Munchen Christkindlmarkt

Choir Performing in Marienplatz

Leaving the Augsburg Market, we are now driving back to Munich to visit our last market.  Our GPS gal takes us into Stadtmitte without any problems and we secure a handicapped parking space right by the market.  I have a temporary placard because of the bursitis in my hip.  We arrive just in time to listen to the brass band and choir singing from the balcony of the Altes Rathaus in the Marienplatz.  

There are many stalls with traditional German and Austrian decorations.  The exterior of most of the stalls are basic--nothing fancy or particularly attractive. 

Laser Cut Wood Ornament

This market is along the entire length of the pedestrian zone and requires a lot of walking.  During the week, the stores in this area are also open.  A few stores have animated window displays for the children.  


The Kripperlmarkt.  At the far end of this market (away from Marienplatz), the Kripperlmarkt, one of the largest in Germany, specializes in cribs and other Nativity accessories.  It has been part of this market since the mid-18th century.  

The Kripperlmarkt has everything you need to start, or add to, your own authentic manger.  Each booth has their own Italian carvers and, therefore, the figurines are depicted and painted differently.  After about an hour at a booth, Melissa carefully purchases a Holy Family and one lamb.  Why a lamb and not a donkey?  A very lovely, older German woman was standing next to Melissa when she was looking at the figurines.  When the sales person showed us the lamb, the German woman said "shon" and insisted that Melissa buy that particular lamb.  When Melissa turned and looked at the woman, she saw that she looked a lot like Grandma Peg whom we lost in August.  It was an easy decision from there on.  The figurines are beautiful and will last a lifetime.  People come back to this market every year and purchase one or two more pieces to add to their Nativity.  Guess we'll have to come back next year.  

We sip our last mug of gluhwein and enjoy a wurst mitt brotchen and pommes frittes.  

As the market comes to a close, Melissa and I traverse the streets searching for Munich's famous Hofbrauhaus.  This well-known beer hall is very big but completely full.  After almost giving up, we find a place to sit.  

Melissa is talking to Americans to the left of her and I am having a conversation, sort of, with the drunkards from Dusseldorf next to me.  I am told that the "oom pa pa" music we are listening to is not German music, it is Bavarian music just for the tourists.  

Brian sends a text wondering if we are in our hotel and packing.  Hmmm, not yet.  

 

We locate our car, and reset the GPS for the Best Western Parkhotel in Erding.  It was about a 35 minute drive. The hotel is located in a nice, small town by the bahnhof and about a 20 minute drive to the airport.  We are able to park the car for free in a well lit lot across the street next to the bahnhof.  The room was very nice and modern and the staff was pleasant.  After repacking our luggage, we set the alarm for 5 a.m. and I eventually fall asleep.  

On the way to the airport, we fill up at a local gas station that is open and has an attendant 24/7.  This is always a concern when you have an early morning flight.  Our credit cards do not have a chip in them so you have to find a gas station with an attendant.  

Even though it's 6 a.m., EuropCar has attendants checking in their rental cars.  I'm impressed.  

Loved Our Automatic, Diesel Opel

After taking pics of the car, we attempted to check in my overweight bag and reduce the weight of our carry-on bags. Thank goodness we had held back one of our check-in bags so that we could transfer stuff into it from the carry-on bags.  We are flying on Air Berlin and their size and weight of carry-on bags is a lot less than American Airlines.  This is typical of European airlines.

Our Air Berlin flights back to the States were okay.  We flew from Munich to Dusseldorf to LAX.  These Sunday flights were full.  The food was just o.k.  This airbus had video screens on the headrest in front of you which had a good selection of movies, TV shows and games.  However, I would not fly Air Berlin again unless I have no other option.

After getting through another set of long lines for passport control and customs at LAX, we emerge to hugs and flowers from Brian and the kids.  They were happy to see their mom.  

Augsburg Weihnachtsmarkt

Augsburg Market with the Perlachturm (Perlach Tower) in the Background

After wishing Frau Ballwein a Merry Christmas and thanking her for our stay, we set the GPS for Augsburg which is about 40 km west of Munich. This is our last day in Germany and we would like to visit a few more markets before checking into the Best Western Parkhotel in Erding.  It is raining but there are clear skies ahead.  We stop at a grocery market in Grodig and make a few last purchases of items we don't have in the States such as Mohnfuelle which is poppyseed for kolach.  After pre-packing our luggage last night, we still have room for last-minute purchases.  Another advantage of traveling by auto instead of train. 

