We started the day with an Austrian style breakfast of breads, meats, cheeses, eggs & coffeecake. Our hosts were very pleasant & came around to talk to each table. As they did, we were asked if we would like eggs and if we would like them soft, medium or hard boiled. When the eggs arrived at the tables, they were all wearing Santa hats. Very cute!
After breakfast we booked our sleigh ride for tomorrow and the airport shuttle for Monday. Then we headed out to look in the shops we hadn't yet seen & find a spot to watch the parade. The streets had barriers up to stop traffic but there wasn't anything for pedestrians so we weren't sure where the parade would go. We headed towards the gazebo as that seems to be where most things happen. On the way we bought a cup of chestnuts that had been roasting on an open fire! We had never tasted them before & didn't know what to do with them so the man showed me how to peel them & squeeze the flesh out. They are a very 'meaty' nut. They tasted ok but I won't need to buy them again.
It was a lovely sunny day but still very cold. We found a spot in the sun to watch the kids sliding down the hill on their toboggans. There was a school choir singing carols in the gazebo but they weren't very good. Eventually the festival host came out to welcome the crowd & say Santa was on his way. We finally saw the parade coming down the street being led by carollers. There was a Nutcracker, Frosty, The Grinch, Rudolph, 2 Christmas trees and some elves. Santa & Mrs Claus and Saint Nicholas followed in a horse drawn carriage. Santa said a few words & then the characters all mingled with crowd. After we had had photos with all of them & a cup of gluewein, we got in a queue for lunch at a German restaurant where we had pretzels & hot chocolate. While we were waiting for the pretzels, I had a drink of water from the bottle I had hanging from my bag. I had filled it up in the hotel this morning but by 1.30pm it had started to freeze & was like a slushy.
After lunch we headed up the other end of the street & came to a craft fair. We made a couple of purchases & for a donation could get a cup of hot cider.
All along the street there were barrels & fire pits where people could warm themselves. There were a few food stalls selling German sausages & Asian food but the whole festival could be done so much better. They need an Aussie event coordinator to take control!
After a while we went back to the hotel to drop off bags & layer up some more for the official opening ceremony at 4.15pm. Robyn had got us some hand warmers & she also had toe warmers.
The sun had just about set by the time we got back to the gazebo at 4pm. This time there was a very good group singing carols. After a while, the host officially opened the lighting ceremony, then called on Santa to say a few words. Next it was the Mayor of Leavenworth, followed by the Royal Lady of the Autumn Leaves. Then Pastor Andy said a prayer before the crowd was invited to sing carols with the choir while the lights were turned on for the 47th Christmas Lighting Festival.
Because we were standing still it didn't take long for the cold to creep up through my snow boots, merino socks & thermal socks. We decided to head to King Ludwig's German restaurant even though it was only 4.40pm. There are thousands of people in town now & many had the same idea. We had to wait in a queue so it was about 5.30pm before we got a table. I wanted to eat here because they have an oom pah pah band playing at night. Trouble was, they were in the downstairs area & we were upstairs & couldn't hear a thing. But Mum, your twin was at another table.
After dinner we walked back down the Main Street & saw bell ringers playing carols in the gazebo. They sounded great. I feel sorry for all the performers booked to perform this weekend because nobody hangs around long to hear them. There are a couple of tiered seating things set up but they are metal & there is just no way you can sit on them.
So, we were back in the hotel having eaten dinner by 7pm.
I just noticed that last nights blog hadn't posted so I have put it up now but only half of it is there. This is the second time I have had to type this one. Must be dodgy Internet connection like in Victoria. I may not write anything tomorrow because it is incredibly annoying to spend so long writing it for it to disappear.