The week before Christmas in Trier is almost magic. As a matter of fact the fun starts in the last week of November, but the crowds seem to enjoy more the last few days of the Trier’s Christmas Market. And I am not talking here only last minute shoppers.

The Trier Christmas Market is renowned in this part of Europe and that for a good reason. Trier is Germany’s oldest city. Trier’s history goes back to 2000 BC. The city was renowned in Medieval ages as “the heart of Europe” and before that, during the Roman supremacy, as “Roma Secunda” (Second Rome).

Traces of history are pretty obvious here. Some of the city’s architectural monuments are part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The most impressive of all is the Porta Nigra, which is also the biggest Roman portal of its kind in at the north of the Alps. Built in 180 AD by the Roman empire, this edifice stands still in front of the weather and the passing of the time due to its unique, amazing structure: at its building there was no mortar used: just iron clamps and sandstone blocks.

The Porta Nigra guards the inner city, where the Trier Christmas Market is welcoming its visitors since so many years. The air is flavored with vapors of mulled wine, traditional Christmas punch, teas and customary Christmas dishes.

There is something for everyone: gifts, souvenirs, pottery, jewelry, toys and hand made candles. Everything in the traditional Christmas spirit. Actually, there are voices saying that in Germany Christmas is still as it used to be. And part of this statement is true: Germany still carries a lot of its medieval charm in the architecture of the buildings, in the hand-made Christmas decorations, in the home-made bread and ginger bread. What a lovely place to be!

So I take this opportunity now to wish you all Merry Christmas! May God bless your life as he blessed mine this season. May you find love and joy and strength to overcome all the bad turns life brings your way every once in a while.