Xanten: Girls Day

While the guys went to an extensive factory tour at Lemken, the women stayed back in town at Xanten.  It was an easy place to fall in love with.  There were the funnest shops to browse and buy, a rich sense of community, and a strong and long history.  A majority of the shops bordered the town square and adjoining cobblestone streets.

Their markets were absolutely charming.  They had beautiful, fresh produce, milk, eggs, jams, and pastas.  You didn't see all of the processed garbage that fill up 90% of our American grocery stores.  

The window shopping was to die for.  In particular, they have a popular and famous hat shop.  The displays were absolute eye candy.  The owner of the store was quite adamant that no pictures be taken.  It was pretty expensive, but so fun to look at.

I loved these sculptures depicting "well neighbors."  They would visit as they made the trip to fetch water each day.  I also loved their wooden shoes, a reminder, maybe teasing of just how close we really were to the Netherlands.

There was a windmill for pete's sake!  Considering that we were only 20 miles from the Netherlands, it was very much a mainstay.  It was an actual grist windmill.  There is a bakery in the bottom of the mill.  

I wanted to try it all.  

We settled on an almond pastry and gingerbread type cake.

There was the funnest toy store in the far corner of the square.  I wanted one of everything.

I finally settled on the nativity I had been in search of.  It is a simple wooden one that you bought as individual pieces, not as a set.  It was fun to select just what you wanted.  

As we were out and about, the workers were busy setting up... yep, another Christmas market!  At least the store provided good consolation for being a week early.

Beautiful display at a candy store.

More fresh flowers.  It seemed more like spring that late fall.

The cornerstone of Xanten Cathedral, also called St. Victor's Cathedral, was laid in 1293.  Construction lasted 281 years on this Roman Catholic cathedral.  It is an impressive gothic structure.

We had a tour guide that knew all the names and dates.  Sadly, it was too much to retain.  One thing that is similar in all of these cathedrals is the cold, dark feeling that I have when I enter.  For some reason, that is what I remember.

This "Fisher of Men" sculpture was comical to me, depicting numerous fish caught up in the Lord's net.