For years my German friend Claudia had invited me to come and stay for Christmas. And for years I would politely decline because 1) I had other plans and 2) couldn't get the time off work. Finally, in 2011 I phoned (Claudia isn't on the internet..) and said "does that invitation for Christmas still stand as if so I'd like to come this year". And that's how I found myself in Heiligenstadt in Northern Bavaria over the Christmas holidays.
I've spent Christmas in other countries...Costa Rica, Nepal and England spring quickly to mind but this is the first time I had actually experienced a traditional Christmas in a family home.
Due to respect for Claudia and her mum's privacy there won't be any pictures of them on here.
So if you were in Germany over the Christmas holidays what would you do first? Have some glühwein (mulled wine) you say? Thought so! So off we went to the Nuremberg Christmas market. Claudia used to live in Nuremberg so I am quite familiar with it and I had been to the market way back in 1999 when I visited on a pre-Christmas trip. Nuremberg is the second largest city in Bavaria (after Munich) with a population of over 500,000 and has wonderful medieval architecture. Before we tackled the market we walked around to visit my favourite sights....
My favourite view!!! The city has its modern parts with lots of wonderful shops but I love the gorgeous old buildings.
As you can see it was a drizzly dank kind of day but we still made the most of it.
Then because you are in Germany it's time for coffee and cake ...the German cakes....oh my...we met one of Claudia's friends at a cafe in the shopping district and had a nice chat.
Now well fortified we headed off towards the market as darkness started to fall...
Traditional smoking men..you insert a piece of incense in a slot within the ornament. I bought one my first time in Nuremberg in 1983 but just use it as part of my Christmas decorations. It doesn't smoke! I wish I would have bought another one...oh well, next time!
Grilling the bratwurst...
Drinking the glühwein...I still have the mug and use it for my tea during the holiday season. (not big enough for the amount of coffee I need in the morning!) The deposit for the mug is included in the price of your drink and if you want the money back you return the mug, if not it's yours! I restrained myself to keeping one in Germany and one from the advent market in St Gilgen.
Church of our Lady in the background - built between 1352 and 1362.
So many goodies...so little time...
I even did a double take here - but the London Underground sign is actually a shop.
Christmas Eve was spent relaxing and in the morning, going for a walk along the nearby bike paths. These paths connect the towns in Upper Franconia. Rather a dreary wet day but I enjoyed the walk and with the amount of food, chocolate and wine I was shoving in my gob I needed to walk every step! I did this walk on my own as I need to get out in the fresh air...little did I know this would be my last long walk for a while....
Came back to a lovely meal of grilled sausages, warm potato salad, rolls and salad. Claudia's mum is a wonderful cook!
Time to open pressies!!!! In Germany you open your presents on Christmas Eve.
Here is a beautiful wooden hand made nativity scene (complete with candles) that Claudia gave me..I also got wonderful hand knitted socks from her mum (which I still wear to this day) and loads and loads of chocolate (I had to laugh later...as Claudia just watched me buy up Milka chocolate like a mad woman knowing full well I would even get more on Christmas!!!)...in fact my suitcase was so heavy from all my "loot" that when it fell on my right big toe (the sensitive arthritic one...) while getting off the train at my next stop (Paris) it ended any serious walking for the rest of the trip....which did not please me at all. Not quite death by chocolate (now wouldn't that be a great way to go?) - just temporary disablement by chocolate!
Later that evening we attended the Christmas Eve service in Claudia's church (Lutheran)...it was absolutely beautiful. Didn't understand a word as my German is pretty basic (to put it kindly). I will never forget the very end...the lights were turned off with just candles burning and the congregation sang "Silent Night" in German of course...I sang along..in English. It was just one of those moments in life that I will always remember...it still gives me chills thinking about it. Afterwards we slowly walked home through the town square and it was such a wonderfully delicious feeling. Back home we had more wine and more home made sweets and chocolate....and enjoyed these beautiful candles...
Below is a picture of the church and the interior taken the next day.
The next morning Claudia and her mum went to church while I relaxed and did some repacking...I had a lot of chocolate to pack!
Then it was time for Christmas lunch! Roast duck, dumplings and red cabbage. It was all good!
We then wandered around the town to try to burn off some of those calories...the duck was good and I did take more...just wanted to be cautious!!!
We walked through this square the night before after the church service...
View of the local castle that overlooks Heiligenstadt - Schloss (castle) Greifenstein...the current owner lives there and tours are available.
Another Santa trying to get into the window...I think they've got some pervy Santas in Europe!
And here's Santa walking his dog...
