Christmas Market 2015

We're famous!  Not me and Werner, but the market.  People come by the busload from around Germany as well as Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands and even further afield.  And now some random internet site rates Bremen as the Number One Christmas Market in Europe.  I can't vouch for their objectivity, but I also can't disagree with their assessment.

 It isn't quite and annual affair - for instance, last year we were in the USofA the whole of December -  but most years René and Rima and Amina come  here to visit the Bremen Weihnachtsmarkt - Christmas Market.

Even leaving the train station, well before the market itself, you are put in the spirit of things.

 This year we went first to the Schlacte, along the Weser, that has all kinds of restaurants and pubs and walks, now obscured by lights and booths of all sorts.

 Hats!  You know how Werner loves a hat (though I have put him on restrictions!)  But the one René tried gave us all a laugh.

And there's food, of course, and mulled wine, of course. We made a little dent in potato stores  - french fries AND potato patties AND elk sausage.

Then to the market around the old town square.  There's a sign if you don't quite know which way to go.

Lights and candles and candy and ornaments and so much to see.

 It really is a bit magical.

And then, what Amina always wants to do first, but we put it off to the last - the rides.  There are only three:  an old carousel, a very small Ferris wheel and this one that goes round and round and a bit up and down but hardly a twist. She's changed a bit over the years, but Opa looks like he always has.

And while they were whirling around, I got a hug from the big man himself!