Monaco Christmas...

Monaco knows how to do Christmas.  They decorate the streets and the Casino area in such a lovely way and they have a Fun Fair/Christmas Market in the Port along with an ice-skating rink.  There's a great Santa in the posh Shopping Center, the Metropole, and as you already saw, one of the mom's takes it on herself to set up a Santa's letter writing area in the park and she makes sure each letter gets answered.

Santa even visited E's school, but we left for Germany that day, and T's school took him on a trip to see a play about St. Nicholas up in the Old Town and gave each child a huge Chocolate figurine.  Monaco does go out of it's way to make the season fun for the kids and special for the adults.  We like it here! :)

Decorations...

Barclay's was really pretty with it's stairs all decorated with little animals and lights.

A little fun at the Fun Fair/Christmas Market...

Santa...

Santa's Letters...

They both got letters back from Santa all individualized,
super cool.

St. Nicholas play...

Local school children acted out the tale of St Nicholas for the other school
children in the city at the Prince's church on the Rock.  The story they were told in school goes... three children
were cut up by the butcher, put in a barrel to cure and be sold as ham, St Nicholas exposes his crime and turns them back into children.  No candy-coating the stories here folks!

And finally Christmas Day...

Ready...set...go...

Preparing a meal for Grandpa...

Whew!  Hope you're hungry!

Can't have a holiday meal without the party crackers...

Tried our first batch of Yorkshire Pudding...yummy!  Will be added to the future menus!

And it's not a holiday meal in France (or Monaco) without the holiday Buche!

Well, it was a successful and fun Christmas.  Lots of fun new toys and lots of yummy food.  Can't wait for next year!

Christmas Land...

Over my birthday weekend we went to Nuremburg Germany to visit one of the more famous Christmas Markets. It was really lovely and filled with the spirit of the holidays.  I'm sure the gluhwein (mulled wine) helped that spirit along.

Here's a photo tour of the trip....

The diehard Germans still sit outside for coffee.  Blankets provided for the weak. :)

Entering the Market.

One of the many beautiful churches.  No matter what affiliation, or
none, you have to admire the beauty. 

The children's market area was super cute with rides and stalls for the kids.

The Christmas Queen walked around giving blessings to the stalls and the
kids all follow her.

E was enamoured by her. :)  She's in a big fairies and princesses phase!

Built the first and maybe only snowman of the season.

The next day the snow and the man were all gone, apparently
Santa called on Mr Snow(man) for some help.

Our hotel was right in the old town and just three blocks from the market and across the street from Starbucks. :)
And on our street were great shopping opportunities...Hermes anyone?  Next time.

I believe this bridge is called "The Hangman's Bridge".  Ummm

More lovely church insides.  For a little tiny old town it has lots of
old beautiful churches.

We went on a ride through the old town.  G-Pa and I safely out of the cold in back.

A warm-up break,  One of them...

 We ate lots of sausages and drank lots of gluhwein, bought lots of new ornaments and sweets to bring home, and enjoyed the spirit of the German people.  We had such a lovely time we didn't even mind the cold!  If you get the chance, make the trip!  And stay in a hotel within the walls of the old town if you can.  Makes it all within easy walking distance.

Happy Holidays!!