December was a month of two things: exciting adventures and exhaustion. Our friend Mike came to visit before we came home for the holidays and when I say we saw a lot, I mean we saw A LOT. Here are some highlights of our December travels:
Christmas Markets – here are the ones I’ve been to so far…think of this as a stream of consciousness of highlights.
- Frankfurt- BIG, lots of everything but pretty crowded, beautiful carousel, the best currywurst in my opinion.
- Nuremberg- beautiful setting, gingerbread truffles, schaschlik (a fried kebab basically), lovely craft stalls.
- Rudesheim- my favorite market by far, beautiful crafts and goods from around the world (think woolen socks, soft scarves, spices, wooden handicrafts, leather work), delicious food (mushrooms with sautéed potato, crepes), and Rüdesheimer Kaffee (spiked coffee with whipped cream!)
- Mainz– mid-sized and easy to navigate, beautiful large wooden huts to have drinks around a campfire, nice handicrafts.
- Munich – there are numerous Christmas markets in Munich but we went to the one located at the Chinese Tower in the English Gardens. This market was laid-back and seemed to be filled with locals enjoying music and a the beer garden.
- Lucerne – mostly closed when we arrived so didn’t get to sample much, fairly small and let’s be honest – not a German Christmas Market 🙂
Some December sights:
Bavaria:
- Neuschwanstein Castle
- The inside tour is worth it though I wish it was a bit longer than 30 minutes and you truly only scratch the surface of the castle’s expanse – but there are some interesting tidbits and I have never seen anything like the interior before
- You cannot take photos inside but there are many online so you can get an idea
- To get the most iconic photos of the castle, you can walk out over the Marienbrücke bridge for a terrifying but amazing experience!
- King Ludwig II built two other castles. I’d like to visit both, particularly Linderhof to see his elaborate replica of the Blue Grotto. The other castle is called Herrenchiemsee.
- Weihenstephan Brewery
- A official brewery since 1040, Benedictine monks first started brewing on these monastery grounds in the 700s.
- The brewery tour is very interesting and the samples at the end are generous
- Be sure to visit the shop to pick up drinks (not just beer!) as well as other souvenirs. I got some neat beer mugs and a golf polo for my father in law.
- I highly recommend exploring the surrounding town of Freising – adorable shops and cafes.
Rhine River, Germany:
- Statue of Lorelai – a short walk onto a jetty ends with large rock and a stunning statue of a maiden with a captivating story. The rock produces an echo which is thought to be the sound of the siren! Fascinating.
- High above the river, you can drive up to the Dreiburgenblick overlook with sweeping views of the river as well as three different castles. The road is full of switchbacks and fun to drive in winter when there is no one else around!
Switzerland
- Vals
- 7132 Thermal Baths – located basically on top of a mountain (not an easy drive in the snow!), these thermal baths are constructed of black quartz and designed by architect Peter Zumthor. A day pass is expensive at $80 but the views and the experience are unreal. If you go, make sure to hydrate well and explore all the different pools and rooms tucked into the quartz structures.
- 7132 Thermal Baths – located basically on top of a mountain (not an easy drive in the snow!), these thermal baths are constructed of black quartz and designed by architect Peter Zumthor. A day pass is expensive at $80 but the views and the experience are unreal. If you go, make sure to hydrate well and explore all the different pools and rooms tucked into the quartz structures.
- Lucerne
- Lion of Lucerne – this monument honors fallen soldiers of the French Revolution and is called “the saddest lion in the world.” It sits a couple blocks back from the lake and I actually went to visit it twice while we were in town because it moved me so much, it brought tears to my eyes. Lions are so rich with symbolism in so many books from Aslan in C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” to Mufasa in the Lion King to the “Lion of Judah” representing Christ in the Bible. I guess I have never encountered a statue that moved me so much. I look forward to going back to it again at some point and maybe bringing a book to read while I sit awhile.
- Wooden bridges – The focal point of the Lucerne lakefront is definitely its wooden bridges. First built in the late 1300s, most of the Chapel Bridge burned down in the 1800s except for the bridgeheads and towers. The bridges are so cool to walk across and offer unique vantage points of the city.
- Lion of Lucerne – this monument honors fallen soldiers of the French Revolution and is called “the saddest lion in the world.” It sits a couple blocks back from the lake and I actually went to visit it twice while we were in town because it moved me so much, it brought tears to my eyes. Lions are so rich with symbolism in so many books from Aslan in C.S. Lewis’ “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” to Mufasa in the Lion King to the “Lion of Judah” representing Christ in the Bible. I guess I have never encountered a statue that moved me so much. I look forward to going back to it again at some point and maybe bringing a book to read while I sit awhile.
- Vitra Campus – technically over the Swiss border in Germany, this campus, museum, and store is absolutely stunning. The VitraHaus is free to walk through and everything (if you want to spend $$) is for sale and they have a cute cafe and museum shop on the ground floor with reasonably priced and unique gifts.
Berlin in Frankfurt 