Feeling Festive: The Best Kent Attractions This Christmas

I'm going to start sounding like a broken record soon, but when did Christmas suddenly appear around the corner?  It's always the same way; I finish the leftover Halloween sweets, spend a week in the theatre for the autumn production (ooh I need to tell you about this!), remember I've missed all the bonfire night displays because I'm in the theatre and suddenly realise with horror that Christmas is just a few weeks away.  I'm not ready at all, and have a huge to do list before the big day (buy a Christmas jumper, bake mince pies, write Christmas cards that I never remember to post, sort out the tree, oh and actually buy people some Christmas presents!).  However, round the corner it is, and so to start getting into the Christmas spirit I've teamed up with EventBrite - an event management platform - to bring you a little summary of all my favourite things to do in Kent this winter to really get you feeling festive!

Markets

Photography Credit: Visit Kent

Is there anything better than a Christmas market?  I love them, and have been known in the past to leave the country in search of a goodun'.  There are a host of them right here on the doorstep in Kent though, some small and intimate in local village halls and school playgrounds, others huge and sprawling in castle grounds, but every one of them guaranteed to get your toes tapping to carols whilst grasping that mug of hot chocolate sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg.  Here are some of my favourite ones to get you started!

Canterbury Tales Magic Medieval Christmas, 19th and 20th December:

Photography Credit:  Visit Kent

Ever wondered what a Christmas market would be like if it featured bawdy songs and spiced mead? Well now you need wonder no longer as the Canterbury Tales is transformed into a festive wonderland for you to explore!   Santa's elf can be found by the fire in the Tabard Inn where you can sing your heart out with the other pilgrims, then venture off through the snow-filled streets of Ye Olde London Town in search of the traditional medieval Christmas tree decorated with fruits and animals and the whole family can dress up for a photo! In Santa's Grotto every child get a gift while the adults get to try some of the sweet honey mead and try to read what the little ones are writing to Santa!  For more information, visit the Canterbury Tales website

Times - 10am - 4.30pm
Cost - £10 per child (aged 2+, includes gift), and £7 per adult 

Leeds Castle Christmas Market, 5th, 6th, 12th, 13th, 19th-23rd December

Photography Credit: Visit Kent

Where can be more magical than a Christmas market in the grounds of one of the most breathtaking castles in Kent?   There is a vast array of gift ideas, toys, decorations food and drink and you can just wander around to your hearts content taking in all the sights, sounds and smells, hands clasped around hot mulled wine.  There are nostalgic fairground rides and the Leeds Castle reindeer and birds of prey are also on hand to meet!  Every day has a host of musical entertainment at the band stand.  Your ticket price is included in the price of admission to the castle so this is a truly wonderful day out for the whole family.

Times - 10.30 - 5pm (last admission 3pm)
Cost -  £24 adults, £21 concessions, £16 children (up to 15), infants under 4 free.  All tickets include access to the usual Leeds Castle attractions and the Notes of Christmas Attraction and last for 1 year's worth of repeat visits.  See website for details.

Rochester Dickensian Christmas Market, 5th-6th December

Photography Credit: Visit Kent

A market you can get into full fancy dress for and no one will bat an eyelid?  Now that is something I can get on board with!  The Rochester Dickensian Christmas Market makes the magic of Victorian England a reality, with lamp-lit, parades, street entertainers, live music, Father Christmas and a guaranteed snowfall against the backdrop of the beautiful Cathedral, surrounded by some of Charles Dickens most beloved characters bought to life before your eyes, all alongside artisan stands, gifts, food and drink and traditional Victorian activities.   Don't miss the Seven Poor Travellers Procession, the Grand Parade or the Open Air Carol Concert! 

Times 10am-6pm
Cost - Free entry (it is entirely up to you how much you want to spend at the stalls though!)

In the unlikely event that you have had enough of markets, how about something a little different?

Howletts Wild Animal Park and Santa's Grotto

Photography Credit Dave Rolfe via Visit Kent

Christmas came early for Howletts this year with the arrival of the first baby black rhino born there on the 1st October in 40 years!  This little cutie is well worth a visit just to see him but if you need more excuses, then Howletts is a wonderful winters day out for the family, and the animals are always a bit livelier this time of year, away from the heat of the summer!  Check out the lions and tigers, be awed by the UK's largest herd of African elephants and don't forget the world famous family of gorillas! Walk with the lemurs and when you are done laughing at the antics of the monkeys, take your little monkeys to see Santa in his grotto for a day out to remember.

