Christmas markets in Cologne

But first it would be amiss for me to not say how difficult it is for me to miss Thanksgiving with my family. It is a very important time and I think of all the years I assumed I'd never miss one - it's been 4 years and this day is painful for me. On a conference call with our Chicago office that day, I said, "Someone mentions turkey and I hang up!" which of course got the Americans asking, "So, what, you got no turkey in the old world?"

If any of my family is reading this, I hope you know how hard last week was for me.


There is just one thing that makes missing Thanksgiving a little bit better - the German Christmas markets.

We've got two within walking distance of my office.

I hope you'll see the wonder and charm of this quintessential German thing.

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2 blocks from my office.

It's called the Rudolfplatz Maerchenweihnachtsmarkt - a fairytale christmas market.

There are these characters on all the roofs, moving around. This one is for my dear friends up north in Delmenhorst.


First I should say that the very first stand we visited was a Marone stand - roasted chestnuts. Something I first had in Switzerland and will never forget. Have you ever eaten roast chestnuts? They're a heavenly combination of nut and potato in a palm-sized package. The vendor was meticulous - he hand picked us 10 special chestnuts and we burned our fingers and mouths trying to eat them too fast. It takes a skill which I have not learned to peel those things and eat them right. I am so impatient I always make a mess, which I do not feel guilty about letting drop to the ground considering all the cigarette butts that fall daily in Germany.

My parents have a village like this on their mantel - a centerpiece of art that changes every year. It lights up. This one does not, but I finally realized that these are actual replicas of German buildings! Amazing!

Here I am at one of the most popular places of all - the Gluehwein stand. This is where people crowd around and drink mulled wine out of theme mugs that you can either keep or return for a refund. Since this is not the first day of this market, it is not very crowded, but trust me these Gluehwein stands are uncomfortably crowded. You have to swim through a tight sea of rosy-faced people to get up there. I declined the first few times because I don't live in Cologne and I have to drive home. I enjoyed watching my manager and, especially our Chicago friend as they basked in the experience. I think it was his first Christmas market. The mulled wine is "Christmas in my mouth!" they both agreed. It truly is. I was induced to take a sip. I love Gluehwein!

These pics were taken the next day, at lunch, that's why it's so bright and uncrowded. Look, they have candy canes in Germany! I didn't know they existed here!

Little kids' heads peeking up, begging for goodies. If only some of those apples looked like what I'm used to - caramel - hello?

These gingerbread heart things are popular but to be honest I've never eaten one. People usually buy them and wear them around their necks, definitely a novelty item.

Oh, so romantic! "Cuz you're simply everything to me." I would never buy such a thing, but I do have a very cheesy-romantic gift planned for my man next March...

Give me some caramel, come on..

OH yes! These are awesome. Freshly candied almonds. I got to see how they make them, in a big hot mixer with cinnamon, etc, the almonds fry up to yummy perfection and the whole place smells heavenly! My manager went back and got a bag and insisted on sharing them, hot!, with me. I almost broke a few teeth but they're so good!

This kid is doing a very good job eating all the cholocate off his apple and not eating any apple at all. *lol*

This lady is pointing to one of the fairy tale things above us. I'm looking at the gorgeous splitter-glass candles, oh, I'm so easy to shop for, just bring me to a Christmas market and I'm good!

I love these splitter glass things.

Then I get to the paper lighted star place. OMGosh, I could fill my whole property with these and never have enough. Especially since I don't even have one yet! They are soooo gorgeous and so very German.

*swoon*

On my way back to the office I saw this kid - what looks like a 12 year old boy walking around downtown Cologne alone, with half chaps on and a velvet hunt cap strapped to his bookbag. OK then!


OK this is really enough for now. I'll have to get to the other market another day.


That one will have more pics of the yummy food I've been treating myself to these last few days.


Happy 1st advent, please remember to light a candle.