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There are several events this weekend with Christmas themes to enjoy.

In the past several years, the walking club in Hüttigweiler, Germany, has given away a ceramic Christmas plate as its award. It continues to do so this year with plates from previous walks. It has even reduced the price to 3 euros. We have admired these colorful plates for years and have yet to do the walk. Please remember that quantities are limited. Hüttigweiler is only about 60 kilometers from the factory outlet stores in Mettlach and about 80 kilometers from Trier and a Christmas market. We see a lot of potential there. Maybe this will be the year.Sunday’s event in Mönchen-gladbach has a new start location, at the Paul Moor school at Am Kuhbaum 50. This year’s flier does not mention a Christmas market, but in the past this walk has been near one. Good luck to the Stuttgart German-American Wandering Club as it fills up a bus and heads to Bregenz, Austria, for the walk and Christmas market on Dec. 2. Departure is at 7 a.m. from the corner of Bondorfer Weg, one block before Patch Barracks’ front gate. Look for a large bus. The first glass of bubbly is on the club! This sounds like a great trip. Let us know what we miss!If you’re a fan of Christmas markets, be sure to check the listings on the Europe Travel homepage. You should be able to find a Christmas market no matter where you are in Europe, even if you are traveling for the holiday. We think it’s best to go at night when all the lights are aglow, but during the day the crowds might be a bit smaller. Make sure you try some of the food, especially the Reibekuchen, or potato pancakes with the apple sauce. As a closing note, we hate to place a damper on the Christmas mood, but no matter where or what time you go to a Christmas market, please be wary of pickpockets. They are doing their Christmas shopping, too. Don’t let your wallet get on their list of must-haves!

Email volksmarch information to two.walkers@yahoo.com. Mail brochures to Bob and Lorraine Huffaker, CMR 460, Box 278, APO AE 09752. This column was written for the Nov. 29, 2012, issue of Stars and Stripes.

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