Holiday Season, Christmas lights in Zurich

Zurich, December 2025

The best part of having layovers in European capitals in December is indeed the ability to visit Christmas markets and see the Christmas lights and decorations. Zurich was no exception.

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Lindenhof Park

I started my stroll with the Lindenhof Park to have this amazing view over the Limmat river. I first heard of this public park while watching an eposide of the Portuguese show Portugueses pelo Mundo.

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St. Peter Church & Münsterhof

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Bahnhofstrasse

And of course I waited until sunset to see the Christmas lights in one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the world. Not for my wallet though!

Holiday Season, Christmas lights in Lisbon

Lisbon, December 2025

I don't go often to the city downtown, which I avoid since overtourism took away the city's genuine charm and made it unbearable to a local. But going to see the Christmas lights has been a yearly tradition.

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Armazéns do Chiado

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Avenida da Liberdade &
Christmas tree at Terreiro do Paço

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Lisbon City Hall

Hamburg at Christmastime

Hamburg, December 2013

A few old photos of Hamburg. These days the flights to HAM are operated by Portugália Airlines.

Christmas market by day...

... Christmas market by night.

Genève, Christmas Market: Nöel au Quai

Genève, December 2025

First layover of December and the opportunity to visit my first Christmas Market this year. Weather was cold (6 ºC) but I set two goals for the day:

• drink mulled wine at the Christmas Market
• visit the Jouets Boller store

The Christmas Market in Geneva is located by the lake.

At some point I thought I was in some kind of "Le Petit Portugal"!

The other end of the market and the Sissi statue, the Empress of Austria which was murdered in Geneva.

And after seeing the entire market I finally stopped for the first goal of the day - my first mulled wine of the season.

The view of the lake was nice with the iconic Jet d'Eau.

Then I had a quick lunch at a famous fast food brand restaurant and proceeded to a hobby model store called Jouets Boller. I ended up not buying anything which I regret now. But aircraft models became so expensive these days...

One final photo of Geneva: