This week we celebrated our third Thanksgiving in Austria and put up our Christmas tree. Had we stuck to our original expat contract, this would have been our last Thanksgiving and Christmas decorating in Austria, so we are thankful to extend and celebrate a few more years abroad!

This weekend looked a lot like week 108 as we ventured out to another Christmas market. This time in Salzburg.

Salzburg is home to Austria’s first Christmas market and one of the oldest in the world. Dresden, Germany is home to the world’s first.

The Hohensalzburg fortress towers over the old town market while one million jolly locals and tourists bump into one another in search of the best treats and crafts.

The sweet smells of toasted almonds, cinnamon-sprinkled mulled wine, and chocolate-covered everything fills the crisp winter air.

The alleys are illuminated with lights, garlands, and Christmas trees.

From wooden toys to glass-blown ornaments, carved figurines to ceramic houses, one of my favorite souvenirs was the snow globe. Snow globes were invented in Austria in 1905, so it was hard to pass a wooden booth without seeing them.

It is hard to believe there are only 28 days until Christmas and 34 days left in 2022. We are thankful to live in a place where the Christmas spirit is alive and well in the people, villages, and cities around us.

‘til next week ✌️