A few nights ago, we went to our favorite pub Zum Adler in Oberursel again. This time,  additional dishes offered next to the regular Speisekarte, included a Gänseschmalzbrot (goose fat on dark bread) for € 1,50.

I had never tasted goose fat in my life and decided to try it. It was really good, but should only be eaten twice a year. It looked like regular clear fat (with an orange tint) and is best accompanied by dry white wine. But of course, I had already ordered my regular beer.

Goose fat on dark bread - German style

"Zum Adler" pub in Oberursel

For some, Werner Erbacher’s pub Zum Adler is the zweite Wohnzimmer (second living room). The bar might be lined with drop-ins, such as the one in the photo, but regulars crowd the Stammtisch (regulars’ table). I have talked to some who go there every day!

We have been having quite a bit of beautiful snow in the last couple of days.

Our apartment building is serviced by a snow removal company, the walk way gets salted, and everything I need is in walking distance. Winter shows only its pretty side to me.

Some early morning in Oberursel

Elderly lady braving a walk through last night's snow storm

7:45 the time kids walk to school (school begins at 7:55)

View from my computer desk

The scenery has completely changed again as heavy snow is falling right now, performing many twists in midair. The wind is chasing the snow sideways and even up again.

Nevertheless, I need to get to the supermarket as I promised my family Schweinebraten mit Klössen und Sauce (pork roast with potato dumplings and brown gravy), a good German winter food.

A few days ago I had published a short list on sledding areas around the Frankfurt area. Now the ski aficionados and aficionadas get their turn for a good run.

Short list of recommended places for skiing around Frankfurt:

* Odenwald – located between the Main and Neckar rivers. Downhill and cross country skiing, bob car riding and tobogganing. More at Odenwald Wintersport

* Vogelsberg – The toboggan runs on the Herchenhainer Höhe and Hoherodskopf are some of the longest ones in Hessen. There are downhill ski trails and night skiing trails. Opportunities for snow shoeing and cross country skiing. Five-km-long trails around Taufstein in Oberwald provide the city of Taufstein to be host of the official Hessian Ski Association Competitions. More at Vogelsberg Touristik.

* Rhön – On the 900-meter Wasserkuppe mountain, you are sure to find snow. Three lifts take skiers to elevated trails. Good terrain for cross country skiers as well. More at Rhoen.

* Willingen – 85-km-long ski runs, most modern 8-person cable car, 12 ski lifts, 25 ski runs. Downhill and cross country trails are well maintained. More at Skigebiet Willingen.

* Taunus – 100 km of cross country ski trails, downhill trails; the downhill trails are at the Feldberg and Triesberg. Cross country trails run from the Saalburg to Rod an der Weil. More round trip trails at Billtalhöhe, Am Sandplacken, Langhals, Sängelberg, Weißeberg, Weilsberg, Windhain, Am Loh and Am Cratzenbach.

(The most popular sledding trails are on the hill in Falkenstein, downhill from Hohemark, at Oberreifenberg and at Sporthotel Erbismühle in Weilrod.)

Skiing and sledding at Oberreifenberg/Taunus

Photo published with friendly permission by Seungyeon Lim

We are lucky enough to have a small hill for sledding right within our neighborhood – the hill in front of the former Officers’ Club (Camp King Oberursel) is just teaming with kids and sleds right now.

Sledding in Oberursel at Camp King

For all others, you might try the following places:

Königstein: between Fuchstanz and Reichenbachweg

Schmitten (Oberreifenberg): near the Haus Brenner

Schmitten: Am Pechberg

Schmitten-Treisberg: in front of the Sporthotel Erbismühle

Vogelsberg: at Herchenhainer Höhe (600m) and Hoherodskopf (1,2 km and 400 m runs)

Birkenau (Löhrbach): in Buchklingen and across from the ski lift

Michelstadt (Vielbrunn): 280 m run at Bremhof

Michelstadt (Würzberg): 200 m run near Gasthaus Adler

List compiled by the magazine Surroundings (issue 4/2008).

The snow we had for the past few days has mostly melted by now. But what little we had was perfect for our four-day Christmas market (which ends this evening).

Here are a few photos I took two days ago.

Marktplatz Oberursel Christmas 2010

Oberursel Christmas Market

Hugs at the Marktplatz Oberursel

Snow-covered bikes in front of a pub

This was one of the better Christmas markets as we had snow instead of rain!