As part of the seasonal Edinburgh Sparkles campaign the annual German Christmas Market is on the Mound, the craft and food stalls and fair in Princes Street Gardens, including the open air ice-rink:

The market brings a lovely sense of light and warmth into the long, chill winter nights, the smell of cooking food, the crowds and the aroma of hot, spiced drinks being consumed, a lovely little oasis of life in the black winter months:

And it’s a good place to chat to the market traders and craftes while looking for something a bit different for a present:

There’s much yummines to be had!

And you can get some nice Christmas decorations too:

I’ve bought some of these painted glass candle globes as present before, couple for myself too:

And no matter what age you are there is always something magical about the toy stall, isn’t there?