Monday, December 23, 2013

Schwetzingen Weihnachtsmarkt

Sorry for the long hiatus.  Like many of you, I spent the last couple of weeks frantically tying up loose ends and wrapping up loose gifts in anticipation of the holidays.  Friday and Saturday were mostly spent in the car as we drove down to our current location near Alicante, Spain, and yesterday we were bust celebrating Rio's 15th birthday (the days go by so fast).

You can look forward to some Spanish posts soon, but today I wanted to get to posting about the last Christmas Market we visited this year; just down the road from Heidelberg in Schwetzingen.  Even though this town is one short bus ride away (and a lovely bike ride away n nicer weather), this was the first year Dave and I made it to their market set in the main street that leads up to the palace, and in the forecourt of the palace itself.






It is a fairly small market with stalls in a one block area as well as the palace forecourt, as well as one of the larger ice rinks (but elevated and heard to see into if you are not skating).  The stalls were all white tents, without the pretty lighting effects that those in the Heidelberg castle had.



It was pretty, just not as knock your socks off pretty as the others we have visited this year.  One thing that made it unique and interesting though was the stage.  There was an elevated  stage set up with a variety of good live bands taking it in the two hours we were there.  Tables set up with a view of the stage, and several stalls selling light snacks and drinks nearby made it almost like an outdoor bar scene.



I have to share one final, semi related, photo:  In the plaza across from the palace (where half of the market was) there is a statue of a spargel seller and a little girl buying the white asparagus the region is famous for.  Someone has bundled both the seller and the little girl up in scarves for the winter, which was surprisingly sweet :)


Wishing you all the merriest of Christmases,
--Hadley


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