Einsiedeln market

Today the littles and I went to the Einsiedeln Christmas market and had a nice time. The first thing that we did was go to see one of the town's minor claims to fame: the world's largest nativity diorama. It had over 450 figures and included not just the manger but also the surrounding countryside. No pictures were allowed, but I can tell you it was a busy scene. It was like a Bruegel painting. L was interested and found lots of point to. T pouted by the exit.

From there we went to the Einsiedeln Abbey, which is a pretty important pilgrimage site because of its black Madonna. We didn't see that, but did see the rest of the church. It was the opposite of the Italian churches we saw because the outside was unadorned, and the inside was like a wedding cake which someone had spend a few too many hours decorating. It was a little gaudy with pink cherubs perched everywhere, but it was somehow a pretty effect. No pictures allowed, unfortunately, but here is one from wiki.



After that we went to the market. The kids were hungry, so I bought something we haven't seen before - fried apples. They were apple slices that were battered and fried and then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. T didn't care for them, but L loved them. She wouldn't share.

We wandered around for a while. It was a cute market, but not very big. I looked all over for the nougat vendor listed in the program, hoping it was the same one we bought from at the Onion Market, but I couldn't find him anywhere. Because I was looking, though, we did see pretty much everything there was to see. Part of the market is in the plaza in front of the Abbey. That's where this elaborate fountain is. I like the picture on the left, especially, because it shows the fountain being used for scrubbing purposes, and I continue to tease E that the fountains are not mainly for drinking water.

There was a carousel. That is where all heck broke loose. The kids had several rides and even scored the fire truck, which was coveted for its bell. But then it was time to move on and L had an epic tantrum. She nearly capsized the stroller with her angry thrashing. It ended with her walking, but not before damage was done. I had a wet muddy knee and she had a soaking mitten from our tussle in the slush. That meant it was time to go. It was too cold to be wet or mittenless. So we skipped the old-fashioned gingerbread bakery and seeing the lights. That was too bad, but what can you do? She was having a crankyish day before the carosel and that was just her last straw.

If we had left after dark I might have missed seeing this addition to my weird sign collection. No chickens on skateboards at the train station, please!

Also, we were early enough to take the fast way home - via ferry - and found a little bakery in town where we never ordinarily go. T really enjoyed the ferry. While we waited at the dock he could watch the ducks and swans, and the waves fascinated him. We were also lucky enough to see a beautiful sunset over the snowy hills by the lake.