One of the many things I like about Germany is the traditional Christmas market. They have such great atmosphere and are so beautifully decorated that I just love walking around and looking at the stands. Most villages these days have little cabins so that the traders don’t have to freeze their butts off in the snow and rain. It’s still damn cold in the huts, but they have little heaters and Gluhwein to keep them warm.

Gluhwein is the second reason I usually go to the market, curry wurst being the first. But this year I went all sensible like and took photos for YOU. When I got home and put them on the computer, I realized that my evening photography skills need some serious work. Take this photo for instance: this is the normally very beautiful “Forchtenberg by night” – I need to mention this as it’s not really possible to see this from my photo. (And just as an aside, it wasn’t snowing, that’s just dirt on my lens…) Now click this link http://www.forchtenberg.de/ and you will see what it actually looks like.

While on Forchtenberg’s website I decided to see what interesting information I could add to my already wonderfully interesting blog and was linked to Wikipedia (my favorite site of all) and there I discovered a real problem. They list the first mayor as Johanns Georg Matheus Haag, in office in about the mid-1700’s. Then the next entry is Mayor Haag in about 1810 – well what about the 510 years in-between? I mean really, where is all this German efficiency when they can’t even get the mayors list done properly.

I also linked to the English site by Gwyneth Daniel and if you are interested in the history of places (i.e. intellectual stuff), her site is very good, and she gives places to stay and eat. I have eaten at Winkler’s Weinstube and enjoyed the food and company served there. I had forgotten what it’s like not to speak German and Gwen’s site reminded that it is very hard to find an English speaker in the area. English is becoming more widely spoken though and people are so friendly and kind (in spite of all our preconceived ideas about Germans!) that it’s worth visiting the place.

Or just look at these photos and imagine you’re here with me, enjoying good German food and wine. This coming weekend there are a few more markets and I shall take photos of said food and drink – will do so at the start of the evening as my photographic skills are bad enough. They were having a discussion on the radio today as to how many glasses of Gluhwein one can drink and then still drive. One person said one - one per hand I’m assuming, plus one for the road, and… And now it’s time for me to go and pour myself an “Absacker” or (badly translated) “faller-over” or (better translated) the last drink of the evening. Check out this site for some examples of this truly German word. http://ericthansen.blogspot.com/2007/02/absacker.html

Now check out a few more Forchtenberg Christmas market photos!!