Christmas Market: The Grote Market, Brugge, Belgium

Last year, in early December, my daughter - along with her friend - and I took a day trip to Brugge, Belgium. I had heard how this city was so picturesque, and I imagined how much more it would be during the holiday season. We boarded the TGV and in a couple of hours, we got there.




It was a frigid, gloomy day. We started to walk, following the big crowd ahead of us...to the center of town, along the canals.


After stopping by a number of old churches and small specialty shops on the old city streets, we made it to the Grote Market - "Big Market square"...and noticed the Christmas market from afar.


On one side of the square, we noticed a sign...


... for an indoor Christmas market...it was so cold that we opted to go here, first, to warm up a bit from the arctic cold...and walked around to find...






ceramic products, Christmas ornaments, figurines, candle holders, vases...and more...


hand-made gift items using Belgian lace...


artisanale fruit jams and marmalades with that home-made look...


chocolate products produced by an NGO in Africa...






hand-blown glass with the artisan making his creations on the spot...like glass ornaments, rings, and earrings...it was quite a show to watch...


figures made out of soap and paraffin.


It was time to brave the cold temperatures again...to get to see the rest of the Grote Market square.


We headed straight to the Christmas market section...just to look around...








while taking note of the old buildings surrounding the square.






Out in the cold, we needed a warm drink...


and some Belgian fries!


We were so tempted to join in the fun in the ice skating rink right next to the market...where most of the kids were at while their parents were going around the market stalls.


There was a Salvador Dali exhibit going on in one of the galleries...


horse-drawn carriages for hire to take you around the city.


And when more Christmas lights outlining the buildings switched on...



it was time to head back to the station. Inspite of the negative temperature reading for that day, we sure enjoyed our day trip to Brugge. The extra-ordinary beauty of the place, it's rich history and culture...the whole experience lingers in our fond-memories bank. Hopefully, we get a chance to go back soon, before this year is over.

Christmas Market: "Marches de Noel," Paris, France

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. As a young child, my mom and I spent many hours making decorations and preparing our home for the Christmas holidays. Anywhere in the world I go, I look forward to the preparations undertaken for the holiday season. Particular to Europe is the "Marches de Noel" - Christmas Markets.

Tonight, the Christmas lights will brighten up the Avenue de Champs Elysees, from the Arc de Triomphe...

to the Place de la Concorde. Somewhere in between, the Marches de Noel - the Christmas Markets have been set up and will be open from now 'til December 28th.

The first Marchés de Noël was held in 1570 in front of the Cathedral in Strasbourg, as a manifestation of a municipal protestant community. Now, Christmas markets are put up in many European countries as part of the holiday experience.

Today, it represents one of the most picturesque experiences of the Christmas spirit - with hundreds of stall holders offering traditional, hand-made, artisanale gifts...like this collection of "Santon" characters to create a creche...

chocolate bark treats by the kilo...

macaroons, cookies, mini rhum cakes, and many more baked goodies to pick up and eat while shopping...

spiced baked goods, with fruits and nuts from the region of Alsace...

candies, sold by the kilo for the young and old...

chocolate coated apples, marzipan and other sweet treats to enjoy or give as presents.

During the whole day, but especially on long winter evenings, the smell of mulled wine - cinnamon and spices, and hot doughnuts entice the visitors...

and the different food stands' aromatic flavors invite one to stop, look, and try out something that is pleasing to the palate..

cooked over big, giant grills and extra large pots, they serve different sausages, schwarma, casoulet...in a pita, a baguette, or a barquette...

Tartiflette.

you can even request your own concoction, as my daughter did - French fries topped with caramelized onions and a dollop of ketchup and mayonnaise.

For the families who come, usually, the main attractions of the Market are the big Christmas tree ...

and here, there is even a fake-snow making machine...

and the rides for the children.

For this gift-shopping experience, you will also find other products from here and other parts of the world...such as these unique items...

one-of-a-kind hand-painted, Christmas ornament glass balls...

practical and attractive woven products from Mexico, made from recycled materials...

a varied selection of tea for the tea drinkers...

lamps made with a drift wood/stone base...

towel art...in tasty-looking shapes...

artisanale soaps...

and these tantalizing, moving, metallic mobiles!

There is so much more to see. I shared with you what I found palatable, attractive, quaint, and useful! Make a visit yourself to one of these markets. If you can't, I hope you were delighted to make this visit with me. Happy holiday shopping!