As newcomers to Berlin we enjoy the christmas season with its christmas markets, something we missed out on for the past twelve years. Mulled wine, season´s cookies, bratwurst, waffles and what not wait to be devoured. Inspiration for, or actual christmas presents, cold weather and festive lighting everywhere. The good thing in a big town like Berlin is the choice one has, the markets are often themed. For example there is a Scandinavian St. Lucia market, a few organic christmas markets, some with a flea market character and others where it´s just about sweets. Locals who have this choice year in and year out, tend to critizise the growing commercialization, especially with the regular traditional markets. Then again who needs to go when the same shebang will be back next year, sometimes it´s good to go back to the roots and celebrate a modest and simple christmas holiday without going out too much. But there are also markets which are organized differently, not so much the idealized idyllic winter world, but more of a natural and common sense thing. The christmas market in Berlin-Treptow´s Plänterwald is one of those. Something like a alternative christmas market with a rustic feel and located in a long-ago shut down East German amusement park. The setting is a bit shabby and run down, but that´s why people come here, it´s cool, different and not perfectly organized as usual when Germans do something. It´s a place for coming together, grownups talk, kids play, the choice of food and drink is limited but special, and more than enough. The really good thing: no unnerving christmas choir music.

The christmas tree - a whole lotta umbrellas.

It´s warm in the straw, kids know cosy.

The Glühweinlady. Mulled wine with a shot of absinthe, a real witches brew.

Fairy tale tent where the setup wasn´t quite finished yet; kids were really waiting for this one to start.