{"id":4076,"date":"2017-05-18T10:00:58","date_gmt":"2017-05-18T14:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.insightvacations.com\/?p=4076"},"modified":"2024-04-05T10:56:00","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T09:56:00","slug":"christmas-markets-poland-prague-germany-featured-staff-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insightvacations.com\/blog\/christmas-markets-poland-prague-germany-featured-staff-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague & Germany \u2013 A Featured Staff Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Coming from Australia, listening to Christmas carols with lyrics containing snow, snowmen, sleigh bells, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose are usually surreal. \u00a0I can count on one hand how many times I\u2019ve actually seen snow but I was about to embark on my first European Christmas experience!<\/p>\n[easy-image-collage id=4087]\n

And I didn\u2019t have to wait long, as we were treated to a dusting of snow as soon as we arrived in Krakow.\u00a0 Once settled in our hotel our wonderful Polish Travel Director, Piotr Golabek, took us to the Krakow Christmas markets.\u00a0 As the snow continued to fall, this was exactly how I had envisaged the Christmas markets.<\/p>\n

Once the sun set over the market square the twinkling fairy lights started to glow and beautiful snowflake patterns are projected to the town hall.\u00a0 It was lovely to wander around the stalls and try some delicious tasting Polish food like oscypki<\/em> (smoked cheese), pierogi<\/em> (dumplings) and golonka<\/em> (pork knuckle). The Polish people are warm, welcoming and friendly, and meeting them allowed us to gain a meaningful understanding of what it is like to actually live in this area.<\/p>\n

We had a relaxing start the next day and enjoyed discovering Wroclaw on our own with some helpful suggestions from our travel director. Then we visited Wroclaw Christmas market – charming and family friendly with entertainment and rides for children or young at heart.\u00a0 It was fantastic to wander the market with a hot beverage soaking up the atmosphere.<\/p>\n[easy-image-collage id=4084]\n

Crossing the border in the Czech Republic, the Prague Christmas Market had a different feel: this market is thriving.\u00a0 Piotr lead the way into this bustling market and arranged a glass of Svarak<\/em> (mulled wine) and a Trdelnik<\/em> pastry for us to try.\u00a0 The Trdelnik is a little slice of heaven, \u00a0it reminds me of a fresh hot cinnamon doughnut.\u00a0 It was a thoughtful gesture which was repeated many times throughout our journey and gave us a flavor of authentic local cuisine.<\/p>\n[easy-image-collage id=4080]\n

Our final destination was Germany.\u00a0 Dresden is home to the oldest Christmas Markets in Germany, \u00a0and offers regionally made handcrafted gifts and food.\u00a0 Piotr makes sure everyone has a taste of Christstollen<\/em> (fruit bread) as Dresden Christstollen has been sold in the Christmas Markets since the 1400s.\u00a0 In Berlin,\u00a0 WeihanachtsZauber at Gendarmenmarkt offers indoor and outdoor stalls.\u00a0 This Christmas markets also offers sit-down dining but I opted to join the locals at the take-away stalls and wandered around the market savoring the magical atmosphere.<\/p>\n

All the markets we visited are unique in their own way from the local delicacies, beautiful decorations and unusual handicraft gifts; each city revealed its medieval charm in a winter-wonderland fit for fairy tales. \u00a0\u00a0It was a fond farewell to my European festive experience but I look forward to another white Christmas soon!<\/p>\n

\n

Yvonne Fong<\/strong> works in the Sales and Groups Department, located in our Australian office. She recently traveled on the\u00a0Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague & Germany<\/a> trip.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coming from Australia, listening to Christmas carols with lyrics containing snow, snowmen, sleigh bells, chestnuts roasting on an open fire and Jack Frost nipping at your nose are usually surreal. \u00a0I can count on one hand how many times I\u2019ve actually seen snow but I was about to embark on my first European Christmas experience! 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