ALTERNATIVE MARCHÉ DE NOËL/DECORATIONS

There is definitely a mainly traditional feeling to the Christmas market. There is also an alternative undercurrent. Along with the stalls there are impromptu performances. The group below were great fun and rather bonkers, excellent. What they were trying to say in the performance is anyone's guess as the language + accents + music made it unintelligible.

Dancers from? I think it was Hungary, not much information provided.

There are always interesting details. I liked the idea that a tree had been harvested, made into skis, the skis had been used and at the end of their useful life been turned back into a 'tree'. Of course not quite true as most skis are now man made composites but wood is making a comeback.

So that's what you do with old skis, make a Christmas tree.

Elsewhere apart from the Father Christmases, the teddy bears, the lights, the white sticks, there is the odd pike. Yes pike. Pike is plentiful on the watercourses around Strasbourg and is a favourite in local restaurants. Best to be served with 'beurre blanc'. It's the first time I have seen pike used as a Christmas decoration. Everyone to their own.

Brochet (Pike) house decorations.

The shop windows can often be fun. This beauty salon decided to go for lips. The scale was huge, each lip being about half a metre. Certainly made a splash or should I say kiss.

Colourful lips, shop window decorations.

Hope you've had a good Christmas and we wish you a fun and happy New Year.