Looking for the Christmas Spirit

There is almost no better way to get into the Christmas Spirit than by going to a Christmas Market!  Big cities in the U.S. are setting up their own Kriskindle Marts which can help you to get an idea, but if you can get to a European city to wander the markets, you will be awed and overwhelmed.  You won't just find Christmas markets in Germany, Stradsbourg, France and cities in Austria get in on the action as well.  Prague sets up markets too.  I even had the chance to get to the market in Bath, England and was very impressed at how it felt like a true German Christmas market.

Last year, I met up with Allison Bergstrom in Munich, Germany.  This city has no less than 5 markets!  Check out the post from last year for information on that market and a picture on the Krampus!

This year I joined up with the American Women's Club of Berkshire and Surrey for a visit to Vienna, Austria.  Another bonus is to go to the markets without the kids: first you can shop without them complaining or seeing any presents and second you can stop for a cup of mulled wine whenever you like.  The bonus for going with girlfriends is that they don't look at you cross eyed for wanting to stop at every stall in every market. 

Mulled Wine with Karen Rosenberg...always fun to have a Jewish friend at the Christmas Market!

We flew into Austria on Friday and were at the Schonbrunn Palace which was the summer palace for the Hapsburg royal family.  While the gardens are one of the most beautiful features but was cold and dreary as it was the first weekend in December, the market set in the plaza in front of the palace was bright, charming and inviting.  A tour around the market stalls tempted us with lots of beautiful treasures.  I managed to find Cameron a snowglobe for his collections and a handmade teacup for mine!  There was even time for some goulash soup in a breadbowl for lunch before we had a tour of the palace.  From there the bus collected us and gave us a tour of the city with the streetlights twinkling and the markets glowing. 

Market in front of Schonbrunn

Saturday morning we were bundled for the weather and headed to a market to start the day.  We had a bit of a walking tour with our guide, David.  The group met up by 11:00 for the Spanish Riding School show.  http://www.srs.at/en/  The show was amazing as we had the advantage of seats right along the railing of the first level.  The riders were spectacular as they led the horses artfully around the ring.  Too bad we weren't allowed to take photos!

 

We managed to find lunch in one of Vienna's beautiful cafes, where we settled for soup or salads so we had room for a torte and coffee for dessert.  Then there was plenty of time for more markets and a tour of a church before afternoon coffee at yet another cafe!  Thankfully I can always get a cup of tea since I still cannot find a palate for coffee.  With time at the Rathaus market which was so crowded we could barely move, I managed to track down a nutcraker for Cameron.  He is also starting to collect these which are much cheaper to purchase in Germany and Austria than in Chicago.  We finished off the day with dinner at Cafe Central where I managed to get Wiener Schnitzel for dinner.  I couldn't leave Austria without having it at least once.  It tasted even better sitting in a beautiful restaurant from the 1800's with gorgeous architectural flourishes and vaulting.  We were really enjoying the cafe culture of Vienna.

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Interior of the cathedral lit for Advent

A museum of Creches had an amazing collection on display for the holiday

Sunday was our last day, but we still had time to explore the city and enjoy what it could offer.  We started our morning with a church service for the first Sunday in Advent.  The bonus to the service was the accompaniment of the Vienna Boys Choir.  When you are able to sit in the stone, vaulted chapels of Europe and hear the voices resonating through the space, you understand why they were built as they were.  You truly believe that the angels stop to listen to the melodies floating to heaven. 

Thusly cultured, we had time to explore the city further and catch two other markets.  I was VERY low in Euros by this time but managed enough for a bowl of soup for lunch and still enough change for tea at yet another famous cafe!  I was able to find a few more gifts along the way as well as long as the stall accepted my credit card.  Loaded down with packages and warmed with the joy of the season, we made it back to the airport and home in time to kiss the kids goodnight.  I would only have one day to get the house ready for my parent's arrival on Tuesday!  I am ready for Christmas and all the joy the season brings!

From the Emperial Jewel Collection, this is a nail from the cross of the Crucifiction!

(Since I am writing this almost 4 months later, I am feeling like a little mulled wine, holiday music a a crackling fire!  Given the temperatures outside, I am not very far off although the daffodils are trying their best to stand up to the cold.)