Saturday, November 23, 2013

A Christmas Market

On Thursday my DH and I caught a train to Manchester to visit the Christmas market
It was cold but relatively dry and we had a fun day ...
I forgot to take my camera ... but I did have my phone ... so apologies for the quality of my photos

It was a 20 minute walk from the station and we passed the beautiful 100 year old Midland Hotel


Afternoon tea here costs £20 per person ... If you want a champagne afternoon tea it will set you back £26 ... We didn't stop ... We headed for Santa


Here he is outside the town hall ... the array of chalet stalls meandered around the city and the smells were delicious!

There were stalls selling garlic


Sausages of every variety


French macaroons


Though I was more taken by this in the background


pretty huh?

There were stalls selling hot food, cold food, coffees and liqueurs ... more chocolates and sweets than I could believe ... 
We gave into temptation and grabbed a lamb burger with stilton cheese


There were plenty of Santa's


... and snowmen


and especially for my German friend Barbara ... Moose!


This cute variety I love ... but not the real stuffed heads of once live moose

And look at the array of cuties for the garden


Hey! How did DH get in there again? He's not as smart as this guy huh?


He knows I love a man in uniform ...

For hours we wandered around taking in the sites and scents ... displays from all around Europe selling everything from food to fine jewellery ...

Darkness started to fall and the lights were so pretty



Even in the local pub


It was time to head home 


We strolled through the streets of Manchester ... taking in shop windows with fabulous displays ... street side coffee bars that were so tempting, bathed in the glow of the Christmas lights
A fine day was had by all and I can promise you I slept like a log that night!

Till soon

~ Ros ~














15 comments:

Heather Rogers said...

WOW! I am totally jealous. Such a amazing photos. :)

Zue said...

What a wonderful day out. Your photos are really good quality.
Thank you for sharing your memorable day. You didn't say if you came home laden wirth goodies, I expect if you had a long walk back you probably did not buy too much
Xxx

Astrid Maclean said...

Oh wow, this looks fantastic!! I love Christmas markets, - Edinburgh does have one but this one looks way better!! Looks like a great day out for sure!

Rebekah said...

Beautiful photo's! Thanks for taking us along with you on your trip:) Love your posts like this. Looks like you had fun:)

Mona Pendleton said...

Looks like a fun outing Ros! Thanks for sharing :)

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Thanks for the tour at Market place, you know I love them right?

Heidi said...

Sounds like you had a lovely trip!
Beautiful photos:)
Hugs, Heidi:)

Rebecca Deeprose said...

How fabulous Ros!!! You really captured it and the cell phone in your hands, is a good camera!! That macaroon stall....I can hardly believe the setting, considering it all had to be planned and carried in! Ahhh the French! So glad to hear you had a great time~ Love to you

Sue Lelli said...

I just LOVE your photos of your day! I have never seen anything like that in real life! Just FABULOUS!

Lynnda said...

Looks like a fun and great outing Ros... Enjoying your photos! Thanks for sharing!... hugs..x

Sylvia said...

You are so lucky to have such a wonderful open market, Ros! I love that wooden soldier! How fun to ride the train, I also loved doing that when we lived in Scotland!

Barbara said...

I wish I could have joined you - what a wonderful day (and not just for the moose)! I rushed to the center of Bonn today on a very particular errand and came across... the Christmas market there! Wasn't prepared for it but went for the potato patties right away ;-)

Diane said...

I agree with Heather, I am totally jealous. We don't have anything like that here at all, I could spend days there...eating macaroons most likely...wow I didn't even know places like this existed...I would go broke in a hurry...thanks for sharing the fun day you had!!!

AppleApricot Wen said...

That must have been a beautiful day. My mom, Sam and I went to a Christmas market too, it was wonderful. I'll share photos next week (if I don't forget, lol).

hugs
ps: love that man in uniform! ;)

Gail said...

I'm feeling slightly envious ,this is the only time of the year I miss the UK. Christmas in the Southern hemisphere just doesn't work .I get really annoyed when I see cards with snow and snowmen . The evenings are too light to appreciate fairy lights
and sadly the weather is too warm to really enjoy all that yummy food. I guess that's why we have Christmas in July.