home again, home again, jiggity jig

[aryanhwy]

It's good to be home, after 16 days away. By some alignment of the stars, my flight was early (I went Chicago -> Stockholm -> Frankfurt) while Joel's was late (he and Gwen went Chicago -> Frankfurt), which means we ended up arriving at almost exactly the same time; I'm glad, otherwise he would've had to entertain Gwen and keep track of two suitcases, two carryons, a diaper bag, a stroller, and a carseat. (I joined with my suitcase, a carryon, and a large cardboard box which has a gaudy 60's lamp that first hung in my uncle's bedroom, then in mine, and will soon hang in Gwen's. It's awesome. I'll post pictures of it when it's hung.) We decided discretion was the better part of valor, and took a taxi home from the station, rather than trying to take a bus and then walk.

We came home to a fully-fledge Christmas market out on the marktplatz. We were both surprised, but apparently it starts the weekend before Advent. I'll have to look up how long it runs, because if it's there until Christmas I see a lot of sausages and gluhwein in the immediate future. If it only runs until Advent, then I think I'll have to spring for a ride on the carousel for Gwen. When we walked past, she pointed at it and went "Wow!" -- and there's a tractor on it.

It's so very festive and traditional and German and I love it. Will have to get pictures of it too.