Christmas
Leipzig, Germany - A lovely city just 150km away from Berlin.Stepping out of the Leipzig Central train station, I stepped right into a vibrant christmas market in the middle of the old town square. My first thought was "Oh my gosh it's so pretty!!" I spent the next 5 minutes looking up at the building and admiring its architecture, while Jerald beckons for me to follow him, and I apologise to people no the streets for constantly knocking into people with my hand luggage.
Leipzig has one of the most gorgeous looking Banks. Yes. BANKS. The architecture of the buildings were amazing. It reminded of how pretty banks in Paris with their huge gates. Cities like these with nice buildings even of common things like banks really get me.
Coming from Berlin, the architectural beauty was a fresh change. Streets were a lot narrower, but decorated with beautiful street lights and bursting with vibrance. Kids sipping on Kinderpunch (which I thought was mulled wine) and adults feasting on various german street food. Leipzig is less internationally acclaimed, not as well known, yet oozing with charm. It was a perfect transition city to spend a day or two in.
After leaving our bags in the hostel, we left to roam around the city (and get me my daily dose of bratwurst. When in Germany...) Instead of entering attractions, we spent our time walking around the streets, listening to children choirs (it was almost christmas!) visiting opened air shopping centres, discussed about the difference in the architecture in Leipzig and Berlin, wondering if Leipzig was part under capitalistic rule or the soviets, googling random information, eating various food items in the market, and trying not to be tempted to buy the lovely lamps and cute home decorative items that were being sold.
I know, its way past christmas, but can we just take a moment to look at these cute sheep? Of course they were protected by a barricade and could go in and hide in the "house" if they didn't want to be stared / photographed by the overly excited tourist and locals.
All in all, it was a lovely, laid-back day in Leipzig. I'll recommend it to visitors who will be spending lots of time in Germany, or like us, wanted to go to another intermediate city before heading off to Prague.
What I wore
Grey Sweater: H&M
Scarf: Fendi
Coat: Coldwear
Maroon Jeans: Primark
Boots: Timberlands
Lovely Laid-back Leipzig, Germany
31 January 2015 Leipzig, Germany
Being their first Christmas Market experience, the family was very excited, and ALOT OF food was consumed that evening.
Compared to Manchester Christmas Market, the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland has a lot more music and excitement. Probably because it is getting closer to Christmas and things are getting festive ;)
Hyde Park Winter Wonderland also seems bigger, and has all these games and rides - children and adults screamed as they are being swung high up into the air.
My siblings and I are always up for a rollercoaster ride, but when the temperature is 5degrees, we'd rather have our bratwurst sausage and just watch from the ground. Pretty sure our faces will freeze if we're up there.
As expected, the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland is a very popular Christmas season destination for both travelers and Londoners. The best time to go to avoid the crowd is about 5pm on a weekday. Never EVER go on a weekend. My family tried entering on a Saturday evening, and there was a horrifyingly long queue it was as if there would be a Taylor Swift concert performance in the market. Going on a weekday = less children + you can breathe while walking around + you get to stop and take some photographs. More importantly you get to have dinner at the market without having to deal with long queues and being shoved around!
The way they grill the salmon is just too cool!
The good thing about winter time is that it gets dark at 4pm. It feels like night time at 5pm and you get the feel of a Christmas Night! This is the only time I'm glad the sunsets early.
Have you gone to the Hyde Park Winter Wonderland? What is your favourite part about Christmas Markets?
Comment below!
Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland - Hyde Park, London
26 December 2014 Hyde Park, London, UK
Days leading up to christmas (especially when I was younger) I usually get the christmas excitement brimming inside of me.
Shopping for christmas presents, watching christmas movies, thinking about the christmas dinner the whole family will have at my cousin's/aunts/uncles/whichever relative's house, singing christmas carols for sunday service (though the church seem to not have much of that anymore the last few years - well it was great fun when I was in sunday school!)
This year, my Christmas will be spent alone with Jerald in a cold cold city - Prague. Everything is a little different, but i'm really excited!
Here's 5 Things On My Christmas Excitement List.
1. Christmas Markets
The Food. Enough said.
P.S. Read about my first christmas market experience here and check back soon for a post on hyde park winter wonderland!
2. Hot Chocolate
I can drink hot chocolate with marshmallows since its freezing cold, and not the 30 degrees I'm used to in Singapore! With the freezing cold weather, getting a cup of warm hazelnut or honey almond hot chocolate from any coffee shop, or making your own, needs no justification!
3. Christmas Lights
I don't typically go to Orchard Road too often during christmas season, the same reason why I don't go down to Oxford Street in London - well once is more than enough. But seeing as this year i'll probably spend christmas day walking around prague, i'd get to see various christmas decorations (pre and post christmas) in the different countries. Exciting!!
4. Fuzzy Sweaters
This is probably the only year i'll wear a fuzzy pyjamas set. Jerald got me a really cute one!! Time to bust it out for winter.
But I'm probably never going to wear it after this year. Singapore is way too hot.
5. SNOW
Please let it snow let it snow let it snowwww.
