This little piggy went to market.

I didn't find out about it until after it happened, but the Christmas lights came on Princes Street (the commercial area) on Thanksgiving, although why that day is beyond me because no one knows Thanksgiving here. This also marked the beginning of the Christmas markets, which I went to yesterday afternoon to do shopping and enjoy the atmosphere.

By the Sir Walter Scott monument is a large ferris wheel... which I didn't ride, as the queues were long and it cost 3.50 pounds. Ugh. A carousel, then the beginnings of the German Market. A lot of jewelry stands, hats, trinkets, candies, and so many German food stands. Lots of sausages... I ate half of a hot dog, my first since August. Also the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. I tried mulled wine and found that despite the good smell and lovely warmth, I am really not a fan. Carmelized almonds, on the other hand... mmm.

In the Princes Street Park, below, was an ice-skating rink, which of course I didn't go to, but it was well cute. A few blocks down Princes, in a small plaza, was the French Market. I finally found the wooden rose vendor, ten for a pound, and bought five cream and five scarlet. The French Market was much smaller than the German one, but still worth the look.

I have heard the markets stay past Christmas, and take advantage of the Hogmanay (New Year's) Festival. We'll see on that.