, Rosanne, and for the sweet comment!
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