Christmas Markets

[Alex]

A few years ago in December 2016 I went to the Berlin Christmas Markets, I remember it well as we sat in one of those little beer 'hutte' near the bombed out church and I, fuelled by hot mulled wine, was talking to some fellas from Dortmund about Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool FC Manager)  This is why my poor memory remembers this time, the very next week those same bier hutte were flattened by a maniac immigrant who stole a lorry and ploughed into people, killing 12 and injuring over 50. 

This is that particular market this week, how sad it has to be like this.

https://x.com/i/status/1862456440377475145

[klondike]

If it looks like a war and requires defences like a war.....

[Alex]

If it looks like a war and requires defences like a war.....

True, but sad.

[Raven]

If We're down in Perth during December then we always head to the big Christmas Street Market there, but we have a smaller one here in Thurso. It's a 2 day event and always well attended by the area. I enjoy it and get  a lot of good stuff.

[GrannyMac]

I went to Chatsworth recently, round the house and the Christmas Market.  It was lovely.

[muddy]

I dont have a good feeling about Christmas .
Something bad or tragic always seem to happen .
 

[GrannyMac]

That's a shame, I hope this year is different.

[Raven]

I hate this time of the year, so many beatings from that drunken brute I was stupid enough to marry. Also lost my dad at Christmas, the whole holiday is years of bad memories for me.
I think it's Dunc's way of getting me through it by heading us off with the Clydes for most of the day, we don't go near a pub either. It's enjoyable and peaceful, have a nice roast beef dinner around 6pm and spend the evening in front of the telly.

[Diasi]

I haven't liked Christmas for years & my wife being terminally ill from October until dying at New Year didn't do anything to change my dislike.

At least now I can totally ignore it as I did have to make an effort when she was alive.

I wouldn't go to a Christmas market if you paid me, I never went to the one in Lincoln in all the years I lived there.

[Alex]

I dont have a good feeling about Christmas .
Something bad or tragic always seem to happen .
 

I often feel the same, it's as if I'm expecting something to happen, it's quite often a plane crash. hopefully not this year.

[klondike]

Shit happens daily. It's just when it happens near Christmas it gets remarked on and remembered more.

[ansu]

Although we no longer have a Christmas market in our town, but only a "Waldweihnacht" where food and  drinks are offered, Advent without visiting a Christmas market is a "no-go" in Germany. 
However, I must admit in Germany times have changed, too, and Christmas is no longer what it used to be when I was a child. 

[klondike]

There use to be a German market held here each year but hasn't been recently. I expect the council overpriced it. They should be paying the stallholders to come, It draws people into the town and livens the place up a bit.

Instead they make parking expensive, navigating anywhere by car near the centre almost impossible, charge the shops a fortune in rates and are pretty lax with litter picking.  Result closed shops. Most people in town seem to be homeless winos or junkies.

They closed the huge market square down and spent a fortune revamping it. Trouble was it took a year and they didn't provide the stall holders with a viable alternate location. Result they all moved elsewhere or just gave up. Now that new square with a few permanent wooden boxes for shops is pretty much deserted. Well done Northampton council.

[Raven]

Sounds like a typical Council, If it can be messed up, they do it. 

[muddy]

There use to be a German market held here each year but hasn't been recently. I expect the council overpriced it. They should be paying the stallholders to come, It draws people into the town and livens the place up a bit.

Instead they make parking expensive, navigating anywhere by car near the centre almost impossible, charge the shops a fortune in rates and are pretty lax with litter picking.  Result closed shops. Most people in town seem to be homeless winos or junkies.

They closed the huge market square down and spent a fortune revamping it. Trouble was it took a year and they didn't provide the stall holders with a viable alternate location. Result they all moved elsewhere or just gave up. Now that new square with a few permanent wooden boxes for shops is pretty much deserted. Well done Northampton council.

Where is this ?