The wurst ---------->
Well folks.......It's been a while since my last posting. A few things have been going on here since Easter (my last posting) but it's the house that has been taking all of my time. And when I say all of my time, I mean ALL of my time.
By now you have received my Lübeck Christmas greeting. If not, then the mail man is a goon and I will be happy to resend it to you if you so would like to read it. I can send it via e-mail or snail mail.
But for now, let me give you a re-cap slash up-date......
Christmas-Scrooge Eddie would rather do away with X-mas all together than to have to paint on a smile and pass out extremely expensive gifts. This may explain my frown lines and the present that you are not getting from me again this year.
As mentioned - I got some junk mail telling about a bus tour to Germany's Christmas village, Lübeck. It's claimed to be the largest Christmas village in northern Europe. So when I got there, I was expecting big fancy trees, snowmen, santas, dancing elfs, endless strings of Christmas lights and all the fixin's that are displayed only in the month of December.
But to my surprise, this was not the case. Actually I was taken aback at the lack of gaudy decorations. Most shops and homes had very little in the way of decorations, if any at all. Most of the Christmas displays were concentrated at the town hall square and on the pedestrian street.
But even so.... the atmosphere was amazingly Christmassy that it made you swear that you will be coming back again next year too. I spent a lot of time on the little town hall square walking round and round looking at all the junk for sale. Some of it from China and some of the most fascinating wooden figures hand carved from the Germans themselves. (I of course bought the Made in China stuff and amazingly, none of it is for you - ha ha) OK but seriously.... I wanted to buy everything! But since I'm a bit Scroogish, I spent my cold Christmas Cash on the German hand made delicacies - namely: Bratwurst and punch.
I spent a great amount of time walking outside of the Christmas center and into the neighborhood area. The architecture is amazing and if you read the web site that I mentioned in the X-mas letter, then you will know why the building have stepped facades. I was so overwhelmed by the cuteness of it all that I would really love to go back one day and share the experience with you - yes you! And once again this link should take you to a short film of Lübeck so you can see it for yourself.
So ok... I will let you do more searching on your own if time and interest allow. If not, then - Scrooge you! ha ha - OK but seriously.... let me just say that I hope your Christmas is/was wonderful and hope you have a wonderful and happy new year.
xoxox -
Spaghetti
The first picture up at the top is where I bought many mouth watering bratwurst.
You can click onto the pix to make them larger.
This next pix is one of many statues that are throughout the town. This one is on the west bridge which is what I had to cross to get from my hotel room to the Christmas village. I wanted a room in the center of town but I could only get the room for one night. The village was pretty much book up throughout the holiday season. But not to worry. My hotel was only 6 hotels away from the village and it was kind of neat too have to cross the bridge. It made it feel like more of an adventure.
The pix are in random order because I really don't know what i am doing.
This is the back side of the town hall but the back side runs along the walking street, where a lot of vendors set up their Christmas stands.
Here are some building near the bridge that I crossed daily. You can see the bridge in the background.
Inside one of the churches there were carolers singing as tourist stroll past the Christmas stands and booths inside this rather large church. As I understand it, the church was built by the homeless for the homeless as there are small room dormitories in one of the wings. In these small rooms were arts and crafts and Christmas items for sale.
Outside, there are very colorful displays of candy and sweets for sale.
Standing at the town hall looking up at the Christmas tree with church towers in the background.
Along with my bratwurst I bought punch - as the Germans call it.
It's hot and spicy and if you drink enough of it, it will punch you up side the noggin.
This is from a window display in the famous candy shop. It's a scene from the German fairytale about Hansel and Gretel; while wondering aimlessly lost in a forest, they happen upon the wicked witch's ginger bread house. Everything in this scene - from the dark sky, the pine trees and figures, the ginger bread house and all of it's decorations - is actually made of marzipan - all of it. And since marzipan is rather expensive you could say that this is an expensive piece of art.
I am taking this pix facing the outward direction of the north gate.
From this rotisserie I had to try one of those delicious fire baked ham sandwiches with grilled onions and mustard.
Just after crossing the bridge from my hotel I come to the west gate.
The colorful sweets go on forever.
I was like a child again as I passed by this puppet museum on a little cobble stone side street. Notice the dolls looking out of the windows and the details in the museum sign.
Another candy booth at the Christmas village on the town hall square.
Throughout the churches there were amazing limestone-chalk paintings on the walls and ceilings.
This looks like a cardboard cut-out of me but I really was there. It's just heavily worked because the flash and focus didn't work right so I came out more like a silhouette. But it's really me standing on the river bank at the south end of the island looking toward the major cathedral.
Standing at the upper west side of the island facing some of the beautiful buildings.
In one of the churches you could make your own bee's wax Christmas candle souvenir.
More of the beautiful wall paintings with carved wooden figures for the 10 praying stations.
There is an abundance of restaurants to choose from.
This is the famous Niederegger shop and restaurant. It is here where the marzipan art is in the windows. You could actually put on a few pounds just standing at the front door of the place.
This is the inside of the candy shop and it was in strong contrast with all the other shops as the Christmas decorations were over the top.
Here are some of the amazing private home in Lübeck.
Here you can go for a spin and throw up all that marzipan, bratwurst and punch and do it all over again.
