Christmas?

Putting up the big Christmas tree. Why so early? Well, it will take a few weeks to decorate it, in time for the Christmas market, opening November 27th.
 

Christmas market in black and white

We have in Strasbourg the oldest European Christmas market, every year since 1570. 3 million tourists expected this month... A decoration on one of countless stalls.

More b&w here.
 

Oh my, what did I do!!!

I ventured into town yesterday, Sunday, to take a few photos... Big mistake! I've never seen my town that crowded! Pedestrian traffic jams, long queues at the few public toilets... The Christmas markets weren't even open yet. Yesterday was also a shopping Sunday, all shops were open. Despite of all this, I managed to get a last (maybe) Christmas present, yeah!
 

The french way

Christmas decoration made in France!

It is christmassing!

The festive season started on Friday, with the opening of the 446th (yes, since 1570 AD!) Christkindlsmarik, the christmas market.

Christkindlsmarik, the end/la fin/das Ende

Une derniere photo du marche de Noel, pour cette annee du moins.

A last photo of the christmas market. For this winter anyway.

Ein letztes Bild vom diesjaehrigen Christkindlsmarkt.

Le Carre d'or, the golden square...

Le Carre d'or, an area at the heart of the Grande Ile, the island between both arms of the river Ill. Was until december 24th the location of one of 9 Christmas markets.

The Carre d'or, au centre de la Grande Ile (entre les 2 bras de l'Ill), un des marches de Noel traditionnels.

Light - Lumiere

Another yearly Christmas decoration, on Place Gutenberg. Hurry up, closes on Christmas Eve.

Decoration annuelle, place Gutenberg, dans le village international. Depechez-vous, le marche de Noel ferme le 24 decembre.

India - Inde

Not just traditional and local stuff at the Christmas market, thankfully!

Pas uniquement la couleur locale au marche de noel, heureusement!

Strasbourg: the pig issue

How to recognize a butcher shop at Christmas.

Comment reconnaitre une boucherie porcine a Noel.

De Christkindlsmarik

Did I already mention the Christmas market??? LOL! It's THE event of the year, after all! Animations for all ages are catered for.

Strass, c'est l'incontournable marche de Noel, ouvert a tous les ages!

Barbe a papa, cottoncandy

As spotted earlier this week, in front of the opera house, I saw it again on Sunday, in working order, but there were far too many people for a good photo. A brisk business!!!

Attendant patiemment les badaux devant l'Opera du Rhin.