Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Cologne on Ice: Where?Wednesday

Cologne (Köln/Keulen) has one of the most festive Christmas markets within easy reach of Wassenaar (about 3 hours drive).
More precisely, the city has about 6 separate markets. We visited the largest three outdoor markets. There's nothing like a little holiday cheer in the shadow of the magnificent cathedral (Dom).
My theory is that glühwein not only warms you up, but gives one the courage to navigate through the throngs of people mulling over the thousands of christmas wares on display. It may be crowded and commercial, but the combination of the scenery and the festivity of the season manage to prevail.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

The markets look like fun. I certainly enjoyed them there a couple of Xmases ago. The glühwein however I think is an aquired taste.

Pat said...

What fun!

We have a canal in Canada that folks skate on to work, etc. (if the ice is thick enough!!!)



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Jo's-D-Eyes said...

hahah R.
what a great theorie do you have about Gluwijn, I just think of it when we went to the "after-skying"bar in the wintersports area. ( better not drink wine before skying otherwise you would get ddizzzzzy!) We drunk it only to get warm, Here we do so maybe with Christmas , just for COSY (gezelligheid) idea...

Koln or Keulen is a pretty city... I have not been there around Christmas time yet, many cities are worth visiting around Christmas... so where 2 go first?

So I've heard that the highest Christmas tree is HERE in HOLLAND, its now standing in AMSTERDAM at the DAM, so 4-a-change we stay home (in Holland, YES!), for the first time in 20 years!

Look at my blog I posted some real dutch views ,Dark winter-skies, but nice to see anyhow, bye Joann

Mary Stebbins Taitt said...

LOoks like FUN! You ROCK!

b.c. said...

great steeples on the cathedral there--and your post remnds me I should go to the Chriskindl market in Daley plaza...there's always lots of good stuff to be seen and had there too!

Fénix - Bostonscapes said...

That's a great looking winter scene and what a lovely place that is. Everything looks so nice in that photo!

Re: your question about the house on the left, that's his next door neighbor. Can you imagine?

I just published my last post for this year. I'm going away for a few weeks.
Happiest holidays and see you again in mid Jan. :)

R&R said...

Thanks, all.
Mo, you're right about the gluhwein. A bit of amaretto helps.
Pat, here in Holland the canals haven't frozen in quite some time. There's hope that this year will be cold enough.
JoAnn, we visited Maastricht too, and I understand Dordrecht has a nice market but it's this weekend and we can't make it. Have fun at home!
Mary, thnx! It really was fun.
BC, we used to spend a night downtown and always went to the Daley plaza market ... and froze!
Fenix, thnx for answering and happy holidays!