Ahhhh, still relishing the Cologne Christmas market. Since I took home the gluhwein mug (they sell these at the market for 4.50 euros), I could whip up our own gluhwein — Yeah!

I rarely drink alcohol but I think it’s the sweetness of the gluhwein that makes it easier for me to sip and enjoy. Picked up this recipe from Recipebazaar. Big thanks to Kree!

Gluhwein at the Ccologne Christmas market -- 4.50 euros

Ingredients:
3/4 cup water (or orange juice)
3/4 cup white sugar (or less to taste)
1 cinnamon stick
1 orange
10 whole cloves
1 (750 ml) bottle red wine

What to do:

1. Combine the water (or orange juice), cinnamon stick and sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and then simmer.
2. Cut the orange in half and squeeze alll the juice you can get out of it into the mixture.
3. Push the cloves onto the outside part of the orange peel and include this in the mix.
4. Let the mixture simmer for 30 minutes more or until it get syrupy. (Mmmm)
5. Now, pour in the wine and continue to heat until it’s just about ready to simmer. Turn of the heat and then remove the orange peel.
6. Serve these in pre-warmed mugs (to avoid any breaking).

Enjoy with friends and relatives!

Mmmmm... gluhwein!

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Now that's a Christmas tree! -- Rina Calica Ward

Cologne doesn’t have one Christmas market, it has seven! the most popular one is of course just beside the imposing Cologne cathedral.

If you’re arriving by car, finding a parking spot may be tough. Personally, I think it’s more convenient to arrive by train. When you get out of the hauptbanhof, you’re just a few steps away from the Cologne cathedral and the Christmas market!

One bratwurst for lunch... 3 euros

More than one hundred stalls surround the highest Christmas tree in the Rhineland (check out the photo above).

There are stalls selling all kinds of food and drinks such as the bratwurst you see here.

As usual, there is always a long line outside the Kathe Wohlfahrt Christmas shop. The tree decorations, the manger and other traditional Christmas decor are always displayed so beautifully!

Kathe Wohlfahrt christmas glass angels

The simplest tree decor range from 4 to 10 euros while the larger, more intricate pieces sell for more than 100 euros. I thought hubby joined me to come and admire the pretty little things. Turns out he was reminding me not to stuff our house with more Christmas items. I whispered, “see you next year” to my new friends.

Christmas market candy

I always rave about the colorful candy stalls. children just go crazy over the amazing colors of these sweet edibles. I just like to look, no tasting. Give me a bratwurst (or better yet, a bockworst) to munch on anytime!

Christmas market gift ideas. Don't you just love the colors?

Artisans show off their wonderful craft pieces! Beautiful Christmas balls, yuletide candles, miniature paintings… all beautiful!

A mug of gluhwein awaits the thirsty Christmas merrymaker

A fun and warm thing to do while roaming the Christmas markets is to sip on warm and spicy gluhwein. Mmmmm… The more I sipped, the merrier I became!

Get to enjoy your own merriment this Christmas. If you’re living in Europe, make plans to head off to Germany to visit a Christmas market. Or if you live anywhere else, plan next year’s Europe travel with the Christmas markets in mind!

This was originally meant to be a girlfriend getaway but since hubby and I couldn’t plan out our schedules in advance, we opted to take the boys to Cologne and I agreed to go to another Christmas market with just the girls.

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