I think it is finally time to get into the Christmas spirit. It is mid-December, the weather has got a little colder and the atmosphere has a decidedly Christmassy flavour to it. I’m starting to see why so many people love this time of year.

So, first stop is to sort out the tree. While out walking with the Oldies, I’ve already been checking out the local plantations. There are some nice-looking specimens there alright but we are off to town – Graz to be exact – to do the buying. This is like an inner-city forest! A bird could feel quite at home here. If you weren’t a seabird, of course.

Her Ladyship thought that while we are Graz anyway, we might as well have a stroll around town and soak up the atmosphere. Boy, do the Grazers like the Advent/Christmas season! There are no fewer than 14 different markets in various locations around the city centre, each with its own flavour. I loved the Kinder-Advent (Children’s Advent Market) alongside the river Mur and was dying to have a go on the beautiful old-fashioned carousel. Her Ladyship wouldn’t let me, the spoilsport!

The Karmeliterplatz has been completely transformed. It’s been turned into an ice-rink, complete with a two-storey marquee with restaurants, children’s playing areas and viewing areas. This is the square where, back in summer, we saw all those Pokémon fanatics with their faces stuck in their mobile phones. The young folk are looking where they are going now, I can tell you. Wearing ice-skates certainly helps to concentrate the mind.

The markets offer everything from Christmas decorations to hand-crafts to toys to ethnic products to hot food to Glühwein… Ugh! Who said Glühwein?  (https://www.gullibletravels.net/2016/11/27/early-celebrations/) I think I’ll move on… Ah, this is more like it: there are Maroni (hot chestnut) stands on every corner. Just the ticket on a chilly afternoon!

I love the Christmas decorations, especially the trees hanging upside-down over the Herrengasse, the main street in Graz. I thought this was a pretty funky modern design, but apparently it is an old tradition to hang Christmas trees upside-down. There. You learn something new every day!

Of course, you can’t do Christmas without taking in a bit of shopping. The shops in Graz are wonderful. Even Her Ladyship who is normally only interested in hardware shops (I told you she’s weird) had no objection to browsing around the boutiques in the city centre, and we all enjoyed the splendour of the famous department store, Kastner & Öhler. It was fascinating to look at shelf after shelf of clothes, handbags, shoes, toys … but for me it begs the question, do you humans really need all that stuff? I mean, as a seagull I know all about feeding frenzies, but I am not convinced that shopping frenzies are entirely necessary.

                     

Back home, we had yet another taste of Christmas. Literally. The best of traditional Austrian Weihnachtsgebäck, Christmas biscuits, made by the best baker in town, Oma (Granny). Take a bow, Oma, you’ve surpassed yourself yet again. This year she has made no less than sixteen different types, using a different recipe for each one and, believe me, they taste as good as they look. I think I’m going to have to try to persuade Oma to give Her Ladyship some baking lessons. On second thoughts, if Her Ladyship’s baking skills turn out to be as bad as her cooking skills, perhaps she should leave the baking to Oma after all.

Right, Christmas is just around the corner. The Oldies and I are going to have a nice relaxing time. I hope you all have a relaxing time too. Just take a bit of advice from this old bird and don’t overdo the shopping. Or the bikkies.

Ok. Just the shopping.

Happy Christmas everyone!