Christmas Market & Christmas Carp!

Dusk in front of the Opera

On Saturday night, we went to the Christmas Market here in Bratislava with the boys.  We went just before sunset so that we could see the lights and enjoy some Market Food for "dinner".  After riding the tram down (in case Brian and I wanted some Medovina), we walked through the square with the Opera House and then onto the other Market area.

Looking back toward the Main Square

There were booths filled with all kinds of grilled foods - gypsy chicken, sausages, peppers, onions.  To drink they had many hot drinks - punch, mulled wine (white or red), and medovina (honey wine).  Of course, we found a booth that had mainly pastries and medovina.  The boys chose two chocolate potato pancakes (lokse) with chocolate syrup.  We stopped to eat and enjoy the atmosphere and the view back toward the square.  All week it was below zero, so once the sun went down, it got cold quickly - so after a little over an hour, we walked back and caught our tram home.

Our wire Ikea tree for our new
collection of Europe Market Ornaments 

Since it had been so cold, we went back to town today to do a little shopping.  We each bought one Christmas Ornament to remember Bratislava by.  Brian picked a fish (you'll see why below), Owen picked a spider in a web, Hayden picked a snow globe with a tree that has an LED light, and I got a ball that says "Bratislava."  It was much warmer and less slushy since the weather has been above freezing for the last couple of days.  And, the sun was even out some!

Christmas Carp!!

And, for the Exciting News today - we walked down to where they have  some portable tanks full of fish set up for the week.  Very Interesting!  There is even one set up here by our house next to the Post Office and Grocery.  Each tank has a bunch of giant Carp swimming in it!

Basically, you pick out a Carp and then the men net it out, put it in a plastic bag and weigh it.  After you pay for it, and it is still intermittently wiggling, you take it home to put in your tub.  Then on Christmas Eve - dinner is your large fish.  But, this is definitely not for me since I would have to kill it and then clean it.  We're sticking with Turkey.  But, we found some really good articles on the tradition on-line - there's even a video of the fish in a tub here.

Even on a Wednesday at 10:30 am, there was a line of over 6 people at each sales area.

One of the tanks had a hole in the bottom to let the water out (water was being added by the hoses at the top) and a fish had gotten his head stuck in it - trying to escape??, or just too darn crowded and was pushed??  Either way, the kids thought that was super funny.

The boys were very impressed.  They both wanted one.  Owen even said that next Christmas he's going to ask for a Carp.  Hmmm...not sure Santa can bring that in a sleigh.




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