What's not to love?!

Times: 9.30am-5pm.  Last admission 2.30pm.  Christmas Eve 9.30am-2pm with last admission at 12.30pm
Cost: Adults £20.95, Children (3-15) £16.95.  Passports are £10 more and give you free access all year.

Chilham Village and Kentish Down Walks 

Want something a bit more sedate and away from people?  Kent has a huge number of beautiful walks through the Downs which, at this time of year in the crisp winter air, are particularly breathtaking.  If you want somewhere to start, try the Chilham East Walk, making sure you stop off in the charming and historic Chilham village to buy one of a kind Christmas gifts in the Tudor Gift Shop.  If you are a bit chilly from the brisk Kentish air, warm up with a proper cream tea in Shelley's Tea Rooms or settle with the dogs by the huge inglenook fireplace in the 600 year old Woolpack Inn.  On second thought, you don't really want to do the walking part at all, do you!

Times - Up to you.  Shelley's is open 10am-6pm at weekends. 
Cost - It's free to walk!  The rest is up to you. 

Macknades Fine Foods, Faversham

Photography Credit:  We Love Food It's All We Eat

If, like me, the thought of the Christmas Food Shop fills you with dread, I have just the place to make your shopping experience not only a breeze, but actually enjoyable!  Not possible?  It is at Macknades.  I absolutely love this fine foods market and have frequently been known to pop in, just for a looksee and come out laden with goodies. It's hard not to be tempted when you visit the impressive cheese and charcuterie counter, the local ales and wines and juices and when items such as white truffle honey, pineapple jam or vats of olive oil straight from Italy are staring at you from shelves bulging with tempting treats. The last time I was there I had to physically drag Stephen away from the fudge display (courtesy of Fudge Kitchen). The whole place is a foodies paradise!  Top tip - eat in the rather wonderful cafe BEFORE doing your shopping.  Otherwise you will just want to buy everything in sight.

If you are ever stuck for a gift for someone, then why not make a 'Build Your Own Hamper' from their huge variety of goodies (and impressive selection of wicker baskets).  It is always a crowd pleaser and you can tailor it specifically for the luck recipient.

Just remember - the whole point is that you are supposed to gift the hamper to someone.  Not keep it for yourself.

Times - 9am - 6pm
Cost - completely up to you!

Canterbury Christmas Light Switch On - 19th November

Photography Credit:  Uh that would be me

To kick start your festive spirit, head down to Canterbury high street on the 19th November from 5pm onward to see the Christmas lights being turned on, with the honours being done by EastEnders star Rita Simons.  You will also be able to see the cast of the Marlowe Theatre pantomime, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and there will be live music and a snow machine!

Times - 5pm-7pm, with the switch on taking place between 6.30-6.45pm
Cost - Free

Ice In The Park, Royal Tunbridge Wells, 20th November - 3rd January

Photography Credit:  Tunbridge Wells Borough Council

If you have more grace than I have been blessed with, this next one is most definitely for you!  Ever looked at the Christmas skating in Central Park in New York in all those Christmas movies and thought, 'now THAT is Christmassy?'.  Well now you can make all your Big Apple Christmas Fairytale dreams come true at the outdoor skating rink in Royal Tunbridge Wells.  For the fifth year in a row, this popular attraction returns to Calverley Grounds for skating with a spectacular view of the park.  Those of you with little ones who are worried about them getting knocked over on the ice, have no fear.  Special parent and toddler sessions are available so that you can enjoy your time without speed demons hurtling past you.  Or in my case, desperately clinging to the side as my legs go shooting out in opposite directions. 

When you have had enough fun on the ice, go and see Santa in his cosy and warm log cabin, and then visit the gorgeous Christmas chalets set up rink side which host a huge variety of charities and organisations so you can pay it forward and help someone who may be desperately in need this Christmas.

Times -  11am - 8pm for the main rink sessions, parent and toddler times vary
Cost - Varies depending on when you go, but range from £9.50 adult ticket off peak - £40.50 for a family pack peak ticket.  Check the website for details

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Marlowe Theatre, 27th November - 10th January

I can't remember a Christmas from my childhood (or, ahem, my early twenties) that didn't involve me going to the theatre to see the pantomime.  As children my cousins, sister and I would head to our local theatre with our grandmother and give her the shock of her life as we all shrieked 'He's Behind You!', yelled 'Oh No He Didn't' and jumped up and down to catch the sweets that were thrown on us from the stage and tried to avoid getting hit by the bucket of water that was thrown on stage (that inevitably turned out to be a cloud of glitter).  A pantomime is such a classic British tradition and one that it is celebrated up and down the country and is guaranteed to leave children grinning from ear to ear.  This year's panto at the Marlowe is the classic story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, starring Rita Simons ( EastEnders), Phil Gallagher (CBeebies Mister Maker), Ben Roddy, and Lloyd Hollett and will most definitely get you into the Christmas spirit.

