Europe Trip 2012/13 - A German Christmas (2)

From Munster we moved on to Osnabruck, a town heavily damaged in the war but still with some ancient parts remaining.

All these shots, apart where indicated other wise, were taken with a Lumix GH1 and 14-140 zoom lens. 

The crowds gather in Osnabruck as darkness falls

Colourful stalls to delight the eye

Gingerbread heart or chocolate covered strawberries?

Ancient buildings provide the backdrop as the party atmosphere builds

Brilliant coloured lighting down every street

And the traditional stuff as well

After Osnabruck we moved onto  Hameln, of Pied Piper fame, the sleet and freezing rain washed away the light snow on the rooftops.

Hameln's old, wet streets light up their charm

Hamelin's Rathaus and the Kirche of St Nikoli's in the rain

The Town Hall, with 24 windows dressed as an Advent Calendar

St Nikoli's church looks over the crowded stalls

The beautifully restored Kartoffelhaus im Büergerhus

Inside, imaginative Christmas decorations  gave a lovely atmosphere

Wernigerode, one of the most complete and beautifully preserved towns of half-timbered houses, with its market square and cobbled side streets, made a perfect destination for the Christmas festivities.

The Johannis Kirche was illuminated only with candles for evensong

Wenigerode's square is the perfect venue for a Weihnachtsmarkt

A magical merry-go-round for the kids

The simple messages were not forgotten

Schneeballen...if you've still got room...

This medieval band of musicians gave it their all

 

Wernigerode's darker side...



A highlight of our stay in Wernigerode was a trip on the Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen or narrow gauge steam railway up to the top of the legendary Brocken

A classic sight!

 

The white top of the broken can just be seen on the top left of the hill

Extreme freezing conditions, only on the top of the Brocken

The train to take us home arrived late, very late...

Chilled passengers hurry home





Also not to be missed in Wernigerode was the Schloss, a true fairy-tale castle

 A haunting presence on the hill, Schloss Wernigerode

The only thing missing was some snow!

Europe Trip 2012/13 - A German Christmas (1)

This year we decided to get away before Christmas and do a tour of the best Christmas Markets in Northern Germany – and hopefully get ourselves a white Christmas into the bargain!

On our way up country to see family before getting the Hull-Rotterdam ferry, we stopped off at a lovely country pub near Bristol: The Crown Inn at Winford. If you have an idea of what a proper English pub should be like, then this must come close. It's down a long narrow lane, but has a large car park.

All these shots, apart where indicated other wise, were taken with a Lumix GH1 and 14-140 zoom lens. 

The Crown Inn at Winford

Off the ferry in Rotterdam, we moved swiftly through Holland, over the Arnhem bridge, and into Germany and our first stop: Xanten.

Lumix TZ7, through the windscreen

Pitched up in Xanten

Sue surveys the magic at Xanten's market

At Oberhausen they build the Christmas village alongside a canal by a vast shopping and leisure complex – it looks a bit naff in the daylight what with the multi-story carpark and the gasometer, but when it gets dark and the lights come on...

The crowds pour in – even the gasometer gets lit up!

The bratwursts sell non-stop

The lights along the canal are fantastic. GH1

The stall displays are wonderful too... 

Then we moved on to the ancient city of Munster – a different flavour again: small markets dotted around the town.  Drift from one to another, grazing on Gluhwein and bratwurst...

Is it a bishop or Santa Claus – either way he's on a trike with lots of lights and toys!