Christmas 2022, Thu, 15 Dec 2022 | written by Simon
Jemma and Simon at a City, Temple, UNESCO site in Europe, Germany

First winter night in the Baron! We were scared as just before leaving the heating didn’t want to work, but then it started, so all is good. New record: -9.

We started our journey to visit Jemma’s family for Christmas by driving up to Aachen. We drove past night and this morning, and got there shortly after midday to find the city overrun by Christmas markets and visitors. Finding parking was a challenge…

We saw:

  • Cathedral, amazing octagonal core inspired by Ravenna’s Saint Vitale, with nice gothic additions. Also, Charlemagne’s grave and Jesus’ pants… I mean, loincloth.
  • Cathedral treasury with lots of relics, including Charlemagne’s scull and hand.
  • The Rathaus, great gothic building housing the Imperial jewels.
  • Charlemagne centre with some history of the city and a contemporary art exhibition, rather underwhelming
  • Elisenbrunnen, where the hot springs are flowing.
  • A tiny Roman ruin
  • Five or six Christmas markets – or was it just massive market sprawling around the entire city centre? Hard to say. Ho Ho Ho!

Interestingly, the music at the German markets was either English Christmas carols, and a guy on an accordion playing klezmer standards. We bought a few things to give family for their presents.

After dark, we drove off to Belgium, bought some beer and chocolate, and parked at Dinant which we’ll be seeing tomorrow.