Aachen

At the end of November, just as the Christmas markets were set to open, we visited Aachen on our way to the Netherlands. 

While there, the kiddos took in joys of the market which included riding on a carousel, drinking kinderpunsch and hot chocolate, eying myriad treasures offered for sale, and eating the local stollen. 

We also visited the Palace of Aachen, the center of power of the Carolingian Empire; the Aachen Cathedral, site of Charlemagne's coronation as well as the coronation site of the German kings; the thermal baths, stinking of sulfur; and the City Hall.  The kiddos and I had been studying Charlemagne, so the timing of our trip was perfect.