The Neckargasse, with the Stiftskirche at the top....this street leads into our Altstadt.
The Stiftskirche in all its Gothic glory, with the market Christmas tree aglow.
This is the Hozlmarkt, which is at the foot of the Stiftskirche. It's a mini-marketplace. The picture didn't come out too well but you get the idea of just how beautiful it is.
One of Tübingen's many narrow medieval streets, alight with bright bulbs and wreaths. This is my favorite street in the whole city.
Funny story behind these two shots. This is our Hauptmarkt, the main marketplace, and when Almir and I got here he asked if we could get into the Rathaus (city hall) that stands over the market. That gave me an idea -- let's get in there and see if we can get a view over the market! So, with Almir protesting the entire time ("Matt, we shouldn't be in here, we're gonna get caught!.............Where are you going??? You can't go up there! Get back here!") we snuck in, up the stairs, and found a small darkened conference room that overlooked the market. The result were these cool (but blurry) photos. Just imagine what this will look like when our Weihnachtsmarkt is up and running next weekend!
That's not the only thing that's happened recently. Yesterday we all took the train to Nürnberg to visit their famous Weihnachtsmarkt! It's the most famous one in Germany and it's gorgeous! I was really excited to get to visit Nürnberg again (I even got to meet up with my host family from 3 years ago and had coffee with them), and it was even cooler to see the market decked out. The pics:
The fortress of Nürnberg algow as twilight fades to night.
The fortress again.
The Liebfrauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) lit up with lights and Christmas trees and a live orchestra, right on the marketplace.
The whole group (except Addy, she's taking the picture) at the market. From left, Niko, Almir, yours truly, and Peter. We're bundled up against the cold but strangely as the night when on it got warmer and warmer. Weird.
The Schoenen Brünnen (beautiful fountain) on the market. It definitely deserves its name. There is a ring in the gate surrounding it that turns within its setting, and there's a local legend that if you turn the ring and make a wish it will come true. When I was in Nürnberg in 2002 as a high school exchange student I turned it and wished to come back to Nürnberg someday. Looks like it works!
Me enjoying Glühwein and the famous Nürnberg gingerbread (Lebkuchen). I'm just a little excited.
View over the whole market.
Vendors and all their beautiful wares abound...this was one of many, many ornament booths. The handcraftsmanship is amazing (and expensive).
Addy at one of the ornament booths displaying one of her many hats.
Liebfrauenkirche again.
You can eat a variety of things here at the market, including gingerbread, really big hot dogs, Zwa im Weckla (two sausages in a roll, a Nürnberg specialty), Glühwein (hot red wine with orange juice and spices), and WAFFLES!!
Another pic of the Liebfrauenkirche. Pics don't do it justice. It was beautiful!
So that's it for now. I can't wait to go back to Nürnberg. My host family invited me to come and stay with them over a weekend in the spring when the chaos of the Christmas season is over. Maybe I'll make it out there during my semester break. That would be nice, as I'm sure Nürnberg is gorgeous in the spring. It was weird to see it in the bare season of winter when the last time I was there, it was warm, humid summer. But still cool!
Life in Germany is going well. We're less than 20 days away from Christmas break here, and at that point I'll be going up north to Matze's. I'm really excited, but I still need to find presents for them all! Aaahhh!
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