Germany For Christmas

January 06, 2018

Holden and Emma's Balcony

My adventures have been many during my travels. But, so have my relaxing and resting times.

Love This Little Door (and I need a rest)

My purpose for this journey was to spend Christmas with my son, Holden and his girlfriend, Emma. When they invited me to come I couldn’t quit smiling. They wanted ME to be there with them for Christmas!

Going to the Weihnachtsmarkt (German Christmas Market) was my first evening spent with Holden. Emma was performing at the theatre in Görlitz, and wasn't able to join us. It was snowing and felt like being inside a snow globe.

Some Christmas Markets Extended
Into Other Areas of the City

We walked through all the festive pathways made of cobblestones (each smooth stone about the size of tea cup saucer), checking out the small wooden booths with elaborate lighting and decorations.

An Enormous Pyramid in Görlitz
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_pyramid

The blinking lights, the chattering people, the smells coming from some of the wooden booths was magical. Chestnuts roasting, sweet breads, real Tannenbaum (Christmas trees), chocolate (in many forms or covering apples bananas, etc.).

Kielbasas cooking, German bierocks (meat-filled pastry),

Woman Making Dough for Bierocks

cotton candy, wieners, …..Holden found a glühweine (mulled wine) for himself and a special egg liqueur for me. (he says they often have their own recipes - he has his own for glühweine and it’s delicious)

Young Person Playing Christmas Music
(The snow doesn't stay long enough to make money shoveling)

Holden was so easy to be with in all this bustle and overdrive stimulation. He took me through each part of the beautifully laid out market and didn’t rush me once. In the center of the sprawling market was an ice rink. It was continuously busy with young and older people putting on their skates and enjoying the holiday time.

When I saw a white tent that said, “Kasse” I questioned Holden about it. “It says there’s cheese in that tent but I don’t see any!”

Of course he laughed and laughed. “It says that’s where you pay for the skating, not cheese! Cheese is käse.” It still makes me smile sharing this laugh with Holden. There were many times my weak German was strengthened by just those moments.

It warms my heart to hear Holden speak German. It also makes me want to keep working on learning the language for future trips. English is usually the language people know from all over, but it’s so rewarding to be able to communicate in the native language of the country I’m visiting.

We stopped at the Alpaca booth the longest. Holden seems to love Alpacas. If I would have had more time in Germany I would have taken Holden to the Alpaca farm the couple had, but it will have to wait until another visit.

We did have time for one of my Christmas gifts from Holden. He took me to Dresden to see a real puppet show. It was just what I wanted. The puppets were carved out of wood and so were most of the sets. It was all in German but I could follow much of it. The little children were sitting on a long bench in front of the set area. I felt like one of the children engrossed in the story as I leaned forward to catch every bit of the show, wondering how those puppets come alive!