Ideas for a Christmas Vacation in France

English: Christmas Market on Saint Louis square, Metz, France. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By []Mihaela C Schwartz

Spending Christmas in France looks like a great idea, no matter if you are planning a romantic getaway or a family vacation. Nicely decorated cities, scenic locations, great wine, delicious cuisine, exciting opportunities for outdoor activities, well preserved traditions, charming Christmas markets and lots of things to do are waiting for you. Here are a few ideas of Christmas vacations in France.

10 Italian Foods Tourists Should Try on Holiday in Italy

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By Orson Johnson


Italian cuisine is one of the most popular culinary art forms in the world. These flavourful dishes have often graced the tables of many homes and restaurants all over the world. Naturally, the best place to sample authentic Italian cuisine is in Italy and a holiday to the country will not be complete without sampling some of the best dishes in the region.
1. Pizza - This is a contemporary Italian dish that was invented out of necessity in times of war, where Italian peasants would bake whatever vegetables and bits of meat they had on a piece of dough. Today, this popular dish has made its way all over the world but is at its best in Italy.
2. Lasagna - This is a classic Italian dish. Usually, ground beef, an assortment of cheeses and some sausages are used in making lasagna. Some lasagna dishes are prepared using tomato sauce in a process very similar to preparing spaghetti with tomato sauce.
3. Chicken Parmigiana - This is another classic Italian dish. It is similar to a sandwich and can be made by deep frying pieces of bead and chicken topped with melted cheese.
4. Linguini - Italians make the best linguini and this dish is served with a clam sauce made out of fresh clams, garlic and olive oil.
5. Fettuccine Alfredo - Fettuccine are long, wide noodles and aflredo is a type of white cream sauce. The heavy white sauce does a good job of sticking to the fettuccine resulting in a creamy and flavourful pasta dish. This is popular dish with both locals and tourists.
6. Pasta Primavera - This is a vegetarian pasta dish usually prepared with springtime vegetables. Although authentic pasta primavera is usually vegetarian, there are some variants that use shrimp or meat.
7. Veal Marsala - This dish is composed of veal cooked in Marsala wine sauce. This delicious dish is usually served with scallions and mushrooms.
8. Shrimp fra Diavolo - This is a spicy dish aptly named. Diavolo is the Italian word for devil and this dish is prepared with a lot of crushed pepper. This dish is rather spicy but is extremely delicious.
9. Chicken Saltimbocca - This is usually made with chicken, mozzarella cheese, spinach, and prosciutto ham.
10. Spaghetti Bolognaise - This is a classic Italian dish and it is one of the most popular and recognisable Italian dishes in the world. This is a simple and affordable dish made out of spaghetti noodles, tomatoes, beef and an assortment of other ingredients. Most Spaghetti dishes are prepared with ground beef, meatballs, mushrooms, broccoli and an assortment of sausages.
Orson Johnson writes for Holiday Velvet, a website providing Self Catering holidays in Italy & Food holidays in Italy.

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Christmas in Zurich

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Author: Asif Khan

At the traditional Christmas markets and in Zürich's shops, both locals and visitors find inspiration for gifts and can treat themselves to delectable delicacies. The Christmas circuses are as much a part of the season as the New Year's Eve Magic with its legendary fireworks display hosted by the Zurich Hoteliers' Association. Thanks to the new Christmas lighting display on Bahnhofstrasse in the city center and special "Night and Sunday Shopping," visitors to Zürich city breaks can expect even more highlights during the Advent season.
Delight in the extravagant traditional celebrations of a magnificent European city in Zurich, where the country's largest market bustles around the most spectacular Christmas tree adorned with over 5000 Swarovski crystal decorations. Or discover bliss in an indulgent spa retreat nestled in the pristine snow-clad Alps. Allow the mountain air, and the world class wellness treatments, to revitalise your body, mind and soul.

What a disappointment if it is mild like last week in Zurich! Anticipation of festive things to come fills not only the minds and seasonal spirits of the young. A particular joy on your senses after dark, the cold air is redolent with a myriad of smells associated with Christmas like toasted almonds and chestnuts, chocolate-covered or candied red apples (called paradise apples here) and mulled wine. Wooden stalls with straw-covered roofs display a vast array of handmade crafts and art: old fashioned dolls, fragrant soaps, bees wax candles, silver jewelry, or environmentally correct wooden toys, (no lead, please).
Locally known as the Zurich Christkindlmarkt, this market is open from the 28th of November till the 24th of December and offers visitors a delightful array of various related goods and services. This is easily the biggest market in Switzerland with hundreds of stalls and thousands of visitors attending.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/christmas-in-zurich-3802423.html
About the Author

Log on to http://www.my-zurich.co.uk and you'll find everything that you need for Zurich Holidays

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Christmas markets in Brussels

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Author: Paul Buchanan

Belgium has become a haven for those looking for an authentic way to celebrate the festive season, thanks to the famous Christmas markets in Brussels offering yuletide gifts, snacks and entertainments in the heart of the historic city.

