A Stuttgart Christmas

You know your Christmas Adventure is going to be talked about for generations when you walk out of your hotel to find your path to the Christmas Market blocked by three large heaps of manure.

Not kidding!

Farmers protesting government changes did so by disrupting traffic and dumping manure in front of the hotel I just happened to be staying at during my Stuttgart adventure.

Yet, this was also one of my most joyful holiday adventures.

The Christmas holiday season is always a special time for travel. Hectic, yes, but so much fun once you reach your destination.

Normally, I jet to some exotic location like Nice, Lisbon, Athens or London. I love learning and watching how other cultures celebrate the season.

This year, my mom joined me for Christmas and wanted to visit a German Christmas Market. I selected Stuttgart, Germany mainly because it was the cheapest location to reach via train. My original choices of Dresden and Nürnberger were just slightly out of the budget range this year.

Nevertheless, Stuttgart proved to be a relaxing and educational adventure. Also, my friend Jodi lived in Stuttgart and agreed to hang out with us.

GETTING HERE

A train ride from Mainz to Stuttgart was only about 90 minutes. Yes, I could have driven, but the drive is about four hours. Heck, I hate driving the four hours from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, so certainly wasn’t keen on driving to Stuttgart.

Add in the fact that German farmers chose my departure date to strike against planned government changes by disrupting traffic, the train proved the better option.

Since my mom was accompanying me, I chose a 0730 train. Still a bit early for many folks, but not as early as my normal 0400 standard departure time.

The train ride was not bad. Mom slept most of the way, though she did admire the view just before we pulled into the station.

Stuttgart Central Station is a mess. The station is undergoing construction and it was a bit hectic finding the right exit. Thankfully, Jodi warned us about the construction, so Mom and I weren’t too shocked when we arrived.

We opted for a taxi as walking the 10 minutes to the hotel wasn’t good for mom’s mobility. However, after getting stuck in the strike traffic, even mom said walking might have been faster.

LE MÉRIDIEN STUTTGART

Our two-night stay at Le Méridien Stuttgart was enjoyable. The hotel was decent and clean. Location was okay, but the ongoing construction made it hard to walk from the hotel to the S-bahn an U-bahn.

We were warmly greeted as we entered the hotel. Joseph, one of the doormen, was extremely helpful and kind. He even helped mom out of the taxi. Check-in was smooth and we received complimentary chocolates as a welcome gift.

Because of my Marriott status, we were upgraded to the Executive Chic room.

I didn’t notice much difference between the executive and the standard room, but an upgrade is always nice. Room was clean upon entry. Beds were comfortable and I was glad there was a desk in the room. The lack of outlets with USBs was a letdown, but nothing to cry over.

I was surprised not to receive shower caps or the dental kit, though those were amenities offered via the app. We ordered the room-service breakfast, which was good for the price. The wait for room service wasn’t long and the food was served hot.

The hotel’s location to the Christmas markets was the main reason I selected it. A mere six-minute walk and we were in the heart of the market.

STUTTGARTER WEIHNACHTSMARKT

Stuttgart’s Christmas Market wasn’t one of the many markets my German friends suggested, but it is one of the oldest. The market is also one of the most beautiful.

The highlight for both Mom and I was the Ferris Wheel on the Schlossplatz. Although mom enjoyed the beauty of the ferris wheel, she refused to accompany me for a ride. She instead perused the various market stalls in search of unique German gifts for her ‘Kliq’ back home.

The hot chocolate, with free refills, kept me warm throughout the day as I watched mom use her years of negotiating skills on the market vendors. She managed to get most of the items for a reasonable price.

STADTBIBLIOTHEK STUTTGART

The Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart is the city library, and what a library!

If libraries in the USA were like this, I bet they’d attract more readers. I swear, I could have spent the entire day just sitting here reading a vast amount of books on a variety of subjects.

The inverted pyramid architecture on the reading rooms is a sight to see.

What amazed me the most was the sheer amount of books in English. There is, of course, a section in English. However, throughout every section and floor were books in English, German, Italian and other languages.

Extra special thanks to Jodi for the wonderful photos of me.

FISCHHALLE STUTTGART

Jodi recommended Fischhalle Stuttgart for dinner, and it was a great choice. The place was packed, but the service was attentive without being intrusive or pushy. Food was good and flavorful. Enjoyed my meal and chances are I’ll eat here again.