Holiday/Christmas market round-up

As our season of markets comes to a close with our trip back to the States, I wanted to leave you with a few pics that didn't seem to fit anywhere, but I still wanted to post for you (including the Moose from the Residenz market and a picture of that finished felt ball wreath!) :

Our friend D enjoying her Blut Orange punch

Icicles!

Horse drawn carriage at the Chinese Tower market

The famous Moose at the Residenz market

My favorite gargoyle-a wintry pic

The Christkindl Tram- Gluehwein can be purchased whilst riding!

The official poster of the market season 2010

Eierpunsch

Seen outside the new Kiehl's store..I guess this is what happens when you don't use lotion...

the results of my felt ball wreath undertaking...

our tiny little ten euro tree

Hoping that you and yours had a wonderful holiday...whichever holiday you choose to celebrate.  See you in the new year!

Weihnachtlicher Mittelaltermarkt

This Medieval themed market is located at Wittelsbacher Platz, near Odeonsplatz.  We make it a point to visit this market every year because it is a little wacky-with wood nymphs, jesters and knights on horseback walking about....

But mostly, we come for the food:  meat and pastry kebabs, baked apples, fried apples, meaty stews.....

The atmosphere is fun and the people friendly...

  And, you can buy and animal butt purse, complete with legs...

Or watch a side show tightrope act...

No matter what you come for, the circus style atmosphere is worth at least one visit during the Christmas market season!

Schwabinger Markt @ Muenchner Freiheit

This is one of my favorite Christmas markets...the outstanding thing about this one is that everything here is handmade and local-ish...brought in from all over Germany. 

I think that the pictures tell the story better than I can.....

Mistletoe bunches for sale

On each stand is a sign which reads..."Handmade in...."

Located at the Muenchner Freiheit Ubahn station in Schwabing...this one for me is not to miss!

Rindermarkt Market

Just off of the main city square at Marienplatz, and on your way to Sendlinger Tor, there is a little market that is almost completely devoted to selling Nativity Scene characters and props.  People come with lists of what they need to complete their home Nativity Scene, or Krippe.

You need a Nativity lobster?  This is the place to go to buy it...

You can also sample some Gluehwein at a most unusual stand, which is modeled after what the Germans call a pyramid...you know, that thingy with the candles that the heat from the flame makes the propellers on top go around?  Here is a more than life sized version. That sells mulled wine.

I couldn't leave this market without sampling my favorite cherry concoction...

Which can be sampled by the open fire pit, if the alcohol doesn't do the trick in warming you up!

Springerle blocks

The other delicacy that they are known for in this market is the Feuerzangenbowle:  a powerful punch that is laced with the drippings of a sugar block that is soaked in rum, set ablaze and allowed to drip into the punch. 

Here is one of the people at the stand pouring the rum and keeping the sugar lit...this punch packs a powerful punch and is a favorite amongst the ex-pat community here in Munich!  One of these will absolutely keep you warm on a cold market day! Makes me wish that I liked rum....

Christkindlmarkt am Marienplatz

What do you get when you cross the beautiful Rathaus in Marienplatz with tiny huts selling ornaments, various other sundries, Gluehwein and sugared nuts?  A big, bustling Christkindlmarkt in the city center! 

I couldn't help myself from posting these pictures with the blue sky as backround...with all of the snow we have had, we have had a lot of cloud cover, but this is a great reminder for later that we actually had some sun...

Oh, I could have bought about a million new ornaments at this market...but I restrained myself, as we had just a little tiny tree this year, and only for a week before we left.  You see, I was feeling melancholy about not having any Christmas decorations up this year (except for the felt ball wreath, which came out very nicely, but is another story all together), and with the Hub traveling so much...it didn't seem like we would get one.  But, as I was shopping with friends in Karstadt, I found a lovely little pre-lit tree for ten euros!  (will post pics on a holiday round-up...I am digressing from the original post topic!)

I have mentioned before that this is the most touristy market because of the size and also its home in the city center.  To only have visited this one would be a shame, but to not have made it to this one while living here would be a crime.  The huge tree, the beautiful setting: all ingredients for a nice market.  Here is a pic from the inside tunnel of the Rathaus which leads into the courtyard...but this angle is looking out into the main square.

Just one of the many stands selling sugared nuts...we also found one that was selling pumpkin seeds roasted in chili...Scharf!  Spicy!  Goodness!

I love this Gluehwein stand which imitates it's own backround:  the Frauenkirche...but their towers are not covered in scaffolding!

And, if you look hard enough, you might just find the best macaroon you have ever eaten!