Christmas Eve in Vienna

Christmas Eve day started with shopping in Nachmarkt (the big outdoor food market) (smoked eel for Sieglinde, shrimps, dolmades, olives, bread, cheeses, meats, wine, cognac) for a simple "grazing" dinner (us in front of our dinner in the apartment), then a late breakfast and coffee at Café Sperl, followed by touring the Christmas market in front of Schonburg Palace.

We stopped later in Nachmarkt at one of the fish vendors for oysters on the half shell with champagne.

So, no Christmas tree as such, but we do have a wreath with candle from Nachmarkt, which right now sits atop our clothes drying rack in the middle of the apartment (Sieglinde insisted on a picture - one that doesn't show the undies).

Church services here are at midnight, by which time we'll be sound asleep, so we're inside for a peaceful, restful, quiet Christmas Eve. A little cognac, some Christmas CD's (Kings College Choir, Cambridge, A Festival of Lessons and Carols is on now) from home and just us together. Perfect. Oh, and it's snowing outside now.

Merry Christmas everyone!