A Christmas Market....a perfect day

I don't go to the world famous German Christmas markets every year, cuz J isn't a huge fan. But as an American it is possibly the best thing about Germany.



     


We went geocaching in the neighboring city of Remscheid and I remembered they have a Christmas market. (Our city is too small for one.) The Remscheid one is tiny, the smallest in Germany, perhaps. But fulfilled that craving perfectly.

While we were trudging about off trail in the woods, I started fantasizing about what I'd eat at the market.

Not by coincidence, the multi-cache J picked out for us was Star Wars themed and every station required knowledge of the films to gain coordinate numbers.

I complained to J as we trudged off trail, that you can almost miss Christmas in Germany. No radio station plays Christmas music that I know of, and my grocery store doesn't play music so I hadn't heard a single Christmas song this year, outside of my own in my living room.

I asked J what he wanted to eat at the Christmas market and he said Reibekuchen. OH yes, that is my top choice too!


     


The market is in the town hall square adjacent to a mall, where we parked. Suddenly I was immersed in Christmas. The mall remembered! There were trees thoughtfully decorated, and so many lights. And right in the middle of the mall was an orchestra warming up for a free concert. This is new! I could feel J's excitement, he's usually either playing an instrument or running the sound equipment. This he could just enjoy. And since this is Germany, he knew the conductor.

Everyone was dressed up and we were leaving bits of mud and forest where we walked. And they played Christmas carols! I said, "I'm happy, I finally am hearing a Christmas song and it's NOT that *one song*." (I'm not gonna name that one song because I wouldn't do that to you, but just know that this song is still popular in Germany for some reason and no one loathes it as much as we Americans.)

Speaking of America, there was an upside-down American flag flying in someone's garden today. It depressed me that some people have enough hate to broadcast it in front of their home.

Then we went in Saturn, which is Germany's Best Buy. J always has to go in but they'd renovated and shrank their DVD/CD section to almost nothing, thanks to Spotify, the employee said.

I found the robot vacuum section and saw this display of raised, "fenced" carpeted areas housing one robot vacuum each. A demo! It wasn't running so I turned on the Roomba. I asked J to find us some dirt, or to pull out some of his hair and place it in the area. Then I realized I had what I needed. I stopped the Roomba, opened out the dust bin and dumped all the junk onto the carpet. Then I started him up again and watched him go. Other shoppers gathered round. Then an employee came over and started discussing the pros and cons of the models. Then the Roomba lost its mind and started attacking (cleaning) its dock! That is not supposed to happen. Silly Roomba! The employee shook his head, saying that model is no good. I was having a great time - my Roomba was a game changer. Last year's Christmas present still makes me happy every other day when I use him.

Finally we exited the mall and directly in front of us was the world's smallest Christmas market, with a freaking temporary equally tiny ice rink for the kiddies! And a curling lane!? I immediately spotted a medic backpack and looked around for the medics. They were skating! *lol*

There were 3 things I had to find and luckily I found all 3. The first was roasted chestnuts. I was soooooooo excited, I haven't had them in 10 years, at least. We were cold, but the little paper sack of the chestnuts was so hot, it actually burned my hand, leaving a red mark. I couldn't even peel them to eat them directly. I stuck them in my pocket like a lump of hot coal and waited.


     


Then I found a Gluehwein stand (mulled wine) and ordered one. They are 5 Euros now! It's been a while. 2 Euros Pfand (deposit). It was great. I must admit, I paid an extra Euro for a shot of rum because that will really warm you up on Solstice.

J was at the Reibekuchen stand having trouble. Apparently the Reibekuchen deep-fryer wasn't warmed up yet. What? Why would they even turn it off? Although you could buy Bratwurst in at least 3 different booths, there was only one Reibekuchen booth, and they apologized and said to wait 15 minutes. I thought no big deal, I have my burning hot chestnuts that are almost cool enough to eat!

More and more people approached the booth asking for Reibekuchen, and were turned away. I would have waited an hour, that's how good they are.

And you can't just get Reibekuchen any old time. They are almost exclusively sold at Christmas markets. I've tried to make them myself once and failed.



     

When the time was up, J was first in line. They remembered him and gave him the first serving of 3 Reibekuchen patties, with a side of applesauce (ew). He brought them to me where I guarded a trash can/table and we burned our fingers picking them up. It was pure heaven. It has been so long! Though greasy, they kept our hands warm as we ate them.

Afterwards I went to the booth and thanked them, "I've waited so long, and they are so good!" I think I could have eaten 2 more at that point. Probably that's why they sell them in 3s.


     
Our little market today had one of these things.

Missions accomplished, J agreed to stop at our city's newly renovated Rewe grocery store for me to take a look.

Therein I discovered a brand-new American section. Very small, but omgosh, they have Best Foods mayo! (Hellmans). Sadly, in the world's tiniest container - only 250 ml, about one cup. For 2 Euros. But it's the only time I've ever seen Best Foods sold in Germany. Whenever my mom sends me some, she spends a fortune on postage.

Also found in the American section, which embarrasses me: Marshmallow Fluff (?!), Mac & Cheese (not Kraft???), Swiss Miss cocoa packets with tiny marshmallows (for almost 4 Euros so no way), baking soda (hard to find in Germany), BBQ sauce, Pop Tarts, and SQUEEZE CHEESE! I bought some, jalepeno flavored. It's embarrassing because this is the lowest end of food in America, but these stores know what novelty items Americans miss most. I miss my mayo.

So our trip to the new Rewe was a success and I thought our day couldn't get any better when we walked out of the store to see the Currywurst truck now accepts debit and credit cards. This is ground-breaking for Germany, where cash rules. If they are selling Bratwurst out of a freaking truck, and accept plastic, there is hope for Germany. I hope their business model proves to all the *real* restaurants in the country who require cash that they can actually make a profit by accepting cards.

On the drive home J performed Joy to the World, trumpet style for me. I said, "You really are ready for Christmas!"

And he promised we'd watch A Christmas Story cuz that's a family tradition for me. Try to imagine not growing up with it, but discovering it as an adult and still loving it, that's J.