A beautiful day

I was in Vienna yesterday - school trip with the eight-grade German class. Granted, I came home half-dead, but it was a fantastic trip nonetheless. We had beautiful weather - cool, but with brilliant sunshine and little to no wind - and Vienna in its pre-Christmas glory is a sight to behold. All larger streets are decorated and illuminated, a great number of small Christmas markets can be found in all popular places: in parks, in front of churches, etc.

Of course, we went to THE Christmas market, in front of the City Hall, and while it is always amazing, I found this year it was even more so. I really have no words to describe it: you'll have to see it for yourself to even imagine what it's like.

Some of the trams - not all, of course - have been redecorated as Christmas trains, with Santas driving them and angels waving from each wagon, there's Christmas music on the streets and spiced, mulled wine at every second corner, and small, iron ovens where potatoes and maronis are grilled, and almonds and hazelnuts iced in sugar and caramel and cinnamon, and the scent of the whole thing is beyond imagination.

Oh, and my baking progress (check pinned entry above) has reached 16 different sorts. Go me!