Wednesday 27th November 2024
Kristen and I managed a run in the morning and a plate of stir-fry vegetables for lunch. Yippee! We are missing our veggies so much as bread and potato are the staples here. We then had a little rest for half an hour before heading out with Benny and David after work again at about 2.30pm. Today’s adventure is back to Dresden and their Christmas Markets. Kristen managed a little Nanna nap on the way again today which has enabled her to survive on this whirlwind trip we are on. I have enjoyed these times getting to know David.

The Dresden Christmas Markets are also amazing, with lots of the same stalls but also some very different ones. Again, we looked and many decorations and enjoyed some new food. Today Kristen and I shared a roll with ox cooked on a spit and a crumbed melted brie in a hot pita bread.  It was all really yummy. Kristen tried a different glühwein which was a little nicer than the night before, it had an apple flavour. I once again had hot chocolate. We enjoyed all the traditional Christmas stalls and also visited the Medieval section which was quite dark in decoration and was different, with bow and arrow activities and lots of interesting goods to buy. We met Helena for a drink and chat and it was lovely to hear how her life was going now. Wilhelmina is now 6 and shares her mothers enjoyment of dance, performing with her mother on the weekend. Helena is still dancing on Saturdays and Sunday, with a 31 hour job as a PE teacher. At the end of the night, I indulged in a decadent hot chocolate with nougat and whipped cream. This was made on thick melted chocolate and was divine. A very expensive treat but worth it.

The market closed promptly at 9pm and we were on our way again at 9.52pm on another hour train ride. Yet another very late night. I was comatose again on the train. Benny must be so tired also as he is working as well as entertaining us.

Dresden Christmas Market
Home to the oldest Christmas market in Germany, Dresden does Christmas like no other city. During the day, the city is much like any other in the winter — gray, chilly, empty streets. But come evening, the city transforms itself into a Christmas wonderland. Like many major German cities, Dresden boasts more than one Christmas market. The Old Town has multiple markets that seem to merge into one never-ending mass of holiday cheer. Everywhere you look there are lights strung up, towering Christmas trees decked with shiny baubles, and permeating the air is the smell of candied nuts and mulled wine!

Dresden´s Striezelmarkt
Dresden’s residents love their Striezelmarkt. Since 1434, the market has preserved its distinctive character despite a few changes. The world’s largest Erzgebirge step pyramid, which made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999, is 14.62 meters tall and can be seen far and wide. More than 2.5 million people visit the romantic Altmarkt Square every year.

Winterlights of Dresden
The Christmas market on the Prager Straße represents the southern entry to the Christmas city of Dresden and invites to strolling on Dresden’s best known shopping mile. The market, which is called “Winterlights of Dresden” since 2012, also offers a light highlight next to numerous sales stands with regional specialties from Dresden and surroundings. The 15 meters high Christmas tree is lit fantastically, the whole show musically still framed every evening. A “winter light world” enchants children as well as adults. The house of Santa Claus stands below the crossways stairs. Two rustic child merry-go-rounds for the little visitors are built in the middle section of the market, next to the Pullman Hotel.

Christmas markets at the Frauenkirche
A Christmas shopping excursion thus also takes you past the traditional Christmas market at the Frauenkirche. Traditional products like pottery, glassware and lace from the Vogtland region are sold on Münzgasse. The eight-meter-tall climbable pyramid, covered in handmade wooden figurines, is the main attraction of this small market. In order to bridge the waiting time until Christmas for the little ones, Santa Claus comes daily from 4 pm and has a surprise for every child.

Medieval Christmas Market
his market takes place in what were once the stables of the palace. Craftsmen sell goods made with traditional medieval tools and everyone wears medieval clothing.

Gebrannte Mandeln (Roasted Almonds)
Fresh almonds roasting in the pan with plenty of sugar!! Paper cones overflowing with candied almonds are the perfect interim snack while browsing the stalls looking for your next caloric-laden dish!