Christmas markets!

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm feeling a little melancholy because I'm away from home, but I've been keeping busy preparing for my trip to Italy on Saturday!

Now that it's Christmas, the season for the Weihnachtsmarkten (Christmas markets) is almost over. Here's my collection of mugs!

From left to right: Munster, Dortmund, Soest, Dusseldorf, Cologne, Paderborn, and Bochum. Not pictured: Bonn.

It was my friend Eleanor's idea to do a tour of the Christmas markets in Germany, hitting about two every weekend. The Paderborn one was easy - we were wandering around there all the time. Each city has a unique mug, and I think they're super cool. Gluhwein is surprisingly good, but my favorite Weihnachtsmarkt drink is definitely Lumumba, which is hot chocolate and rum.

I don't know if I can pick a favorite market. I liked all of them, and my experience also depended on things like the weather and crowds. If it was raining or too crowded, I didn't like it. Dortmund sticks out in my mind as being really good. It had a huge Christmas tree and plenty of different stands to shop at and also, fried cheese.

Last night I went to Christmas Eve service at an evangelical church. It was very nice. I didn't understand very much of it (I was in the back and they had run out of programs, so I couldn't read the words), but it was nice to just be there. Tonight I'm going to Kate's German buddy's apartment for a traditional German Christmas dinner, so I'd better go get ready. Frohe Weihnachten!