A ridiculous sprained ankle really set me back on my Christmas market game this December. I should have been able to go to at least three of them twice, but instead, it was just one time to each market. I cut it as closely as possible, going on both Monday and Tuesday to markets right before we left for Barcelona on Wednesday!
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| Delicious Bratapfelwein. Tastes like cider. |
This Christmas season, I loved going to the
Vilsbiburg, Landshut,
Salzburg,
Regensburg, Nuremberg, and Erfurt Christmas markets.
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| The impressive and very full Erfurter Weihnachtsmarkt. |
I wasn't able to swing any time at the one-weekend-only Dingolfing market, and I basically missed two full days of potential market visiting because I needed to rest my ankle. Maybe I would have gone to Munich's Englischergarten market (haven't done that one yet), and I definitely would have spent more time in Landshut and Regensburg.
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| Landshut sets the hot wine literally on fire! |
I absolutely adore the one-day Vilsbiburg Nikolausmarkt and how the entire town congregates in our Stadtplatz (city center) to share warm drinks and hugs.
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| Darling Vilsbiburg. |
I'm also a huge fan of hanging out in Landshut, whether at the Christmas pyramid mini-market or in the Freyung's main market section. Vilsbiburg and Landshut are my small local markets, and I'm already looking forward to being at both even more next year.
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| Immigrant Dingo best friends with our coach and manager in Landshut. |
But, Regensburg. Oh my lovely Regensburg. I like this city so much as it is, but when the Christmas market gets wedged into Neupfarrplatz around the charming church, it is unbeatable for me!
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| Friends who make me look taller, richer, and younger than I actually am. |
It has my favorite market sandwich, the "Regensburger," interestingly combining sausages, sweet pickles, sweet mustard, and horseradish. I usually eat two while there, and order another one to take home with me.
It is always where I find my favorite Christmas market mugs. This year was no exception, as I found a tall frosted mug with beautiful red calligraphy and a decent wine glass with gold accents.
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| We understand best how our faces work. |
This market still has the very best fried apple rings. I try them everywhere. None compare. They are so fresh, so juicy, and so perfectly flavored with cinnamon and sugar that I should really only eat thirty of them.
So far, I am three-for-three in Regensburg on pretty okay weather for December in Bavaria. No muddy memories for me in Regensburg!
It is also where I am able to meet up with wonderful friends who live in the area. I have had teammates and friends in
Regensburg every year in Germany, and this year, my teammate and her friend who live in Deggendorf were able to join me, too!
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| Dingo, Dingo, Dingo, Dingo! I love my team. |
My Regensburg market day was the day before we left to spend Christmas in Barcelona, and I could not have designed a better holiday send-off.
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| Perfectly coordinating head warmers and smiles. |
December, 2018: please grant me two days in Regensburg! I would love to take a tour of the extra nice and special market at the Thurn and Taxis castle next Christmas!
Frohe Weihnachten!