One of my favourite things about German Christmas Markets is the mug system. I don’t think “mug system” is the technical term but it works for me.

When you buy a hot drink at the market, you will pay a small deposit for the mug that the drink comes in. When you are finished with your drink, you can return the mug and you will get your deposit back. If you have decided to go for a second (or third/fourth/fifth) drink, then you can just hand over your mug which will be refilled and you will pay a little less since you already have the mug.

However, if you become really attached to your mug, even when it is empty, then that is no problem. You are free to keep it without an ounce of guilt. Even better is that each town has a different mug and they usually have the name of the town on them, making them a perfect reminder from your trip!

During the Christmas Market trip, we kept one mug from each town (on one or two occasions we actually kept two). Below you can see all the different mugs that we came across.

German Christmas Market Mugs

The only "do not kill me" bracelet you'll find in the Netherlands is one made of paper, pen and a bit of red marker

Usually my Monday Madness post focuses on the weird and crazy things that the Dutch get up to, but this week I’m afraid I need to stray a bit from this objective.

The madness that I have come across is just too “mad” not to make it the focus of today’s post. At least as an added bonus the topic is about the Netherlands. Well actually it’s not but that’s part of the story.

Recently, the republican presidential candidate, Rick Santorum, said that old people in the Netherlands are being euthanized against their will. According to Santorum, the elderly here are wearing “do not kill me” medical bracelets and are scared to visit Dutch hospitals for fear of being euthanized.

No seriously, he really said that. You can see it here:

Click here to view the embedded video.

I’m not sure what is more scary, the fact that someone who wants to be the president of the United States seems to have no qualms about making things up that can very easily be checked or the huge number of gasps in the audience. I’d love to think that those gasps were “oh no, he didn’t just make that up” gasps but I’m pretty sure they were more of the “oh my goodness, evil Dutch!” variety.

In case your gasp fell into the “evil Dutch” group, let me help you out. What Santorum is going on about isn’t true. There are no bracelets, there is no 10% and there isn’t even “against your will” euthenasia.

“The ten percent figure is a bit bizarre. While growing, the number of people choosing euthanasia remains small and less than 3%. In 2010, 136058 people died in the Netherlands and only 3136 did so through euthanasia. That is roughly 2.3% of the total deaths.

In 2009, the annual report on euthanasia showed 2,636 cases of euthanasia — or 2 percent of all Dutch deaths. Over 80 percent were cancer patients and more than 80 percent of the deaths occurred in the patient’s home — not in those bureaucratic hospitals dispatching everyone who comes in with a slight fever without their bracelet.” - Santorum: Who Will Protect You From Crazed Euthanizing Dutch Doctors?

So, everything is okay. You can still come and see the tulips.

Monday Madness: Those Crazy Euthanizing Dutch Doctors

It has been a busy weekend so this week’s 365 photos will be posted next week. I’m sure you understand but just in case you don’t, here’s one photo to keep you happy.

Project 365

You know that phrase, the one that says “all good things must come to an end.”? That is how we felt as we drove into an underground car park in the city of Stuttgart.

Stuttgart was to be the last German Christmas market we would visit on this adventure. We popped out of the car park onto a sunny side street and followed a group of people on their journey to what we assumed was the Christmas market. In all honesty, we didn’t even need to follow them because the moment we got around the corner we arrived at a very busy street filled with Christmas stands and people munching on sausages and drinking hot drinks.

Somehow we managed to get some food and something to drink. We did a semi-flamingo like stance, cautiously balancing our kinderpunch in one hand and eating with the other. And then reinforced with food, we headed off into the crowds.

Stuttgart on the weekend right before Christmas is not for the faint-hearted. You experience your fair share of pushing but luckily there are gaps here and there for a bit of breathing room. The market itself is quite large, well decorated and covers a decent amount of the town and the architecture is well worth stopping and taking photos for.

We bought a few ornaments, a few presents for people and slowly made our way back towards the car. Taking advantage of the last few minutes in an authentic German Christmas market, we ran off in our separate ways to pick up one or two last minute things. I decided to head for the chocolate covered fruit stall as the one I had my eye on had made cute looking animals out of the fruit.

Some creative communication skills established that the adorable looking mouse was actually a sliced pear. I was sold and wandered back to the car doing my best not to drop or smash Mr. Mouse. I don’t know if it was because he was the last thing I bought or just because he really was that good, but Mr. Mouse was the most delicious thing I had eaten the whole trip. The chocolate and pear together created a caramel like flavour.

Stuttgart Christmas Market website: http://www.stuttgarter-weihnachtsmarkt.de/index.php

14 Christmas Markets: Stuttgart

Dutch Food Delight - Poffertjes

Last week I teased you with a photo of one of the yummiest Dutch foods that you will find in the Netherlands. Then I told you that you had to wait a whole week to find out what they were, if you didn’t already know. The good news is that you need to wait no longer.

