Today I woke up after a wonderful night of sleep. I finished putting away all of my 'stuff' that arrived on Tuesday from the US. On my bed now is the quilt that my mother made me about 15 years ago and a Bears pillow. When I went to sleep last night it was like she was hugging me. I felt like I was home in my own bed. Here is a new picture of my bedroom so that you can see what I am talking about.
I could see the sunlight streaming in the windows and thought that I would have a beautiful day to go to the Mannheim Christmas Market. I have been looking forward to this day since I found out that I would be coming to Germany. Everyone that has been here during the month before Christmas has raved about the markets. I guess that just about every town has one of some sort. One of my co-workers said that in some of the smaller towns they are just gatherings for bratwurst and gluhwine. Mannheim is supposed to have a good one so I was very excited.
I was just making the bed when the phone rang. My first phone call! I did not realize at first what the sound was because it is not like a phone ringing in the US. So I went first to the door monitor thinking that someone had erroneously rang my buzzer. That wasn't it so I looked at my desk and sure enough, the phone was blinking red. I answered it and it was for Hope, the previous tenet. I tried to explain to the person on the phone that she had gone back to the US and that I would forward an email address to her, but it was very difficult. I did get an address, but I am not sure of the domain name since she was having trouble understanding me when I kept asking what was after the @ sign. Oh well, I hope that Hope can figure it out.
I finished getting ready to go to the market. When I was done, I felt like I was ready to go work at the Bear's game. Long johns, Bear's hooded sweatshirt, Bear's fleece headband and gloves. I thought that it was the perfect outfit. I got cold yesterday when I was downtown so today I was going to be warm enough that I didn't have to leave early. I walked outside and the weather was perfect. It was about 38 degrees, no wind and bright skies. I went to the tram and was on my way. I am constantly surprised about the number of Germans that use mass transit. People of every age. Today there was an elderly couple as well as a mother with baby in a pram on the tram. The tram riders are also very courteous. They will give up their seat for an older person to sit. Very impressive!
I rode the tram down to the stop across from the Market. I got out and looked toward the market and took these pictures:
The first picture is the water tower. It is a central part of the entrance to the pedestrian mall for the downtown area. In the summer it is alive with beautiful, colorful flowers. Now it is filled with the small buildings that you can see in the second picture. These buildings are setup for the vendors. So I anxiously went crossed the street and stepped into my first Christmas market.
I did not know what to expect so everything was great. There were rides for the kids. I saw a ferris wheel, train, a carousel and pony rides. Just like a summer festival in the states. The vendors were varied. There were Christmas items, candles, pots & pans, kid's toys, cold weather clothing and of course food. I wanted first to get a sandwich. You may have noticed the clock on the picture. It said 12:00. So I found a booth that looked like there were a lot of people buying from it and I got in line. Of course I did not recognize most of the menu, but I did see something that the others were buying that had sauteed onions and looked like a pork chop so I pointed to it, paid the 4.50€ and stepped out of line. I took a bite and realized that I did not make the best choice. It was ok, but was definitely not a pork chop from 'Pork Chop Hill' at the classic. I think next time I will get a bratwurst or reinwurst. Later at another food vendor, I saw that there was a dish being served with sauerkraut and I was interested in remembering that place for a future visit to the market until I saw the dreaded word Leben in the description of the dish. I did remember that is liver so I crossed that place off. It seems like most people came to eat, drink and visit. Here is a picture that I took just off the 'food court'.
I walked around and ate my sandwich and then found what I was looking for. Kathe Wolfhart's shop was just in front of me. I had been to the shop in Rothenberg and Heidelberg on my previous trips to Germany and was thinking that I could find something in there to add to the Christmas runner that my mom made for my coffee table. I think I forgot to tell you about that but will leave that for another day when I finally get something to put on it. Anyway I stepped inside the building (this building was actually a shop instead of a booth) and was transported into a Christmas haven. It was just like being in the Heidelberg shop. I was looking at the smokers and pyramids and have not decided yet which one I want to get. I am trying to decide if I want to get something just to have here or to keep and transport back to the states with me. The items from the Wolfhart shop would be keepsakes that can be passed on to family members in the future so that is probably what I will do, but I could not make up my mind today. So I went through the shop, picked up a pamphlet that I think offers a discount (I will have to babelfish it to make sure) and stepped back outside.
Something seemed wrong outside. All of a sudden people were talking in more hushed tones and there was not a sense of holiday spirit and fun. I looked around and saw several police officers walking through the crowd watching people. They did not seem to be in a hurry or upset about anything but it was just unusual. I looked across the street to the pedestrian mall and there were a lot of police over there. Then I heard sirens and saw about 10 police vans go past the Christmas market. I could not understand what people were saying, but I decided that it would be a good time to go back to my apartment. I was not really worried because no one else seemed to be overly concerned, but I just wanted to be safe so I left the market, crossed the street and got on the tram. It was extremely crowded this time and everyone was talking and pointing at all of the police. Before the tram left the stop, I could see more police walking up and down the pedestrian mall. There were at least 60 that I could see from my seat. They were dressed in gear that resembled riot gear, helmets with face shields and leg protectors. Now I was nervous and was glad that the tram finally started on it's way.
We started off toward the main station that we had to go past to get back to my apartment and I started seeing a lot of police. On horses, segways and on foot, but they were all over. The closer we got to the train station, the more I saw. Then finally I saw what I think was causing all of the commotion. At the train station there was a gathering of some protesters. I am not sure what they were protesting and it seemed not be non-violent so I was feeling better about it. I have not been able to find anything on the web about the protest and I am safe so I guess that is just one of those things. I don't think that I have seen a protest like this (except union strikers) in the Quad Cities before. Perhaps there were some during the war, but I was too young to remember.
I got home with no trouble and am very safe now in my apartment so don't worry about anything (that's for you Donald). I had just a minor experience, but was on alert because of the happenings this week in India. I feel so sorry for all of those people there and hope that no one I know was directly affected by it.
Tonight is just a normal evening. After I finish this update I am going to set up my stamping area so that I can get some cards done that I need. I will update you on that tomorrow.
I hope that this finds all of you safe, sound and happy. Have a great day.
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