Cologne: Christmas pugs...
...a sure sign the holiday is here!
... a sure sign the holiday is here!
Weihnachtsmarkt Kölner Dom
ze germans are very serious about their Christmas markets... this one is in the shadow of Cologne Cathedral.
Landscape domination
Cologne (Köln) is a city of churches, and the grand daddy of them all is the cathedral (Dom). It's size is kind of difficult to comprehend (and to get in one photo, too!)
Landscape domination: Cologne Cathedral
Dozens of little stalls clustered around the Cathedral to put you in the Holiday mood.
Weihnachtsmarkt Cologne Altmarkt
So serious about Christmas markets are the Germans that Cologne has half a dozen of them. This one is about 3 blocks from the cathedral and really doubles down on the old-timey charm... complete with ferris wheel and ice skating.
Stretching along several winding streets and squares, the Altmarkt stalls are done up to look like little wooden huts... very Hansel and Gretel!
Borough Market: In case it rains
Not to be outdone, London's Borough opens every day for the holidays, and is decked out with holly. There was even a brass band playing christmas carols when I visited. And, being london, it's a covered market so you're covered in the event of rain.
London Borough Market
No visit to the UK
... would be complete without a visit with the Pie Minister (in Borough Market, of course!)