One of the fancy delicatessens.
More amazing cathedral paintings from many years ago.
By now you have received my Lübeck Christmas greeting. If not, then the mail man is a goon and I will be happy to resend it to you if you so would like to read it. I can send it via e-mail or snail mail.
But for now, let me give you a re-cap slash up-date......
Christmas-Scrooge Eddie would rather do away with X-mas all together than to have to paint on a smile and pass out extremely expensive gifts. This may explain my frown lines and the present that you are not getting from me again this year.
As mentioned - I got some junk mail telling about a bus tour to Germany's Christmas village, Lübeck. It's claimed to be the largest Christmas village in northern Europe. So when I got there, I was expecting big fancy trees, snowmen, santas, dancing elfs, endless strings of Christmas lights and all the fixin's that are displayed only in the month of December.
But to my surprise, this was not the case. Actually I was taken aback at the lack of gaudy decorations. Most shops and homes had very little in the way of decorations, if any at all. Most of the Christmas displays were concentrated at the town hall square and on the pedestrian street.
But even so.... the atmosphere was amazingly Christmassy that it made you swear that you will be coming back again next year too. I spent a lot of time on the little town hall square walking round and round looking at all the junk for sale. Some of it from China and some of the most fascinating wooden figures hand carved from the Germans themselves. (I of course bought the Made in China stuff and amazingly, none of it is for you - ha ha) OK but seriously.... I wanted to buy everything! But since I'm a bit Scroogish, I spent my cold Christmas Cash on the German hand made delicacies - namely: Bratwurst and punch.
I spent a great amount of time walking outside of the Christmas center and into the neighborhood area. The architecture is amazing and if you read the web site that I mentioned in the X-mas letter, then you will know why the building have stepped facades. I was so overwhelmed by the cuteness of it all that I would really love to go back one day and share the experience with you - yes you! And once again this link should take you to a short film of Lübeck so you can see it for yourself.
So ok... I will let you do more searching on your own if time and interest allow. If not, then - Scrooge you! ha ha - OK but seriously.... let me just say that I hope your Christmas is/was wonderful and hope you have a wonderful and happy new year.
xoxox -
Spaghetti
The first picture up at the top is where I bought many mouth watering bratwurst.
You can click onto the pix to make them larger.
This next pix is one of many statues that are throughout the town. This one is on the west bridge which is what I had to cross to get from my hotel room to the Christmas village. I wanted a room in the center of town but I could only get the room for one night. The village was pretty much book up throughout the holiday season. But not to worry. My hotel was only 6 hotels away from the village and it was kind of neat too have to cross the bridge. It made it feel like more of an adventure.The pix are in random order because I really don't know what i am doing.
This is the back side of the town hall but the back side runs along the walking street, where a lot of vendors set up their Christmas stands.
Here are some building near the bridge that I crossed daily. You can see the bridge in the background.
Inside one of the churches there were carolers singing as tourist stroll past the Christmas stands and booths inside this rather large church. As I understand it, the church was built by the homeless for the homeless as there are small room dormitories in one of the wings. In these small rooms were arts and crafts and Christmas items for sale.
Outside, there are very colorful displays of candy and sweets for sale.
Standing at the town hall looking up at the Christmas tree with church towers in the background.
Along with my bratwurst I bought punch - as the Germans call it.
It's hot and spicy and if you drink enough of it, it will punch you up side the noggin.
This is from a window display in the famous candy shop. It's a scene from the German fairytale about Hansel and Gretel; while wondering aimlessly lost in a forest, they happen upon the wicked witch's ginger bread house. Everything in this scene - from the dark sky, the pine trees and figures, the ginger bread house and all of it's decorations - is actually made of marzipan - all of it. And since marzipan is rather expensive you could say that this is an expensive piece of art.
I am taking this pix facing the outward direction of the north gate.
From this rotisserie I had to try one of those delicious fire baked ham sandwiches with grilled onions and mustard.
Just after crossing the bridge from my hotel I come to the west gate.
The colorful sweets go on forever.
I was like a child again as I passed by this puppet museum on a little cobble stone side street. Notice the dolls looking out of the windows and the details in the museum sign.
Another candy booth at the Christmas village on the town hall square.
Throughout the churches there were amazing limestone-chalk paintings on the walls and ceilings.
This looks like a cardboard cut-out of me but I really was there. It's just heavily worked because the flash and focus didn't work right so I came out more like a silhouette. But it's really me standing on the river bank at the south end of the island looking toward the major cathedral.
Standing at the upper west side of the island facing some of the beautiful buildings.
In one of the churches you could make your own bee's wax Christmas candle souvenir.
More of the beautiful wall paintings with carved wooden figures for the 10 praying stations.
There is an abundance of restaurants to choose from.
This is the famous Niederegger shop and restaurant. It is here where the marzipan art is in the windows. You could actually put on a few pounds just standing at the front door of the place.
This is the inside of the candy shop and it was in strong contrast with all the other shops as the Christmas decorations were over the top.
Here are some of the amazing private home in Lübeck.
Here you can go for a spin and throw up all that marzipan, bratwurst and punch and do it all over again.
One of the fancy delicatessens.
More amazing cathedral paintings from many years ago.
