Festive Cheer

Needed to make a visit to Southampton city centre today, and by early evening the Above Bar Christmas Market was gaining a dazzling festive atmosphere.
Although the temperature was noticeably falling, many of the hospitality stalls were doing quite a business, and I had to wait seemingly ages for homegoing shoppers to clear sufficiently for today’s Blipfoto.
While many Christmas markets focus on craft wares, the accent in Southampton is on Continental food and drink — fast food, open air eating places and a plethora of ethnic dishes.  Oh yes, and street entertainers.
It’s in complete contrast to the more orderly fashion of festive preparations within the adjacent shopping malls. Even early evening the city’s principal malls were a flurry of activity, and the indoor food hall seemingly as busy as ever.
Where the Christmas market scores is adding the opportunity to savour mainly continental foods in an al fresco atmosphere, adopting the style of the celebrated Christmas markets you’ll find in much of Europe and where you need to wrap up warm.

Skol!  Prost!  Cin Cin!  Sto lat!  Sante!  Cheers!