We will….
We won’t.…
We will....
We won’t…..
What do you think?….
We’ll take the chance….
It’s not worth the risk….…..
On and on and on – right up to our 3.15am departure from the house on Friday morning….
And so we went….
To Bremen
Lest I sound like a madwoman, let me clarify – this was never about my being desperate to get to a Xmas Market – I’m not that crazy! This trip was to be the next phase of an odyssey begun two years ago. Myself and a pal worked in Hamburg in the summer of 1979. So – in 2019 – to celebrate our 40th anniversary ( can’t believe I’m writing this!!!) we decided to retrace our steps. As it happened, it was the end of November before we could coordinate a weekend between ourselves and our plus ones (ah for those days when we were always on the go!!!). Anyway, we’d a lovely trip to Hamburg and decided to make it an annual event, at the same time of year, revisiting all the places we went to in the summer of ’79. Of course Covid put paid to last year’s plans for Bremen but here we were – 2021, fully vaxed and raring to go!
Things weren’t too grim in October when we booked but, as the date approached, news was bad all over – and that was before Omicron! As it happened, urgent family matters meant the other two had to pull out on Wednesday – so it was down to the two of us to make our own decision.
Bremen at any time of the year is gorgeous, but just picture the end of November – the last of the autumn leaves and the first of the Christmas lights – Magic!!
To go or not to go…
Well that’s everyone’s personal decision.
But I can tell you the following about Bremen:
Highly visible security presence in markets.
Masks must be worn when strolling through the markets.
Booths at entrance to markets issuing wristbands to those who can prove they are vaccinated/ recovered.
Wristbands needed for the food stalls (even though they are open air).
Everything closed early (we left restaurant at 10.00pm and the markets were empty and in complete darkness).
Shops – very strict and staff on high alert re masks etc.
Restaurant ( Friday night) – Police arrived in and every single diner had to produce a Covid cert and ID.
