Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Trier Christmas Market


City Sidewalks, Busy Sidewalks 
Dressed in Holiday Style
In the air, 
There's a feeling 
of Christmas
Children Laughing
People Passing
Meeting smile after smile
and on every street corner you hear

The 1952 rendition of Silver Bells sung by Bing Crosby & Carol Richards is the first song that popped into my head as I was visiting the town of Trier with my dear friend Molly & her sweet bichon Penny.  My eyes can't decide where to focus with the twinkling Christmas lights, holiday decor, street musicians and wait for it....that's right the CHRISTMAS MARKET!!!!




The smell of Muhled Spiced wine fills the air.  Chestnuts, potato pancakes, pasteries and gingerbread are just a few things to indulge in while your here.  

Several wooden christmas huts are intricately decorated.....though please be careful.  If your clumsy like (clearing throat) me watch your step.  What was put in place to avoid people stumbling over electrical wires, I managed not once by 6 times to trip over a large shinny metal cover on the ground.  Mainly, because my attention & camera were on the creatively designed winter scenes above the huts.  Ah, the life of a budding photographer should come with insurance...lol 

The time someone took to design & decorate.....impressive  


Such a beautiful selection of Advent Candle center pieces


I loved the sparkling berries...One of those "I should have bought that" items
Trier is filled with lots to see Churches, the Porta Nigra, Imperial baths, various shops and a ton of  restaurants.  So coming while the Christmas Market or any market for that matter are taking place are an  added bonus.  





Today we were on a mission: Christmas Market & coffee bags.  I know it sounds crazy, but I had my heart set on using them as my christmas tree skirt this year!!  After what seemed like hours of walking...getting lost in beautiful floral shops and stopping to take pictures I finally heard those magical words, "there it is".  The shop that sells the coffee bags my heart so desired was now about 10feet away from me and yes....I ran with excitement towards them!!!!   The look on the faces of the people inside the coffee shop was hilarious.  My guess is that either they wondered why some crazy American girl was running towards the coffee shop or wondered why in the world I needed a whole ARM FULL of coffee bags!  Either way, that actually added to a great end to such a wonderful day in the city of Trier.  



Our Coffee Bags

Thank you for following my blog

Beverly 










Monday, December 3, 2012

Burg Lichtenburg Christmas Market

Come hither, I bid you....to the Burg Lichtenburg Medival Christmas Market.  This castle holds a very special place in my heart.  I've attended weddings, lunches, romantic dinners and festivals here.  But the best thing about this place is I know I'm almost home when I'm driving on the autobahn and see it in the distance. That's right, I live about 5km away from Burg Lichtenburg and each night before I close my eyes, I have a picturesque view...talk about feeling like a princess :D 


This market serves up delicious hot drinks, noodle dishes, crepes, flammkuchen, home made honey & of course those one of a kind holiday gifts.  Your welcome to come in period clothing, in fact during the medival fesitvals your admission is discounted if not free for doing so.  Today we opted to come bundled up after the gentle snow had fallen all throughout the night and morning.  Pictures are a must here as there are many "candid moments" ready to be captured.  Wanna get warm???  Performers showcased their talents playing period instruments, singing, dancing, fire throwing inside a heated arena.  There were live animals and a chance to try your hand at archery.  It truly is as if you'd fallen back into time.  This market was open for just 2 days(the first advent calendar weekend.......December 1 &2, 2012.  Below are "some" pictures I took while there.  

Here you can get personalized signs & hand made wooden toys

Hand mads jewelry and gloves


Nothing sparks my interest more than seeing this wine crates!!! I use them throughout my home

A vendor in period time clothing selling home made schnapps

Bread, Pizza and fried bread apples w/ sugar YUM

I Love Christmas Markets...number 5 so far this season

More of the market......... in the back is the heated tent where the performers were


My dear friend Vanessa & her daughter

Wool gloves...I should have bought these just couldn't decide which ones I wanted

Amazing 

What a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon 

Everyone was lining up to try one of these old Hungarian traditional sweet breads

In the far left of the picture you see the final product a tall "donut like" bread.  You can choose topings such as: coconut, vanilla, nuts or cinnamon sugar.  It was soooo worth the 5euro!!!

