Coronavirus: Christmas markets cancelled across Europe
Normally at this time of year, Frankfurt’s Romerberg Square is packed with stalls and shoppers.
Normally at this time of year, Frankfurt’s Romerberg Square looks like this, packed with stalls and shoppers, the air itself almost edible with wafts of roasted chestnuts, sugared almonds, gingerbread, bratwurst and mulled wine.
Not in 2020, thanks to COVID-19. About four weeks ago, the city’s leaders called off the traditional Christmas market, which can be traced back to the 14th century. All across Europe, town squares are empty, the sounds of footsteps on cobbles bouncing off the facades of medieval buildings.
T+I can only hope next year is different, and we are rugged up in winter woollies, munching on schmalzkuchen, those delicious morsels of fried dough dusted with icing sugar.