Traditional

In the early hours of the morning, son J and partner arrived in a hired car from Munich airport. They had to work today before dashing around the M25 to Stanstead. I had followed their progress from the airport on a great App “Glympse” and was out on the drive as they drove in. I didn’t chastice him for the moments he exceeded the speed limit as he had done a perfect job of negotiating the vagaries of the Munich outer ring autobahn. The airport is exactly on the opposite side of Munich to us.

So after a very lazy start and long breakfast, returned J’s hire car to Memmingen and collected our 9 seater Tour bus from the village garage. Collected everybody up, dressed in winter gear for the afternoons 90 minute drive down to the foothills of the Alps and the 5,000 inhabitant village of Bad Hindelang.

Their Christmas market is famous well outside the boundaries of Bavaria with coachloads being bused in from far and wide. The organisation is terrific with free car parking outside the village and a free shuttle bus up to the centre where the market takes place in and around all the streets and buildings. Huge and truly wonderful atmosphere especially for us as it was snowing heavily.

The highlight is the procession after dark by about 150 people and a whole array of animals – horses, ponies, camels, donkeys – through the streets. Despite the cold, Mary & Joseph carried a real baby dressed in swaddling clothes. The happy faces and eyes of young and old were a joy.

The market is only for the first two weeks of advent and the procession only on the Friday and Sunday. Well worth a trip. Collage as Extra photo

Filled with Glühwein, Bratwurst and Spätzle, we finally walked back to the car park over fields covered in deep snow. The drive home was slow! The ploughs couldn’t keep up with the heavy snowfall and although the surface was not bad, there are always a few people who drive very slowly and hold back the flow. I can understand them but even for me driving a big van that I didn’t know, it did get frustrating not being able to go a bit faster.

However eventually we arrived home safely and enjoyed an evening of talk, beer and wine.

Fabulous day, market, atmosphere, weather and a very content grandpa.