Happy 1st of December from Kiel

Every year, my family takes a trip to North Germany to attend the magical German Christmas markets. This year, it was extra special, because it was my niece Ellie’s first. She seemed to love it; especially all the sparkling Christmas lights! I’m excited for her to grow up with such a wonderful tradition.

This year, we travelled to Kiel for an overnight visit, arriving at noon yesterday and driving home after breakfast today. We stayed at Hotel Flämischer Hof in the city center, just around the corner from one of Kiel’s four christmas markets. We’d been to Kiel before, in 2017, and we all really enjoyed it, so I was excited for a second visit.

We spent several hours enjoying everything the Christmas markets had to offer. I had a delicious hot chocolate while the other’s enjoyed the traditional glühwein, and we tried liquorice burned almonds, although they weren’t a big hit – the traditional ones are definitely tastier!

The best thing I had was candied strawberries!! I had them for the first time in Taipei in 2016 and I’ve been craving them ever since – now I finally found them again, 9000 km away in Kiel.

Kiel is beautiful during the Christmas time, and especially at night. After relaxing at the hotel for a while, we went out once again after sunset to feel the special atmosphere at night. We headed to last year’s favourite, Alter Markt, a cozy and intimate market by the foot of St. Nikolai Church in the city’s historical center. Ellie woke up from a long nap and was once again in awe of the beautiful Christmas lights.

I’ve been travelling a lot this year, even more than usual, so I’m happy that I was able to go on this trip with my family – especially since I won’t be home for Christmas this year. Unfortunately, my younger brother Brandon wasn’t able to go with us this year as he’s working in Scotland, but he will be home for Christmas. I will come home shortly after for New Year’s, the day after he goes back to Scotland. It’s unfortunate that we won’t see each other during the holidays, but thankfully, I will join him in Scotland for the first two months of 2020!

Hopefully next year, we will all be able to go to North Germany together and have a full Villumsen family Christmas reunion!