Christmas 2009
Our Christmas Update!
Better late than never, right?!?
One of our annual Christmas traditions since living in Europe is going to a Christmas Market. Starting on the first day of Advent, wooden stalls are installed around cities to selling traditional hand crafted items and sell hot and warm drinks. It's a tradition through Europe, but was started in Germany and that is where the most famous ones are. After going to Cologne's last year where 2 million people visit in a 4 week period- we thought it might be nice to try a smaller town. So we chose Aachen, Germany.
At Aachen's center is Charlemagne's palace and his church.
This town has tons of historical significance as it is where Charlemagne ruled his empire in the late 700's. Aachen was the center of an Empire that stretched from the North Sea to Central Italy. To be honest, I really didn't remember much about Charlemagne from school, but the has become a legend in his former town, even thousands of years later. He united the different people living under his empire by introducing Christianity as the common faith, standardizing a written script and a common currency. The interconnection of science with art and culture was a fundamental principle of his rule. He documented the traditions of the enemies he conquered and called scholars from all over Europe to teach at the schools he founded here- astronomers, theologians, mathematicians, and architects. Charlemagne has been glorified as the epitome of an ideal ruler. After his death, Charlemagne became a legend and this legend has remained an integral part of the city's history to this very day.
At Aachen's center is Charlemagne's palace and his church.
This town has tons of historical significance as it is where Charlemagne ruled his empire in the late 700's. Aachen was the center of an Empire that stretched from the North Sea to Central Italy. To be honest, I really didn't remember much about Charlemagne from school, but the has become a legend in his former town, even thousands of years later. He united the different people living under his empire by introducing Christianity as the common faith, standardizing a written script and a common currency. The interconnection of science with art and culture was a fundamental principle of his rule. He documented the traditions of the enemies he conquered and called scholars from all over Europe to teach at the schools he founded here- astronomers, theologians, mathematicians, and architects. Charlemagne has been glorified as the epitome of an ideal ruler. After his death, Charlemagne became a legend and this legend has remained an integral part of the city's history to this very day.
It was extremely cold that weekend, but it still fun to browse all the stalls, stopping periodically for a mug of warm, spiced wine or a grilled bratwurst. After much debating, we bought a beautiful wooden nutcracker.
Christmas
Christmas
Spending Christmas skiing in the Swiss Alps has always been an exotic dream for us. But now it is an hour long plane trip followed by a 2 hour train ride. We rented an apartment with friends in the little town of Engelberg. It was so quaint and such a hidden gem! Mount Titlis is the highest peak in Central Switzerland and Engelberg is nestled at it's base. The Swiss Alps truly have that WOW factor as evidenced from our apartment.
Brent had his skies tuned while he was there and boy was he fast! The conditions were a little unpredictable, but he really enjoyed himself. The Engelberg area is known as some of the best off-run (or off-piste in ski lingo) in Europe, and the reputation is well-deserved. I preferred to watch the snow from the warmth of the couch, where I made myself very comfortable with Swiss hot chocolate and several good books.The views from the top of Titlis were even more incredible! 10,623 feet (and windy at the top)
We spent Christmas day snowshoeing on Titlis. I love when the snow falls gently and you feel 
like you are in a snow globe. Afterwards we warmed up in an igloo on Mt. Titlis that had taken 2,700 hours to build. Everything was made from ice except the wooden tables. We had cheese fondue and warm drinks. It was my favorite memory from the trip.
like you are in a snow globe. Afterwards we warmed up in an igloo on Mt. Titlis that had taken 2,700 hours to build. Everything was made from ice except the wooden tables. We had cheese fondue and warm drinks. It was my favorite memory from the trip.
Snowshoeing at night was also a highlight. We had a young Swiss guy lead us snowshoeing around the mountain at dusk. He shared a lot about the area and we gleaned a little more insight into Swiss culture. He was excited to come study as a student in California! :) When it finally got too dark we made our way to a small mountain lodge for the most amazing cheese fondue. (Are you sensing a theme here with the fondue??) We used fire torches for our long trek back down. Skiing and spending the holiday with our friends Rob & Erika, and their visiting friend
Don, also made the holiday really memorable!
I had read that Engelberg is where they shoot all the Himalayan scenes for Bollywood movies (because it's easier to get permits here than in the actual Himalayas). I kept hoping that dancing and singing would spontaneously burst on the mountainside, but no such luck. We did get to see part of the World Cup for ski jumping. The event was being held in Engelberg so we got to watch a few of the jumps and it's incredible how they fly. A new world record was set while we were there. Later we went snowshoeing up by the actual ramp/jump. Just looking at it made my stomach lurch!
We also toured the towns of Lucerne (or Luzerne to the German-speaking) & Basel- towns that have amazingly managed to retain many of their medieval buildings. The most famous landmark in Lucerne is the wooden bridge called "Chapel Bridge" that is still standing from the 14th century (1330's). Inside the bridge are a series of paintings from the 17th century depicting events from Lucerne's history. Unfortunately, a lot of the bridge and these paintings, were destroyed in a 1993 fire, though it was quickly rebuilt.
Here's Ruth overlooking the Rhine, the major river running through Basel.
We were hoping for a relaxing Christmas holiday and it was!
Stay tuned for our next update, from a decidedly sunnier locale!
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