Hoping if I say it enough i'll get to see snow for the first time ever!!
5. Christmas Themed Shop Windows
I know I repeated the number 5, but it seems like it MIGHT not snow (well according to the weather forecast that seems to change everyday) on christmas this year where i'll be (Prague). So... In the case it does not snow, pretty decked out shop displays also bring in a little Christmas flutter and gets me feeling all festive and excited!
What are you looking forward to this Christmas?
Shopping for christmas presents, watching christmas movies, thinking about the christmas dinner the whole family will have at my cousin's/aunts/uncles/whichever relative's house, singing christmas carols for sunday service (though the church seem to not have much of that anymore the last few years - well it was great fun when I was in sunday school!)
This year, my Christmas will be spent alone with Jerald in a cold cold city - Prague. Everything is a little different, but i'm really excited!
Here's 5 Things On My Christmas Excitement List.
1. Christmas Markets
The Food. Enough said.
P.S. Read about my first christmas market experience here and check back soon for a post on hyde park winter wonderland!
2. Hot Chocolate
I can drink hot chocolate with marshmallows since its freezing cold, and not the 30 degrees I'm used to in Singapore! With the freezing cold weather, getting a cup of warm hazelnut or honey almond hot chocolate from any coffee shop, or making your own, needs no justification!
I don't typically go to Orchard Road too often during christmas season, the same reason why I don't go down to Oxford Street in London - well once is more than enough. But seeing as this year i'll probably spend christmas day walking around prague, i'd get to see various christmas decorations (pre and post christmas) in the different countries. Exciting!!
4. Fuzzy SweatersThis is probably the only year i'll wear a fuzzy pyjamas set. Jerald got me a really cute one!! Time to bust it out for winter.
But I'm probably never going to wear it after this year. Singapore is way too hot.
5. SNOW
Please let it snow let it snow let it snowwww.
Hoping if I say it enough i'll get to see snow for the first time ever!!
5. Christmas Themed Shop Windows
I know I repeated the number 5, but it seems like it MIGHT not snow (well according to the weather forecast that seems to change everyday) on christmas this year where i'll be (Prague). So... In the case it does not snow, pretty decked out shop displays also bring in a little Christmas flutter and gets me feeling all festive and excited!
What are you looking forward to this Christmas?
Christmas Excitement
23 December 2014
This year is going to be my first christmas out of Singapore.Typically, christmases back home consist of my whole extended family gathering at one of my aunt's or uncle's house, having a big christmas dinner, blasting the AC, watching movies, eating chocolates and exchanging presents.
Since this is my first year abroad and away from my family during Christmas, I foresee a very different experience with this festive season.
First difference being: I WENT TO A CHRISTMAS MARKET!
Back home in sunny island Singapore, pre-christmas sales are abundant. Going down Orchard Road/any shopping mall anywhere, you'll be able to find sales on clothes, shoes, toys, everything. Hopping from mall to mall to buy christmas presents for my friends and family became a tradition. Unfortunately, there were no Christmas Markets around.
On the weekend I was in Manchester (visiting Jerald), he told me that Manchester has one of the best Christmas Markets in the UK. Coincidentally, the weather was amazing that saturday evening. We had every reason to visit Manchester's Christmas Market.
Needless to say, many seem to share our sentiments. Stepping into the christmas market was like walking into a human traffic jam - constantly bumping into people, and being shoved from side to side, all whilst slowly inching my way to the various food stalls for some food!
The market was huge and sold things from food, to home furnishings, mini christmas trees and lights, deserts, drinks, etc. Initially, I was more distracted by the flickering lights on the tree, the spinning windmill, and the huge red and white santa snowman on top of the city square. It was gorgeous! The contrast to the dark night sky just made the lights shine so much brighter.
After a couple of minutes spent looking up and being shoved around, the smell of food hit me. Sausages, Crepes, Burgers, I started repeating "I want some food" to Jerald every 5 steps we took.
There were so many different stalls to choose from, some selling the same type of food, others different. Eventually, we settled for a Spicy Hotdog Bun, Bacon and Potatoes, and a Pulled Pork Burger with Apple Sauce.
I was a little unsure about the apple sauce, but everyone seemed to like it - there was a queue in front of the sauce dispenser - so I relented and let Jerald have additional apple sauce in the bun. Turns out, the slight sweetness of the apple sauce complemented the pulled pork pretty well ;)
Almost everyone in the Christmas Market seemed to be either holding a bottle of beer or a mug with steam coming out. Somehow, my brain concluded that the mug contained hot chocolate. However, it was actually HOT WINE. Mulled Wine.
The Manchester Christmas Market served mostly german food, and Germany is known to have one of the BEST christmas markets in the world. This first christmas market experience has me dreaming of all the other christmas markets i'll go to during my winter trip to Berlin, and my Christmas in Prague!
I CAN'T WAIT! Winter Break PLEASE ARRIVE NOW.
Which is your favourite christmas market? Comment below!
Virgin Christmas Market Experience - Travel Linkup
3 December 2014 Manchester, UK
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