The two largest Christmas markets in the city - easily found at the Grand Place and St Catherine's area, respectively - offer a plethora of attractions and entertainments for visitors of all ages throughout the Christmas period, a far cry from the overly commercialised and sanitised Christmas celebrations found in many cities in the UK and elsewhere.

Belgium may not have invented the Christmas market tradition - that honour belongs to Germany - but this smaller nation has undoubtedly taken the top spot in the minds of travellers from around the world, looking for a city break destination ideal for celebrating the season of goodwill. With fairground attractions including a big wheel and carousels, not to mention skating events held at the city's ice skating rink, ensuring that 21st century kids will be just as satisfied with the entertainment on offer as older generations.

That's not to say Brussels' Christmas markets are all about exerting energy though, as the Brussels Winter Wonderland is packed with cultural attractions to appeal to lovers of the arts too - with a number of free performances and remarkable ice sculptures gracing the streets during the period. The market stalls themselves are a major highlight, of course, and whether you're looking for home-made decorations, seasonal snacks or mulled wine, Brussels won't disappoint.

The city hosts around 240 wooden chalets specially constructed for the winter season, where visitors can buy all manner of gifts, and they transform the Belgian capital into a true winter wonderland. The shops open late into the night throughout December - typically 9pm on weekdays and 10pm on weekends - meaning you'll never feel rushed to get your Christmas shopping in during the day time. Even if you prefer to visit Brussels after spending Christmas at home with the family, the Winter Wonderland festivities take place right through to New Year.

Brussels' Christmas markets are conveniently located if you're staying near the city centre, whether at the Hotel Brussels Midi or other popular accommodation, and if you're staying in Belgium for a longer period, you could also consider taking the trip to nearby Bruges. The markets here may be less impressive in size and scale, but the yuletide atmosphere is still on par with the best Christmas markets in Europe.

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Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/destinations-articles/christmas-markets-in-brussels-3802422.html
About the Author

Paul Buchanan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Top Six Christmas Markets To Visit In Europe

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Author: Lindy Howard

At Christmas time, Europe comes alive with Christmas markets. These are set up in all major cities throughout Europe, in one form or another, during the Christmas season, and have been for centuries.
Magical and fascinating, Europe's Christmas markets excite visitors with handicrafts, mulled wine, gingerbreads, large Christmas trees, wooden craft stalls, carollers, free mugs of ale and sell delicately hand-crafted holiday decorations.
We've put together a list of the top six Christmas markets to visit in Europe:

Cologne Market
Cologne's glitzy Christmas markets take place in four locations in the city attracting as many as two million guests every year. The most famous location is 'Am Dom' located in Cathedral Square, overlooking the Cologne Cathedral and featuring the largest christmas tree. There are 160 stalls set up which are visited by wandering street musicians. This is a very special area for children and the young at heart boasts a merry-go-round, puppet theatre and Santa's Grotto.
Nuremberg Market
This market which first opened in 1628 features 200 stalls situated on a cobblestone area. Nuremberg Market is specially known for hand-crafted wooden figures. Specialty foods to be found at this market are spicy sausages known as Bratwurst and sweet gingerbread. Visitors are alerted to watch for 'the Christ Child' who may on market opening day encounter a young child dressed in a gold and white robe, wearing a golden crown and seen moving quickly about the market welcoming visitors with Christmas greetings.
Munich Market
A special Christmas market takes place in the Marienplatz area, dating back to the 17th century. The official opening takes place on the first Friday before Advent featuring the lighting of a very tall Christmas tree. The Crib Market features handmade nativity figurines from Braveria and Austria. Special music is rendered daily by Alpine choirs and musicians.
Vienna Market
'Christkindlmarkt', opening in mid-November, features wooden huts surrounding the town hall. This is believed to be the oldest market in all of Europe. There is a special section 'Vokshalle'. Perhaps the best translation of this word for American visitors is 'tot drop and shop'. Many large shopping malls and chain stores such as WalMart have special areas where children will be cared for by specially-trained and designated employees while parents shop. In the Vokshalle, children spend time making gifts and cookies while parents shop. World-famous choirs perform programs especially on each weekend in December.
Dresden Market
This is the oldest market in Germany, dating back to 1434. Special foods include a sweet fruitcake drizzled with sugar icing. The Stollen Festival takes place on the second Sunday in December. Today's visitors view a 3000kg Stollen being borne through the city. There are 250 stalls featuring glass-blown balls, Saxony ceramics and blue and white print cloth known as 'Blaudruck'.
Berlin Market
The main attraction of this market is Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskriche which is the ruins of a church left untouched from a WWII bombing incident. Berlin's Christmas markets take place in Potsdamer Platz, Alte Potsdamer Strasse (small), in front of Charlottenburg Castle, and the most beautiful, Gendarmenmarkt.
They're definitely worth a visit, and certainly a must-do if you ever visit Europe in winter time.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/top-six-christmas-markets-to-visit-in-europe-3781124.html
About the Author

About the Author

This article is contributed by Anytrip.com, a budget travel company which offers cheap hotels in Germany so that you can enjoy the Christmas season and markets for less!