Thursday, December 24, 2009

Germany is the place to be in December

Well!  Tim and I were scheduled to return home to Seattle on Sunday, but our connecting flight to Philadelphia was canceled because of all the snow, and the airline told us we'd have to wait another 3 nights before they could fly us home. Here I was, so pleased that we had fit all of our activities, visits, shopping, etc into just under a week - I had it timed perfectly.  I was completely unprepared for this, not to mention that we'd both miss more work, need to rebook our hotel, have to extend our already busy catsitter, etc.  To top it off, Tim's suitcase didn't make it back with us on the return trip (yet - hopefully).  Such is life.  But really, if you're going to be stuck someplace in December (and you are the type that celebrates Christmas), let it be someplace in Germany, as they really know how to do Christmas right!  Some trip highlights:


Christmas markets are seemingly around every corner in Munich. Much is for sale:



handmade wooden Christmas smokers, pyramids, and ornaments...


candy and chocolate...



and Gluhwein, a spiced hot red wine, essential for keeping warm on a chilly winter evening. There is an alcohol-free version too (Kinderpunsch), but it just isn't the same...


We also visited the town where my mom grew up - Kirchberg an der Murr (near Stuttgart).  Her brother and a few other relatives live there, it was nice for Tim to meet my the German side of my family and have a peek into that part of my background.

This is my cousin Nina and I at the Christkindlmarkt in Ludwigsburg, a neighboring city.  It was about -10C (14F) that morning.



If you like meat, you will love Germany; there are butchers everywhere.


We saw this guy in a Munich subway station one night - he was wearing a loden green green Bavarian cape and had an owl on his arm.  He was fielding questions from all the fascinated people who gathered round and some people even pet the owl.  You don't see that every day.



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If you emailed me during the past week, please be patient while I catch up :) I will respond to you in the next couple days.

14 comments:

Karin said...

Oh yes, Germany is very Christmas-y indeed. If we can, we always hop over there (I'm in Holland) for a Christmas market. I hope you have a lovely time, even though things turn out differen than you planned.

Merry Christmas!

Trudy said...

Sounds wonderful. Merry Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Glad you enjoyed it. I live in Hamburg but Munich is almost as beautiful :)

Taly said...

Oh, I am jealous!!!! I grew up in Munich, but have not been there or almost 20 years. I would love to go to a Christkindlmarkt!!!! Beautiful experience.

Uta said...

So my Christmas obsession isn't that individual but a national attribute? Hmmm... I'm glad you had such a good time!

meredithp said...

Sounds like fun, although longer than you expected.

Happy Holidays!

Ann Made Studio said...

Merry Christmas!

Tracey said...

Wow, such great pictures. It is my dream to visit Germany some day. Looks like you had a wonderful time. Hugs, Tracey

TM said...

Hi,
nice that you liked it here in germany :)
Glühwein is the best thing in winter :)

Best wishes fom Hamburg

Ay

cidell said...

I MISS GLUHWEIN! My mom and I just decided to be in Germany for Christmas two years from now. This made me so nostalgic. Thank you for posting photos and sharing.

Cindy May said...

now you can tell the baby, she's been to Germany!! yay!

Lara900 said...

sorry you got stuck (and for three days!) -- and glad you enjoyed Germany in December. December is the month of the year that I get really homesick for Germany -- not even Christmas, because I can do that allright at home, but the month of December and all the preparations everywhere and the scent of cinnamon, Gluehwein, vanilla, cookies....

Happy New Year to you!

Lara, in Paris
(who grew up in Germany...)

Kiraph said...

What a great excuse to extend your holiday! All the pictures look beautiful. I am so jealous.

AllisonC said...

Sorry your travel plans got messed up but it looks like you had a wonderful time - a picture postcard Christmas!