Thanks Carol Jean - I'm off to BB&B tonight!

Grindeldoo - I've got the waterproof boots and shoes both with thick rubber tread. Will pack the shoes, wear the boots and will don slippers when on the plane. Which market sells the hand-carved decorations? Sounds like a perfect Christmas gift.

<i>Which market sells the hand-carved decorations? </i>

Pretty much all of them. Some have more of a selection than others.

<<pack the light one,weighs nothing>>

hey if you have a 2nd coat that "weighs nothing" and you think you need it, and it serves a different purpose than your primary coat, go ahead and pack it, it's OK with me :-)

Agreed, most markets sell hand-carved Christmas tree decorations, but if you want the traditional article from the Erzgebirge (Hartz Mountains), they will be labelled/promoted as such. A lot of stands sell decorations that look almost identical, but in my experience the little soldiers, angels, father christmases, etc. all have black rather than brown-painted eyes. Perhaps inevitable, given where they come from! Click on any of the four boxes in the centre of the page in this link and you'll see the kind of thing I mean by "the genuine article". http://www.erzgebirge-palast.de/Chri...uck:::832.html You'll definitely find them at Marienplatz in the centre of Munich - probably less likely at the other smaller Christmas markets in the city, which tend to have more locally made, artisan/craft products - particularly Schwabing (right next to the subway station), which is probably my favourite. Good food there too, and it's less crowded.

Thanks Grindeldoo - I'll look for these at the Marienplatz market.

I saw some wood carving from Erzgebirge and probably more from the Black Forest at the Marienplatz market last year. The market I saw a lot of Erzgebirge crafts was the Chemnitz market.

crckwc1, After reading this post I ordered the waterproof boots. I found a new pair on ebay. Living in Fl I just wear my Hunter boots but not packing those to take to Germany. I ordered two pair of smart wool socks so should have warm toasty feet. I am wearing them and taking a pair of leather shoes for hopefully non rainy slushy days.

I have been in Feb when it was snow boot time but the rain/slush thing got me worried. Better safe than sorry.