Christmastime in Europe

A week before Christmas I decided to head to Paris to check out their Christmas markets. I went to the Champs-Elysées and to Sacré Cœur and Montmantre. There was a huge market lining the Champs-Elysées which was really pretty, but the stands were mainly food. I did get a really good steak and pepper sandwich though. 

Once I made my way up and down the street, I headed over to Montmantre and hiked up to Sacré Cœur. It was so beautiful over there.  A guy was playing music in front of the basilica and everyone gathered on the steps to listen and sing along. I bought some vin au chaud or mulled wine and watched for a little while.

On Tuesday, Dec. 20^th I headed to Braunschweig to meet up with my friends from URI. 

We went to the Weihnachtsmarkt which is their Christmas market and I got glühwein which is their mulled wine. It was really good. I also got a bratwurst sandwich that was almost as big as me! I couldn’t even finish it! Their market was much bigger than the one in Compiègne, much bigger. We also went to an Irish pub, a Mexican restaurant, and a club.

 I met Erin at the train station on Friday morning. She was coming in from southern Germany and would be spending Christmas with a friend who lived in a nearby village. We got to catch up over coffee and tea though, which was really nice. It was great to see people from home.

 Then, on Christmas Eve I decided to head back to France. I took a train from BS to Hannover to Köln and eventually onto Paris. My third train got delayed and I got into Paris late and missed the last train to Compiègne. After having a complete breakdown in the middle of the Gare du Nord on the phone with my mom, I decided to look for a taxi. Seeing as it was Christmas Eve and around 11pm, there were only a few taxis that would travel within Paris. So I was thinking of spending the night in the train station when this nice black man came up and said that it wasn’t safe to stay in the train station overnight and that I should find a hotel. So he brought me to a couple and only one had rooms available. Of course it was the most expensive hotel, but why would it be any other way. I got into my room and was a little nervous because it was my first time staying in a hotel room by myself, but I was so emotionally drained that I passed right out. I had set my alarm so that I would catch the first train the next morning, but my alarm never went off so I woke up 8 minutes after the train left. Oh the luck I have! I ended up heading to the gare and waiting for the next one except it was not for another hour and a half.

I finally made it back to my room around 11am and was so happy to finally be there. I had a bunch of Christmas cards waiting for me and two packages. So I opened up everything and it was like it was Christmas morning! I met up with Grace, Tess, and Grace’s friend (all from the US) and we had a nice dinner. We made quail and it was delicious. We also had artichokes, which was the first time I had ever eaten an artichoke that wasn’t in spinach and artichoke dip. It was good, but after a while, I was sick of the taste. The dinner was accompanied by wine and of course some orangecello! All in all, my Christmas ended up being full of Christmas cheer. I got to skype with my family and with Elena too!

The Dinner Table

 

I didn't know how to eat it

Grace opening up the wine!