Monday, June 7 - Leipzig

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.

Getting It Back Together

Well, we finished the trip and I was either too busy or did not have good internet connections, so did not post daily while on the trip. I am going to start posting again, and will try to provide a daily account of the trip. Here goes......

Thursday, June 3 - Leipzig, Neichen
After WWII, one of my dad's cousins here in the US received a series of letters from cousins in Leipzig, Germany (written in German). I now have copies of those letters. Leipzig was at that time part of the communist German Democratic Republic. Times were difficult then and the letters reflected that, asking if the US cousins could please send coffee, eyeglass lenses, shoe soles, etc, all items they could not obtain in Leipzig.




On Thursday, before leaving Leipzig, we walked around the train station to find Ehrensteinstrasse 22, where our Kunze cousins lived at that time. Today, the neighborhood appears prosperous and well maintained.

After the walk, we picked up our bags and hiked to the Avis car rental shop to pick up a car and head to the country. We had a nice drive through the village of Oelschuetz, where the Winklers lived before coming to the US. Just 2 kilometers south of there we found a Pension (B & B) in Neichen at a family home. It was typical for the area, a courtyard with houses on two sides, several generations of the family living in one location. They also had a huge garden. The price was right, 20 euro per night for the room and 10 euro per person per day for breakfast. That is about $50 per day for room and a HUGE breakfast.

That night we drove to the Grimma, a larger town in the area with restaurants and ate at K House in the older part of the city. Fred had Salmon with potatoes and I had Schnitzel with fried potatoes and mushrooms - wonderful! We finished with a specialty of the house, an ice cream sundae with eier liqueur - yes, it is made with eggs, and the dessert was wonderful as well. So far, we have not lost ANY weight, despite walking miles per day. Till next time!