Times - Vary
Prices - Vary depending on show, but range from £10.50 - £34.50

Carols in the Cathedral, Canterbury, Christmas Eve

Photography Credit: Visit Kent

For the fifth successive year, the open air ice rink is returning to Royal Tunbridge Wells. It will be open seven days a week from Friday 20 Nov '15 – Sunday 3 Jan '16 (closed Christmas Day).
The outdoor ice rink situated within the natural amphitheatre of Calverley Grounds offers spectacular views of the park and really is a unique and special festive experience.
This year we are delighted to announce that the rink is going to be even bigger – with capacity for 250 skaters, and due to popular demand we have added an extra morning parent & toddler session.
Get your skates on!
- See more at: http://www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com/#sthash.7o4FXxtC.dpuf

For the fifth successive year, the open air ice rink is returning to Royal Tunbridge Wells. It will be open seven days a week from Friday 20 Nov '15 – Sunday 3 Jan '16 (closed Christmas Day).
The outdoor ice rink situated within the natural amphitheatre of Calverley Grounds offers spectacular views of the park and really is a unique and special festive experience.
This year we are delighted to announce that the rink is going to be even bigger – with capacity for 250 skaters, and due to popular demand we have added an extra morning parent & toddler session.
Get your skates on!
- See more at: http://www.tunbridgewellsatchristmas.com/#sthash.7o4FXxtC.dpuf

I personally think I have saved the best for last.  There is nothing, and I mean nothing, that says Christmas to me as much as carol singing does.  If you were lucky enough to get your paws on a ticket (they are like gold dust and are already sold out) then the 3pm Carol Service in the Cathedral is simply magical.  For those of us less lucky, there is always the Lord Mayor's Carol Service in the high street at 6pm on Christmas Eve.  Hundreds of people, all raising their (surprisingly not too bad) voices in unison, led by the Arch Bish bopping along on the open air double decker bus.  Follow it up with a meal in one of Canterbury's restaurants with your friends and family, followed by a leisurely walk and candlelit midnight mass, then warming up at home with a thick and creamy hot chocolate.  It simply cannot be beaten.

Times - 6pm onwards in the High Street
Cost - Free, although a charity donation for the song sheet to the Lord Mayor Of Canterbury's Christmas Gift Fund, which raises money for grocery parcels for people in need in the Canterbury district, is appreciated.

 Happy Christmas.

Photography Credit.  Me. Again. Boring I know.

For more inspiration on things to see and do in Kent this season, go to the Visit Kent website www.visitkent.co.uk

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The Nutcracker

Every since I was small I have loved The Nutcracker.   My mum had an old copy on video and I used to watch it at Christmas; it was one of the sure signs that Santa was on his way.

Everything about it screams of the yuletide festivities and the music by Tchaikovsky will instantly take me to a romantic winter dreamland where toys come to life and snowflakes dance.  The fact that I am writing about this in April must seem very odd then!

For Christmas this year, mum got me two tickets to see the Russian State Ballet and the Orchestra of Siberia's touring production of The Nutcracker at The Marlowe Theatre in March.  

Steve was certainly not interested (not really his thing) but I knew that Claire would be (she is a classical ballet buff) so invited her to join me one very cold Wednesday evening after work.  The show was part of two productions that the Company were touring with; The Nutcracker and Swan Lake and friends of mine in the area would be going to see both.  One of my colleagues commented the next day that they had been waving madly at me from the stalls but I was completely oblivious in the Circle!

Choreography in this production was by Vasily Vainonen and Sergei Bobrov with the full orchestra conducted by Alexander Yudasin.  From my position in the Circle I had a brilliant view down into the orchestra pit and some of the percussion instruments being used were like nothing I had ever seen before.

The entire ballet was just magical.  It opens at the Christmas Eve party where the children play games with the magician and Marie and Fritz receive their presents.  The touches here were lovely, with the children coming to and from the party wearing capes dusted with snow and throwing snowballs at each other.  The changing of the nutcracker into a lifesize doll was masterfully performed and the dancer remained as a life size doll for longer than normal, only changing into a full prince at the end of the act.

