St. Nicholas Market

Today is Nicholas Day, not an official holiday per say but a day honouring St. Nicholas, who was a very righteous, generous and God loving person, with a reputation for secret gift giving. This is why children getting up in the morning would traditionally find little gifts or sweets in their boots (and employees would usually find a chocolate santa on their desk).

We knew that something was going on in our small town: more traffic than usual, more people around, and roads blocked off. Curiously we went to see what was going on: Yes! Another Christmas market. We were hungry anyway and decided to scoop some soup.

On the left: Potato Soup for Sonja and Goulash Soup for Roland. Hmmm. On the right: Eyes closed on purpose to fully enjoy the warming pleasure of a mulled white wine.

On the side: a youth brass band playing rock music as well as traditional Christmas songs. They were really groovy (does one still say groovy?).

Open air boothes hugging the walls in the pedestrian zone. Given, that it is a temporary local market (this weekend only) is was packed, and still more bus loads of people were arriving from the surrounding towns.

A good start into the weekend!

'Tis the Season

The season of Christmas Markets… every little town has their own. Tonight we were in Gengenbach.

It is a special kind of street market in the four weeks (Advent) before Christmas, and has a many centuries long tradition. The open air stalls sell mostly seasonal items, specialty drinks and foods and winter attire, and there is often a play or a local choir singing traditional songs.

It's the season for gifts and kitsch.

The season of brass boy bands playing traditional christmas songs.

The season of unhealthy food such as torpedo noodles (gnocchi style pasta) with kraut.

The season of Glühwein (mulled wine), always good for a headache.

 Oh, and did we mention Glühwein, already?

Have a wonderful pre-Holidays-period. 

Meanwhile we'll go visit several other Christmas markets.

Cheers!

Let it Snow...

Sonja was still out and about riding on her Harley in the morning despite low temperatures and light drizzle. As a matter of fact it was still fall season in the valley, but the surrounding hills and mountains were already snow capped.

So, in the afternoon we drove up the hills to get a taste of winter. This is indeed how we like our snow best… about half an hour away, just the right distance.

The sun came out briefly, as it often does shortly before it sets, and presented us with an awesome 'light show'. We were not the only ones enjoying the breathtaking scenery.

Our car did well on the snow and ice covered roads, we didn't feel a difference. 4WD and winter tires are certainly advantageous, and we will do a lot more exploring in winter, and it feels good knowing that our vehicle can get us there safely.

We kept trudging through the deep snow and had fun like kids. (And we don't even like snow much, as it prevents us from motorcycle riding…)

Public services did a great job keeping the main roads clear, and there seemed to be no shortage of snow plowers (other than in Vancouver area…)

As we were descending back into our valley we were again greeted by the familiar green and brown of a late autumn day. And we found ourselves thinking that we are actually looking forward to experiencing this Black Forest winter wonderland.

 Life is good!