Christmas Markets

It's that time of year! As the holiday season harkens, the Christmas markets in Europe begin to re-open, after a pause, last winter, in deference to the koronavirus. [There is, of course, no 'Thanksgiving' holiday here, so the Christmas decorations go up in the stores immediately after Halloween.] I have my doubts that the markets will be anything like a 'normal' year, what with another wave of Covid overwhelming Central/Eastern Europe. Perhaps diminished, but hopefully, open they will.

Perusing a few websites, it appears that the main Xmas market in Budapest will re-open on the 19th of November (or 29th, depending on the source). I will be in BP on the 28th, so I will know then.

A few cool facts about the markets: The Frankfurt Xmas Market dates to 1393 AD…Dresden's has been going for over 587 years…Holy Moly!…the Cologne/Köln market is the largest in Europe, with over 4 million visitors a year…[I've been to this market, pre-Covid, thanks to Alexandra's Aunt Fanni (and her lovely partner, Robin)]…the market is located on the Cathedral square and the Köln Cathedral is magnificent…it receives 20,000 visitors a day, year-round…there are, at least, 4 more markets around Köln to take in.

Here's a link to a couple of articles related to Christmas markets:

https://www.dw.com/en/german-christmas-markets-to-reopen/a-59707446

https://www.austria.info/en/things-to-do/skiing-and-winter/christmas-markets

https://www.austria.info/en/things-to-do/skiing-and-winter/christmas-markets/graz-styria

I hope to visit Graz and our handsome nephew, Cameron, soon…this past week, our plans were blown-up by, once again, the koronavirus…mid-week, 2 members of Cameron's volleyball team were positive for Covid, so it was decided that the game, Saturday, would be played without spectators…and it was thought best I wait a week or so before trying to again visit.

OMG: Graz has a square called Glockenspielplatz! There is a Xmas market there, with real sheep, no less. I'm hearing 'Tubular Bells' of Joy! (You have to be very old to get that reference.)