What:

Poffertjes – Small, fluffy pancakes made with yeast and buckwheat flour. They have a light, spongy texture and are typically served with a lump of butter and then covered in powder sugar.

Why:

I can’t find a history on poffertjes so I am going with the theory that the Dutch were blessed with this delicious treat for being special.

Where:

Poffertjes are often made fresh at an outdoor stand. That’s what last week’s photo was all about. However, you can find them ready made in the supermarket (you just heat them in the microwave) or you can make them yourself. You will need a poffertjespan to succeed and nimble fingers for turning them over.

When:

Thankfully, you can find this Dutch food the whole year round and if worse comes to worse, you can always make them yourself.

Varieties:

The actual flavour of the poffertjes is pretty consistent. Where the variation comes in is with the toppings. While butter and powdered sugar are the most common topping enjoyed on poffertjes; syrup, whipped cream and strawberries are also pretty common.

How Much [Should I Eat]:

Consume these babies until you can eat no more. “Poffertjes till you burst” is a good motto to live by.

Pas Op! (Watch Out!):

In my opinion, the part that makes or breaks the poffertjes is the butter. Because it melts all over the mini-pancakes and helps to contribute to its flavour, make sure you use/receive only the best butter available for your poffertjes!

Dutch Food Delights: Poffertjes

When a Christmas market is only open for one weekend during the season, it must be good. Especially when the details talk about a Swabian dish known as krautschupfnudeln, that involves even eating the plate! It was these two things that sold us on the city of Tuebingen. We were so sold that we even planned our whole trip around the one weekend that the Tuebingen market would be running.

Tuebingen is a town made up of side alleys, rolling streets and picture postcard architecture. The market however, was one part jumble sale and one part local group food stands.

Krautschupfnudeln, while a creative mixture of noodles, cabbage, bacon and cheese, became a bit repetitive and unless paper is part of the dish, there was no way that the plate was meant for eating!

There were a few redeeming features of Tuebingen (Lush, the architecture and the Moroccan themed tea-light house) but overall it just wasn’t as special as we were expecting.

Tuebingen Christmas Market website: http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/tuebingen_christmas_market.htm

14 Christmas Markets: Tuebingen

Not everything that is free is worth taking, especially if you don’t like snakes. At a school in Haarlem, an unknown man (or woman) left behind a white plastic box with the words “gratis mee to nemen” (free to take) on the outside. However, if you were expecting some hidden treasure then you were in for a big disappointment as inside the box was not an old game system, some great clothes or even a pile of books but instead two snakes.

The snakes, harmless corn snakes, have been taken into quarantine where they will stay for the next two weeks before being found a new home.

Monday Madness: Free to Take

Day 36: Winter walks equal winter trees.

Day 37: My bananas appeared to come fro Ecuador, is the cute stickers were to be believed.

Day 38: When I went for a walk at a nearby park there four of these cards near the skating ramp.

Day 39: Early flowers for Valentines Day.

Day 40: I love herons and they are nearby a lot. When I came home from wherever I had been this one was outside in the snow.

Day 41: Today I visited the Hof van Wouw, almshouses around a central courtyard. Inside was really beautiful but I also liked the outside gate.

Day 42: I finally got my violin back after having new strings and other bits and pieces done to it. My first lesson is on Monday. After not playing the violin in about 13 years I am a tad bit nervous!

Project 365: 36 – 42

Horizontal snow, warm golden lights and gigantic angels with wings and halos crafted out of strings of white Christmas lights. It is impossible to visit the Ludwigsburg Christmas market and not be dazzled by its beauty and Christmas atmosphere.

170 decorated stands are nestled between the two baroque churches that stare each other down from opposite sides of the market square. The lights from the stands, the illuminated church architecture and the glittering angel wings all bathe the market in a glow that makes you certain that you just stepped back in time. And the extra room amongst the paths of stalls selling scented bath salts, religious icons and warm waffles ensures a leisurely stroll rather than repeated attempts to cause death by squashing as experienced at some of the more crowded markets in Germany.

If you are looking for an atmospheric market in a setting that is second to note, then make sure the Ludwigsburg Christmas market is on your list for this year. The town and the market were the biggest and best surprise of our whole trip.

Ludwigsburg Christmas market: http://www.ludwigsburg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1246852_l2/index.html

14 Christmas Markets: Ludwigsburg

Do you know what these are?  If not, I’ll tell you all about them next week in the next Dutch Delight’s post.  I can tell you that they are one of the yummiest things you will find in the Netherlands!

Poffertjes (Credit: hansbaas71)

Dutch Delights: Do You Know What These Are?