Christkindelsmärik (Part One of Many, I'm Sure)

Christmas in Strasbourg is quite a sight. Lights are strewn on all major streets and plazas, music is played in every nook and cranny, and the markets take over every empty space in the city. (And did I mention the piping hot mulled wine/vin chaud/Glühwein on every corner?!) The market has been open since Saturday, and we've made it a point to explore every evening since then.

I'll post some pictures of the city today, and post some more of some of the goodies we've found tomorrow. (And eventually, I'll post pictures from our day trips we've taken with students in the past week!)

The cathedral is always calling me to take its picture:

And Sophie was fascinated by this quartet of Santas just at the foot of the cathedral:


This is in Place Gutenberg, and is called the "Blue Tree." You can't really tell in the pictures, but there are icicles that are lit up and "drip" ice. It's hard to explain, but it's a really cool effect.


Also in Place Gutenberg is a little merry-go-round that Sophie loves. (Beware, grandparents, we've told her that she'll be able to ride it all she wants when you arrive!)

We've also told her that maybe grandparents would want to get her one of these creepy Santa balloons!


The city's Christmas tree is in Place Kleber...and it's gigantic! We watched them put it up...and it took over a week to set this baby up!

The angels at the foot of the Christmas tree:


Even the stores get into the decorating here. This is the entrance to the department store Galeries Lafayette (only a few blocks from our apartment).


The Place Broglie holds the city's official "Christkindelsmärik," which is full of stalls selling Christmas wares, gifts, food, wine, and even Christmas trees.


And we were lured to buy a real tree (even though there is a fake one from previous years in our apartment). Ian carried it across the city back to our apartment.