Handbrot - happy is winter

You will not need a hand warmer when you hold a Handbrot in your hand .

The warmth that you feel will not only make you smile ,

it sets off a little sparkler sizzle that makes you so content and happy as if you were next to a special fireplace listening to the wood crackle .

Baumkuchen - German spit cake on firewood

Well here's yet another " new " discovery which is not exactly new because this has been around for a long time already , just that it is new to me . If you have gone on a gourmet spree through Tokyo , you would have probably seen this in a glitzy Ginza mall , churned out in very pristine surrounds .

What I am about to show you next is closely related to kürtőskalács , the Hungarian chimney spit cake . Baumkuchen is also a spit cake , and while they do have modern ovens to do the job , I'm sure there is nothing more magical than watching it being molded into shape over firewood , at a German Christmas Market .

Prager Grillschinken - beauty and some ham

We had a lot of free time to slowly explore all closely connected Christmas Markets in Dresden on foot . This stall is located along the quieter perimeters of the 2nd market , we visited ( there are altogether 5 in this area alone ).

Brisk business as you can see from the crowd .

Prager means Prague and Schinken is ham ....you put two and two together and it means ham grilled Czech style .

Dresden Weihnachtsmarkt - Flammlachshütte woodfire fish on a plank

Dresden's Christmas Market is so fairytale like on one hand and then on the other end of the spectrum , you have such fantastic shopping streets , this city is something serious shoppers and foodies, should place high on the bucket list .

Flammlachs is wood fire ( flamm ) grilled salmon ( lachs ) . The hut ( hütte ) itself draws you in like a magnet due to the warmth generated by the firewood and then when you see how nicely the fish is cooking , your tummy makes some noises , some saliva appears at the corner of your lips , driving you a little mad with desire , causing your wallet to magically float out without hesitation . 

Leipzig Weihnachtsmarkt - fisch that was not a fish

Think I'm getting the hang of placing yet another wrong order .

If I am not wrong , anything you think they are selling , that you would not expect them to be selling because you haven't got an internet connection to check the word out , those items , are placed on the far right of the display case .

Erfurt Weihnachtsmarkt - what on earth did we just eat ?

All pumped up from our Christmas Market food adventures so far , naturally we thought nothing of falling into line where the locals congregated .

That's how we found this little stall called BratWerk near the river that runs under the pedestrian footpath .

Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt - tiny speciality Queen of bratwursts to King sized ones

Going through my pictures , I will probably have to recompile some of them together later . 

But for now , I'm still trying to get my bearings straight and am gathering them one by one .

( I already have a dedicated post for Schwensteak , my favourite , most fantastic German dish I ever ate in the whole wide world , so go look that up )

We tried soooo many delicious , strange and new items at all the 10 Christmas markets we went to and I ate everything as long as my tummy could fit it in , yet German food is so good for your metabolism , and organic too , I lost such a lot of weight during the time I was there , if you ever come here and don't eat , want to stick to a diet , aisey ....what is the point hah ?

German food is really good for you !

Kartoffelpuffer are German potato pancakes

Everywhere I turned , there was at least one of these stalls swamped with people , just waiting to get their fill . In the end , I succumbed .

We're not gonna leave Frankfurt without trying a Kartoffelpuffer today .

Zeppelinfeld - the Nazi Party Rally grounds and Hitler's podium

As the tour bus pulled closer , I had to rub my eyes . Blinked one time and this was still there .

Looks like the Coliseum eh ? 

Nope , we're in Nuremberg , and this is the Kongresshalle 

And then we got off the bus and started walking towards this structure . The entire area is known as the Zeppelinfeld because the field was the first site where a Zeppelin landed .

Ka-We Imbiss for Currywurst

Currywurst is a dish that you will either love or hate . Since it has its roots in Berlin , of course I had to give it a go .

Finding myself at the traffic light stop towards the end of the Ka De We luxury department store , I don't know if I should try the stall right in front of me or the one opposite .

Seems rather touristy ...that's it then let's head towards Ka-We Imbiss .

We Are All Berliners

Those who perished were not forgotten . And those who showed up to show their support were not afraid .

There were just so many ways for you to leave a message of condolence or support .

 I chose to leave my signature on this board outside the fringes of the Breitscheidplatz .

Kaufhaus des Westens ( Ka De We )

Pompous , extravagant and quite over the top . 

If there is one reason why you should take the next flight to Berlin , this is it . 

From the outside , it looks like any other fancy department store .

Snapping the press

Surely you've seen those makeshift Berlin memorial pictures on some media channel or other.

Someone took them so you could see them and keep up to date on the situation . 

I also took some but I haven't posted them up yet as I got pretty excited seeing those very busy people , the reporters , journalists , camera men and crew work behind the scenes . Those very people who brought you the updates , pictures , reports and news , come what may . 

First night , we spotted a LiveLeak van from the bus but there was a dinner to attend to and by the time we got back , it was straight to bed .

Next night however , I'll let the pictures do the talking .

Quick snapped pics of German pet dogs

Never saw a stray dog ( not even a single cat !) the whole time I was there as there is a law requiring all pets to be either on a leash or caged and not allowed to roam freely on their own .

Anyway , I think this mixed breed doggie , I spotted in Berlin is one of the cutest and most adorable I have ever seen . When he places his tail down , the fur falls in such a symmetrical fashion , that you will just gasp in amazement.

Checking out Checkpoint Charlie

The original Checkpoint Charlie is long gone and I don't care if some cheesy touristy replacement has sprung up . I'm going to see it .

Breakfast in Berlin's Crowne Plaza

Can't help it . Find these simple Xmas glass arrangements so fascinating .

Further from the truth

In my group there was one Indonesian Chinese family as well as a Korean girl . 

When the Korean girl started chattering excitedly about the Mc Donald's just opposite our hotel the next day , she momentarily managed to make my blood run cold .

One LOST in Germany

The train attack on that very unfortunate family from Hong Kong has managed to do one thing .

Keep most of us oriental looking people away . From Germany .

 Japs , Koreans , Hongkies , Thais , ABC's , Chinese ....these asshats can't tell the difference between us  ...we all look the same to them . They can't tell the difference

But many of my kind , have developed an incurable affliction towards travel and it is only a matter of time before you spot us trickling back in . 

However , to do so requires big balls . Especially when you have relatives back home who constantly barrage you on the dangers of that one particular place based on what they've seen in the news . 

While it was indeed a rare thing to spot another oriental in Germany ,

if I ever did meet another , especially if she were a LOST ( Lone Oriental Single Traveller ) the signs were all there . Constantly on guard , nervous , struggling with that inner demon to take or not take THAT picture at the heightened risk of having your device snatched away .

So happened that I stumbled upon this young lady the first night I arrived in Frankfurt .   

Crowne Plaza Berlin City Centre

Berlin .

Fresh out of the wonderfully uplifting vibe at Pullman Dresden where we where cozily cocooned for 2 nights , now it came down to this .

Two leisurely breakfasts at Le Boulevard

Pullman Dresden hotel has so far been perfect. Very happy with the shopping convenience outside , as well as all that is offered inside .

Time to check out the attached restaurant downstairs called Le Boulevard and see if it matches up .