I have now been to my second-favorite Christmas market of
all time. Mainz
of course is comes in first place. However, the Christmas market in Stuttgart this past
weekend was really quite remarkable. I had probably the best day I have had in
a long time on Saturday, and I hope I can describe it well enough to convey
just how great it really was.
I ventured to Stuttgart
on the bus and train, and began meandering along the shopping street and
pedestrian area just outside of the main train station. There are huge shops,
with everything you could imagine. As I kept walking through the generally
crowded streets, I began to see more and more Christmas market stands, and
began to smell all the wonderful smells. Needless to say, this market was huge.
In 7 hours I still didn’t get to see everything! The weather cooperate nicely,
as the skies were clear, but the temperature was somewhere around freezing.
As I began to walk through the market, I realized that it
just kept going and going! This market was absolutely huge, and I loved every
square inch of it! I had a couple of things in mind that I wanted to look for,
and I just about scored the jackpot. Unfortunately I can’t tell you all of the
story, as it might give away some of the Christmas gifts I bought, but let me
assure you that these gifts are rare, unique and perfect.
One story I will tell you is about my time at an olive wood
stand. I am able to tell you this story because I have already told my Mom, the
benefactor of the outcome of this story. So, I was walking along, checking out
all the cool stands and I happened upon this stand that sells things out of
olive wood – carved nativity scenes, ornaments and other things. My Mom told me
she wanted a nativity scene that was something similar to one I had bought in
Mainz when I studied there, and low and behold, I was looking at the same thing
(come to find out they only have 7 stands in all of Germany, Mainz and
Stuttgart included). I began looking around and then a friend called and said
she and her friends were at the market (I was meeting my room mate and her
friends there). I had a quick look and then went to meet Svenja.
After meeting with Svenja and her friends, and parting with
them as they were on their way to a concert, I went back to the olive wood
stand. At one point I was the only person there, and the woman selling the
wares and I began to talk. She began telling me all about how each thing was
made, how each piece is unique and caved out by artisans in southern Germany, how you might pay a little more but you
know it was made in Germany
and that you are getting a unique piece, etc. I told her that I wanted to buy a
nativity scene, especially for my Mom, and since I am doing an internship
abroad I thought it would be nice to send her something made in Germany. The
woman looked at me like I said something strange, and said to me, “My dear,
you’re not from here?” I said, “No, I am from the U.S.” She replied, “America?” I
said, “Yes, America!”
(Land of the free, home of the brave!!). She couldn’t believe that I could
speak such good German! Yup, got another one! So I told her that I had studied
in Mainz, taught in Vienna and now am doing the internship here
in the area. She said, oh then you must have seen our stand in Mainz! I said, why yes, because I have a
nativity scene similar to this one! Long story short, I couldn’t decide between
the beautiful nativity scenes. However, one big one caught my eye. It had a
price on it that was cheaper than ones smaller. I asked about it and she said
that the figures weren’t included. Burst my bubble. Then I was back to square
one with my decision.
All of them were neat, but I couldn’t decide what I wanted.
The woman was so kind and patient with me, kept talking to me and at one point
was telling me how difficult it was because she was there alone, and couldn’t
take a break and go to the bathroom! She asked me if while I was deciding I
could watch over her stand while she went! I told her I would try! Off she
went. 15 minutes later she finally came back (good thing nobody wanted to buy
anything!) and talked with me some more. I had the feeling that she might be
willing to barter (which is quite uncommon at the markets), but I was willing
to try! In the end I got the big nativity scene and figures for the price of
one of the small carved sets. Score! The woman was so genuinely sweet and nice,
and had a soft spot for me I think. After she packed up my treasures, she came
out of her stall, gave me a big hug and kissed me on the cheek, wishing me all
the best. She asked how old I was, I told her, and she said she had three
daughters and that I could easily fit right in there. How sweet! Though I
wouldn’t trade my awesome Mom for anything!!!!! She was so sweet to me, and
told me to always think of her when we put out the nativity scene. I don’t
think I could do anything else!
This experience proved to me that there are still wonderful,
genuine, nice people out there. To be embraced and feel so loved and supported
by a total stranger is something I will never forget. This woman was so kind to
me, it was just so amazing to experience something like that. Everyone has good
and bad days, you meet nice people and of course there are rude people, pushy
people (literally), etc, and for all of the not so nice or friendly people I
have encountered, this woman helped wash those all away. I don’t know if she
realized just what an impact she had on me.
(How cool is this nutcracker!?!)
I came away from the market having had one of the best days
on record here in Germany.
I’m looking forward to going back to the market in Stuttgart at some point, and also to
exploring some of the other local markets as well. What I loved about the Stuttgart market was how
each roof of each stall was so ornately decorated. Enjoy the pictures! Hope you
are all enjoying the holiday preparation! I know I am.
There is no better time
to be in Germany
than right now!
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