From Chapter Four: Music in the Streets

Lost in their own thoughts, neither Emma nor Poul have any idea how far they are walking. Meandering along the streets, they arrive at an area where they feel as if they’ve stepped back in time. The air is alive with celebration. People are dressed in traditional Alpine attire. Christmas carolers fill the space with the sound of music.

There is so much to see and experience—all their senses are being awakened in this festive setting. The delicious aroma of chestnuts roasting, the market stalls brimming with colorful, hand-blown glass ornaments—everywhere they turn, it’s a sensory delight.

So this is the internationally known Christmas Market! Emma and Poul giggle as they meander through the market, the largest in Vienna, Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz, in front of City Hall. There is so much to take in. They stop and look at handcrafted toys, from nutcrackers to dollhouses of all shapes and sizes. Children run around with free abandon.

The two of them peruse row after row of elaborately decorated stalls, some with unique trinkets, others with tempting, one-of-a-kind desserts on display. They sip mulled wine and taste gingerbread as they absorb the cheerful chatter of people all around. The lights, the decorations, the caroling, the festive glow—they feel warm inside, despite the chill in the air.

“It is easy to fall in love with Vienna in winter,” Poul observes.

From A Night in Vienna, a Novella by Betty Ann Hoehn