Katja is happy to report that after a lull in her international travel she's back to her jet-setting ways, starting with her recent trip to Germany for her annual Christmas markets instead of Thanksgiving trip. This year the destination was Frankfurt, where she stayed at the lovely Villa Kennedy hotel. The beautiful hotel, named in honor of President John F. Kennedy's 1963 visit, was once a grand family home. But for Katja it's all about the hotel's fabulous Christmas tree covered in feathers (who doesn't love a fashionable tree), and the big gingerbread house and very tasty free cookies (her sweet tooth has been well established).
Although indulging in lots of Glühwein and other treats at the Christmas markets was her top priority, Katja always likes to get in a bit of culture when she travels, so she took in an opera, Iwan Sussanin, by Michail Iwanowitsch Glinka, and made her way to the Museum für Moderne Kunst to see the exhibiton William Forsythe: The Fact of Matter. She loved the exhibition, with its many interactive displays, although she regretted her choice of outfit, which did not allow for full participation. As adventurous as she may be, she never likes to appear like anything less than a lady, so navigating The Fact of Matter's 200 gymnastic rings in a miniskirt was out of the question.
This was Katja's second time visiting the Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt, which takes place on the Römerberg Plaza, in the reconstructed Altstadt (Old Town), and she was not disappointed.
Of course it's hard to be disappointed when one has a glass of Glühwein in hand, or even better, a concoction called the Schneemann, a mix of Glühwein and Eierlikör, topped with whipped cream (what's not to love about that). And then of course there were all of marzipan and poppyseed treats that she loves so much...
The market does, however, shut a little early for her liking - the New York girl that she is she's used to things starting much after nine, not ending at nine. In fact the city seemed eerily quiet at night, especially her first evening there, when there was a full moon.
The moon did, however, lend the city a rather dramatic flair, and made her not short walk back to the hotel exceptionally beautiful.
Although Katja is a fan of lazy mornings, she's also an explorer, and made certain to be out and about early enough to visit markets in other cities. One day she hit Wiesbaden's Sternschnuppenmarkt (Twinkling Star Christmas market), where she actually got some Christmas shopping done (instead of just buying things for herself), and of course indulged in more of the usual market treats.
But perhaps the best treats she had in Wiesbaden were at Café Maldaner, a Viennese style pastry shop with an incredibly large selection of cakes. Besides a delicious poppyseed cheesecake, she enjoyed an Einspänner (what's not to love about espresso with whipped cream), her coffee drink of choice from her days in Vienna.
Katja also made her way to Strasbourg, known as the capitale de Noël (capital of Christmas). The city's Christmas market, the oldest in Europe, first took place in 1570; today there are numerous markets scattered throughout the town.
While many of the treats were similar to those in Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, the crepes were much better (it is in France, after all), and the vin chaud could also be had in larger cups, which she most appreciated (she does love her wine).
Katja thought that Strasbourg was a lovely city, filled with many charming nooks and crannies, and decorated beautifully for the holidays.
But of course the highlight for her was the train station, covered in penguins, an image from Thierry Suzan's Vertige Polaire. Strasbourg is obviously a very cultured city with impeccable taste, welcoming its visitors in such a wonderful manner.
The trip went by much too quickly (like they all do), and before she knew it she was heading back to the airport, her suitcase filled with sweet treats to indulge in at home. Sad to be leaving, she consoled herself with some pre-flight bubbly in the Lufthansa lounge.
But really, she'll take any excuse to drink champagne...