The Dance of the Snowflakes was one of the high points for me, and I loved their cone hats and snowballs dangling from their costumes; it was a different spin on a classical costume that I hadn't seen before and added some more personality to this production.

It has been a long time since I have seen a classical ballet production, having seen mainly modern dance interpretations in recent years.  You would think that I would have grown out of the childish desire to be a ballet dancer (despite the fact I hated my lessons) by now, but seeing the Waltz of the Sweets always rekindles it in me.  The Arabian Dance was particularly beautiful, using fabric reminiscent of a Dance of the Seven Veils to add movement and grace to an already beautiful performance.  The Tea Dance (Chinese) had all the fun, energy and vibrancy you expect from it. 

The one major criticism with this production?  There was no Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy!  This is such an iconic part of any Nutcracker production and I am utterly bemused as to why they left it out!  The music was played, but Clara danced to it instead.  No idea why they chose to do this.

It did feel very strange to be watching The Nutcracker when it wasn't Christmas, but the magic and wonder of the show is still enough to spellbind you, no matter the time of the year.

All images were sourced online (apart from the images of the Marlowe Theatre which are my own) but original photography credit could not be found.  If you know who should be credited for the ballet images, please let me know and I will add it.

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Here We Come A'Caroling

Every year, on Christmas Eve, for the last 30 odd years, Canterbury High Street transforms as hundreds of people descend to raise their voices in song and celebration, all for charity.

We have only managed to make it once before, 3 years ago, as the following years have always seen one, or both of us laid up in bed with heavy colds.  The kind of cold that waits until you have finished work, stop moving for 2 minutes and your body just collapses.  One year I was so ill I couldn't go to Grantham to see Steve's parents, couldn't get out of bed to do the Christmas food shop and couldn't drink a drop on Christmas day.  Steve was just as bad the following year.

This year, amazingly, (touch wood) we are both ok, and joined Ellie, John and John's brother, Andrew, on the high street for a night of pure Christmas spirit.

The Community Carol service is in aid of the Lord Mayor's Christmas Gift Fund, a Charity that was first established 62 years ago as an appeal to give parcels to the elderly and needy and Christmas time.  In its first year of operation, the appeal raised between £200 and £300.

This year it aims to raise £15,000 in the two months in the build up to Christmas, with each individual parcel distributed valued at £25, given to the elderly, lonely, families, individuals in need and young children.   Recommendations for recipients are made by local organisations, including health centres, doctors surgeries, nurses, Social Services, clergy and schools to the Committee, which is made up of 12 volunteers.

All parcels are delivered personally by volunteers as well (including senior school pupils) who spend time with the recipients, and, for many, this human contact is more important than the contents of the parcel and can mean the difference between a happy and a miserable Christmas.

The Community Carol Service is just one of the fund raising events for the Lord Mayor's Christmas Gift Fund.  Led by conductor Chris Gay from the top of an open top bus outside Primark, the high street bursts into song, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band and the St Stephen's Choir.

Also on top of the bus are the Lord Mayor, normally the Archbishop of Canterbury (he was laid up with suspected pneumonia this year, so the Bishop of Dover joined us and gave the blessing), the Chief Constable of the Police and a few other dignitaries.

There are a few things that are truly memorable about the Carol Service.  The first is the Salvation Army Band.  Squirreled away at the front of the bus, unless you are quite close you can't see them, but you can hear them.  We Three King is always accompanied by 'bopping', led by the dignitaries on top of the bus.  It's quite a sight as the mass of human bodies bobs up and down in time to the chorus!

There is also the Canterbury Carol - a re-written edit to the tune of Jingle Bells, which includes the truly awful line 'and a sleigh's not safe on a motorway'.

The St Stephen's Children's Choir leads us in a rendition of Once In Royal David's City, with the solo always sung by a very brave child soprano from their lofty position on the Primark balcony overlooking the high street.

Songs like Good King Wenceslas also require a bit more audience cooperation, with the men singing the lines said by the King, and the women and children playing the part of the Page, often in competition with each other, with the winner being declared by the conductor.

After the Carols are over, we said our goodbyes and Merry Christmasses, gave hugs all around and headed home to hole up for Christmas with big mugs of amaretto filled hot chocolate and The Nativity on the TV.

