We went to see Krampus at the German Christmas market tonight. It was a lot of fun. In Germany, in addition to Santa they also have Krampus, a troll that beats the bad kids. This was the first year I actually saw them IRL.
Everyone wanted pictures but tonight was the only night they were there.
You do need to buy your tickets online before you arrive. The line up to buy tickets can get pretty horrendous when it gets busy. There are lots of hand made crafts but we usually just go for the food. I got the goulash in a bread bowl and a dark German beer. First time I had any alcohol since my hip surgery.
My daughter got the mulled wine in a collectors glass. I tried that one year and it was horrible. Sugary red wine. I couldn't drink it. Yet I had a sip of hers and it wasn't that bad. It wasn't so sickly sweet and it had a bit of body to it. I still prefer the dark beer.
Some of our favorite food booths weren't there but they had some new ones. We couldn't find the spaetzle. I can make my own but it's always nice to see it there. The ham hock is awesome.
They did have schnitzels but we couldn't see the deep fried Hungarian dough with sour cream and toppings. That was a favorite. I did see a kebab booth. That's new as well as a squid booth. Lots of tasty calamari. It was a nice beginning to a quiet Christmas. Everything's expensive now but season passes on the venues you select are a better value. We might do Grouse this year since the Sea to Sky gondola is the same price now. Bear Creek has free lights.
I didn't see the chocolate fondue this year. In previous years there always used to be a massive multi tier chocolate fountain they would dip fruit in. Maybe more venders will join in December. Apparently this is the 15th year of the German Christmas market in Vancouver.
My daughter asked me if we were there when it started in 2010. I said probably. If not the first one the second one. We started going as soon as we heard about it. Looking at the archives we were there in 2011 and 2012. In 2017 I had the same goulash and dark beer. Not a whole lot has changed. It's a nice tradition.
Looking good Dennis!
ReplyDeleteOld but not much has changed in the least ten years other than my bionic hip.
Delete"a troll that beats the bad kids." sounds like Krampus visited that school in Langford recently.
ReplyDeletePerhaps. Sounds like there's more to the story.
DeleteKrampus comes with Saint Nicholas on his feast day first Saturday of December. Good children get an orange and some chocolate in their boot left out by the door. Bad children are beaten by Krampus and stuffed in a leather sack to be taken to a hot place. Saint Nicholas also has a helper called Schwarzer Peter
ReplyDelete