The Arizona Republic

TELL US WHERE YOU’VE BEEN:

-

How does a couple who married 50 years ago at Christmas celebrate their special anniversar­y? We answered that question by taking a Danube River cruise from Budapest, Hungary, to Passau, Germany, to visit the Christmas markets in cities large and small along the way.

These markets were a feast of sights, sounds, tastes and an amazing variety of handmade goods. It was hard to pace oneself because each market offered such unique items. The largest and most impressive was in front of the City Hall in Vienna. It took over a whole park and offered food, rides for children and entertainm­ent besides the array of food and things for purchase.

Each market also offered live Christmas trees so the smell of these trees completed the Christmas feeling one got from soaking up the atmosphere.

Because Christmas is celebrated on the 24th in most cities in Eastern Europe, the markets were only open for a half day, but they promptly reopened on the 25th so there was plenty to see and do. One would think that standing around in freezing weather eating goulash soup or a thuringer bratwurst would not keep one warm, but somehow the cold air faded away among the sights and sounds of these festive markets as you enjoyed your tasty treat.

Whether you were shopping for porcelain or embroidery in Budapest, cornhusk or crocheted ornaments in Bratislava, wooden pyramids or cutouts in the Austrian cities of Vienna, Durnstein, Melk or Linz, or delicately embroidere­d decoration­s in Passau, you couldn’t make a bad choice. These items will bring out the magical feeling that one got from being there as they are used to decorate for the holidays year after year.

Besides the markets, other treats were in store for the traveler brave enough to challenge the freezing temps: a light display on St. Istvan Basilica in Budapest, a choral advent concert in St. Matthias Church in Budapest, an organ concert in Durnstein and even organ tuning at the PassauDom in Germany.

We were able to join in celebratin­g Christmas at St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague even though we don’t speak a word of Czech. We could sing along in Latin to “Adeste Fidelis” thanks to Latin classes many years ago in high school.

At every turn, there was something to remind one of this celebrator­y season and enough memories to last a lifetime.

The writer lives in Peoria.

To contribute to Your Travels, send a large, high-resolution JPEG attachment photo and an essay of up to 400 words to traveledit­or@arizona republic.com. We are unable to acknowledg­e individual submission­s, but we will contact you when your item is scheduled to be published.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? Bette and Timothy Krenzke of Peoria in Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
Bette and Timothy Krenzke of Peoria in Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States