CHRISTMAS MARKET DÜSSELDORF

We have a bus company who organizes one day excursions, which is nice, because it just interrupts your daily routine and you get the impression to be on holidays. On the program was a visit to the Düsseldorf Christmas market. It is not so far away around 200 km. Anyway we always have a lot of fun during the trip in the bus, so that the 3 hours, due to the heavy traffic went by very quickly. 

It was the winter markets that eventually became known as Christmas Markets—the earliest of which are claimed to be in Germany in Munich around 1310.

In many towns in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, Advent is usually ushered in with the opening of the Christmas market or "Weihnachtsmarkt". In southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria, it is called a "Christkindelsmarkt" (literally meaning "Christ child market"). Traditionally held in the town square, the market has food, drink and seasonal items from open-air stalls accompanied by traditional singing and dancing.

Besides its huge Christmas market, Düsseldorf is one of the most exclusive fashion and shopping destinations worldwide. The elegant boulevard Königsallee with its famous fashion labels and special flair of luxury serves with everything a shopping heart desires if you have a good filled wallet.

We were lucky it had rained the whole days before, but when we went to Düsseldorf it was cold but sunny.


We drove along the Rhine and our Bus was parked there on a parking. We had 5 hours to explore the market and had to be back at 5.30 pm.



We were four from our painting course. Well wrapped in several layers of clothes.



First thing we saw from far was the Big Wheel. I like to see them but I would never try to make a round, I get dizzy !



There were lots of specialities to eat, drink or buy. Unfortunately what I was looking for was not yet there, like the Stollen (the German Christmas cake) the cookies, Ginger breads etc. But the famous Glühwein was at every corner, it is hot wine with cinamon, cloves and sugar. The one Myriam  and Marie Joëlle had, was also with a bit of Amaretto.

At noon we were hungry and had our potato pancakes with apple puree, and also a plate of roasted mushrooms. We could eat outside on wooden benches there were heating lamps which warmed us up.



We walked from stall to stall, and looked what was on offer. Myriam and Khadija bought German bread and also poppy seed cake which is also a speciality.



We were thirsty from the pancakes and ended up in a typical old Bar, where we had a cool beer and sat on church benches ! This was really funny.



We met a man who collected money for sick parrots and continued our way.



This was one of the Christmas trees, which I found beautiful in its simplicity, just some big red balls.


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One stall after the other. It must be beautiful to see when it is dark and the lights on. Unfortunately there was no Christmas music either, because it was too early.



This is a Christmas mill, which usually stands in the room and the wings are moved by the heat of candles underneath. Here they didn't turn around yet.



Of course there was also a carousel for the little once



I don't know if this is a special Christmas ghost, and what he did there just in front of a bakery.



and more stalls.  Finally we had enough, our feet burnt and we went into a cafe from which I forgot to take a picture and had a wonderful strawberry cake and a coffee.

Then we returned slowly to the Rhine and our bus.



This was a wall on which they had painted stalls to hide ongoing works behind.



And when we arrived at the Rhine it looked just gorgeous like silver and then we could see the sunset.

The return to Waterloo went smooth and we arrived quite early and time flew by because we had so much to chat !

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