Author: Connie Porcher

From Switzerland – Day 8

Friday, Dec 11

This morning we departed France for Switzerland. On the way, we had at stop in Freiburg for a visit to that city’s Christmas market.  Freiburg is a capital city located in Germany’s famed Black Forest.  We crossed another border in the afternoon with a stop at Basel, Switzerland.  We visited the Puppenhaus Museum.  Their collection includes Neapolitan Nativities, as well as teddy bears, dolls, dollhouses and miniature stores.  Great fun!

We arrived for dinner and overnight at our new hotel in near the Zurich airport.

December 11 – 13, 2009
Mövenpick Hotel Zürich Airport
Walter Mittelholzerstrasse 8
8152 Glattbrugg, Switzerland
Tel +41 (0)44 808 8588
Fax +41 (0)44 808 8590
hotel.zurich.airport@moevenpick.com
http://www.moevenpick-hotels.com

From France – Day 7

Thursday, Dec 10

After breakfast, we again boarded our bus for a day exploring one of the most sceneic regions of France. Our first stop was at the medieval Haut Koenigsbourg Fortress. We visited the picturesque French village of Riquewihr and the little town of Colmar. After a long but action-packed day, we returned to our hotel for dinner and a good night’s rest!

The Strasbourg, France Christmas Market

The French holiday “style” is glittery with some bold and stylish colors.  Take a look at some of the things Christmas market sellers were offering.  There were also LOTS of strings of LED lights … very popular and very expensive!

December 9 – 11, 2009
Hôtel-Restaurant
Au Cerf d’Or
6, place de l’hôpital
67000 Strasbourg, France
Tel: +33 (0)3.88.36.20.05
reservation@cerf-dor.com
http://www.cerf-dor.com

From Germany – Day 6

Wednesday, Dec 9

This morning we boarded our bus to Heidelberg, famed for its castle complex on the hill.   We continued onward and reached our final destination in the afternoon – Strasbourg.  We had and orientation tour of this historic city and then free time to shop the city’s Christmas market.

December 9 – 11, 2009
Hôtel-Restaurant
Au Cerf d’Or
6, place de l’hôpital
67000 Strasbourg, France
Tel: +33 (0)3.88.36.20.05
reservation@cerf-dor.com
http://www.cerf-dor.com

From Germany – Day 5

Tuesday, Dec 8

It’s a good thing that we “rested” yesterday because today was a long one.  We made a full day excursion to Nuremberg to visit that city’s famed Christmas market.  The city also boasts a national Doll and Toy Museum.

We’ll make a daytrip to Nuremberg to enjoy the historic town center and the world’s most famous Christmas Market. Here we may also visit the town’s fabulous Doll and Toy Museum, as well as the German National Museum’s extensive Doll and Toy Collection.  Dinner and overnight at our hotel in Rothenburg o. d. Tauber.

Villa Mittermeier
Vorm Würzburger Tor 7+9
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 98 61 / 94 54 – 0
Fax: +49 (0) 98 61 / 94 54 – 94
www.villamittermeier.de
info@villamittermeier.de

From Germany – Day 4

Monday, Dec 7

We had a leisurely day in Rothenburg o. d. Tauber. After yesterday’s action-packed itinerary, this is just what we all needed. The city is a Christmas shopper’s paradise. If you can’t find it here, you must not be a serious shopper!

The city is home to Käthe Wohlfahrt’s Christmas Village and museum. Käthe’s son Harold runs things now. He’s a member of the Golden Glow and certainly appreciates Germany’s contribution in the ornament world. The museum is amazing … at least to an ornament aficionado like me!

The city’s Christmas market is small but quite nice. It’s all the wonderful shops surrounding the square that make this city such a special destination for Christmas shoppers.

Where we are staying (outside of the city’s walls):

December 6 – 9, 2009
Villa Mittermeier
Vorm Würzburger Tor 7+9
91541 Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 98 61 / 94 54 – 0
Fax: +49 (0) 98 61 / 94 54 – 94
www.villamittermeier.de
info@villamittermeier.de