Another day of revelations

Well, today was kind of a wash. I had my alarm set for 8am. I woke up about 4am and couldn't get back to sleep. So I got up for a bit, watched the news for a little while, then went back to bed. My alarm went off and I turned it off. Next thing I know, it's 11am. Well, I'll never make it in time to see the clock tower, so no need to rush. So then I start snoozing off and on all afternoon. The insecurities started coming back, and honestly (and I told myself I was going to be honest to myself in this blog), I think I wanted to feel sorry for myself and was getting depressed. So when I finally woke up at 5pm I kind of slapped myself in the face. This was getting to be ridiculous! Why was this coming back? I got up and went out. I wanted to see the Christmas Market again at night, so that's where I headed. Boy was it crowded!! But the more I was out, the more it hit me over and over again that I was completely missing out just by feeling sorry for myself. No more, I tell you. No more!!!!

First order of business was food. I went to the Augustiner Grossgaststatten where I had venison meatballs with creamed mushroom, swabian noodles, and cranberries.

I'm normally not a cranberry kind of guy. But I tried it with the venison and it was really good. Even by itself it was pretty tasty. This was definitely stick to your ribs kind of food.

After dinner I went for my stroll in the Christmas Market. I walked by a building that had a facade over it to hide the reconstruction that was going on behind. People were going in and out of the huge metal doors in front, so I peeked in. It was a beautiful church (St. Michael Jesuit church) and services were just starting.

The pictures came out very dark and really don't do it justice. The cathedral was HUGE. It was so majestic inside. Then the organist began to play and the sound just completely filled up the space. I'm not really that religous of a guy, but I got chills when I heard the organ. I'd like to go back to get some better, close up pictures, but we'll see.

The entrance to the Christmas Market is right outside of the church.

It was PACKED on a Saturday night.

And the stalls were all lit up with their wares.

Gluhwein is everywhere!! I had my first mug of it tonight and it was very good. It wasn't nearly as bitter as some mulled wines that I've had. I'll definitely have another.

I thought I had wandered through all of the market on Friday. But tonight I found a section I hadn't seen before. This place is HUGE!! There was a really cool windmill type thingy (that's a direct German translation) in the middle of this new section.

Ever wonder what happened to the Monchichi dolls? They've all been captured in Germany and forced to work as animated window decorations for Christmas.

So...that was my day. Not how I thought it was going to be. But I think I've snapped myself out of my self-centered funk. I'm excited about going out tomorrow and seeing new things and no longer wasting my time here. Thanks for sticking with me and listening to my little self pity parties. Here's to a good day!!!

Today's observations:

Germans like Smart Cars.
There are tiny little casinos everywhere.
German men like to wear thick gold hoop earrings.