Manchester Christmas Markets

On Thursday I got the train into Manchester (very early in the morning :-( ...) to work with a collaborator for the morning. We ended up in a small cafe near Oxford Road station for the morning, working and planning. But my train wasn't until 4pm so I ended up wondering around the Manchester  Christmas markets for some time.

Markets

They had the (in my opinion slightly creepy) Santa on the roof again.

Creepy Santa

The best things about any Christmas market is alway the food and drink! I had a very nice lunch of  hot dog (they made me my own GF one specially!) and garlic mushrooms. Though the mushrooms were called "Navy Mushrooms". There is no way they would serve those on a ship in a close space; there was too much garlic for me (and that takes a lot!).  The people on the train on the way home did not like me!

Giant cupcakes

I also had a nice glass of mulled apple wine.

Wine!

Little figures (not sure of what exactly)

I liked some of the gifts stuff but I have all my presents sorted out. I did buy some sausages though! They are really good! I ended up with a mixed bag of 7 different sorts, including one which I used to buy all the time when I lived in France and practically lived on it! Very happy.

Baubles

Reindeer whistles (You blow through their bum!)

The markets are very pretty. But I have to admit I do prefer the Birmingham ones, mainly because they have winter Pimms! I only went around the area by the town hall. The same stalls repeat in each of the sections it seems so there isn't much point.

On top of the pub

Cooking

Unfortunately and unsurprisingly it rained so I didn't stay very long. (It is North England after all.) But I did manage to go when there weren't many crowds (possibly the time of day, and the weather).

Rainy markets.

I escaped into the town hall for a bit where they had stalls selling clothes and jewelry. The only I saw was some lovely masks. (But it would be tricky to get the back to the States and I am trying to not buy things - I have to move everything in 6 months; the less the better!)

Town hall

Masks

I fond you really can't spend 3 hours around the markets so found a cafe with WIFI for a coffee for an hour before getting the (packed) train home.