More Christmas Market

Did I mention that it can get cold here but still many, many, many people venture out to enjoy the sights, smells and shopping of the christmas markets?  Here we are freezing, but having a great time, at Monschau's market.

Cameron's First Christmas

Christmas 2007 will Cam's first christmas.  We got him a picture with Santa Claus.  Not sure he knew just exactly who Santa was....

German Christmas Markets

   

In 

Germany, almost every village, town and city holds a Christmas market.  Some are very small and others are huge and elaborate.  At a Christmas market you will find everything German...handmade wooden ornaments, nutcrackers, lots of sweets and Gluhwein.  The villages decorate their storefronts, lights are everywhere and everyone dresses warmly to walk in the cold weather through the cobblestone streets.  People shop, eat and drink!

The town of Monschau is a quaint little village that winds along the banks of a little river.  We visited their Christmas market and it was like we walked into a Dickensian christmas story.

Green countryside EVEN IN NOVEMBER!!!

It amazes me and thrills me that it is still quite green and very warm and we are nearing the end of November.  Yes, the trees have lost most of their leaves but the bushes are still bright orange and many of the fields are still green. Deron even had to mow the lawn last weekend.  This was unheard of in the arctic of North Dakota.  Needless to say, we are thoroughly enjoying our new "tropical" paradise.

Market "shops"

Dutch cheese is YUMMMMOOOO!!

The Market

We are really lucky that we live quite close to a larger city called Sittard, in the Netherlands.  Most larger cities have a regular market where people do their shopping.  You will find fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses and breads; as well as, clothing, fabric, shoes, jewelry and the most beautiful flowers.  And the flowers are amazingly inexpensive.  You can get 20 beautiful long-stemmed roses for 4-5 euro (even with the current exchange rate that is less than $10)

Welcome to The Christy Clan's European "Vacation"

Since this is my first attempt at "blogging", I really have no idea what I am doing.  But.....hopefully this will be a fun and easy way to share with all our friends and family our life over here on the European continent.  This is our Tuddern house.  Most Germans rent their homes for years and years.  Also, most Germans live in what we would call duplexes or townhomes, which means you REALLY get to know your neighbors.