Cold Weather Markets

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
Looking at the photo of this vendor reminds me just how cold that day was.

There is an outdoor market every Wednesday and Friday at the Place Broglie in Strasbourg.  The plaza is fairly wide, very long, and right along the subway line.  The markets happen eleven months out of the year.  During December the regular vendors have to relocate so the Christmas markets can take place. Place Broglie is a happening plaza at least two days a week, regardless of weather.

Most months the area is filled with booths containing flowers, fruit, vegetables, fresh fish, eggs, bread, and many other culinary treats.  But in the coldest months, only the bravest (or most desperate) vendors participate.  During the winter the offerings lean towards non-perishables like sewing notations, hats, boots, scarves, and clothing.

I took the pictures seen here on a very blustery day in February of 2012.  The sellers were dressed like Eskimos.  I hope that they were able to make a few euros to compensate them for their discomfort from the cold.  I was glad that I didn't have to stick around too long before heading home to a warm apartment.

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
My mom would have enjoyed seeing the choices of ribbon and thread.

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
I realize that the French national colors are red, white, and blue
but it pleased me to see the red, white, and blue striped ribbon.
Then it reminded me of America.  Now it reminds me of both America and France.

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
The dress vendors were ready just in case anyone was looking for
a sleeveless dress to wear in June.  I loved the bold colors of the clothes
sold in the open air markets.  They were completely different than ones
sold in stores.

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
With such cold weather and low prices,
I am sure that several of these warm hats were sold that day.

La Photo du Jour: Hats for Sale

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in January 2012.
During dry weather, this hat store displayed some of their wares on outdoor racks.

I love the look of a hat... on someone else, that is.  Between my mass of unruly hair and the necessity that I wear glasses, I have always felt that a hat is just too much for me to pull off fashionably.  I am thankful that many French people don't share my timidity for wearing les chapeaux.  Not only could I live vicariously through others sporting their jaunty headgear, I could also window shop to my heart's content at Strasbourg's many hat stores.

La Photo du Jour: Orchids and Lace

Photo taken in February 2012 in Strasbourg, France.
These orchids sat in a restaurant window on the rue des Tonneliers.  

May beauty and love be yours this Valentine's Day. 

La Photo du Jour: A Stroll with a Friend

Photo taken on February 23, 2012 in Strasbourg, France. 

Seeing these two ladies strolling arm in arm through Place Broglie made me smile.  Apparently a chilly winter's day couldn't come between them and their chance to chat together.  There is hardly anything better than sharing time in life with a friend.

Les Photos du Jour: Feeding the Birds

Photo taken in January 2011 in Strasbourg, France.

 I took these photos on a somewhat warm, overcast day in January 2011.  A young girl had brought a plastic bag filled with bread to give to the birds, a common past time in Strasbourg.  The man accompanying the girl held her bike upright as she flung the snacks to the water fowl.  What the seagulls didn't catch out of the air, the swans gobbled up in the water.

Photo taken in January 2011 in Strasbourg, France.

Christmas Day

These figurines are part of an extensive manger scene set up in the
Cathedrale Notre Dame de Strasbourg.
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

May you and your loved ones have a blessed day of joy and peace.  

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

Christmas Eve is my favorite day of the year.  No other day holds as much anticipation of wonder, love, hope and joy.  It is a time of magical possibilities.

Stars over Strasbourg

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

Strasbourg decorates all the major, and some of the minor, streets in the city with beautiful lights in December.  These stars festooned the Grand Rue last year.

Maison des Tanneurs Decorated for Christmas

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

The Maison des Tanneurs is one of Strasbourg's most famous landmarks.  Located in the Petite France section of the city, this building was once the headquarters of the tanners' guild.  It is now home to a restaurant.  During the summer, the centuries old structure is decorated with a multitude of geraniums.  The flowers are traded in for twinkle lights in December.

Shopping in Strasbourg

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

These ladies were window shopping on the rue du Chaudron in Strasbourg.  I need to do a lot more than just looking around today!

A Forest of Chocolate

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011.

Christmas calls for fabulous tasting and even more fabulous looking treats.  Many of the confectionary stores in Strasbourg would give it their all during the holiday season, creating impressive displays of sugary art.  This photo shows trees made from different types of chocolate and nuts.  There are some marzipan angels caroling in the front of the display.

A Charlie Brown Tree in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

I have a soft spot in my heart for scraggly Christmas trees.  Maybe it comes from watching the Charlie Brown holiday special every year since I was a child?

