The bus left Arco’s cemetery’s parking lot at 6:00 a.m. destination, Innsbruck’s Christmas Market!
The sun climbed over the mountains revealing the small towns nestled along the road, how beautiful they are but oh, how isolated. There’s usually snow for tourists to enjoy but this year machines whiten the slopes with artificial snow to accommodate skiers.
The first sight of Innsbruck is breath-taking nestled in its valley where the Inn flows impetuously. The sun shone brilliantly. Our bus parked just outside the Hofgarten with instructions to be back by 4:00 p.m.
The Market wasn’t open when we arrived … the kiosks tightly closed looked like a lot of light laced abandoned huts, but by 11:00 they did open and people began to flow into the streets from all around the world.
The hubbub of different languages bounced in the streets mixed with children’s laughter, parental scolding and Christmas music. Wonderful smells charged the air, as food vendors began to ply their wares .. fried potato rings on sticks, sauerkraut and sausages, mulled wine, roasting chestnuts and pastry lured hungry visitors this way and that.
The sun began to dip under the mountains, surprisingly, it was nearly 4:00 and the evening chill seeped into our limbs. It had been a great day, but we were happy to be back on our warm bus, homeward bound.
bright wintry spirit
this merry-go-round of joy
celebrating life
© G.s.k. ‘15
Heeding Haiku With Chèvrefeuille December 16th 2015 “narrow road”
“I love to challenge you to write a haibun about a short trip, journey, you made. try to imagine how that trip was, remember the scenes and landscapes you saw and so on … Of course it has to be a challenge 🙂 so there are a few rules:
1. your haibun has a maximum of 250 words (including the haiku)
2. the haibun’s time is around Christmas (if possible)
3. try to “paint” the scenes which you saw”
Bastet and Sekhmet's Library 
That’s beautiful! I love Christmas markets! I’d like to go to the Champs Elysées’ one with my friends if we get the time, it’s amazing at night, there are lights everywhere and small huts all aligned each selling something different, national, foreign, traditional, strange… 🙂
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I have the feeling that those little huts are similar to the small huts we have here too … but it sounds like a lovely fair indeed with all the representation of foreign and national wares!
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I’ll take some pictures if I go ^^
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Great … and maybe put one or two on the blog (?)
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Of course 😀
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Your trip and love for this inn are inspiring and makes me want to go!
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Thanks … this inn is splendid on the river Inn .. and I’m happy that this might inspire you to come go visit such a lovely city! 😉
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It is a magical city at Christmas time. Glad you enjoyed it.
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Very … and hope you may too return one day to visit it during this magical season.
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Very nice haibun Georgia … Christmas is the most beautiful time of year in my opinion.
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This evokes the complete magical Christmas card pic. ..full of the scents and sights of Christmas. . Beautifully done. I sit in the sweltering heat writing this…thankfully I live near Sydney harbour and the beach. That is the thing about Christmas… it is such a special time, no matter where you are in the world,we all share this elevated spirit and joy. Absolutely loved this haibun Georgia. A Happy Christmas to you in the true spirit of the season.
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Thanks Cressida for this lovely comment on the haibun … I do actually envy you that sweltering hear … though I’m happy you’ve got a breeze that keeps things in check! You’re right about this particular spirit of of that radiates from the season (summery or wintry as it may be). A huge hug and a very loving peaceful Christmas to you and your dear ones.
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