Fröhliche Weinachten! Merry Christmas! I walk out of the S-Bahn station and I'm greeted by the smell of gebrannte Mandeln (roasted almonds) and the sound of Christmas music from every corner of the Christkindlmarkt. The smells and sounds of every booth and vendor waft out from the hubbub of people. I walk past a booth overflowing with carved, wooden, Christmas figures and another with jewelry and yet another with Bratwurst (Sausage) and another and another..... I am surrounded by the chatter of excited people, the continuous chewing of people by a stand of Maroni (Chestnuts), the hum of music in the distance and the smells of all kinds. Oh, the smells, they make up the Christkindlmarkt, floating from every food vendor and wood carver. From the strong smell of wood to the smell of a burned Bratwurst to the savory smell of Mandeln. The sights are amazing, overwhelming to the eyes. Looking beyond the sea of people, I spot rows and rows of roof tops covered in shimmering lights. It starts to snow lightly and the church bell in the tower above me rings and I glance over toward the ginormous Christmas tree. Reaching almost 30ft. tall, it is covered with surrounding on lookers and a fanfare of lights. Color everywhere! An unexplainable joy rises into my heart as my senses inhale the surrounding beauty. I am standing in the middle of Munich on Marienplatz taking in the fun of the German Christmas market.
The Christkindlmarkt is an expanse of vending booths and activities that winds its way throughout the Munich central squares. I'd call it festival. It is known all around the world as Christmas time in Germany and now I understand why. It holds within it not only the smells and tastes of Christmas but, the feeling too. The moment you step out of the S-Bahn, you can feel the vibrant glow of a friendly welcome. Yes, there are people who just do it for the money and the Gluhweine (an alcoholic hot drink) but otherwise, it's just a festive event, open for the public to enjoy. We went last weekend and I tried Chestnuts that were roasted on an open fire for the first time. And almonds that were beyond delicious, heavenly, almost. That was my favorite, the warm almonds covered in sugar and served in a cute, decorative cone. I also liked the shopping. Do you know the saying, "Shop 'till you drop"? Well you could do that at a Christkindlmarkt. The booths are numerous and if you don't find what your looking for at one, you'll surely find it at another.
We wandered around to several squares and I think we found our favorites. The main Marienplatz market was one of the best with the big tree but there was also the medieval market. It was a lot smaller but in the middle there was a clown or jester to entertain the public. At first, we watched a tight rope walker cross a rope with clogs and something covering his eyes. It was amazing how may people stood there in the snow watching a guy in a clown suite try to walk a tight rope. We were packed in between a booth and more people just trying to see.
I take a deep breathe to inhale the sights once again. The tight rope walker almost falls but saves himself soon enough. So, I'm there again, standing in the middle of Munich on Marienplatz and I think, This is what traveling is about. The memories, the experiences....
You get them and you lose them but these are some that I will keep forever. Merry Christmas!
Mom and dad eating a Bratwurst from both ends! Yum! (below)
A stand filled with handmade crafts. (above)
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