Berlin Christmas Markets 2015

If you celebrate Christmas, I hope that you had a wonderful one!  Apologies for the past few weeks of silence on the blog.  It's been one helluva year and as it came to an end, we were both just not really feeling like going all out.  We didn't even put up a tree or decorate at all.  Not in a Bah Humbug way but just in a quiet, restful way.  We had a very relaxed Christmas which is just what we needed. 

Bratislava Christmas Markets

Because the dozen Christmas markets in Vienna were just not enough,
we also made the quick trip to Bratislava to see their offerings.

The Christmas market was terrific but the most fun was had when we found this great little place for dinner.

The gentleman outside assured us that they served the best food in Bratislava.

We were shown into a cave-like basement, serenaded by Slovakian Sinatra and

served wonderful food and drink.

The Original Slovak Restaurant was the highlight of the trip.

Our waiter was adorable and tolerated our raucous shenanigans.

I was delighted to see this picture next to our table.

My mom had this in our house growing up and I've always loved it.

Can anyone tell me what it's called?

We were quite surprised delighted with the size of the wine goblets.

Our waiter took our delight as a challenge to serve more wine in even larger vessels.

The visuals were very helpful when trying to find the proper toilet.

After closing the restaurant down, we made our way to an Irish pub around the corner.

Let's just say there were more shenanigans and stop there with the photos, shall we?

The Gluhwein Gang in Bratislava is now legend.

Have you been to Bratislava?

Matt and I are heading down to Folkestone to spend Christmas with his parents.
I'll be snuggled up by the fire, reading, doing puzzles, eating lots of food, 
enjoying Christmas and taking the week off from blogging.

This blog has led to some of my biggest blessings in 2013.
I've met some of the most amazing people.
I've been encouraged and helped so much by your support and comments.

It's been about the connections from the very start.
Thank you so very much for connecting with me!

Merry Christmas.
Many blessing to you and yours in the New Year.
 

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Vienna Christmas Markets

 A few weeks ago, the Gluhwein Gang reunited and headed to the Christmas Markets,

two Texans, four Canadians, a Scot, a Brit, a Swede and an Irish lass.

I'll confess that I wasn't really in Travel Blogger mode.

I was much more interested in eating, drinking and making merry.

The weekend went by way too fast but we squeezed in a lot of fun and laughter.

One of our two stops was Vienna, Austria.

Vienna is absolutely gorgeous, such an elegant and stylish city.

I want to go back and spend some more time this summer.

Check out this post from fellow gang member and my sweet friend, Erin.

She's done a much better job of covering the Vienna Christmas markets.

I didn't take nearly as many photos as usual, but here are some of Vienna and the markets.

 Matthew doesn't really like gluhwein but in Vienna we found a booth

selling gluhwein spiked with Jack Daniels.  Suddenly he was a big fan.

We also spent a day in Bratislava.  I'll share some of those photos tomorrow.

I hope you are all having a nice run up to Christmas.

I haven't done any shopping yet!

I'm heading to Canterbury with a few girlfriends tomorrow to remedy that.


Do you like gluhwien?  How do you feel about Jack Daniels?


 

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Hohe Domkirche St. Petrus

You can't talk about Cologne without mentioning the Dom.

This massive Gothic Cathedral rises above the city like a large, dark bird.

Via

Construction of the Catholic Cathedral began in 1248 and continued for about 250 years.

In the 1800's, it was finally finished to the original plan. 

Our hotel was right next door and we had fantastic views of the cathedral.

The city of Cologne was mostly destroyed during WWII

and the cathedral suffered many hits but managed to remain standing. 

 

It took my breath away every time I looked up at it

especially in the evening as the snow started swirling. 

It is a World Heritage Site, a place of pilgrimage and Germany's most visited landmark.

It seems wrong to let the tragedy in Connecticut pass without some comment.  

But, I just don't know what to say other that that my

prayers are with all of those affected. 

 

The death of a baby is like a stone cast into the stillness of a quiet pool;
the concentric ripples of despair sweep out in all directions,
affecting many, many people.
--De Frain, 1991 

xoxo

Selena