Heidelberg Christmas Market

Last Saturday we took the tram to Heidelberg to browse the Christmas Market with some friends and their munchkins...erm...I mean kids. Heidelberg's month-long holiday market is exceptionally large, covering five squares of the old downtown area.  Booths sporting Christmas decor, handmade crafts, pottery, and novelties line the streets, and the whole city seems to be glowing with Christmas lights.  Of course, there are tons of vendors offering tasty treats as well.  I sampled more than my share, among which was a hot steak and onion sandwich, a paper cone of "pommes" (fries), organic dried apple chips, warm candied cashews, and a skewer of chocolate covered grapes (they were better than you'd think).  There was even a carousel and a miniature train ride for the kiddies.  The trip was a lot of fun, and well worth the hour of travel.  I can't wait to peruse a few more markets this year.

(The munchkins slept through most of the tram ride.)

(Heidelberg Castle, illuminated, from a bridge near the market.)

(Kind of blurry, but this one captured the storybook colors well.)

(So many teapots!!)

(I purchased my apple chips from this adorable little bakery.  Everything inside was both organic and vegan, as well as locally produced.  It was also pretty darn scrumptious.)

(These giant star lamps were everywhere!  So pretty!)

(I'm not sure of the story or tradition behind German Christmas windmills, but they're gorgeous.  

Traditional Gluwein was sold beneath this gigantic one.)

(Beautiful, but expensive!)

(This teensy tea set was precious, but at 20euro, a little too sweet for my tastes...)

(We took a break for crepes.  Seriously, who can resist?)

(The ice cream shop where we bought our crepes was adorable.
I especially love that chandelier!)