Day 14 December 5th Magdeburg

Today was allotted as a free day in our holiday and nothing was formally arranged.  We decided that we would visit the larger city of Magdeburg for its Christmas market etc.  We had a leisurely start to the day and decided to catch a train 1142.  Before then we explored Wernigerode a bit more including finding a supermarket which we may use for supplies for our journey 

Brocken Mountain

home.  The day was clear and sunny although quite cold, when we arrived at the station we watched as a steam train was being stocked up with coal and we could see clearly the top of Brocken mountain.  There were a few of our party making the same excursion and the train went straight to Magdeburg, taking just over an hour.



market view

Our tour guide had given us a street map and we found our way via some road works to the Christmas markets.  Being a

another market view

larger town this market was more extensive than the previous ones visited.  We enjoyed the extended offering in the number and variety of stalls but against

town hall at end of market square

that the area was much busier.  We had a quick look round part of it and decided to have a steak burger each which was only of medium quality. After our break we had a further look and did buy some Christmas craft items.  They too had a talking/singing reindeer, how's your German Val?  By now we had had our fill of this scene and decided to walk down to view the cathedral.



hundertwassers building

We had been told about Hundertwassers green citadel which had been designed and built in the city as a contrast to the austere buildings of the 

another view

East German era.  It certainly was a contrast and we are not sure it would fit in with anything but the locals are quite proud of it.   It was built by a housing association and contained shops, local homes and restaurants.  It is full of windows, curves, different  coloured pillars and the roof is a green meadow. There are still some baroque and other older style buildings nearby and this stood out from them all.



Magdeburg cathedral

We carried on to the cathedral which was

piece of Berlin wall

in more classic style.  We had a look round and the interior was rather plain but it had some royal tombs.  Outside there was a section of the old Berlin wall which was interesting.  The sun was still shining as we made our way back to the Christmas markets.  We stopped for a hot chocolate and I had an apple strudel which was well decorated but not up to the standard of yesterday.  We made our way back to the train station via a shopping mall which was very festively decorated and had a moving Father Christmas display,