December Beginnings

A new favorite treat! The recipe is raspberry cream pie from Better Homes and Gardens, and it is very easy. Just a graham cracker crust (crumbs and butter) with a filling of whipping cream, cream cheese, and raspberry jam all mixed together and poured on top of the crust, then chilled in the freezer. Because I don't have a pie pan, I thought of using the cupcake pan! Then, because our freezer is so European sized (itty-bitty), the pan didn't fit :( So I put the pan in the fridge, hoping that the pies would firm up but they didn't. Thennnnn I had an excellent idea: I cleared everything out the freezer, and put the pan in at an angle and then the door closed! And these babies turned out perfectly!

Last Friday, 29 November, we went out to explore the Weihnachtsmärkt, or Christmas markets, and we were amazed: they really live up to the descriptions that people have given. There are dozens and dozens of booths like this one, selling crafts and decorations. Germans have said that the Bonn market is average sized, and that the markets in Berlin and Cologne are the biggest. Those cities also have several different locations with markets: some that are old fashioned, some that sell very fancy goods because they are located in the fashion districts, etc. Nate and I really liked the variety at the Bonn market, and we are planning to go back several more times.

It's a bit hard to tell, but these candles had amazing blends of color and we couldn't figure out how they were made.

We bought a drawing from this man. He etched or drew every single picture that he was selling! He spoke very good English and told us that he learned it when he was a hippie and traveled all over the world. I asked why he had chosen the Bonn Christmas markets, instead of Cologne or Seigburg (a city across the Rhine) and he said that the Bonn markets are more organized, and he only paid €2,000. In Cologne, he said a booth of his same size costs €10,000, for one month! 

One of the most remarkable buildings- it's probably 30 feet tall and very intricately decorated. And it is quite popular- it is one of the many places to buy beer!

These miniature buildings are a very popular decoration, and they are so cool because the fan around the top actually turns! Heat rises from little candles on the bottom level and that air pushes the blades around and around. We are looking for one to add to our collection that is pretty but not too expensive :)

You see that tall man in the background? That, friends, is Frank Apel, the CEO of DHL! Nate was very hesitant to talk to him, but after a pep talk from me, we said hello and told him that we liked being here in Bonn. He looked just like the rest of the Germans out enjoying Christmas, 

but Nate said he is a very intense businessman. 

We got super cold, so we went in to T.K. Maxx to warm up (yep, just like T.J. Maxx in the States. But the selection and clothing here is almost as nice as the Nordstrom Rack!). Nate was so nice, and he suggested that we look for some cute boots for me, so we picked out a few to try on! 

Well, maybe more than a few ;)

I really really really loved these boots but they were a size 39 and I'm a 36.5 :( We looked on every shelf and there were no other pairs, plus Nate went and asked. They are the brand Wrangler, and I did a bit of searching online, but haven't found them yet. So if you want to get me the perfect Christmas present, this is it! 

Post Tower, all lit up for Christmas! It switches, one row at a time starting at the bottom, from blue lights to red lights about every 10 minutes. 

I took this picture from the bus, but we will get some better ones in the next little bit.

Our Christmas tree! We decided save some money and get a small one so that we could get some nice decorations. This little baby was €8! And yes, Nate drove that tree home in his bike basket.

So European! Every time I see this picture, it makes me chuckle. After buying the tree, we needed to buy groceries and since the stores were close together but far from our apartment, we decided to risk it and leave the tree in the basket while we bought the food that we needed. Thankfully, Nate thought to take a picture :)

My genius contraption for how to take the next photo.

Our first attempt at a Christmas card. 

The background is definitely lacking, so we decided to relocate!

And finally, on Saturday, 1 December at a Christmas market in Köln!