2012 Montreux Christmas Market, Part 2

It doesn't take a Christmas Market for the lakeside in Montreux to be a beautiful place.  Everywhere one looks is literally a feast for the eyes.  Whether one is gazing back at the city

or simply strolling along the lakeside where colorful flowers tumble in riotous profusion, one walks in beauty.

Even the "fast" food has a French - and seasonal - touch, such as here where magret de canard (duck filet) with foie gras (fat liver) or la sauce aux truffes (truffle sauce - not the chocolate kind) is sold as a sandwich.

There are lots of thirst quenchers available as well, as one might expect in a wine- and brandy-making culture.

Here's a stall featuring handicrafts from the Swiss Alps

and another with tons of snow globes, always favorites with me.

Here are some decorative examples of Swiss decoupage, lovely but not at all inexpensive.

Gingerbread is always a seasonal favorite in Christmas markets

and other sweets can be found in abundance.

One can also find Christmas balls of all colors and sizes

and there are wooden bowls and implements for creating epicurean delights.

Even Freddie Mercury's statue is festooned with a wreath to stimulate some holiday spirit.