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On Sunday we went to the Regensburg Christmas Market – not the big one at the palace, but the smaller one in the city center by St. Peter’s Cathedral. It was a beautiful winter day in Germany and we took the train so we could enjoy watching the countryside fly by, and also because when you’re three and a half years old, trains are the coolest thing EVA.
I found my fave street vendor with a wicked handlebar mustache who only got slightly frustrated with me when I didn’t understand everything he was saying in German.
This was the fastest moving carousel I have EVER seen. I was worried one of the kids were going to try and get off while it was going. Many of the kids’ rides we’ve seen in Germany seem more dangerous than their counterparts in the U.S. Maybe Germans don’t sue as often.
We walked over to the Regensburg Cathedral (Dom St. Peter) and we got lucky enough to see a service going on inside since it was Sunday morning. There was a small area in the back for visitors and sightseers so we didn’t disrupt the service. It was as gorgeous on the inside as it was on the outside.
Train rides are the best! We got to listen to other families speak in German and my son was brave enough to walk up to a little German girl his age and offer her some of his starbursts. There are no language barriers when you have starbursts.
The German countryside is so pretty. I’m lovin’ all the different shades of green in the forest and it will be even better in the spring – yay!
Well, we only hit two Christmas markets this year. Hopefully next year we can do more. They are a lot of fun if you like to eat pastries, buy Christmas stuff, and walk around cool German villages.
Have you been to a German Christmas Market? Which one is your favorite?!
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So schön Jamie! Am with y’all in spirit. Enjoy it all. Love your updates! Fröhliche Weihnachten!
Beth! I had a brochen with cheese for dinner and thought of you! Also on the train a lady started talking to me really rapidly in German and I just smiled at her so she kept going and going and laughing and I started to get nervous because I had no idea what she was saying :)
I would love to see the Christmas market place in Germany. It looks like it would be amazing. The man in the first picture kind of looks like a Santa Clause. The church has an amazing architecture and I love all the stained glass windows on the inside. How sweet of your son to share his star bursts. The scenery you have been sharing looks gorgeous.
He TOTALLY looks like Santa! I’m surprised my son didn’t think so :)
Germany looks so pretty! The Christmas market looks so cool and story-bookish. I will have to add Germany to my list of places to go during Christmas time!
It totally does look like a storybook! I hope you get to visit Germany at Christmas one day :)
Oh, this looks so cute and Christmas-y! I’ve always wanted to go to a Christmas market, but I’ve never been anywhere where they have one near enough to the holidays. I’d be confusing the stall owners as well since my German is awful–I know about three words! I’m headed to Germany in fall 2015, and you’ve gotten me so excited for my upcoming trip!
I hope you have a wonderful time in Germany!
Everything in this place looked really gorgeous like they’re pictures on a postcard. It’s difficult though to understand what the people are talking about when they speak in German. I think I would have to bring in a translator or an English-German dictionary when traveling here. The countryside looked peaceful!
I definitely need to get a pocket dictionary to travel with! I thought the apps on my phone would be good enough, but sometimes it’s nice to whip out a dictionary.
Beautiful photos of the german countryside, and hilarious comment about the carousel ride! I laughed out loud when I read it. I think that we, as Americans, are more sensitized/aware of all of the potential scenarios of how things may play out… and who would be responsible in the case of that happening. Other parts of the world seem more matter-of-fact and unconcerned about smaller safety matters.
I was just on Europe, and noticed some of the same details… parts of city infrastructure or mechanics that would be a vocalized concern here, but are just taken for granted there. That *must* somehow indirectly contribute to the more laid-back lifestyle that they have… :) Hope you’re enjoying it there!
xo,
lauriel
EyeForElegance.com
I think you might be right about the European mindset. It’s actually not too different than what it was in Hawaii :)
I loooove the christmas markets in germany. :) i lived there for about 6 months back in 2009 and it was one of my favorite part about living in germany. we only went to two.. and i can’t even remember where. .but we definitely need to go back for more!
Oh awesome! I hope you can come back to visit more German Christmas markets one day :)
Nürnberg is my favourite Christmas market, a little bit much touristik but nice.
(but visited 20 years ago). Stuttgart is also nice.
mery Christmas and a happy new year from Peru.
Andreas.
Thanks! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year, too! I didn’t get to go to the Nürnberg Christmas market but maybe next year.
The market looks superb! I didnt even know there was something called a Christmas Market but it looks pretty fun :) But the countride looks the loveliest to me, the winter is dreary in my parts so I could use some serene countryside scenery to warm me up. Looks like you had a busy day!
The countryside really is beautiful, even in the winter. Now it is all covered in snow!
Now that market is cool and I bet going there is a lot of fun as well. I would definitely love to go there one of these days, I probably would ask my bf to come with me – it seems a wonderful place that we can really appreciate if we do go there in person.
It would definitely be a fun and romantic couples adventure!
I have always wanted to go to Germany! I took the language in high school and I fell in love with the culture! I live in an area in Florida where there are a lot of Germans who spend their holiday here, so I feel like I know them quite well! They always talk about the beautiful Christmas markets.
That’s great! I wish I would have taken more German before now… I’m working on it though.
I really enjoyed your post and am happy I found your blog :) I guess when you’re a kid, you’re not as nervous about things like language barriers… I sometimes wish I could go back to feeling like that! And yeah- Christmas markets are so fun…. every year I try to out-do myself too and I think this year I came out pretty well. Well, better than last year, so I consider that a victory.
Yeah my son doesn’t seem intimidated at all when someone speaks straight German to them! He just replies in English and enjoys the attention :)
I’m living vicariously through your photos right now! I would love to travel to Germany, and I’m so happy to have found your blog.
Thanks for stopping by, Josi!
Germany is so beautiful year round, I have always wanted to go there. I love anything Christmas, so going to different Christmas markets is right up my alley. The first one in the pictures, looks like a lot of fun, I love looking at all the little nicnacs. I didn’t get to check out many Christmas stores last year, maybe this year I can.
Looking at all the fun stuff for sale is my favorite part too! My husband gets so bored when I spend forever at the booths haha
Sweet memories. I can recommend two incredible places in Germany, which I visited just before Christmas few years ago. First – A must see place! – Würzburg, town located around 70 miles from Nuremberg, they had beautiful Christmas Market in the heart of the Old City. The other place is further west, between Nuremberg and Stuttgart, it is a lovely town located in the valley: Schwäbisch Hall, I just love it, and I miss Europe so much. BR
Thank you so much for the suggestions! I will add them to our travel bucket list!