Christmas markets everywhere!

Berlin is full of Christmas markets now. Some sell beautiful hand made goods. Our nearest Christmas market is in Tauentzienstrasse and Breitscheidplatz and is huge. It sells food, crafts, hats, and enormous quantities of Gluhwein and hot punch. I tried hot egg punch for the first time there and asked the stall holder what was in it: half egg liquer (like Advocaat) and half wine, topped with whipped cream and cinnamon! There are cherries, almonds and various other fruits soaked in spirits to add to the hot gluewein, or a dash of amaretto, rum or brandy. It is certainly warming.

 If you are hungry, there is always the half metre long bratwurst (sausage) in a baguette to fill you up.

Usually you eat or drink standing up at a high table, but there are some places to sit

Russian dolls in the Breitscheidplatz Weihnachtsmarkt

One cold evening we visited some delightful Christmas markets in Gendamenmarkt in the centre of Berlin. This one has an entrance fee of one euro, and is well worth it. There was a good choir singing carols, unaccompanied, and a marquee full of very good craft stalls, including clothes, jewellery, carvings, pottery, soaps and beeswax candles.

Lebkuchen

 

Last weekend on our way back from a bus tour of the palaces of Potsdam, we visited the Potsdam Christmas market (delightful, but more of the same). The highlight was a trio playing Vivaldi on accordians.  Also in Potsdam, we went on to a Polish market which was there for one weekend only. It was marvellous! I think I’d like to visit Krakow for a few days next December, if this one is and example of the crafts on offer. The artisans included silver smiths, sculptors, wood carvers, basket makers, potters and felt makers.There was a wonderful atmosphere as the market was held in an old, cobbled courtyard. Several stall-holders were cooking food, and a band which was suitably dressed for the occasion played Christmas music.