I am taking a few minutes to relax, check e-mails, and to wish you an early happy new year. I arrived in Hamburg last Saturday afternoon, and that very evening, mein Schatz and I went to the Christmas Market — a German tradition of outdoor markets with wonderful Christmas food and goodies, like Lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Gluehwein (“glow wine”), which is a hot mulled wine whose aroma fills the air. On Christmas Eve day, we took a train to Hannover to celebrate a wonderful Christmas with Daniel’s friends and family, with traditional and non-traditional elements alike: a Christmas church service, turkey dinner, and a German cover band (Die Band Von Weihnachten) singing German hits of the 80’s and 90’s.

Since returning to Hamburg on Tuesday, we’ve braved the cold and seen the Caspar David Friedrich art exhibit at the Hamburger Kunsthalle, met up with mein Schatz’s officemate for a game of badminton at the local badminton hall (it’s way more than a backyard sport here), toured the Speicherstadt (warehouse district), relaxed in a sauna, and today I had my first European haircut in the trendy Schulterblatt neighborhood. Tonight we will see a movie and then pack for our early morning train tomorrow to Berlin for New Year’s Eve. But first, here are a few photos so far (many more to come once I arrive back in New York next week)…

Happy New Year!