Another long train ride, another opportunity to catch up on the blog. This time, we are visiting Goslar. This is a Unesco World Heritage site and has a lot of historical importance due to the silver, copper, and lead mines nearby. While the mines are a tourist site and there is a market there, I opted not to visit them. I decided to stick to the market and "Weinachtswald" in the old town.
Once again, the train ride there was an adventure, due to delays and missed trains (try to look for connections that are a least a half hour apart...I keep reminding myself). I got there without too much incident and asked Google maps to take me to my hotel. It said 7 minutes away...but I later learned that the hotel is directly opposite the train station and I wasted time dragging my suitcase around cobbled sidewalks.
This hotel was a bit of a splurge as it was only for one night. Very worth it as i was to discover. I seem to get a lot of top floor rooms (except for my "cabin" my first night in Hamburg") and this was a particularly nice one.
Since I was only here overnight, I situated myself a bit (unpacked my backpack so I could take it exploring) and headed toward the market. Now, there is a per night tourist tax in Goslar, but you get free transportation around with the local buses and discounts on tourist sites with it. I did not need it, but it's nice if you plan a few days to explore. The old city and marketplace is within walking distance, so I didn't need to take a bus.
The first sign that you are in the Altstadt is the remains of a part of the medieval wall that used to surround it. Pretty cool.
The architecture here is lovely too. It's a great setting for a Christmas Market.
This church was pretty cool. Did I bother to learn the name of it...nope.
However, I soon came upon the first signs of the market. Very charming with the carved and painted timber buildings.
Of course, there is the ginormous tree (not the only one I would soon learn) but it was all a very charming and lovely setting.
I found the tourist information center where I bought my Goslar ornament (it's glass, so I have to be careful of my luggage now) and a gluwein mug...so I don't have to take a sticky one back to my hotel room.
I soon found a stand selling "Honig Eierpunsch" (honey egg punch) so I started off with that. Well, I'd gotten some mushrooms earlier, so I had food in my stomach :).
After finishing my punsch, I wandered a bit more until I found the "Weinachtswald."
Lots of very tall lit trees in one tiny square. You can walk inside and get a gluwein. I walked in for a bit, overheard a family speaking American English and said hello...then I exited the land of claustrophobia. After taking a selfie...
I then wandered around for a bit, absorbing the atmosphere...and having a gluwein. I also bought a pair of alpaca wool socks that were made in Goslar.
This is the Market Fountain topped by a golden Imperial eagle. I swear it looks like a rooster to me. Anyway, this is a copy of the original, which is in a museum.
After one last pass of the ginormous tree, I decided I'd seen it all. While not a tiny market, it is easy to see everythign in a couple of hours. I got there early, which I recommend. After 5 (especially on a Friday) it gets very busy. It is one of the loveliest markets I've seen. It's a tiny bit commercial, but not overwhelmingly so. Not a lot of those stalls that you see everywhere, which is nice.
To get back to the hotel, you walk down a lot of pedestrian shopping streets. I thought the residents of this building had a lot of Holiday spirit.
Once I got back to my room, I puttered around a bit, got ready for bed and actually turned in early. It had been a long day and I was sleepy. Tomorow, I return to Hamburg for the rest of my stay.
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