EVER WONDERED WHAT AN EUROPEAN CHRISTMAS WOULD BE LIKE?
If wanting to experience a European Christmas has ever crossed your mind, then I have just the experience for you!
A Christmas Markets river cruise is just the thing to give you all the traditional aspects of what Christmas is like in Europe. The bonus, not having to worry about cooking Christmas lunch or dinner as this is all provided for you (plus lots of other great regional food) on board your river ship.
I have been lucky enough to do 2 Christmas Markets river cruises firstly with Avalon Waterways and then last year with APT.
APT can be described as ‘high end’ river cruising. In saying this they do still offer very good value for money especially if you can take advantage of their early bird offerings which usually includes free return economy airfares to/from Australia (just pay the air taxes). The river cruise ship is a Christmas destination in itself, decorated beautifully with garlands, lights and trees. You will even find a traditional wooden decoration on your stateroom door.
Our cruise started out in Amsterdam, and as we journeyed through the Netherlands onto Germany, Austria and Hungary the Christmas Market scene seemed to get better and better.
Every city and town has a magical display of Christmas lights and trees (lots and lots of decorated Christmas trees) as well as the markets.
If you close your eyes and picture row after row of wooden huts, some painted green with red and white striped roofs or pine wood sides with pine branch roofs each decorated with lights, and benches heaving with all sorts of wonderful Christmas trinkets and food.
All the wonderful aromas and tastes of Christmas time in Europe – the smell of pine, the aroma of freshly baked ginger bread, Lebkuchen and Stollen cake, and the delicious taste of Gluhwein or spiced hot apple cider, sizzling sausages and fried fish on a freshly baked bread rolls.
You need to make sure you have extra cash in your pocket as there are wonderful trinkets and toys to buy which you will only find in Europe. Many wooden toys, carved Nutcrackers, Nativity scenes and figures, hand blown glass baubles (found especially in Austria and the Czech Republic) for the tree. There are also Music boxes with ice skaters and carollers decorating the tops, bees wax candles and delicate wooden trinkets to place on your mantle or hang from your tree.
Stallholders will package your treasures very well, so each Christmas at home when you see your tree decorated, you will fondly remember your time at the Christmas Markets in Europe.