I went to the pedestrian precint in Siegburg today to photograph one of the largest and best Medieval Christmas Markets in Germany .... but this was one of the last stands remaining, because true to German logic (which dictates that the Oktoberfest takes place at the end of September), the Christmas Market closed on the day before Christmas Eve !?!?! No wonder they lost two World Wars.
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f6.7 : 1/180" : 23mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 13:51:27)
Speaking of World Wars, this is the memorial to the local soldiers killed.
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f6.7 : 1/200" : 23mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 13:46:15)
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f9.5 : 1/200" : 27mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 13:52:39)
It would have been nice to stay until dark and capture this decorated streetlamp with the lights on, but it was already -6°C, snowing heavily and with a biting strong wind, so I decided to go home instead.
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f11 : 1/200" : 35mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 13:47:12)
I love the way the snow is collecting on the rock outcrops of this wall in Siegburg.
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f5.6 : 1/125" : 22mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 13:54:42)
After leaving Siegburg, I couldn't take the autobahn to get home, since it was closed after a multiple pile-up, so I drove on the scenic (and even more slippery) back roads, where I came across this poor horse near Günterscheid who looked soooooo sad and cold !! And yes, the snow is travelling sideways in this blizzard !!
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f4.8 : 1/90" : 50mm : ISO 400: 24.12.2010 14:36:33)
An interesting doorway in Troisdorf.
The Christmas tree in the market square in Troisdorf (alongside the above doorway). 
Some of the presents on the Christmas tree had been opened !!
These are the first two in a row of ten neighbouring painted garage doors in Troisdorf.
Although I drooled a little whilst taking this photo of the sweet goodies outside the shopping mall in Sankt Augustin, I managed to walk away afterwards without buying any candyfloss, sugar-covered almonds, waffles or chocolates !!
Alongside the St. Dreifaltigkeit church in Siegburg (see Monday 25th October) is this Kindergarten with painted walls.
Another view of the monastery at Siegburg.
Now I know why - she has been abandoned by her reindeer, has been tied up with a rope around her neck, and has frozen to death in a hammock in Bad Honnef - Rhoendorf !!
A lovely pattern on the gate at the entrance to Schloss (Castle) Allner (near Hennef).
Schloss (Castle) Allner
Is this a gazebo or an UFO in the castle grounds ?
I went to the pedestrian precint in Siegburg today to photograph one of the largest and best Medieval Christmas Markets in Germany .... but this was one of the last stands remaining, because true to German logic (which dictates that the Oktoberfest takes place at the end of September), the Christmas Market closed on the day before Christmas Eve !?!?! No wonder they lost two World Wars.
Speaking of World Wars, this is the memorial to the local soldiers killed.
It would have been nice to stay until dark and capture this decorated streetlamp with the lights on, but it was already -6°C, snowing heavily and with a biting strong wind, so I decided to go home instead.
I love the way the snow is collecting on the rock outcrops of this wall in Siegburg.
After leaving Siegburg, I couldn't take the autobahn to get home, since it was closed after a multiple pile-up, so I drove on the scenic (and even more slippery) back roads, where I came across this poor horse near Günterscheid who looked soooooo sad and cold !! And yes, the snow is travelling sideways in this blizzard !! 
Someone in Troisdorf festively decorated their garden gates ....
(Nikon D5000 : Sigma EX 18-50mm f2.8 : f5.6 : 1/125" : 23mm : ISO 800: 23.12.2010 15:34:35)
.... and their garden.
Even their neighbours decorated the side of their house.
Another painted building in Troisdorf.
Just after I left Blomberg to drive home this afternoon, I decided to pull over onto the side of the road, both to take this photograph and to clean the car windscreen.
Unfortunately, what looked like a flat piece of verge covered in a thin layer of snow turned out to be a steep-sided ditch filled with loose snow, so the front of my car slid sideways into the ditch !!
I had a 2 hour wait for a local breakdown truck to come from Blomberg to pull me backwards out of the snow ....
.... so time to take another picture of the ice-covered trees !!
I had to drive to Blomberg this morning to visit a customer there. This is the Christmas tree in the centre of the village ....
.... with the Rathaus (Town Hall) behind it.
A typical house in Bad Honnef.
Just outside Bad Honnef, there is a derelict factory.
