[Hannes Reeh] Bamberg, Germany's Christkindlmarkt Video

tutsdot.blogspot.com - Counting down the days til Christmas here in Germany - we have had lots of snow lately and it’s beautiful! It seems the pattern is: drop about six inches of snow, let the Germans bring all their talents to bear clearing sidewalks, plowing roads and spreading salt, then the next day get warm enough for most of it to melt. Right now we’re in the melting phase again with more snow forecast for day after tomorrow.

However, I love to see it snow and I don’t personally have to shovel anything, so I’m happy. On Wednesday it snowed heavily enough to close the Army post where I was to meet my English student for a trip to the Christmas market. None of them showed. Wimps.

But I didn’t really mind because I still get paid regardless of attendance and now I was free for an afternoon of photography. I shot this at the bus stop on the way back from the Army post to downtown:

Then I took my wonderful little GoPro HD2 camera to the Christmas market and recorded a quick walk-through of the joint. Although I have a lot to learn about using this camera and I don’t own a Stedi-Cam, I hope you’ll enjoy the video.

Bamberg, Germany, Christmas Market 2012 from Karren Tolliver on Vimeo.

The video is hosted on Vimeo, which I’m trying for the first time. So far I like how easy it is to use and the attitude of the site. Their trying to be a purer form of YouTube. Leave me a comment on Vimeo or follow my videos there. For that matter, leave me a comment on this blog and follow me using the links at right.

Since Bamberg is known for it’s Nativity displays, I ended with the little Nativity house. Right now it has a scene where the angel tells Mary she’ll have Jesus. The scene changes according to what stage of Advent we are in. By Christmas there will be a baby Jesus, wise men, the lot. Note the Nativity scene is in Bavarian style. There are literally dozens of Nativity displays all over town in every style imaginable.

My little village of Bischberg has one, too, also in Bavarian style:

Also, here’s a shot of some heather (I think) spears peeking out of the snow. BTW, heather has the unfortunate name of Heidekraut in German:

Alas, I won’t be here to see the change of Nativity scenes because next week I fly to Florida for a fun month. I’ll be seeing many of you during that time and I’m really looking forward to it! I’m not sure I’ll be posting travel journals during that time, so this may be notification of a hiatus until the end of January.

In any case, have a joyful holiday season plus a very happy new year! And thanks for being my audience in 2012!

Photo for No Apparent Reason: