Cochem Christmas Market 11/23/13

We were invited to visit the Christmas market in Cochem by our San Antonio friends, now stationed at Ramstein, the Aponte's.  Cochem was located about an hour north of Spangdahlem and other than the autobahn, we drove on some very NARROW and WINDY roads!! Heading around a bend near the end of the road on the way, this is the veiw we stumbled across.  Needless to say, it took my breath away.

Madi and I in front of the castle.

More of the view of the city.

The Christmas Market

 Each market has their own mug that they serve their gluhwein (warm spiced wine)in.

Trier, Germany 11/21/13

11/21/13  we took a brief trip, by train, to Trier (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trier) the oldest city in Germany. It was overflowing with history!  It was our first time purchasing a ticket or riding on the German train system. Here are a few pics of us waiting on the train and then riding to the "hauptbahnhof", the main train station in Trier.

Once we arrived, we got off the train and headed down to the "walkplatz".  We passed a building that was one of the former headquarters to the 3rd Reicht and the Porta Negra which is the entrance to the walkplatz.  It is one of the origional 4 corners of the city.  Very old!

Making our way through the walkplatz, we passed an old building called the House of the 3 Magi.  It is now a business on the bottom floor and apartments on the top.  The entrance on the main floor is not the original entrance.  Originally, front doors where up a story in order to protect the house and people entered with ladders.  The original entrance is the doorway on the 1st floor up.

The rest of the time in Trier, we spent looking at the Basilica/Kings Palace and 2 Cathedrals.  The Basilica/Kings Palace were two different buildings that were connected together.

 Garden in front of the Kings Palace

The Cathedrals were also 2 separate churches that were connected by a wall.

 They were setting up for the Christmas market in the walkplatz.

Lunch!

Finally, a traditional-looking German home that I saw walking back to the train station and an interesting (not so much) looking food cart outside of the station.