The Christmas Tree

Did you know that the first decorated Christmas Tree ever recorded was here in Riga, 500 years ago in 1510! Pretty cool! Tonight they had the big opening of the Christmas market and the lighting of the big Christmas Tree in Dome Square, the same place the tree was 500 years ago. We left the house all bundled up around 4:30, into the cold, it was already dark of course and freezing. A good 16 F degrees. Extremely cold! The thing is, 16 degrees is really cold anywhere you live, but here we walk everywhere, our car is parked underground across two streets, so inconvenient. So as long as it is on this side of the river, we walk to it. So 16 degrees feel much much colder. And I have found out that the boys' boots that I just bought are not warm enough. I'm going to have to figure something out, because it is going to be a long cold winter. It is supposed to be the coldest winter in 1,000 years. Have No idea how they figure that and who in the world knows how cold it was 1,000 years ago in Riga, but we need to be prepared. If it is this cold the last week of November, I dread what January is going to look like.
Back to the event! I have to say that I am just LOVING Christmas around here. Everything is totally decorated for Christmas! The markets are so fun! They have pony rides, merry-go-rounds, and even a ferris wheel, although I'm not sure who wants to ride that in this weather! Santa came to the lighting of the big Christmas Tree. He actually spoke in English and it was translated. Yes, everyone, Santa speaks English! I knew it! He said he was coming from Finland. His home is around there. There is actually a really cool Santa village in Finland. We were tempted to take the kids this year since we are pretty close. But Isabel is too young to be in that cold, it wouldn't have been fun for her. Maybe another time.