The Leipzig update, and a small commentary on the difference between Germany, West, and Germany, East.
Leipzig. A city that, if you know anything about, brings the thought "
culture"
, or so the stereotype goes. And yes, there are many things that are cultural. It is also a historic place with the claim to a very large "
Montagsdemonstration"
(Monday Demonstation) that began the fall of East Germany (The DDR; The Deutsche Demokratische Republik).
We arrived, and headed on down to the Jugendherberge (hostel), arriving at about 12:30. It was pretty hot the entire weekend, so most of us stank like stinky people, and sweated like sweaty people. There were 28 of us.
your face might go. That is quite a lot of people. It really is.
After we set our stuff down, we went to the Bahnhof (train station, how we arrived) for some eatings and the place where our city tour started. This city tour was free because it was given by the Zivis (abbr for Zivildienster, every man in Germany must either be in the military for a year or perform a service for a year.) who knew a little bit about Leipzig.
We saw some neat architecture, then headed down to (I think) the Thomaskirche (Church of Thomas, possibly a saint) to hear a choir. The choir was good, but everybody was tired, and I think I'm the only one who didn't fall asleep. But I tried to, as I was part of the everyone that was tired. They sounded extremely good, as well they should for how much time they put in (they live together, and sing for I believe 5-6 hours per day, if my recollection is correct.)
We then had a touch of free time where I chatted with 2 people from the group about random things that I forget, and we sat out in front of a restaurant (which I never know how to spell in English OR German) in the rain because it felt nice after such hot weather.
Side note: I love the wind, and it got windy in Leipzig when we were there. Glasses were falling off of tables, people were rushing to lock down chairs and umbrellas, and I loved it. It felt fantastic.
Main topic: I then got a pair of shoes for 10 Euro, marked down from 40. They look very cool, and you can't see them. Poor you guys. They are red and white, and 10 Euro.
Next, some of us trekked a while to find a place to see the Fussball (soccer) game between Germany and Brazil. Score: G2B3. Not too many Germans were happy.
Then came dinner at Auerbach's Keller. According to the Zivis, it is the 5th most famous restaurant in the world, Hard Rock Cafe being the first. A.K has a mention in the story of Dr. Faust, depending on the translation, and most of the translations have that. Anyway, it is a very good, good looking, and good tasting place to eat, but it is on the pricey side. I know there are more expensive restaurants out there, but I paid 26 Euro for my meal. While very good, it is pricey.
Plus, the waitress came to me for the translation from German to English. That was fantastic. I couldn't answer, but I tried my darndest, and I was feeling great about my speakings. (The other table had one good German speaker, the rest English, and he was distracted)
Pheasant tastes sorta like chicken I determined.
Also, if you happen to go, be prepared to wait for a long time. It took us 2 hours to get in and out of there. And be ready to sleep pretty much right afterwards, as you will be tired.
We tried to go to (Moritzbau? I think?) a happening club with young people (college students) but everybody was tired, and it wasn't very happening at 10:30. So then came the silly pushbutton shower in the hostel, and sleep.
Someone woke up at 5, thought it was 8, and started getting ready. In my room. That wasn't fun.
Sunday, we started out splitting the group, and going to either the Stasimuseem (secret police museum) or the Kunstmuseum (art museum). I went to the Stasimuseem, because I was kind of interested in what they did. I didn't really find out too much about that though: It is a very reading based museum, and I could only get about 60, 70% of what was there. Most of it wasn't about the Stasi. Silly, no?
We then took a tour of a TV station (after lunch). Summary of that: long walk, we're cool, look at all our cool stuff, we have an awesome view whenever we want it, peace out, long walk.
Unfortunately for me, I had already known about much of the technology they explained, as I work with television. (College TV, but TV just the same). So, 'twas a little dull for me. And they didn't take us to their editing rooms, which I am severely interested in. (I love me my editing).
Then, we train rode back to Goettingen.
Now for the commentary. The middle of the city seems like it could be in West Germany, except there's a lot of construction going on. A lot. Almost everywhere, somewhere within sight is a large construction project. Outside of the inner part of the city, (suburbs), all the buildings look the same, and have a lot of tags. Tags as in graffiti tags. And not pretty ones either, just "
Insert name here with paint"
tags. There are also construction projects here, but also things that you can tell have been broken, and nothing's being done about it.
The people seem generally larger and uglier. Sorry if anybody is from Leipzig, but that's my sense of it. I am assuming that's the way it is in all of East Germany as well. This may be a not good thing to do, but I can't stop myself just the same.
There's still a big debate going on about bringing back the Berlin wall, and splitting East from West again. I don't think that's the right solution, but the cultures are a bit different (from what little I've seen) and the people just seem different. Perhaps a mutual assimilation-The Wessis (West Germans) take that which is good from the Ossis (East Germany) and vice versa. I feel that there is a lot of stuff that would end up West German, but that's because I'm American. I would think a Russian would want more East German things in Germany, or at least think more of them are better.
Another solution may be to have an OPEN border between W. Germany and E. Germany, and let them become separate lands. This is probably highly undesired, but could be the solution everyone would find most appealing. Just, keep E. Germany democratic, and not Demokratik.
That's all for Leipzig. I congratulate you if you've read through all of this. It's pretty noncoherent, I would imagine.
Next up: Schloss ________(I forgot the name). A castle about an hour from Goettingen.
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