When we signed up for a Christmas Markets River Boat Cruise, I mused “I wonder how many people would sign up to spend a week going to Christmas Markets.  

Well it turns out a whole boat load of people.  Actually more than that.  While we were on the Silver Amadeus, I saw other boats cruising the Rhine, in search of Christmas trinkets and the great food offered.  

It seemed like a great way to travel from market to market.  A floating hotel.  But more about that in another blog. 

I loved the markets.   I love the little shopping booths, meeting the artist, crafts person or retailer.  The cooks and food preparers.  I bought hats, candle holders, jewelry, ornaments, soaps and other things to take home.   

The markets are much more than shopping.  My sense is that a Christmas Market is half food.  Mashed potatoes.   Raclette.  Brats.  Endless amounts of beer and Guihwein  which is a hot spiced wine you get in a little decorative mug. Every market had stalls for this wine with dedicated mugs for the town.  I suspect people collect the mugs.  People come here to eat.  To drink.  To socialize.  And to shop for their loved ones and friends. 

There’s entertainment,  too.  Accordion players.  Man with music box. Groups playing instruments.  Folks on stilts.  Flame throwers.  I was particularly intrigued with a performance at a Berlin market that had an ethereal quality to it. 

It was great to see all the different decorations at each market.  Beautiful lights.  Cathedrals in the background.  I got a kick out of the themes that ranged from Teddy bears to bagels and donuts .  We were told that on the French side of the Rhine River the towns competed for the most elaborate.  

Some of the stalls felt very much “of the moment,”  like they were thrown up the night before.  Others were cutesy.   A few had an upstairs level.  The French markets tended to be the most decorated while the one we attended in Bern Switzerland was pretty Plain Jane.   

Many markets had dramatic entrances.  Also, each one had a Nativity scene somewhere.  I made a point of looking for them.  

A favorite moment was watching a class of kids decorate trees at a market.  Here’s a little boy putting an ornament on top of top of a tree.  I suspect there’s a fair amount of community support for these markets.  

We also connected with people.  The family wearing Christmas hats.  The gorgeous young girls collecting money for Ukraine.  The volleyball coach.  The students who collect pins for their hats and then meet up to chat.  

The markets provided opportunities for photos….couples in the decorated ball, little girl with the angel.  And lots of people watching as well.

And the, how fun, the paddling Santas…….I’ll bet the locals enjoy doing this on a Saturday afternoon.