From one day to the next, the Piazza Santa Croce is transformed. Yesterday I saw them unloading the trucks and today the mercato (market) was open for business. For the past two years that we have been in Florence, this mercato di Natale tedesco (German Christmas market) has marked the beginning of the Christmas season. For some strange reason, the colder weather seems to come with them too.
I love the mercato di Natale tedesco because it brings a lot of festivities to the piazza. They sell Christmas ornaments, jewelry, gift items, and food. My favorite thing to do is sit in the giostra (merry-go-round) and have a warm drink, like cioccolata calda (hot chocolate).
This afternoon, we went to fare un giro (have a walk around) and eat a salsiccia con crauti (sausage with sauerkraut).
We did end up buying a few things for our new apartment, but tried to refrain ourselves from getting other items because we'd just have to pack it and then lug it to our new place tomorrow.
I'm happy that we were able to go to the mercato di Natale tedesco before we moved from this area. I'm sure we'll be back because I need to have my cioccolata calda on the giostra. Besides, they're here until December 17th.
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