Not in the Mood to Celebrate a Merry Christmas

Photo: Mandulog by Dingus Gustilo

Photo: Mandulog by Dingus Gustilo To remember this Christmas season of 2011, I am posting some photos I downloaded from postings I saw in FB. I'm trying to find the source of the other photos posted by friends. What could one still say while watching the photos? How could I say Merry Christmas this time?

Hanging Love Padlocks in Hohenzollern Bridge

When I saw some years ago these padlocks hanging in the steel nets of Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne, I thought they were padlocks for the bikes. Once we held a conference for Babaylan Europe, our hotel and conference site was across the bridge coming from the main station and this gave me many chances to see the steel nets of padlocks again and observe at a close range the romantic ritual of kissing, hugging, hanging the padlocks and throwing the keys to the river. Of course, with much camera clicking as you can imagine. Nope, not for their bikes but for their love as I learned later. This is the famous Hohenzollern Bridge where lovers come, bringing their padlocks, kiss and swear love to each other, hang the padlocks and throw the keys to Rhein (river Rhine) below. If you have extra time when visiting the Dom City, go near the bridge and enjoy the view of the river and the old city. True friendship could also be symbolically sealed with padlocks before you indulge in not so much romantic activities like drinking famous Kölsch and eating German sausages and pork knuckles. And when lovers spats break out later for whatever reason, remember your relationship has been sealed in this lovelock and the key is never to be found again.

SCD or Santa Claus Day in Germany

Santa Claus, Sinterklaus or Sankt Niklaus is coming to town.

2nd Sunday of Advent

Apfelstrudel to go

Weihnachtsmarkt near Cologne Cathedral

More rounds of Glühwein. In English translation, it is called mulled wein or wein which has been heated with spices and sugar. Better take some aspirins before you indulge in drinking mugs of the season's drink.

Marlys and Michael showing me mugs of hot chocolate with rhum known in Muenster as Lumumba. We decided to call it Mandela for the Kölner version of this comforting drink. Second Sunday of Advent for this year but the weather is not fitting to the season. It's grey, stormy and raining, not a great day to venture to the Christmas market to smell roasted almonds and drink hot chocolate with rhum. The start of the week was beautiful though giving me chance to visit another Christmas market in the center of the city, near the famous Kölner Dom and meet a visiting couple of bloggers who taught me what Lumumba is. Now, let me see if I could do my own concoction while staying domestic this second Sunday of Advent.