This month, I was thrilled to partner with Lufthansa USA on a holiday adventure around Europe. Em and I ate and drank our way through three countries and countless Christmas markets, and I’m so grateful to have ended the year on such an incredible note!
I had not flown with Lufthansa prior to this trip, and the airline was a complete joy. We sat premium economy, and it was far and beyond other airlines’ economy classes. Tons of room, tons of movies, super clean and modern… a true treat!
Our first stop was in Germany, to a tiny village called Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Straight out of Grimms’ Fairy Tales, every street was filled with colorful gingerbread houses and festive little shops.
Where: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany
When: December 2016
Stayed: Hotel Gotisches Haus
Instagram: #wellsingermany
We stayed at Hotel Gotisches Haus, a historic B&B right near the town square. With original architecture and a beautiful attic room overlooking the street, we couldn’t have chosen a cozier spot.
We wandered outside the medieval stone wall to the surrounding gardens, and then spent hours in the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market).
If you are headed to a German Weihnachtsmarkt, here is a short list of things you must try!: glühwein (red and white)!, speculaaslikeur (basically shots of rum-infused cookie dough), brezels (chocolate covered, too)!, sausages (bratwurst, knackwurst, bockwurst, bierwurst), schneebällen (traditional to rothenburg and so delicious. original was my favorite, while Em loved the coconut marzipan), roasted mix nuts (the best I have ever had), lebkuchen (like gingerbread), kartoffelpuffer (best ever)!, cones of sugar candies, spätzle (hello, German mac ‘n cheese), schnitzel (I preferred the turkey to the pork), chocolate covered bananas, and of course – waffles and frites! We each left 10 kilos heavier, and 10 thousand times happier.
When we weren’t at the market, we were wandering all of the streets and alleys. Colors everywhere!
This was a magical little town, where Santa must keep his summer home. Until next time, Rothenburg ob der Tauber!
Lauren
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Thank you to Lufthansa USA for collaborating on this trip, and to you for reading! As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
ahh this town is beyond adorbs! and how do i try speculaaslikeur?? some Boston store must have it!! xo
Right!! and I don’t know, but I am going to need to find out – perhaps we could even make it? The one we tried was homemade, and was so thick and delicious. We saw some bottles elsewhere, but they were super thin and not as fresh looking… it was so good!
LOVED seeing all of your photos and living vicariously through, recalling my visit to a Christmas market in Germany about 6 years ago! I’m so glad that you got to experience Germany in December!!
Thank you!!! Happy happy holidays, hope to see you soon!