I hope you all had an amazing Christmas time, and Happy New Year!

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Tiny Tarts and Christmas Mish-Mash

Every year, without fail, I hit the kitchen at Christmas to get baking.  These cranberry tarts, mince pies and Christmas mish-mash are tried and tested favourites which fill the house with the scent of ginger, cinnamon and fruit and always manage to help with our Christmas spirit.  They are also perfect to make with children and ideal for putting out for Santa's treat!

They are also really simple - like every other person around this time of year, I am always a bit flustered in the build up to Christmas day and so I cheat as much as possible.  I don't bother making my own pastry and I certainly don't make my own mincemeat, but if you feel the inclination (and have more time on your hands than I do), please go ahead!

I first made the cranberry tarts about 6 years ago.  I was making my own cranberry sauce ready for the turkey sandwiches and could only get hold of a big punnet rather than my usual sized one.  I decided to use the leftover sauce to fill some little tarts, and Steve has requested them every year ever since!  They are not sweet at all; the sugar just reduced the sourness of the cranberries to a more palatable tartness!

You need:

1 sheet ready rolled shortcrust pastry (fully defrosted)
300g fresh cranberries
100g granulated sugar
Splash water

Pre heat the oven to 180C and grease a 12 hole shallow muffin tray

Put the cranberries, sugar and water into a saucepan and cook on a medium heat for about 10 minutes or until the cranberries have broken down and you have a tart sauce.

Cut out pastry disks slightly larger than each muffin tray hole and smaller ones for the lids - I used stars and gingerbread men - and press the larger ones into the holes in the tray.  Fill up each case with the cranberry sauce and then pop a top on each tart. 

Bake for about 15 minutes until golden, remove and leave to cool for 10 minutes, then remove to a cooling tray.

Dust with icing sugar; they will keep for about 3 days in an airtight container.

I also made a batch of mince pies the exact same way, but filled the pastry cases with pre-bought shop mincemeat rather than the cranberry sauce.  They look quite similar once cooked, so I always make sure I put different shaped lids on the tarts to tell them apart!

My Christmas mish-mash is an utterly made up recipe and so called because it is a mish-mash of all the Christmassy flavours I have lying around the house whenever I make it.  Most of the technique involves mashing ingredients as well, so it was the obvious name.  As it is reliant upon using up whatever I have buried in the kitchen cupboards it is never the same twice.  I first made it at Christmas in 2008.  Lauren was over for a chat (at the time she still lived up the road from me in Canterbury and hadn't disappeared to the big smoke yet) and we were mucking around in the kitchen.  We ended up with the first version of these after raiding my cupboards, and I have made it pretty much every year since.  I started off calling them cookies, but that name is really misleading.  They are more of a cross between a cake and a brownie!

So, if you want to make some mish-mash's for Santa, here is how!

200g plain flour
100g caster sugar
100g dark brown or muscovado sugar
200g unsalted butter at room temperature
200g mixed fruit and nuts - whatever you fancy or have lying around (pecans, raisins, sultanas, cranberries, chocolate chips, dates, figs, glace cherries etc)
100g oatmeal
Juice and zest of 1 orange
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cassia bark (or 2 tsp cinnamon)
4 ground cloves
1 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp all spice
2 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Mash the granulated and brown sugar with the butter until you have a smooth paste.  Add the orange juice and eggs and mix to fully incorporate

Mix all the other ingredients together then add to the sugar, egg and butter mixture and mix fully

Bake at 180C for 20-30 minutes

Leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out and leave to cool completely before cutting up.

Happy Christmas!  I'm not sure Santa should get these after all....

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Christmas Spirit in Poland

I'd been a right Scrooge up until the 11th December.  I didn't want to put the tree up (far too much effort), I hadn't sent any Christmas cards (no time), I hadn't decorated my desk (work is really, really hectic at the moment) and I've scowled at carol singers (if you are going to sing, sing in tune please!).

As of this week though the tree is up and decorated, cards are covering our living room doors, I've eaten mince pies, watched Christmas 24 movies and finished and wrapped all my Christmas shopping, including placing my colour co-ordinated packages artistically in wicker baskets under the tree.

I think my change of heart is due to this place

This is the historic market square of Wroclaw, the second largest city in Poland, located in the Silesian Lowlands (don't worry, I had to check Google maps as well).  It's an ancient and beautiful city stretched out on the River Oder across a number of small islands.  It is famed for its music, arts and culture (and in fact will be the European City of Culture 2016), but if there is one thing that Wroclaw really knows how to do, it's Christmas.

