Christmas Markets

I know there have been a few people breathing down my neck trying to get me to post some pictures from the Christmas season. Well, here you are! I got to stop by about six Christmas markets this season, and I am already excited for next Christmas. (I would love to come back, don't know if possible, but eventually.) As for now, I will write this post and share what I've seen with you! (Sorry that some of the pictures aren't the best quality, but they were taken with an iPhone in one hand and, more than likely, a crepe in the other.)

The first stop for Christmas markets was Bad Kreuznach! It is the city in which I am currently living and a friend of mine here was bored one day, so we thought we would go into the city. We did not know that the market was already up and running and decided to stop by when we saw it. This was the sign that gave us the hint of there being a Christmas market.

NOW! At these wonderful little hoedowns there are so many different booths! Some of them sell food, some of them sell clothes, and some sell just about the most random things you could think of! My favourites were the booths that had all of the wooden handmade items!

The second stop I made was just down the road in the village that I live in! It was small but still very festive!

Third stop was made in Wiesbaden! One of the largest that I got to see other than Heidelberg. The market as a whole took up about four or five blocks of space. There was a concert going on, a huge carousel, great smells from every direction, and just about every type of gift you could ever think of getting for someone.

Forth stop was in Mainz! Now before coming to this market, I had never been to Mainz. I ended up driving there alone, in the dark, and by myself. Needless to say I got lost. It wasn't the first time that the cars GPS had led me astray, but thank God I have a phone with a GPS! I looked up the market on the internet, searched for a parking house near the market, and started driving. I found the parking house, but still had no idea which way to walk to find the market. If you're ever in a large city alone after dark always look for the large main roads!!! They will literally save your life! Long story short, I managed to walk in the right direction and find the market. It was just outside the most beautiful cathedral that I have seen in Germany so far! (I said this to my host family and they replied with the fact that I have yet to be to Koln.)

Fifth on the list is Rudesheim! Just a ferry ride away from Bingen am Rhein! If you're a fellow musician like me then you will join me in the fact that I still get happy when going to Bingen, not only because it is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful there, but also because of Hildegard von Bingen! Speaking of Bingen, I promise to return to number six, but because we are already in the area, I'll just tell you that I did in fact stop by the Bingen's Christmas market, but I was shopping at the time and had no free hands for pictures.

And as promised, my number six...... Heidelberg! One of my favourite cities visited thus far! Words cannot express how beautiful it was, so I will let my pictures (no matter how poorly taken) show you! There is also a lovely drink that is sold at all of these shindigs called "Gluhwein"! It is similar to a mulled wine and is absolutely perfect for walking around in the cold weather! The wine is served in a cup that has something to do with the city in which the market is being held, it has the name of the city, and of course, something Christmassy! I tried to get a cup from each of the markets even if I did not have the wine (not a very good idea when you've to drive back home), and I have a very cute collection of three cups!

Those are my markets but I promise a second post on Christmas and New Years! Bis Dann!!