This was a lovely part of the walk. It was a dull dank day but hey this is life and not every day is a pretty day or a perfect day...you just have to make the most of it.
Then back to Claudia's for homemade pizza for supper and more wine and chocolate....all in all a fabulous Christmas in Germany thanks to Claudia and her wonderful mum!
I've spent Christmas in other countries...Costa Rica, Nepal and England spring quickly to mind but this is the first time I had actually experienced a traditional Christmas in a family home.
Due to respect for Claudia and her mum's privacy there won't be any pictures of them on here.
So if you were in Germany over the Christmas holidays what would you do first? Have some glühwein (mulled wine) you say? Thought so! So off we went to the Nuremberg Christmas market. Claudia used to live in Nuremberg so I am quite familiar with it and I had been to the market way back in 1999 when I visited on a pre-Christmas trip. Nuremberg is the second largest city in Bavaria (after Munich) with a population of over 500,000 and has wonderful medieval architecture. Before we tackled the market we walked around to visit my favourite sights....
My favourite view!!! The city has its modern parts with lots of wonderful shops but I love the gorgeous old buildings.
As you can see it was a drizzly dank kind of day but we still made the most of it.
Now well fortified we headed off towards the market as darkness started to fall...
Traditional smoking men..you insert a piece of incense in a slot within the ornament. I bought one my first time in Nuremberg in 1983 but just use it as part of my Christmas decorations. It doesn't smoke! I wish I would have bought another one...oh well, next time!
Grilling the bratwurst...
Drinking the glühwein...I still have the mug and use it for my tea during the holiday season. (not big enough for the amount of coffee I need in the morning!) The deposit for the mug is included in the price of your drink and if you want the money back you return the mug, if not it's yours! I restrained myself to keeping one in Germany and one from the advent market in St Gilgen.
Church of our Lady in the background - built between 1352 and 1362.
So many goodies...so little time...
I even did a double take here - but the London Underground sign is actually a shop.
Christmas Eve was spent relaxing and in the morning, going for a walk along the nearby bike paths. These paths connect the towns in Upper Franconia. Rather a dreary wet day but I enjoyed the walk and with the amount of food, chocolate and wine I was shoving in my gob I needed to walk every step! I did this walk on my own as I need to get out in the fresh air...little did I know this would be my last long walk for a while....
Came back to a lovely meal of grilled sausages, warm potato salad, rolls and salad. Claudia's mum is a wonderful cook!
Time to open pressies!!!! In Germany you open your presents on Christmas Eve.
Here is a beautiful wooden hand made nativity scene (complete with candles) that Claudia gave me..I also got wonderful hand knitted socks from her mum (which I still wear to this day) and loads and loads of chocolate (I had to laugh later...as Claudia just watched me buy up Milka chocolate like a mad woman knowing full well I would even get more on Christmas!!!)...in fact my suitcase was so heavy from all my "loot" that when it fell on my right big toe (the sensitive arthritic one...) while getting off the train at my next stop (Paris) it ended any serious walking for the rest of the trip....which did not please me at all. Not quite death by chocolate (now wouldn't that be a great way to go?) - just temporary disablement by chocolate!
Later that evening we attended the Christmas Eve service in Claudia's church (Lutheran)...it was absolutely beautiful. Didn't understand a word as my German is pretty basic (to put it kindly). I will never forget the very end...the lights were turned off with just candles burning and the congregation sang "Silent Night" in German of course...I sang along..in English. It was just one of those moments in life that I will always remember...it still gives me chills thinking about it. Afterwards we slowly walked home through the town square and it was such a wonderfully delicious feeling. Back home we had more wine and more home made sweets and chocolate....and enjoyed these beautiful candles...
Below is a picture of the church and the interior taken the next day.
The next morning Claudia and her mum went to church while I relaxed and did some repacking...I had a lot of chocolate to pack!
Then it was time for Christmas lunch! Roast duck, dumplings and red cabbage. It was all good!
We then wandered around the town to try to burn off some of those calories...the duck was good and I did take more...just wanted to be cautious!!!
We walked through this square the night before after the church service...
View of the local castle that overlooks Heiligenstadt - Schloss (castle) Greifenstein...the current owner lives there and tours are available.
Another Santa trying to get into the window...I think they've got some pervy Santas in Europe!
And here's Santa walking his dog...
This was a lovely part of the walk. It was a dull dank day but hey this is life and not every day is a pretty day or a perfect day...you just have to make the most of it.
Then back to Claudia's for homemade pizza for supper and more wine and chocolate....all in all a fabulous Christmas in Germany thanks to Claudia and her wonderful mum!
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