Europe is a shopping mecca, from its trend-setting fashion capitals like Paris and Milan to the famous Scandanavian designs in Copenhagen to the countless boutiques found all over the continent. For a seasonal treat, visit Europe’s Christmas markets which light up around this time of year, bustling with shoppers looking for the perfect Christmas presents, exploding with colorful sights, lively sounds, and scrumptious scents like gingerbread, sweets, and freshly baked bread. You don’t have to celebrate Christmas to enjoy the experience of these festive markets, and even travelers who swear off souvenir buying will likely enjoy taking in the scene or simply watching the entertainment. The hot spiced wine served at the markets is sure to warm up a cold day!

Towns small and large hold Christmas markets in Europe, but a few of them are massive and very well-known. Realtraveler C’est la Vie experienced a couple of these markets last winter and wrote about them in her blog. Here is an excerpt from her descriptive recounting of the events:

“Our story begins on the Eastern edge of France in the heart of the Alsace region. Tickling the western flank of Germany, about three hours from Paris by train, is the city of Strasbourg. Strasbourg is said to have one the largest and most elaborate Christmas markets in Europe- Marchés de Noël. Having now walked its glorious isles, I can honestly say I know of no other market that is even worth mentioning in the same breath…this year there were thirteen sprinkled throughout the city, containing various themes such as books, cinema, photo exhibitions, ice gardens, Romanian artisans, and of course the traditional Christmas pomp and circumstance. The two largest and most elaborate are the Christkindelsmärik in Place Broglie and the Marché de Noël in the Place de la Cathédrale.

The Christkindelsmärik was as impossible to believe as it is to say. Claiming an entire city block, rows of storefronts resembling miniature wooden chalets, each spangled with color and lights and fluffy snow, paintings and toys, dominated the street. Inside each chalet was a new world. Some sold armies of miniature painted nativity characters, all aligned according to size and function so precisely that it looked as if they marched into place themselves and are waiting for their next orders. They came in every color imaginable (and some unimaginable), sported a real feather and an air of self-righteousness that made them stand out in droves over the traditional round bauble. Some booths sold hand crafted toys that looked like they had actually been made by elves: velvet puppets, ceramic marionettes, wooden puzzles, stuffed reindeer, baby dolls and plush animals…” (more…)

Plan your own European shopping extravaganza with these useful links:

Trip Planning:

Europe Travel Guide
Europe Travel Map
Top Spots in Europe
Europe Travel Deals

More Resources:

Winter Vacations in Europe
More Editor Picks’ Shopping Guides
Christmas Markets 2007 Guide

Realtravel Blogs about Christmas Markets:

Meg’s Adventure in Vienna
Kerry Taylor in Germany and the Netherlands
C’est la Vie in France
More Europe Travel Blogs

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Dubai has become famous for its resorts, appealing to all kinds of travelers around the world. Realtraveler cessna152 visited there recently and, along with snapping the above photo of the day, wrote about it in his blog:

“To escape the temperatures, we walked to a nearby shopping mall called Madinat Jumeirah. On the way we couldn’t miss the world-famous Burj Al-Arab Hotel, a self-proclaimed seven-star hotel shaped like a traditional Middle-Eastern sailing boat known as a dhow. It certainly looked magnificent, but we headed onwards to the mall.
Re-created in the style of old Arabia, Angela and I wandered its souqs and galleries, before stopping for a drink in a waterfront café…

We decided to wander down to Dubai Creek, an inlet of the Arabian Sea that bisects the city down the middle. There were very few people about, only the water taxi drivers. “You want tour of Creek? Yes! I give you tour! Only 100 Dirham!” We decided to take him up on the offer, especially since we had to get across the Creek anyhow. So for the next thirty minutes, Angela and I had a tour of the creek aboard a rickety open-sided water taxi called an abra…the headwind on the water made the journey very pleasurable, a highlight of the trip in fact. And being the only passengers, we had the freedom to roam the small vessel at will, crossing side to side to see the best sights. Eventually we were dropped off on the other side, at a jetty near the Bastakiya district, our next port of call.

Up until the mid-90s, Bastakiya was a run down area with foreign workers crammed into poor accommodation. In 1996, restoration work began, transforming the area into a quaint little art district. Its wind towers are a famous feature, some rising to a height of almost 50ft. The open sides of the towers catch the wind, sending breezes into the rooms below. They were an early form of air conditioning…” (more…)

Read more of cessna152’s reflections on his many travels on his travel page, and visit these useful links to plan your own trip to Dubai:

Dubai Travel Guide
Dubai Hotels
Dubai Travel Deals
Middle East Travel Blogs

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