German Christmas Markets!

When we found out we'd be moving to Europe one of the things that both Tom and I knew that we wanted to do was make it to a German Christmas Market.  These markets are famous all over the world and we definitely had to check them out.  In early December we headed to Cologne, Germany with some friends to visit their markets.  we initially had slight flight detour to Frankfurt due to the Dusseldorf airport being closed because of snow....so we jumped on the train and made our way to Cologne.  I was so super excited.  I know, there is a huge irony in the Jewish girl that is obsessed with Christmas.  But, for whatever reason I love the holiday and all things associated with it....the snow, the music, the fun and festive time of year!  

Cologne is an adorable German town and is about as stereotypically picturesque as you can imagine a "German Christmas village". Our hotel was in the center of it all and one of the larger Christmas markets was literally outside our front door.  In total, Cologne had six Christmas markets spread all around the city.  The markets were adorable and the fresh snowfall made the experience just perfect!  We spent our weekend meandering and shopping through the markets, sipping on Gluwein (hot, mulled wine) and sampling the fantastic German delicacies (potato pancakes, fish and chips, sauteed mushrooms and many more yummy items)!  It was a great weekend and definitely got us in the Holiday spirit!  I totally loved it and can't wait to check out the markets in another Germany city in the coming years!

The cathedral in Cologne

Snowy Snowy Germany

Gorgeous!

Tom loves Gluwein!

Picturesque Christmas Markets

The view of the markets from our hotel window

Gingerbread fun

Sharon and Tom all bundled up

Had to hit up a German brewery while there

Fun times....

with good friends.

Picturesque Germany at the Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Sullivan's

Thanksgiving in the States!

We decided to spend the Thanksgiving holidays back in the greater Chicago area visiting our families!  It was so much fun to be back in the Windy City and even better seeing our families.  My parents came up to Chicago to see us and we had a mini vacation staying right downtown and playing tourists in our former home.  We checked out the sky deck at the Sears Tower (it'll always be the Sears Tower to us), wandered around Michigan avenue, and enjoyed some great Chicago meals.  The latter part of our visit was spent with Tom's family celebrating Thanksgiving Day with his whole family.  We were so grateful that Elizabeth and Robert and their kids could make it in from Boston....so we got to celebrate with the entire family!  It was so much fun, as always.  We even managed to squeeze in one night with a gathering of various friends at a bar.  Thanks so much to everyone who came out...it was great catching up with old friends!  We've come to realize that these trips are always such a mixed blessing.  They are truly wonderful in the fact that we get to see those people who mean the most to us, our immediate families.  But, the time always goes by way too fast and we are never able to manage to see everyone we'd like to.  Thanks to everyone for being so flexible....we were so happy to see you!

Family fun in the city!

On the sky deck of the Sears Tower

Whoa....that's a long way down

Watching the sunrise over the skyline...one of the few perks of jet lag

While we were away...Charlie got to play with all of his friends!

Interesting news about our Neighborhood....

As I think most people know, Tom and I live in the old Jewish District of Warsaw.  Many of the Jewish community lived in this area prior to WWII.  Here is an intersting story that is about a building literally steps away from our apartment.

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