Friday Shuffle - Third Advent Edition
I hinted yesterday that I might go down to the Christmas market and bring back some photos for y'all but I got rather tied up with grocery shopping and laundry and taking a fierce, fierce nap. Five o'clock rolled around and B and I were watching a show about Christmas markets and Magdeburg's was featured in a short segment. There was a lovely view from above the Christmas market, most certainly taken from the giant ferris wheel.
"Wow. I really should have gone down there to take pictures."
"You still can. Go right now. Won't take you but an hour or so."
That was all the incentive I needed so here's Magdeburg's Christmas market in pictures.
This Christmas tree isn't at the Christmas market but is instead at the end of my block.
On one side of the streetcar stop you see this.
And that's the department store on the other side.
Mmmmm...that's the place to get the tasty, tasty fried fish.
And this is the place if you want ham and kale and fried potatoes.
Nothing says "Merry Christmas" like fried liver from the Liver Hut!
That's more like it. Grilled bratwurst.
Give me a hot one with ketchup, ladies!
You're sure to find something for your sweet tooth here.
Rides are a big part of the market.
So are craftspeople selling their wares. This man makes wooden marionettes.
Games are popular as well.
This is Magdeburg's Rathaus (city hall). It's not easy to see but up on the balcony in the center was a brass quartet playing Christmas carols.
Every moment the market square filled with more people.
This is the giant Pyramide at the far end of the market. Is there an English word for this thing or does everyone do as I do and all it "That thing that whirls around from the air current made by the candles underneath"?
Inspired by the show I saw this afternoon I thought I'd get on the giant ferris wheel to get an ariel photo. Hmmmm...it doesn't seem too big.
Oh. Well. It's quite a bit bigger when you get up close to it.
Now I'm not exactly afraid of heights. Tall buildings don't bother me and I actually like driving over high bridges but the combination of height and riding in something that sways in the breeze wasn't a comforting thought. I got closer and watched it for a while and had a conversation with myself.
"Get on it."
"Okay...hmmmm...no."
"Wimp."
"Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week."
"Do it today. It'll be cold and rainy next week."
"Okay...wait...no."
"Look! There are old ladies and toddlers on this thing! Stop being a big baby and get on it!"
I wasn't going to let old ladies and toddlers get one over on me so I bought my ticket and jumped on. Since I was alone they put me in with a Hulk-like guy and his girlfriend. I only hoped he wasn't the type to be an ass and make the gondola spin around. I may can handle height and swaying in the breeze but I can't have spinning added into the mix.
But I did it. I braved height and swaying and potential spinning to bring you this:
There's a whole lot of happiness down there.
Bixente the iPod's going to risk all to bring you the third week of Christmas music. Shuffle for Santa!
- Merry Christmas, Baby - Bruce Springsteen
- The Holly & the Ivy - Natalie Cole
- Little Saint Nick - The Beach Boys
- Mary's Boy Child/Oh My Lord - Boney M.
- Good King Wenceslas - Blackmore's Night
- Zu Bethlehem Geboren - Roy Black
- Bizarre Christmas Incident - Ben Folds
- Pretty Paper - Roy Orbison
- White Christmas - Bing Crosby
- The Christmas Song - Julie Andrews
posted by Dixie at 10:20 PM
10Comments:
What fun! Thanks for the photos, especially the ones from the farris wheel. Such a brave woman!
I love seeing your Christmas pictures every year! I have to say, I'm adding a wish to my "wish list of places to go" that someday I'll be able to be there at Christmas-time and see it with you, that would be fun. (Come on, lotto!)
I love the pyramide, we had a little one like that when I was little and I always loved it so much, the delicate chimings it made when it turned.
Those are excellent pictures, Dix. Thanks for posting.
I'm also very impressed that your camera does so well in the dark. Mine does not.
Katy, that's probably the best nighttime photos I've ever made. I really hate using a flash and just make do with whatever light is available. I usually have my camera set on manual and with the manual setting can select the light source - sunny, cloudy, florescent light, incandescent light, etc. but there's nothing for night. There's also an auto setting under the lighting selection so I picked that and then set the speed to 400 and this time it worked quite well.
That was lovely to see - thank you!! It'd great, because now I know that my market is very authentic - your photos could have been taken in Manchester! Also (bizarrely!) when we went to the market last week we went on the big ferris wheel in Manchester - it's not actually in the market itself, but we could see the market from the top. It's clearly the done thing!
I had been impressed by my weihnachtsmarkt (apologies for dodgy spelling) but it was pretty small and feeble compared to yours. Big in spirit though, that's the main thing.
I love it! Thanks for the Xmas market pics at night, so lovely. I hope you are having a good and relaxing weekend.
Wow, you sure showed those old ladies and toddlers. I haven't been on a ferris wheel for quite a while and it would probably take some persuading.
Great pics!
As I told Christina on her site, these pics are your Christmas gift to me, since I ended up not being able to see the markets this year. When I go back to Germany in January, they'll all be gone. So glad B persuaded you to go NOW. Good job, Dixie!
Wow!! This Christmas market looks spectacular!!! I wish I could've gone... :(
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