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<\/a><\/p>\nFirst, let’s wrap up the Netherlands with a Christmas-specific store in Leiden. We saw just a little of Leiden and it’s now on my list of places to see again. <\/p>\n
Back in Luxembourg, we enjoyed having a Christmas Market practically on the doorstep of Anita’s workplace. Who can pass up sugary treats and hot wine?<\/p>\n For the third year, there was another Christmas market in the Place de la Constitution (under the G\u00eblle Fra). Each year, they’ve changed the formula slightly — this year, there was slightly less room for standing around with drinks and a few more children’s rides. We were excited about the Ferris Wheel — but alas, the weather never aligned with our schedules. (Not pictured, the small markets in the Gare neighborhood.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Christmas market in Trier<\/a> is a step up from Luxembourg and not far away, so we took some visitors there on a Monday afternoon. Although that’s hardly a prime time, Santa Claus still made an appearance. (In case you’re wondering, the Gift-Giving Guy in the Red Suit is considered a recent import from American culture. As far as we can tell, it’s generally considered a welcome addition to the season, although nobody wants to emulate the American extremes.)<\/p>\n Most larger Christmas markets sprawl across multiple squares. If you’re surprised by how small a city’s market is, particularly in Germany, ask a local — you might find that the best part isn’t even in the city center!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Trier is especially good for small shops selling genuinely high-quality crafts, like this brush shop. This year, we learned that the best hair for a shaving brush comes from the neck of the badger.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Back again to Luxembourg’s Christmas Market, where the central space is sheltered from the ever-present rain.<\/p>\n The shops in Luxembourg serve different desires than those in Trier, with less emphasis on craftsmanship.<\/p>\n Anita joined friends on a day-trip to Aachen’s Christmas Market, reputed to be one of the better ones in the region. Aachen is near the point where Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands meet. <\/p>\n The Aachen Cathedral is the oldest in northern Europe, established by Charlemagne and the site of 42 monarchical coronations. It contains two magnificent shrines: one containing the bones of Charlemagne and the other a variety of relics (including Jesus’s diaper)<\/a>.<\/p>\n \nAnita said that the two-story-tall, inflatable gingerbread-man was nearly as impressive as the Cathedral itself. I wish I could have seen it for myself.<\/p>\n The Christmas Market in Luxembourg left town on Christmas Eve, leaving a quiet period before New Year’s Eve, or as we say in Europe, Saint Sylvester’s.<\/p>\n We didn’t attend any formal fireworks, but our neighbors provided quite a show, lighting some impressive rockets and roman candles in the middle of the streets.<\/p>\n I prefer for the decorations to stay up well into February, particularly in a place where we get very few hours of sunlight each day, and for months, the parks look like this: The lights seem to help just a little bit with the gloom of January.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The trees in front of the cathedral are especially dazzling<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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