Recap of early December.

I have not done a very good job of keeping up with blogging this December, although, really, I've been so busy that I just haven't taken the time. To catch up a little, I thought I'd do a quick recap of some of the highlights from this December (not including work, which there was a lot of, actually), up until Christmas.

As you may remember, I met the Pattons in Munich (München) for a weekend to visit the famous Christmas markets there. They have a more complete story on their blog, but I will tell you this: the Christmas markets were beautiful and magical and crowded. We had glühwein, bought presents, drank beer, had sausages and schnitzel, took a (rather disappointing) walking tour, almost bought a Christmas tree (the logistics of transportation were too complicated), and enjoyed spending time together. It was pretty cold that weekend, so we had to alternate our outside and inside time, but it was a really nice weekend.

Christmas markets!

On our walking tour.

One of the foods we tried.

Saying goodbye at the train station.

The weekend was much too short, and then I went back to Switzerland, and they went back to London. The train only takes 4 hours between Munich and Zürich, so it's a pretty convenient trip. I think I have to go back to check out the science museum sometime!

The weekend after, I visited my friend and former flatmate Stefanie in Locarno. We walked by the lake, I got to see the sun after not having seen it for at least two weeks (the weather is, on average, much nicer in Ticino), we baked Christmas cookies, and we had dinner with her family. It was really nice to spend the weekend with Stef, and I really love seeing her family, as well.

At Locarno.

I know it's immature, but the Ticinese transport acronym makes me laugh every time!

Roses were still blooming!

The train ride back was really beautiful, as there had been a large snow storm (luckily, I missed it while in Ticino).

View from the train near the Gotthard Pass.

Vierwaldstättersee.

The last week that I was in Zürich, some colleagues and I went to the Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich for a Christmas glühwein as a last apero before everyone went their separate ways for Christmas. We stumbled upon this "singing Christmas tree", which was actually pretty good.

The city center was all decorated for the holidays, and there were little booths everywhere. Not quite as intense as Munich, but still really nice and Christmas-y. I really enjoy the part of the Christmas season that I spend in Switzerland– I love the way German-speaking countries do up Christmas! After this, I was basically on my way back to Minnesota for Christmas (which I shall blog about later).