AACHEN, GERMANY CHRISTMAS MARKET

I HAD HEARD A  LOT ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN EUROPE.   LAST YEAR WE WENT TO THE ONE IN BRUSSELS.  IT WAS OKAY BUT I THINK WE WENT ON A WEEKEND AND THE CROWDS WERE JUST INSANE SO MY FIRST IMPRESSION WASN'T EXACTLY STELLAR.   THIS YEAR I THOUGHT MAYBE A SMALLER CHRISTMAS MARKET ON A WEEKDAY WOULD BE A BETTER BET.   I WAS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.   MY FELLOW EXPAT, KATHY AND I HOPPED ON A TRAIN FROM BRUSSELS TO AACHEN, GERMANY.   AN HOUR AND 10 MINUTES LATER WE WERE STROLLING AROUND AACHEN, BIRTHPLACE OF CHARLEMAGNE, FIRST EMPEROR OF EUROPE (7TH CENTURY).     BUT ON TODAY'S VISIT IT WAS ALL ABOUT MULLED WINE, CHRISTMAS MUSIC, WOOL HATS, MULLED WINE, ARTISAN'S HANDIWORK, GERMAN BRATWURST, MULLED WINE.    DID I MENTION THEY HAD MULLED WINE?     OH, AND BY THE WAY....

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

5 MINUTES AFTER THIS PHOTO - YOU COULD HARDLY PASS BY THESE FOOD STALLS ON THE LEFT.   I GUESS EVERYONE REALIZED THEY WERE HUNGRY.

REALLY PRETTY WOODWORKING.   I JUST KNOW I'D ACCIDENTALLY PUT IT IN THE DISHWASHER AND RUIN IT.  

SOMEONE LOOKS LIKE A GRUMPY SANTA!!   GEE, HOPE HIS WIFE DOESN'T KNOW HE'S SO MISERABLE LOOKING FOR A GIFT FOR HER!   HAHA!

OKAY - SO MAYBE  NOT EVERYTHING WAS MADE BY AN "ARTISAN"   

CHOCOLATE TOOLS!   LOOKED LIKE A BIG SELLER.