Glimpses of European Christmas markets 2019.

Oberammergau made a vow to God almost 400 years ago and continue to keep their promise.

Last Monday I shared my favorite tastes from our recent trip to southern Germany, northern Austria and a sliver of Slovakia. Before I leave this subject and move on to new places in 2020, allow me to share some photos, with a Christmas emphasis, from the 6 cities and towns we saw. No matter what time of year you visit, the architecture will be stunning and the history will be long. But, at Christmas time, these places take on an extra measure of magic. MUNICH, GERMANY Munich

The German food I've sampled living here in Alabama (and while visiting Helen, Georgia) has been very good, so my expectations were high on our trip to the origin of that cuisine. I was not disappointed. SAUSAGES, SAUERKRAUT AND POTATOES Sausages were EVERYWHERE in Germany!! All colors, shapes and varieties -- pink, black, brown, soft, hard, fat, long, skinny. You name it, I probably saw it. At one corner bistro we found near our hotel in Munich, I tasted the best sauerkraut

The beginning of the New Testament is dotted with appearances by angels. In the first two chapters of Matthew and the first two chapters of Luke, I count 6 times. Once to Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, who received the shocking news that he and Elizabeth would have a baby boy and that child would prepare the way for the Messiah. Once to Mary, the mother of Jesus, to tell her that she as a young Jewish virgin girl would have a baby without a human father. Three times t