Christmas Markets

We kept hearing about St. Wendel’s Christmas Market from a lot of people in the ward so when the Barney’s asked us to join them one day after church, we decided to check it out.  We went on the last day that it was open…..Why they close almost two weeks before Christmas makes no sense to me!  We were not the only ones who decided to check it out on the last day.  It was utter chaos.  Look at all the people.  It was quite miserable.  A traffic jam of people.  
Some of the cool things that make St. Wendel’s Market different than others is the reindeer they have and a live nativity.    The reindeer antlers were really interesting.  Almost scaly, and shedding layers.  Way fun to be up close!   We didn’t get to see the nativity because it was way too crowded.
 
Everyone watching the reindeer intently:   Ridge, Cannon, Jake, Sage, Hanna, Josh, Carter, Jared and Cole.  The Barney’s have 6 kids. 

This market also had a bunch of these little puppet/ people and scenes set up. The kids got a kick out of the hospital one where a little person’s bare bum was getting a shot.

Hanna brought “Flat Stephanie” that she got in the mail from an activity days girl in Utah so she could take a picture and include it in the journal that she is keeping to send back to the girl in Utah. 

As the sun set and all the lights came on it was really beautiful. 

One night we girls hit the K-town Market for GNO.  We pretty much tried one of everything!  (Except Bonnie who has amazing will power. She is doing The South Beach Diet right now bless her heart).  Christmas Market food is great….Garlic bread, Dampfnudeln, cinnamon bread, soup, lots of yummy choices.  These girls are so much fun….we left after a bit to chat and hang out at Rebecca’s house.  Me, Annie, Rebecca, and Bonnie.  

Christmas Markets also sell items.  These stars are really iconic at Christmas time.  They have kinda grown on me and I think I will have to get a few before going back to the States.  They also have lots of jewelry, wooden carved toys, scarves, hats, gloves, etc.  We bought some scarves and hats this night for gifts and had fun trying on all kinds of scarves.  Europeans really get into their scarves! 

I found it interesting that people were just hanging out in front of this”fire in a basket”.  It looked cozy enough! 

A shot of the market and the wares for sell.  I hit this market several times in the season. It has a H&M by it that we shopped at once during December, Carter’s band played here, and then this night. I knew where all the good food was by the third time around!