Decorative Silhouettes

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

These decorations were hanging in a window in Kaysersberg.  Their beauty was enhanced by the way they were displayed as silhouettes against plain colored fabric backgrounds.  I think their delicate details would be lost hanging amidst evergreen branches.

Santa is a Street Musician?

Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011.

Everyone gets in on the Christmas theme including the street musicians.  This woman was having her photo taken by a friend while the Santa-garbed gentlemen kept playing in Strasbourg.

A Dainty Christmas Tree

This delicate, potted tree was sitting outside a jewelry shop on the Rue des Freres.
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France in December 2011

A Christmas Tree the Size of a House

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The owner of this house had taken evergreen swags intertwined with twinkle lights and created an outline of a Christmas tree on the side of the building.  Adorned with red bows and lit with different colored background lights, I thought it was pretty impressive.

Shining Windows in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Even though it is fairly small, the village of Kaysersberg has many stores.  We did a lot of window shopping during our visit in December 2011.  The lights glowed from within, illuminating the dark, cobblestone streets.  The windows were warm and inviting.  It was a magical holiday scene.

A cookie shop specializing in gingerbread
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Even meat hanging in the window of this charcuterie  has a festive air.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

A star decoration is tucked in between sausages.
Photo taken in December 2011

My father, husband, and daughter checking out the wares.
Photo taken in December 2011

A stuffed Santa head overlooks bottles of wine.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

You can see the potter working on his new products in the background of this photo.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011.

A window of a bakery
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

Looking into a children's book store
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The light sparkles off glassware as these customers peruse their options.
Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

The Lights of Kaysersberg at Christmas

Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

I didn't have enough room in my previous post to highlight all of the beautiful decorations from Kaysersberg.  Here are a few more photos of this gorgeous Alsatian village.  All of the pictures shown were taken in December of 2011.

Entering the main square of the village

A close up of the nativity scene.
The baby Jesus will be placed in his seat of honor on Christmas Day.

Swags of lights draped overhead.

A gargoyle was watching the festivities.

The moon shining over Kaysersberg.  

Christmas in Kaysersberg

Photo taken in Kaysersberg, France in December 2011

 My parents came to visit us in France in December 2011.  I am really glad that we had the chance to show them around during the holiday season.  It was wonderful to spend time with them, especially in a unique and beautiful setting.

During their visit, we took them to the village of Kaysersberg which is south of Strasbourg but still in Alsace.  The day was rainy and cold but the atmosphere was festive.  Everywhere we looked individual houses and stores were decorated.  There was a Christmas market in the town square plus booths set up along the streets and in halls.  There were lots of choices of crafts, toys, food, and drinks.

It seemed to get dark quickly that day.  The winter sunset was assisted by dreary, overcast skies.  I was worried that we would have to cut our exploration short but things actually got brighter.  Decorative lights shone from every tree.  Windows beamed a golden welcome.  The whole village seemed to sparkle.  Some of my most favorite memories of that day come from thinking about the beauty we saw after nightfall.

I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to enjoy the festivities of Kaysersberg at Christmas.  I am even more thankful to have shared the experience with my husband, daughter, and parents.  It is always more fun to explore when accompanied by people you love.

Umbrellas were a necessity during
the first hour or two that we were in Kaysersberg.

The village is nestled in a valley and has many half timbered houses.

A castle on the hill guards Kaysersberg.

Almost every building in the main part of town was decorated.

A very festive window looks over an Alsatian shop.

A church in the main square of Kaysersberg.

As the sky darkened, the lights went on.
Neither darkness nor rain kept the crowds from Kaysersberg that day.

Bread for St. Nicholas

My daughter eyeing up her mannele before devouring it.
Photo taken in December 2011, in Strasbourg, France.

One of my favorite Alsatian holiday goodies is mannele.  It is sweet brioche that is shaped like a person, complete with raisins or chocolate chips for eyes.  It looks similar to a gingerbread man but it is bread rather than a cookie.  These treats are traditionally made for St. Nicholas day on December 6.  Strasbourg spreads the fun out and these buns can be found in bakeries from late November until early January.   I was known to buy one (or two) almost every day during that time period.  They were just too good not to enjoy them when they were around.

Some of these mannele had chocolate chips throughout!
Photo taken in December 2011 in Strasbourg, France

First thing first, she ate the eyes right off.
Photo taken in December 2011, in Strasbourg, France.