Especially considering the fact that the "Gluhwein", which is essentially a warm spiced wine (I guess we would call it mead?) is served about every ten paces, regardless of the size of the Christmas market. It's good (the apple version is my favorite), but it also packs a punch (which, if you're like me, you may not realize until it's too late...). They also serve something that could maybe go in the same family as eggnog, but it's pretty gross. Egg liquor is not a thing that should exist. However, it's almost pure alcohol, so if a fast drunk is what you're looking for, or if you have an exceptional tolerance, that may be just the thing to order.
Anyway, the best part of all the booths at these Christmas markets is to look up at the roofs. They're decorated so extravagantly, and most of them are extremely creative. It's quite clear that a lot of the vendors spend a great deal of time thinking through their decorations during the year (or maybe they just reuse the same ideas over and over again...I have no context for comparison). They are mostly selling knick-knack type items, winter gear, food, and alcohol. I haven't bought anything other than Gluhwein, but everything smells amazing so I would assume the food is also decent. I'm sure I'll find out eventually about that element, but probably won't buy anything that can't immediately be ingested. I'm not one for scarves or ornaments, and I would question my ability to pack or ship anything home from here in such a manner that it would arrive in one piece.
Speaking of home, I am actually ecstatic about the fact that I will be going home for the holidays. My grandfather was meant to visit, and then we were going to travel through Italy, and while I am disappointed that that has had to be postponed for health reasons, it is actually a huge relief to be headed home for a bit. I really thought I could handle being away for Christmas...I've never had issues with homesickness in the past, but there's just something about being gone for this time of year that was really, really bumming me out. My family is pretty close, and we've always made Christmas special, and I think missing out on that for the first time in 23 years is just something I am not ready for yet. It also would have been pretty lonely once all my friends left for their homes. And I'm sure Nicole and the kids would have been really nice and mostly willing to include me, but I wouldn't have wanted to intrude on their Christmas. It will be so good to see my family and friends and dogs and cats and just be back in the states for a bit. I do like a lot of elements to life in Germany, but it still hasn't succeeded in passing by New Zealand or home.
Although, as far as Christmas at home goes, I could be playing off nostalgia a bit. My parents, siblings and I may want to kill each other after thirty-six hours together. Though in this case, I severely doubt it. We weren't expecting to all be together again for another seven to nine months, so this two weeks is an unexpected gift, and I think we will take full advantage of it. Plus, it means I'll get to visit the lovely Chicago Christkindl market and compare it to a real German one. I'll try to be unbiased, but that's unlikely. So I'll take photos and then you can compare them yourselves.
So, here follows a few photos from the various Christmas markets. I'll probably keep adding onto them...I've been forgetting to take pictures a lot lately, and as a result, my photography skills are not quite as good as they once were.
One of the Christmas trees for the Stuttgart market
The Nutcracker in Stuttgart. I'll let the photo speak for itself.
The Ludwigsburg market. It's the favorite of my family. But as an American, I must admit to being impressed by the sheer size and gaudiness of the Stuttgart one.
Ludwigsburg does have its own charm though...
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