feuerzangbowle and fondue

This year's been more of a Feuerzangbowle kind of year than a Glühwein kind of year. The Feuerzangbowle stand is winning out over Glühwein through having the best mugs and being located right by the creche, which has become my friends' usual meeting place ("See you at the Baby Jesus at eight!"). I tramped around the Weihnachtsmarkt in the snow this evening in search of Christmas presents and cupped a steaming mug of Feuerzangbowle in my hands to warm up for a few minutes. Another new Weihnachtsmarkt favorite: the fondue place just past the fountain where you can order an individual-sized pot of cheese fondue with bread for dipping. My officemate Anna and I tried it recently, and it was excellent.