Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Amsterdam: Part 1
I was going to write a lengthy post about Amsterdam, but Alec managed to sum it up brilliantly: http://alec.typepad.com/alecs_digital_peephole/2005/12/amsterdam.html
For those too lazy to click, here is a teaser:
"Han ordered us some Chinese specialty. Twelve plates of food later we were ready to dig in."
For those too lazy to click, here is a teaser:
"Han ordered us some Chinese specialty. Twelve plates of food later we were ready to dig in."
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Weihnachtsmarkt
The Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market) is an important tradition throughout Germany. Nearly every city, it seems, has some sort of outdoor market with numerous booths selling German chocolates, Christmas trinkets, sausage, Glühwein, and other warm drinks.
In Osnabrück, the market spans a few streets and parts of the Fußgängerzone (Walking-only street). Booths crowd the small cobblestone streets between the old buildings of the Altstadt, the only part of the city that lasted through World War 2. Large Christmas trees tower over the booths in some parts of the market, with long strings of lights coming off of the tree and continuing down the street. The whole place has a unique smell of pine tree, wine, chocolate, and sausage.
Despite the cold weather and snow on the ground, it's fairly easy to stay warm off of the Glühwein (Warm, spiced red wine) or Lamumbas (spelling may be wrong, it's hot chocolate with rum).
The whole affair has an atmosphere that isn't a Christmas-y baby-jesus type of feeling. It is one of tradition and simply having a good time in the holidy season, one I find very easy to enjoy and feel a part of.
In Osnabrück, the market spans a few streets and parts of the Fußgängerzone (Walking-only street). Booths crowd the small cobblestone streets between the old buildings of the Altstadt, the only part of the city that lasted through World War 2. Large Christmas trees tower over the booths in some parts of the market, with long strings of lights coming off of the tree and continuing down the street. The whole place has a unique smell of pine tree, wine, chocolate, and sausage.
Despite the cold weather and snow on the ground, it's fairly easy to stay warm off of the Glühwein (Warm, spiced red wine) or Lamumbas (spelling may be wrong, it's hot chocolate with rum).
The whole affair has an atmosphere that isn't a Christmas-y baby-jesus type of feeling. It is one of tradition and simply having a good time in the holidy season, one I find very easy to enjoy and feel a part of.
