Weekend In Dresden

Our weekend in Dresden, Germany was amazing. Everything I was hoping for! The holiday spirit was abundant! If you haven't been to Dresden and have a chance...you should go. Dresden is home to the world's oldest Christmas market which celebrated its 581st birthday this year. Additionally, while there is one main market, there are many smaller markets set up around the city. Some are more charming than others. (We stopped at one on our way back to the hotel which was basically a bunch of gluhwein stands and drunk locals curling. Not that there's anything wrong with that!) We made it to 6 of the 11 while we were there and I don't feel like we missed a thing.

We arrived Friday night and dropped our bags an immediately walked towards the main market. We were about .7 of a mile away and the walk was brisk, but we knew it would be worth it. And, I have to say, I felt just like a small child when I arrived at Striezelmarkt - the lights and music and people. It immediately felt like Christmas.

Friday night at the market

Hot chocolate for the kids and Lumumba for the adults (hot chocolate with rum)

Caleb and Grayson went up on the ferris wheel and Caleb snapped some amazing pictures

The Market

My favorite picture

Checking things out

One of the shops

We spent a few hours on Friday night just walking around and taking it all in. We made it back to our hotel around 10 and prepared for a busy Saturday.

And of course, Saturday had to start out with some Starbucks. Must have caffeine!

We then decided to check out some of the smaller markets in the area and see some of the sights.

Lots of pictures were taken with various cutouts this weekend

We visited a most beautiful church that had this "angel" out in front of it. Caleb decided he was game to go have his picture taken!

Please note that the one who could always use a little divine intervention decided he was too cool to have his picture taken with the angel.

We saw some amazing architecture while here. I only wish we had sun to highlight the beauty of it all.

We then decided a carriage ride was in order. So we loaded up and covered ourselves with blankets and around town we went.

And...we're off!

You can only imagine how many "fahrt" jokes there were over the weekend! And, it's not often you see a rollerblading Santa!

We visited the medieval Christmas market next. This was not my favorite market - although I did like everyone dressed up in their period outfits and they served great beer, kinderpunsch, and apfel gluhwein!

Lots of kissing opportunities at the medieval market

Then it was time for serious shopping! We weren't in need of many things, but it was fun to look at what everyone was selling.

Tons of Christmas items available

Selfie time

Grayson felt he needed to ride the ferris wheel in the daytime - so Blaine went up today. I think Caleb and I had some more punsch while they were riding.

Daytime views

Main entrance to the biggest market

Another selfie

Of course, there was lots of food and beverage involved! Including some amazing bratwursts and quarkballchen. I think we ate quarkballechen (cinnamon sugar donut holes) until we could eat no more!

Grayson went back to the hotel, but Caleb was in it for the long haul - mainly because he loves to eat and drink!  Where does he get that from?

Shopping

We bought so much cheese and sausage from here that we received a free bottle of wine! 

We headed back to our hotel in the early evening and decided to just have pizza at the hotel as I think our legs were about fall off due to all the walking we did. I was happy for a few beers and an early bedtime. 

Sunday morning we took one last stroll through the markets, grabbed some quarkballchen and hot chocolate and then we were on the road to return to Warsaw.

So that's my wrap-up on Dresden! Definitely a great experience! And, I'm already planning where we'll head next Thanksgiving in Europe to see some additional Christmas markets. I'm thinking Vienna!