http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/gallery/0000rx4r.xml http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/gallery/0000rx4r http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e7cdb.xml This is just a sampling of the 78 gingerbread men and women we made a week ago. The topping was a maple-whiskey frosting that was incredible. (The whiskey part being my idea.) http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e1cy2.xml 6f4aa9cc3ffdb935e388024cb98b1707 image/jpeg 712 534 200746 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e1cy2 This is from our trip to Trier, Germany. They have a large Weinachtsmarkt (Christmas market) with all kinds of neat stores and really, really good food. These are some marionettes that looked really fun. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e3e7d.xml 2ea2a2a820cc188e24b447c33231f2f7 image/jpeg 712 534 221906 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e3e7d The giant Trier Weihnachtspyramide. It really spun around, but it was mechanically powered and not candle powered. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e4sd9.xml 20e5b29699c3d9afa09c243aa63771c5 image/jpeg 712 534 109402 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e4sd9 This is the Dom St. Peter lit by the Christmas market. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e65y5.xml 119a15f2e0e30d04f36d6f1364096ad9 image/jpeg 712 534 147940 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e65y5 And the Dom lit by the carousel. This was really the most beautiful part of the Christmas market. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e7cdb.xml d5da86dcd8446313b3d5fda7727f738f image/jpeg 712 534 133568 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e7cdb Did I mention food? I ate more food than what should be legal, including these miniature pancakes. The guy would put about ten of them in an ice cream cone bowl and smother them with your favorite toppings. I got a healthy serving of Nutella on mine, and Christina got strawberries and whipped cream. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e8941.xml 232c07b1affdd73fb643cb5503e67b13 image/jpeg 705 940 192742 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e8941 The Christmas market in the main walkplatz. I wish I could adequately relay what the smells were like coming out of this place: warm wines (gluhwein), gingerbreads (lebkuchen), actual chestnuts roasting on actual open fires, rich sausages, and on and on and on. Oh, and gift shops. But those are moot when that much food is around. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e963d.xml 0aa95eac33449a2b8edae51814f77e71 image/jpeg 712 534 123112 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000e963d A view of the shops against the gorgeous Trier background. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000eabt9.xml 24d628694a30c3bc431b17a9d946fc16 image/jpeg 712 534 148219 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000eabt9 And another view of the same. http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000eby19.xml 85e6952659e18d390091ad0943a3ed2c image/jpeg 712 534 127444 http://pics.livejournal.com/jp_land/pic/000eby19