Stadtgarten Weihnachtsmarkt

This is probably the smallest Weihnachtsmarkt in Köln. It’s Simon’s favorite. He said, “Now THIS is how a Weihnachtsmarkt should be.” It wasn’t commercialized or touristy- it mostly felt like a local neighborhood party (though still very crowded- so much so that I didn’t bother taking that many photos). During the day they even have free puppet shows for the kids!

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Mustard and Honey products can be found at any Weihnachtsmarkt. There’s even a mustard museum in Köln!

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CHEESE!

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Crepes can be found at every Weihnachtsmarkt. Lots of different options- savory (like ham and cheese, etc.), or sweet (like this Nutella crepe).

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The girls enjoying their Nutella crepes

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These are huge wedges of cheese used to make Raclette. It’s melted and scraped off onto bread and then topped with various toppings (like minced pickles, etc.) This is a common food eaten here on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Lots of families have a Raclette maker at home (we just bought one). We’ll be eating this with Oma and Opa on Christmas Eve (Heilig Abend).

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Mushroom stew that Simon and the girls loved

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Cool table to eat at built around the trees

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