Steve and I took a couple of days of annual leave for a weekend city break to Wroclaw to visit the famous Christmas markets and explore the city.  We booked the Art Hotel right in the centre (about 30 seconds from the markets and less than 5 minute walk from most of the main sights), got some cheap flights from Stanstead and flew out on the Thursday morning.  We left our house at 5.30am.  By midday we were in our hotel.

We spent the evenings of our little break exploring the market, which stretched out over the entire of the market square and down the side streets.  This is the real hub of the city as the perimeter of the square is littered with hundreds of bars, restaurants, cafe's, pubs and clubs, all situated inside tall, slender buildings each coloured a different pastel hue that go on for what seems to be miles inside.

Every stand is made in the traditional style wooden hut, with paintings and photographs of Christmas scenes and fairy tales on the back.  Each is unique and covered in lights and decorations.  Christmas trees are everywhere, propping up the stands and bars, sandwiched between fences and hiding picnic benches.  It looks as though a small section of the Black Forest has upped itself and wandered into the square.

The main bars are located at the ends of the market square and have pretty distinctive shapes! Christmas music is played from them, often with Polish translated lyrics and all around you can see people drinking from their ceramic boots and bopping along to the Christmas cheer.

You aren't given plastic cups, or even glasses at the bar, but instead you get specially made Wroclaw drinking boots.  At the bar you pay 10 zloty (£2) deposit for your boot, and then fill it with your choice of hot chocolate with amaretto or baileys and cream or various types of mulled wine.  These drinks range from 10-12 zloty, and when you finished you returned your cup for your deposit money back.  This system means you can wander around the market or sit at one of the bar fire pits, drink in hand, quite happily, refilling at different bars for as long as you want (and can stand upright for).

There are a huge number of food stands as well to help you soak up all that spiced wine.  Whilst the number of stands is plentiful, the actual variety of savory foods is quite limited.  There are fish soups and meat and pickle on breads, and grill stands with huge, swinging grills hanging from the centre, covered in Polish sausages, sauerkraut and pork steaks, chicken and pork kebabs with what I thought was apple but turned out to be hunks of onion.  The bread is served dry.  I must admit, I wasn't a big fan of the meat as I found it all to be quite fatty and sickly.  The kebabs are cooked with slices of pork fat sandwiched between the chunks of pork; a fact that I didn't realise and nearly ended up chomping down on.  It was all however cheap, hot, freshly cooked to order and filling.

There were also stands serving portions of what Steve and I thought were sweet pastries with jam.  Turns out they were actually portions of grilled smoked cheese - a bit of a shock when we first tried one, as the flavour was not what we were expecting at all!

If the savory options were limited, the sweet options were vast.  There were stands of jelly sweets and straws, dried fruit, chocolate covered pears and toffee apples, fresh fried churros, gingerbread, giant haribo and, Steve's favourite, warm caramalised nuts.  If you don't have something sweet to munch on to hand, you may wish to look away for the next batch of photo's!

The market is a brilliant place to bring children.  You can basically get them completely high on sugar, massively overexcited by the Christmas overstimulation, and then let them loose in the kids area - a runaway mine train that has been turned into the Polar Express, fairy tale puppet shows in huts and fairground games and rides.  The screams of the kids on the Polar Express punctuated the Christmas music playing from the bars and gave Wroclaw a sound track that was unique.

A market cannot function on just food and drink (although this one was giving it a bloody good go).  All through the market were stands selling artisan goods, from handcrafted wooden toys to Christmas baubles, leather jackets to sheep's wool rugs, hats and gloves to religious iconography.  Jewellery stands stood next to oil and honey traders and artisan chocolates, and there was none of the calling from the stand owners that you get in the UK.  They allowed you to walk up and down, pausing and taking a closer look at anything that took your fancy.

There were also special sights, including the entertainers who walked up and down the market on the Saturday (I spotted the gnome, but he looked like he was on a bit of a mission), and every Sunday there is a parade which we sadly missed due to our flight back home.  There was even a working blacksmith and an ice artist creating a sculpture of Santa's sleigh.

The market square felt like it was straight out of the Bavarian fairy tales, with a truly magical atmosphere.  I couldn't keep the grin off my face and felt like I was 5 years old again, waiting for Santa to arrive.

Quite frankly, I had found my Christmas spirit within 30 seconds of arriving.

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