Every year from late November to around Christmas, the historic Trier turns into a huge Christmas city. The Christmas market has different themes every year. There is usually a main market in the city center and sub-markets around the main market. After Christmas, all Christmas markets will be dismantled immediately and transformed into New Year markets.
It is estimated that hundreds of millions of global tourists flock to Christmas markets in more than 80 cities in Germany every year. The reason why this scene appears is because Christmas markets in many cities have hundreds of years of glorious history, such as those in southern Germany. In Nuremberg, there are written records of a Christmas market called the "Holy Infant Markt" as early as around 1635. The Munich Christmas market that Dong Qiangqiang visited before has an even older history. It is said that its predecessor can be traced back to around 1310. Of course, Trier, the oldest city in Germany, which has existed since ancient Rome, has its own Christmas market, and its history is too old to be tested. Because of this, Trier's Christmas market is famous in the Christmas market circles in Germany and even Europe and the United States. It receives millions of tourists every year. For a small city with a population of less than 100,000, this level of reception is already the best in the city. of the ceiling.
Far from the usual empty streets, there are now stalls every few meters on both sides of the road. Bright rainbow umbrellas and striped red and white canopies stand out against the gloomy weather background. I don’t know if it’s because they didn’t occupy a place in the main Christmas market. These vendors seemed taciturn. The stalls were originally located in a remote place, but they neither shouted hard like their domestic counterparts, nor did they come out of the stalls to warmly greet the tourists passing by. They just stood there in a daze. He sat in his stall and stared at the road in a daze. The Mercedes-Benz bus in the red and white countryside coughed and gasped on the road, unloading groups of tourists on the roadside and swaggering away.
Interestingly, the appearance of the tourists here is also completely different from the people in the Christmas market that Dong Qiangqiang has seen. There are elderly people wearing traditional German costumes, and there are also people wearing cold iron armor and holding heavy swords. Paladins, Santa Claus leading his reindeer through the crowd, and even ragged tramps can be seen. The tourists slowly moved towards the city center along with the flow of people. The melodious sound of flutes, soft and soothing music and the barking of dogs were heard in the wind, which was similar to the Carnival parade in Cologne.
Although he had been in Germany for more than a year and a half and had seen Christmas markets in many places, this was his first time seeing a scene like the one in Trier. But what surprised him was not the strange costumes of the Germans, but the fact that no matter where they were, He had never seen so many people in one day, whether in Hannover, Munich or other cities he had stayed in. They were crowded everywhere, just like visiting a temple fair in China.
Dong Qiangqiang was worried about Lao Bai's legs and feet, so he deliberately slowed down his pace and chatted with him, unknowingly walking at the end of the queue.
"Your feet look much better than the last time you went to Italy. It's not obvious when you walk now." Dong Qiangqiang deliberately threw the word "lame" out of the sky.
As he spoke, a group of people around him suddenly burst into song.
"What did you say?" The sudden singing voice covered Dong Qiangqiang's voice, and Lao Bai did not hear it.
"I said, your feet look much better." Dong Qiangqiang leaned into Lao Bai's ear and repeated loudly.
"It's okay to walk slowly, but it's still not possible to walk fast." Lao Bai patted his thigh as he walked, as if it was the leg that was broken instead of the foot. "The insole is thick and the insole is thin. This way it doesn't show up and makes walking easier. Happy Le came up with it. By the way, how are you doing at shooting?"
"I haven't learned anything since coming to Trier."
“No money or no time?”
"I don't have time. I like to be lazy when I'm alone."
"Getting a gun license and a gun ownership license early is better than anything else. Having a gun on your body gives you confidence. Last time Lei Lanting and I went to Italy, we flashed the gun when we encountered a robber, and the other person dispersed. It was very good. "
"It seems that I have left you behind a lot." Dong Qiangqiang sighed, "But the landlord just said this morning that I can use her shotgun in the future. Maybe it's time for me to move around."
Siluke
"Good guy, (the shotgun) can't be passed down from ancestors, right? Is it crispy?" Lao Bai asked.
While the two were talking, Lei Lanting flashed out from the crowd: "You're so awesome. Can you open your eyes soon?"
"I have no problem, but I have to ask the landlord about this."
"I really like guns now. Guns are awesome." After Lei Lanting finished speaking, he disappeared into the crowd again.
"Old Ding said you will leave tomorrow, do you need to be in such a hurry?" Dong Qiangqiang asked.
"European tourism is booming in China right now, plus it's Christmas and New Year here, and there are a lot of discounts, so there are so many domestic tour groups that it's hard to accept them. Tomorrow Lei Lanting and Ding Haifeng will pick up groups from Frankfurt and Munich separately. I Let Lu Shan and Lu Wei follow Lei Lanting. It can be considered a vacation or a study. Once you go there, you will become familiar with it, and you will be able to pick it up quickly in the future. But don’t worry, I don’t ask them for money." The singing gradually faded away, and Lao Bai finally No more talking at your neck.
"What about you two?" Although he didn't name anyone, Dong Qiangqiang knew who Lao Bai was referring to.
"We didn't make it back in October, so we plan to go back to China during the Spring Festival, and we'll get the certificate and have a banquet together. When we come back, we probably won't have time for a honeymoon. Lele hasn't been to Norway yet, so I'll take her to see the Aurora and the Gorge tomorrow. "Wan, let's take a honeymoon in advance so as not to be in debt later." Lao Bai said as he looked up at Tong Lele who was walking in front, his eyes full of tenderness. Following his gaze, Dong Qiangqiang saw Tong Lele talking happily to He Yuanjin, and the blush spread on her dimpled cheeks like wildfire.
Somehow, the scene of Lao Bai's last wedding reappeared in Dong Qiangqiang's mind, and his steps stopped unconsciously.
While dodging other tourists, Lao Bai observed the different stalls around him and said to himself: "We strolled along the river in the afternoon and took a half-hour boat ride. There are many attractions in Trier, and maybe next year we will have to let them go You took a group tour to Trier.”
Before Dong Qiangqiang could speak, Tong Lele, who was walking in front of the two of them, suddenly turned around, smiled brightly, and said to Dong Qiangqiang, "The leader has asked a question."
Dong Qiangqiang smiled and replied: "I have to thank the leader for taking care of me."
"Have you visited all of this place? If you haven't, it's best to research the travel route as soon as possible. Of course, discount stores are essential."
"After thinking about the route, the famous scenic spots are the Daikokumon, which you can see when you turn the corner ahead. Others include St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Marx's former residence, and the Royal Bathhouse. These are all very familiar. As for The Moselle River you just visited, and the Saar River upstream, have more activities to do, from short half-hour rafting to long-distance 2-3 hour boat rides, visits to castles and wineries, Everything is available. Trier has nothing but a lot of wineries. There are Rieslings that can make the Prussian royal family obsessed, and ice wine that is the best in Trier. However, I have never touched a discount store. Mainly I don’t know how to talk about it. In addition, the shopping environment in Trier is very average to be honest, but it is very convenient to go to Luxembourg. There is also an Outlet in Luxembourg. If you really need it in the future, you can go there to spend money. In addition, in terms of attractions, if If you don’t have enough in Trier, you can also go to Saarbrücken and Cologne, which are an hour’s drive away.”
While Dong Qiangqiang was still talking eloquently about his family treasures, Lao Bai had already walked up to Tong Lele, put his arms around her shoulders, smiled knowingly, and whispered in her ear: "Let me just tell you, this kid must be fine."
