one of the things i was looking forward to most about my trip to germany, besides getting to see my sweet friend gianina, was going to a european christmas market.

the second evening after i arrived, we went to the christmas market on the reeperbahn, the red lights district of hamburg, because it was the only one that was open that early in the season.  gianina had warned me about it beforehand, but i didn’t know quite what she meant until i got there.  it was decorated with santas and mrs. clauses in their underwear, and featured strip shows [we didn’t attend!] and the selling of sex paraphernalia.  we laughed a lot and had a fun time, but needless to say, it wasn’t exactly what i had pictured my christmas market experience to be like!

luckily, the christmas market at the rathaus, the most famous christmas market in hamburg, opened up the night before i left.  this one was much larger and very traditional, and everything about it was pure christmas magic.

delicious smells drifted through the market, luring the crowds to taste the many holiday and traditional german foods and drinks that were being sold in the wooden stalls.  other vendors sold toys and decorations and goods, and everything in sight was adorned with lights and greenery.  the rathaus – hamburg’s beautiful parliament building – served as a breathtaking background.  we walked around and had crepes with nutella and hot chocolate with amaretto.  i was in holiday bliss.

happy christmas eve!