Tuesday 24 December 2019

Christmas Market














In recent years, on the run up to the big day, once the gift shopping is complete and school has closed until the new year, we have taken ourselves off to visit a Christmas market. This year we chose Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is my favourite city and to see it decorated for Christmas and covered in thousands of twinkling fairy lights is a most magical feeling, especially as many store windows were dressed so beautifully for the season.
The market itself was home to stall upon stall selling wonderful festive goodies and, as usual at these events, the aroma of mulled wine and freshly cooked waffles fillied the air. Children and adults alike were excited to enjoy traditional fairground rides and browse the stalls and attractions.
Yes, it can get busy and crowded at times but if timed right it really can be a wonderful experience.
We took a ride on the huge ferris wheel (Lily's favourite) where, at the very top, we could see right over the city from Arthur's Seat to out over the sea. Lily went on the helter skelter and together we rode the gorgeous double carousel. Afterwards I enjoyed some hot mulled wine, which seemed to taste so much more delicious when drunk outdoors in the cold, even if it was from a paper cup. 🍷
While we were there we bought a new decoration for our Christmas tree and some cheese to have with our meal on Christmas eve, but mainly it was just about having fun and soaking up the festive atmosphere.
I'm almost ready for Christmas Day now. This morning I will be baking some bread and mince pies, and I'm sure we will get out for  a gentle walk at some time today.
Happy Christmas Eve!
J. X

39 comments:

  1. SUch lovely photos. It looks absolutely fantastic!
    A happy Christmas Eve to you too!
    xx

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  2. How lovely. I’ve a special place for Edinburgh now. Hope you have a brilliant Christmas. B x

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. Edinburgh is such a great city. X

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  3. I've never been to a Christmas market in person, but, after looking at your photos and reading your description, I feel like I've been to one! Thank you! What a wonderful place!

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    1. I've enjoyed the all the markets I've visited, both large and small, although it's always best to visit when it's not too busy, in order to be able to see everything. X

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  4. What a beautiful outing for you and Lily.

    I suspect her excitement is almost uncontainable right now. Holiday blessings to you both. xx 💚

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    1. We had a great time, Jayne. Lily was so excited to go on the ferris wheel. X

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  5. What a wonderful tradition you have created for your family. The market looks amazing, I am glad to hear that you were able to avoid the worst of the crowds.

    Have a lovely day to day and a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. I don't like very crowded places, so it was lovely to look around on the Sunday morning when it was nice and quiet.
      I hope you and your family have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas. X

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  6. Beautiful photos! I love the carousel, those wonderfully gaudy colours are rather magical.
    Have a wonderful Xmas. xxx

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    1. Thank you, Vix. The colours are fabulous aren't they.
      Hope you enjoyed your day. X

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  7. What a wonderful experience - I have taken note as we have never been to a Christmas market on such a grand scale yet, but I would go too for the atmosphere and memories. Have a lovely day and a nice balance of baking and relaxing and a happy time over the festive Christmas period. xx

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    1. That's exactly why we visit, Vivien, for the atmosphere. It is a wonderful experience. I hope you and your family have enjoyed your Christmastime. X

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  8. It looks like you had a wonderful time. I was in Edinburgh on my 24th Birthday which seems a lifetime ago but I adored it and would love to go back and explore it more. Wishing you and Lily a wonderful Christmas. xx Susan

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    1. It's a great city isn't it? I haven't baked the muffins yet, but I will do as soon as all the mince pies are gone. X

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  9. It looks magical, what a lovely trip.

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    1. Thank you. We really enjoyed our time there. X

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  10. How lovely, that's a nice Christmas tradition, there's some great Christmas markets to visit. Wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas.

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    1. Thank you, Jo. We've really enjoyed visiting the markets, although we might try something a little different next year, for a change. X

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    1. Thank you, Arleen. And to you and your family too. X

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  12. How wonderful! Such a lovely time for you and Lily. Have a magical Christmas. Love, Jane x

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    1. Thank you, Jane. It was wonderful, although it felt good to return home in time for Christmas. X

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  13. Making memories ... wonderful! I hope you and Lily have a fantastic time. On a scale of one to ten, how excited is she?

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    1. Eileen, Lily had peaked even before we had set off! I would say she was around a twelve by that time. X

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  14. I'm so glad that you enjoyed the delights of Edinburgh's Christmas Market. I used to spend . lot of time in Edinburgh both on business and with friends who lived there. Now I have few friends left in the city and don't usually go more than once or twice a year. So I'm rather envious of you and Lily. It is a wonderful city and you've made me wonder now about which is my favourite Scottish city. Hmmm. Your photos have captured the spirit of the City marvellously.

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    1. Thank you, Graham. It's such a great city and I've always enjoyed our visits there. It had been around eighteen months since we had previously been, so it felt good to be back. X

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  15. Ohhh you are in Scotland. I never knew. Delightful. My people came from Scotland, Ireland, Germany and Austria. -smile-

    Wishing you a lovely Christmas Eve and Day.

    Peace, Joy, Love...🎄💛🎄

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    1. Thank you, WoW, we are (unfortunately) not in Scotland, we just went to visit the Christmas markets.
      I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmastime. X

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  16. You are an incredible photographer. I have been eyeing those Christmas market cruises through Europe. It sounds and looks like you had a wonderful time!

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    1. I can only imagine how wonderful the European Christmas markets would be. Maybe you should take a trip and find out :) X

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  17. Oh how beautiful it looks.
    I'm so glad that you enjoyed it.
    Have a wonderful Christmas.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. Thank you, Sheila. We've had a really lovely Christmas. X

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  18. So lovely seeing your photographs.
    Have a wonderful Christmas Eve and a very Happy Christmas.
    My good wishes.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you, Jan. I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas. X

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  19. I love the lights which appear to be pouring down the side of the building. I really enjoy the Christmas markets and we always buy the orange and clove wreaths, as well as food goodies! Happy Christmas! xx

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    1. Thank you, Ann. The lights looked so pretty but I really struggled to photograph them.
      Those orange wreaths always look so pretty but I'm not sure I'd have anywhere to display one very well. Maybe another year.
      I hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas. X

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  20. Thank you, Laurie. We had a great time. X

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