Munich

I love the Christmas Markets of München where I was able to buy gifts of hand tools made of chocolate. I also bought chocolate iPhones for my family and, after he ate it, I told my young nephew it was now going to ring in his stomach. He almost believed me.

Check out the Glühwein — this hot, spiced red wine can be purchased at many outdoor stands perhaps with some currywurst.

But for me the best part of München was a private tour through the BMW Welt (BMW World) with the wife of a German colleague who worked on the eco-friendly, all vegan seats of the electric BMWs. You wind your way through the spiral of the building from bottom to top seeing the history of obsessive engineering and style and finally end at the top looking at the BMW 6 series. At the end of all that you really, really want to own a BMW. And if you choose to buy one in Germany, unfortunately the European delivery program has been cancelled for US buyers, you can pick up your car right there at BMW Welt. You will then receive a personal tour of your new car and drive it straight onto the Autobahn. I am fortunate to already own an Audi convertible or I would have bought something too expensive right then and there. Mission accomplished, BMW!