Baking it over coals..this guy has a routine to the magic!

Cleaning the holder after every one he makes



Thank you so much for following my blog

Happy Christmas Market Exploring

Beverly

Kaiserslautern Christmas Market

Kaiserslautern, known amongst the American's stationed in Germany as "little america or k-town" began hosting their exhilarating Christmas Market Novemeber 26,2012.  For history buffs a section of the original city wall still stands in the courtyard of the St. Martins Church.  This year you'll find a "unique bonfire", wild animal food stalls and a children's carousel.  




Such a unique way to make a bonfire 

Great way for a community to come together, enjoy a warm drink and get warm before walking the rest of the wonderful Christmas Market
Just this section alone makes a visit to the Kaiserslautern Christmas Market worth while.  What sets this market apart is its not only a christmas market(Weinachtsmarkt) but a New Years market as well(Silvestermarkt).  


There is just something about the paper stars around this time of year that I adore.  I found some at the Trier Christmas Market but opted not to get the bulb and cord, since at some point we will be back in the states.  



If you are ever looking for the ultimate coffee or hot drink mug, these would definitely fit the bill.  They are not necessarily my style but would make a great gift.  These are sold year round in tourist stores and festivals.  Most of the time they are personalized cups with your name on them.  



The Main Entrance to the Kaiserslautern Christmas Market
Okay so enough history :D We arrived around 5pm so being bundled up was a MUST!  It was definitely a chilly 32degrees outside which meant our first stop needed to be a hot drink stand!  Our choices were Gluhwein, hot tea and hot chocolate.  I'm collecting the gluhwein cups so for now, I picked the gluhwein.  Immediately my hands began to warm and after a few sips of my delicious red spiced wine I could feel my toes tingle with warm.


  This market for sure was on a much larger scale vendors booths and rides twisted and turned throughout the city.  Burning wood, sweet treats , waffles and gulash smells filled the air.  As an added surprise we stumbled upon a band that had a great beat & familiar tunes.  
Halo from Kaiserslautern, Germany



This was such a cute sign, I had to take a picture of it

I love that Christmas Markets are Family Friendly

This sweet guy was such a great sport about letting me take his picture!  Fresh Bread...Oh how I can still smell that glorious smell!!!!

This is my husbands kinda booth...Candy galore..My friend Iris pointed out that they have Gluhwein hard candy which I thought was pretty neat.  Didn't try any but I'm sure they are delicious.

Thank you for following my Blog
&
Happy Holidays

Beverly 

Landstuhl Christmas Market




Amongst the over 9,000 residents in southwestern Germany for 1 weekend a year resides a magical place called the Landstuhl Christmas Market.  To truly describe a Chrismas Market I close my eyes, put on a goofy smile, breathe in and sigh.  I love everything about it...starting with the gluhwein, which this year you can get either rot oder weiss (red or white) spiced wine.  They come in a glass which I collect as long as the year and city is on it & fully plan on bringing back with us to the states when that time comes.  For those unable or chose not to have this alcoholic beverage you may order the kinder (or childs) punch, still warm & just as delightful.  In the air, its crisp, cold and sounds of local tradition holiday music. 


You can see smoke rising from my favorite booth which is host to the : bratwurst, currywurst & schweinsteak(pork steak)!  Other food vendors you may come across are selling such items as: crepes,gulash, potato pancakes, fresh bread, noodle dishes, candy booths, kurloskalocs baumkuchen(hungarian bread w/ your choosing of topping, we fancy the zimt/zucker..cinnamon sugar) flammkuchen (flat pizza w/ a cream cheese, onion & ham) and wild animal food dishes. 



The vendors at this and markets alike sell items such as: home made socks, mittens, hats/scarves, wooden toys, art, jewelry, lantern stars (absolutely stunning), ornaments and more.  

Home Made Ornaments and Advent Candle wreath center pieces 




Eager buyers looking for that perfect hand made craft

Thank you so much for following my blog.

Happy Holidays

Beverly