Frozen Rothenburg to Lovely Ulm Christmas Market

Peering out of our window in the morning, we see the newly fallen snow on the streets and rooftops.  We have a hearty buffet breakfast in the pine laden attic breakfast room.  Our breakfast has a large variety of cheese and meats from their market downstairs.  We return to the market and stores to buy a few gifts.  The town is beautiful with the fresh snow.  

Laser Cut Wood Ornament

We are now driving south on the autobahn to the Ulm Christmas Market.  Since we were delayed one day, we have to adjust our itinerary and bypass the Stuttgart and Esslingen markets.  The limbs of the fir trees along the autobahn are drooping from the weight of the snow and the aspens have a layer of ice.  It truly is a winter wonderland scene. 

Finding Ulm Stadtmitte, where the market is located, is easy with the GPS.  As we enter the market, there is an animated Steif Bear display in the children's area.  This market has beautifully decorated stalls with each row having a theme that is displayed along the roof's eves.

Steif Bear Display

The stalls are in front and along the side the Cathedral.



Ulm Muenster is the tallest church in the world and is the best example of Gothic church architecture in Germany.  At 161 meters, Ulm's Cathedral has the tallest spire in the world.  Construction on the Cathedral began in 1377.  The spire was added in 1890 and towers over this market making it a perfect backdrop.  On the outer edges of the market are modern day buildings. 

There is a nice variety of goods.  The typical German decorations such as smokers, spinners and ornaments are available along with specialty craftsman goods.  In front of the Cathedral is a nativity with live animals.  We indulge in a mug of gluhwein while shopping for German speculese cookie molds.  

Nativity Scene with Live Animals

Melissa at Market Entrance

After enough gluhwein to warm us up and a few special purchases, we venture out back onto the autobahn to brave the constantly changing weather.  The snow is now accumulating and there are patches of ice on the road.  What I love about German drivers (and there are many things), is that they assess the situation and they all slow down and take it easy.  They don't zoom on by with the attitude that these road conditions are no big deal.  It takes us a while to get to our Gasthof, Erkheimer Landhaus, in Erkheim.  I like to stay in small towns in a country setting on the outskirts of the larger cities.  Thank goodness for our GPS.  She is a life saver. 

Gasthof Erkheimer Landhaus is your typical lodging with a restaurant downstairs.  The owner is the chef and we are looking forward to his culinary talents.  Unfortunately, upon check in, we are told the restaurant is closed for a private Christmas party.  We get directions for a restaurant in the next town and head back out onto the icy roads. 

At Brauerei-Gasthof Laupheimer in Westerheim we had a wonderful schnitzel meal (of course) with starters of soup and a glass of wine. 

 

We dined in the back room because they were also catering a Christmas party.  We passed up the traditional Christmas plate of duck.  It was nice to sit and relax after a lot of driving. 

Back at the Gasthof, our room is large and cozy.  We discover we have black out blinds.  Wish we could really sleep in.

Melissa relaxes while I return to the streets of this cute town for a walk in the snow.  With my new Keen boots, I hear the crunching of the snow beneath my feet and enjoy the cold wind on my face.  I pass simple, but beautiful lights around and in the homes of this quaint town.  

Charlie Brown trees in the yards with a string of lights, lit up stars or an arch of candles in the windows decorate these homes.  So simple but so beautiful under the moonlit sky.  It's so still and quiet and when the church bells ring at the eleventh hour I decide I better return to the room.  Guten Nacht.