Strasbourg France - Christmas Markets Day 2

Looking out our window this morning - it is overcast and foggy.  No rain in the forecast, that's good.  Breakfast at the hotel turns out to be wonderful.  Fresh french bread and pastries, lots of cured meats and cheeses on hand.  Fresh made orange juice, coffee and brew your own tea from loose tea.  Yum!

Eager to get going, we left the hotel early to see what we could see. Not many about - nothing opens until 11am.  So we wander about taking photos.  Photos looking quite ho-hum with this grey light - its at night when all the magic happens!

We head for Place Kleber where the large living Christmas tree is decorated with old-fashioned toys. 

Past wonderful traditional buildings in Petite France along the canals.

The small buildings below are the backs of the Christmas booths.

Not unusual to see Santa and Nativity scenes together.

First nights dinner was eaten at the restaurant below.

An unusual double sided bench - used for summer outdoor dining.

The photo above is my favorite of today.  Moody, but interesting.  So I made another cropping of it.

There was a lot to see along the canals.  I would love to come back on a beautiful sunny day.

The fog is rolling in.

Each of the different Christmas market areas have different street lighting.  Below is an area with a candle motif.

Below is Place Saint-Thomas.  You can see the Christmas market booths below the church.

Another church along the canal.

Christmas Market emphasizing wine making with barrel motif for their lighting decorations.  I believe this is the Place du Marche-aux-Poissons.  There was also a stand here that my husband will insist on returning to - a Foie Gras tasting booth.

Heading towards Place de la Cathedrale.  This is the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Strasbourg.  Appropriately, the decorations are angels.

Very hard to get a good angle on the Cathedrale.  It is a tight area - made worse by all the Christmas booths.

 The gingerbread men lead you to Place Broglie - the largest Christmas Market.

Teddy bears abound in decoration of buildings.  I wander what they do when it rains?

This area has chandeliers inside the white boxes in their street decorations.

Michael checking out the Foie Gras booth.

Inside the Cathredrale Nortre-Dame

They were having an exhibition of 17th century tapestries depicting the life of the Virgin Mary.

The astronomical clock in the Cathedrale dates from 1843.  It was 3rd variation to be installed.

Detailed panorama of Mary's life.

We walked by a cake shop with this advertisement.  On that note, we went back to our hotel to rest up.

I finally remembered to take a photo of our hotel - Hotel Hannong.  Seems an unlikely name for a French hotel!

Our hotel is very centrally located.  The area where all the Christmas markets are located is isolated, like an island, inside a series of canals.  You have to pass through security to enter the area.  Though I must say, it was very perfunctory.  When we entered Thursday night, the guards did open every piece of luggage and shown a flashlight into them - but no rummaging around or electronic surveillance.

These lights are very close to us.

One of our favorite French grocery stores.  The best one is the "Super U", where they have the best chocolates.

Fog coming in near the canal.

At the entrance to the Place Grimmeissen Christmas Market.  It is considered an Off Market - alternative market, we were not impressed.

On to another market where there was food. 

Some things just look better at night!

Back at Kleber Place and the great Christmas tree.

An ice skating rink is set up in front of the Aubette building in Place Kleber.

A closeup of some of the toy decorations on the tree.

Walking near Place Broglie - the gingerbread men show up better against the night sky.

Every year Strasbourg invites a guest country to share in the festivities.  This year it is Lebanon.  At Place Gutenberg many booths of Lebanese foods and crafts are set up.  The one below smelled enticing and the crowds agreed - maybe we will be able to get something tomorrow during the day when it is not so busy.

We did find lots else to eat Lebanese.  We had a soup made of beans and vegetables, Kibbe and fried spiral potatoes seasoned with salt and paprika. 

The famous Blue Tree in Place Gutenberg.  One of three trees of the Christmas Markets - the only artificial one.

One last look at Place de la Cathedrale.  With some glimpses of the Cathedrale spire through the fog.

And then time to head back to the hotel.  Everything closes at 8pm.  A few scenes on our walk home.