Holiday Decorations and Markets Setting up in Germany

From Paris we travel to Germany, flying into Frankfurt and taking a 2-1/2 hour train ride from the Frankfurt airport to Hannover, about 350 km (215 miles) north.  From Hannover, we make day trips to Berlin and Bremen, each about 1.5 hours away by train.

In Berlin, we find that the holiday season is just arriving as squares are closed for construction of the markets.

The season is arriving

In Bremen, the holiday market construction is also in process, but a little further along, with markets setting up in the old town square and along the River Weser.

Old town square

Along the river

Near the old town, a Christmas shop offers all kinds of decorations and holiday treats.

Christmas shop

Back in Hannover, the town is decorated and the Christmas market is also setting up in the old town square.

Hannover train station

Hannover zoo

Old town square

Department store decoration in process

And, in the middle of the pedestrian-only-zone shopping district, a giant carousel is being assembled, with a restaurant on the second floor.

Giant Christmas carousel

It's too bad that we aren't arriving a week or two later when the markets will be open and running, but this gives us a hint of what is to come and something to look forward to in another year.

Holiday Decorations and Markets Setting Up in Paris

We travel to Europe in mid-November (more on that in a bit) and see the Christmas decorations, store windows, and markets as they are being set up and opened up.  In the holiday spirit, we'll take a short break from our travels through Cinque Terre and share some of the sights.

We first head over to the Grands Magasins, Galeries Lafayette, Printemps, and La Samaritaine.  At Galleries Lafayette, we find decorations everywhere and the largest Santa (so far), hanging under the dome.

Galleries Lafayette

Over at Printemps, we find that the holiday windows have been uncovered (we're a few days too early for the Galleries Lafayette windows).

Printemps

The streets, courtyards, squares, and windows of Paris are getting ready for the holidays.

Over at La Samaritaine, the windows are also open for viewing, with an elegant look.

La Samaritaine

Back in the Tuilleries, a ferris wheel is being set up as part of the Christmas Fair that is arriving on trucks as we walk by.

Ferris wheel assembly

Over at Ladurée, the famous French bakery specializing in macarons, the windows feature a macaron Christmas.

Ladurée

It has been a delightful (but too quick) weekend in Pairs, enjoying the fall weather and watching the holiday decorations and spirit come to to life in the city.  We'll share more about some of the other treasures we found in Paris on this trip in a few weeks.