The world-famous Christmas Market - I think not! (Lincoln in General)

Member Name: Nolly

Product:	Lincoln in General
Date:	19/04/01 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: lively atmosphere

Disadvantages: I don't want a flashing Santa hat

Just before I moved to Lincoln, many people spoke to me in the following way (apologies to anyone I misquote):

'Oh, moving to Lincoln are you?'

'It's very flat up there'

'Did you know they have a Christmas market just like the ones in Germany?'

Lincoln may not be on everyone's list of top ten places to live, but I like it. The city is spectacular, and the good thing about the relative flatness is that I can just about see the cathedral from my house, and I live eight miles away from it - and just you try walking up Steep Hill!!

The one quibble I do have with the city is the Christmas market. I teach German and have a fairly good knowledge of the country, its traditions and its markets, especially at Christmas. Last December my wife and I had the opportunity to go to the market for the first time. I was agog with enthusiasm as I had in mind lots of little craft stalls, different foods and an overwhelming sense of happiness and goodwill.

Wrong! I couldn't actually have been more so. Firstly it was packed. There were thousands of people there. There were a few decent craft stalls, but there were also a ceaseless majority of tat-stalls- 'Get your flashing Santa hat here!' - funny, I never have regarded a flashing Santa hat as remotely German. There were lots of people in a bad mood- my wife and I were accused of pushing in by one lady and we made a profuse apology. The majority of the crowd was young people with deely-boppers huddled around a lot of very noisy funfair rides.

Now I don't have any problem with this sort of thing per se, but for God's sake they shouldn't market it as something it isn't. It isn't traditional, and it certainly isn't German style.

Apart from that Lincoln is a lovely place, but this op is my opinion of the market and the way it is sold to the public as being akin to something that is far more pleasant.
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However I am updating this opinion on 21st April. It would be unfair of me to let my personal opinion of the Christmas Market rule my opinion of Lincoln in General. The city is beautiful, traffic can be a pain, I know, but the Bailgate area and around the cathedral are spectacular. I would encourage everyone to visit the city at least once, but not at Christmas. Consequently I am now giving the city in general 3 stars

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