On Monday morning we had our usual huge breakfast, then packed the car to head back to Leipzig. We got back into town just in time to turn in the rental car, then walked to the same hotel we had been in earlier. HOWEVER, they were totally booked because of a fair or exhibition for fire and emergency rescue departments.
We walked to the tourist office toting our bags (luckily it was not far) and inquired there about a hotel. We got the same story - it will be difficult because of the fair.
Then we said a pension was OK and they ended up getting us an apartment for one night - it was cool, a one room apartment with a kitchenette in one end, and a door opening onto the owner's hallway.
We asked the owner about a store for water and possible breakfast. He referred us to a supermarket (Konsum) just down the street with a coffee shop/bakery in the front. We got settled, then went for a walk around town.
We had asked our Winkler friends in Oelschuetz for a recommendation and they said we should see the Volkerschlachtdenkmal or Monument to the Battle of the Nations.
This monument was completed in 1913 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the battle of Leipzig. It commemorates Napoleon's defeat at Leipzig and mourns the dead from all the nations involved.
After that, we headed across the street to a beer garden for a little rest, followed by a visit to a Russian Orthodox church and walk through a botanical garden.
We made it to the Mendelson House just before it closed, then relaxed on the Augustus Platz, bordered on one side by the Leipzig Opera, opened in 1693 and the Gewandhaus Concert Hall, opened in 1981. Also on the square is the Alte Rathaus or old city hall which today houses a city history museum.
We people watched for a while, then headed home on the bus, stopping at an italian restaurant near our apartment for dinner. It was a small quiet place and we had an excellent dinner of gnocchi with pesto.
The waiter noticed our accents as we attempted to order italian food in our not so spectacular German and asked where we were from. When we answered Kansas, he said: America?? and was totally thrilled to hear the answer. He is from Kosovo, and announced that it was due to America that he has his freedom. He went on to describe monuments to American leaders in Kosovo and at the end of the meal, brought us an after dinner drink (grappa) to express his appreciation.
Well, it was a big day and we were glad to retire to our apartment.
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2 comments:
I'm not sure how often you check this but... I was wondering if we might be distantly related.
I've been researching the Wahl family history and my 94 year old grandfather has told me several stories of his from the family in Ohio.
As he tells it, the family was exiled from Prussia about the time of the Franco-Prussian war when a Field Marshall relative decided to disagree with the kaiser. Before that, however, at some point many of the Wahl's moved to Poland for a time because of a potato famine; then ten years later moved back leaving a sizable contingent behind.
From the exile they many immigrated to the US then quickly wound up in Chicago. He remembers grandparents who could only speak German and his parents who could speak both but 'adamantly' refused to let the children learn it.
R. Wahl
Birmingham, AL
Sorry, I have not been checking this lately. you have an interesting story - My ancestors came to the US in 1870 - about the time of the war you describe. My ancestor was Christian Frederick Wahl, born 1845. Our records indicate he had 5 siblings, but we only know 2 of them. If you have other info, please let me know and I will try to find a link.
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