The Christmas Markets, Chemnitz Germany

Friday 29th November 2019 – Part Two
Then out into the cold, it is feeling like snow tonight. We walked around the stalls for a little bit and then Benny had a Gluhwein and I had a Heiss Schokolade with cream. Yummy! You have these to warm up your hands, so you are supposed to drink slowly but I forgot that bit as it was so yummy. We shared all different kinds of market food so that I could sample as much variety as possible. Handbrot, Spatzel and champignons, Knoblauchbrot and finishing off with a waffle with Nuss-Creme (nutella). Benny had another Gluhwein and this time I had a hot Apple and cinnamon drink. It was so cold. A very big day as we didn’t get home until about 9pm. i walked about 8.5km today.

: Performers at the Christmas Markets

: Erzgebirgshaus shop sells handmade wooden ornaments..

: ..craftsmen making an ornament.

: Many different decoration stalls

: Embroidery Christmas decorations

: A gluhwine stall where you can drink hot wine and stay out of the cold a little.

: Glühwein is THE Christmas market mulled wine that has become a beverage synonymous with Christmas itself.

: ..they also sell kinder punch (sickly sweet) – non alcoholic fruity spins on Glühwein like cherry or raspberry flavours.

: ..and my heiss schokolade.

: Benny buying his gluhwein..

: Handbrot stall – our first course..

: Handbrot is a bread filled with melted cheese and ham. Originally invented in Dresden in Germany’s eastern region of Saxony around 20 years ago, it is now available all over the country. The filled bread is usually baked in a wood-fired oven over beech wood.

: The new town clock.

: View of the markets from above..

: ..at the top level of Galleria..

: ..where we went to thaw out for a little while.

: Chocolate covered fruit doesn’t sound very German but these are popular during the Christmas Market season. There’s your typical strawberries, blueberries, but also chili peppers and gooseberries.

: Our second course was champignons..

: ..and Spätzle is the famous Germany dish that’s egg noodles that are boiled and then pan-fried in butter. You can add toppings like chopped ham or fried onions.

: Knoblauchbrot – our third course..

: ..Cooking the garlic bread for Knoblauchbrot..

: ..Knoblauchbrot is German garlic bread that’s pan fried in butter (a lot of butter) and then smeared with a generous topping of sour cream. You can then top it with fried onions, corn, spicy chilli sauce, and olives.

: Sausages and more sausages. We didn’t indulge this time..

: ..nor did we have langos..

: ..or choc covered fruit sticks. They were 5 euros for 4 strawberries.

: Apparently you have to have stollen at the German Christmas Markets or at least buy it and put it in your luggage to eat when you get home. It’s a dense, fruit Christmas cake that can be savoury (with olives) or sweet (dried fruit and nuts). The most common flavour is with raisins and walnuts. Benny’s favourite is cranberry. I will let you know what it is like as I am having it for morning tea on Sunday.

: Our desert for the night was a waffle. Luckily we shared all four courses as I would be way too full otherwise.