COLOGNE, Germany — While Northeast Ohio boasts plenty of festive cheer this time of year, there’s nothing quite like spending the holiday season visiting the original European Christmas markets.

The air is filled with Christmas tunes and smells of roasted chestnuts, while stalls are filled with kitschy gifts for young and old. Of course, the famous, collectible boot mugs, filled with glühwein (mulled wine) accompany your browsing.

If the holiday season is hectic here at home, European markets are literally thousands of miles from that. These markets are where locals gather, tourists peruse and everyone is reminded of the true holiday spirit.

Last year, I traveled to Cologne, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, at the beginning of December to sample numerous markets. Christmas markets are po

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