Once again, Melissa and our GPS gets us into Stadmitte and straight to the market.  It's a Saturday and the market is very crowded.  Reminds me of the days that Steve and I would visit the Nuremberg market in the 1970s.  We would shuffle through the market and alert each other if we wanted to make our way to a stall. 

A Bit of Autobahn Anxiety?

Augsburg Laser Cut Ornament

  
The aromas are intense and I'm reminded to enjoy the ambiance of the market because we are leaving tomorrow.  As we shuffle through the market, there are booths with Advent stars, smokers, spinners and ornaments.  

German Advent Christmas Stars

The Advent stars are very unique and beautiful.  They come in a variety of colors, designs and number of points.  The light that makes the star glow is not conducive to the States electrical outlet, so we purchase one without the electrical cord.  This way they are a lot less expensive.

The stalls that stir up candy coated nuts always have a strong, sweet aroma. This gentleman seems to enjoy his job.  There are several styles of gluhwein mugs at this market and we enjoy our holiday brew in a frosted mug with scenes of Augsburg imprinted on it. 

Rathaus and Perlach Tower in the Background of Market

Along with the large wooden spinner towering above a gluhwein stand, there are several beautiful buildings in amongst some modern ones.  The 17th century Rathaus and the 258 foot tall bell tower with foundations dating back to the 11th century, is a beautiful backdrop for this market.  The nearby pedestrian zone has several upscale stores.  

There are many stalls with traditional German decorations.  We can't pass up the lebkuchen hearts, one each for the kids, or the German candy. 

Melissa with Rathaus in Background

As the town's bell tower rings in the hour, we are reminded that we still want to visit the Munich market--zoom, zoom.

Strobl Christmas Market

We continue south along Lake Wolfgangsee to the market in Strobl that takes place only Friday through Sundays during Advent.  We were told at the St. Gilgen market that this is another glorious market.  After a 15 minute drive, we arrive to yet another beautiful market with the special charms of Christmas:  opulent lights, full size wooden carved nativity scene and logs burning from the inside out. 

Market Entrance

 

One of Many Logs Placed throughout the Market

There are many logs placed throughout the market that are burning from the inside out.  They produce a lot of heat and warm up our fingertips. 

Hand Carved Wood Shepherds

The life size, hand carved wood Nativity scene is beautiful.  

Wood Gatherer with Horse Drawn Cart

On the Dock with a view of the Market behind Melissa

As we stroll through this market with the snow crunching under our boots, we enjoy another mug of gluhwein and take in the scenes of Christmas.  It is truly breathtaking.  The country setting is wonderful and what I have been looking for in a market.  

Brass Band Ensemble

Snow Covered Market Stalls

A Stall with Fresh Meats

St. Gilgen Christmas Market

St. Gilgen Christmas Market

For unique and different Christmas markets in a location where I have not been in the winter time, we decided to head to Austria’s Salzkammergut area. Here, the small villages which nestle on the shores of Lake Wolfgangsee hold traditional markets that are as captivating and atmospheric as Austria’s larger, better-known markets. Each is distinctive: in this market in St Gilgen, the theme is Baroque-style art, in St Wolfgang it is lanterns, while Strobl prides itself on its authentic stalls (complete with original wooden roof tiles) and dozens of Nativity scenes.

Here at the St. Gilgen market, the warm glow of the candles adorning the windows of the square's authentically decorated buildings tells you this market is very special.  The beautiful stalls painted in a Baroque style by the artist Raja Schwahn-Reichmann creates a lovely, magical Christmas atmosphere in this Mozart village on Lake Wolfgangsee.  

St. Gilgen Market Entrance

St. Gilgen Town Hall

St. Gilgen Adventkerzen

The St. Gilgen Adventkerzen are displayed in the windows of the square's buildings.  Melissa and I cannot resist buying one for our homes.  They are beautiful and unique only to this market.  They come in various sizes and configurations, are plastic and have an electric string of lights inside.  I have not seen them for sale anywhere else.  Considering the European plug, I will need to install a short string of my own lights.

The stall facades, painted by Raja Schwahn-Reichmann, have beautiful colorful Advent scenes depicted on them.  The attached, or freestanding figurines, were inspired by 3D Baroque murals and painted ceilings. You could wander around the market several times and admire something different every time.  I have never seen such beautiful market stalls. 

     Stall facades painted by Raja Schwahn-Reichmann

With a mug of gluhwein and tasty treats in hand, we warm up by the open fire pit while we listen to the brass band ensemble play traditional Christmas music.

Very Tasty Spiral Potato Chips

We are now on our way to another market in this area, Strobl.  It's about 15 minutes away.