Weekend Christmas Markets

From Weekend Christmas Markets

We spent the final weekend before Weihnachts traveling around Germany to visit as many Christmas markets as possible. The boys love all the treats and sites.

Saturday, we were first in Cochem, home to one of the country's most scenic castles. This small city on the Mosel River had a small market in its bustling little centrum. We strolled the winding streets, sampled some wurst, and climbed to the castle.

A short drive downriver gave us an evening in Bernkastle-Kues. This beautiful town -- actually towns, like the twin cities across the river -- had a market that meandered through its streets and a huge advent calendar on the facade of one its many half-timbered houses.

Sunday took us up the autobahn to another pair of twin cities. Mainz, home to the St. Nicholas Market and a giant Chrismas pyramid was our first stop. We sampled excellent potato pancakes, hot orange juice, visited the cathedral, and the boys took a ride on a flying Donald Duck. The evening was spent across the Rhein in the town of Weisbaden. This Weihnachtsmarkt was overcrowded and even Eli found it tough to lead the way in the stroller. Still, we had enough time to play in the Schloss garden, drink some hot chocolate, and pick up a new German Christmas pyramid (you know those wooden spinning things with the candles that turn the horizontal windmills).

Late evening brought us back to 19 for a taste of home... tortilla soup, rice & beans, and a Carvel ice cream cake... oh, and an expresso fresh out of Matt's new machine!