COVER STORY


chestnuts and almonds, candied fruit and marzipan sweets while another favourite, especially on a chilly day, is a Christmas punch called Weihnachtspunsch, comprised of brandy, wine or schnapps, sweetened with warm fruit juices. A typical itinerary for the Christmas market sailings may include Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Melk (Durst- ein and Danube), Vienna and Budapest, while a few also include France.


People,” tiny puppets made of prunes, figs and walnuts with painted-on faces. An- other favourite are the beautiful gold-foiled angels designed and dressed just as they were 400 years ago. Cologne is home to four markets, in- cluding its oldest, the Neumarkt Christmas Market, located in the main shopping area. Another is set against the historic backdrop of St Apostein’s Church, with a ‘stars at night’ theme. However, growing in popu- larity is the modern and elegant Floating Christmas Market, housed on a riverboat on the Rhine, with pagoda tents and roof peaks reminiscent of a ship’s sails. One of Europe’s oldest is Salzburg’s


34 WORLD OF CRUISING I Autumn 2011


Christkindlmarkt, dating back to the 15th century, with its stalls situated under a floodlit baroque stage. Though smaller than others, it has a more intimate feel and boasts the heavenly aroma of a mixture of mulled wine, Lebkuchen (gingerbread), roasted chestnuts and almonds. Lovely items can be found here, including hand- made coats and pewter gifts. Another Austrian market not to be missed


is Vienna’s Rathausplatz. More than three million visit here for its beautiful glass orna- ments, handmade wooden toys and candles, not forgetting the assortment of amazing Vi- ennese pastries, including cream-filled and marzipan varieties. There are also roasted


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n board your riverboat, you will enjoy festive lights and a truly convivial atmosphere. Some lines


also offer overnight trains, biking and river tours, organ recitals, concerts and cocktail parties, as well as Christmas and New Year celebrations. You won’t find faux wreaths here, just the real feeling of the holiday season and how it was in days gone by. AmaWaterways offers a trip through the Danube, Europe’s second largest river, across the Continental Divide through many great cities and charming towns. Many Christmas traditions started here in Bavaria and the Wachau Valley. There are several sailings from Nurem- berg to Budapest, which include Hilpo- ltstein, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg,


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