The train station at Hemsbach, it is a little village on the rail line between Frankfurt and Heidelberg.
Dan and Heather in the backseat of Red Snapper, Katarina and James’
Renault Twingo. The tiny car was our trusty stead throughout our trip,
sneaking into tight parking spots and holding all of our things without
complaint.
The first of many hilltop castles that we saw on our trip.
Katarina’s brother’s apartment, where we stayed, was on the third floor of
an old building close to the old city.
The Altes Rathaus (old city hall), built in the German Renaissance
style.
The Baroque Alte Börse (Old Exchange), next to the Altes Rathaus.
Some nice buildings that survived destruction during WWII.
The Nikolaikirche, one of the churches where Johan Sebastian Bach worked
and played.
Starting in 1982, the Nikolaikirche was host to the Monday night peace
meetings. The peaceful revolution in 1989 had its roots in these meetings,
which culminated in massive rallies of 200,000 people, the occupation of
the secret police headquarters and release of prisoners that immediately
preceded the collapse of the government.
The fresco on the domed ceiling. We were told that there would be an organ
concert at 5:00 pm on Monday night, so Heather and I went and not only
heard organ music, but experienced a full Catholic mass! Apparently there
was a special service because of the X-mas season.
The Curry Cult is one I would willingly join.
Katarina, Heather, Dan, and Katarina’s father at the salt works.
Katarina’s family is from the Lepzig area and her father took us to some
attractions that are off the beaten path. The salt works is hundreds of
years old, water is pumped into the ground and the saltwater that emerges
flows over a dense mass of twigs. After a few years, the salt is beaten
off the twigs.
The adjacent park is where Ghengis Khan reached his westernmost extent in
933. This rock commemorates the events that transpired.
Nietzsche lived and was buried in a small village in the Leipzig area.
The King of Sweden died of battle injuries and was buried here. The
grounds are considered sovereign Swedish territory. In the rear, there is
a large petting zoo with animals ranging from guinea pigs to ponies.
The Messe, site of trade conventions during the Soviet era. Lepzig has
hosted trade fairs for centuries.
The Völkerschlachtdenkmal, built to commemorate the defeat of Napolean’s
army by the Prussian, Russian, Swedish, and Austrian armies in the Battle
of the Nations.
Katarina and James on top of the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, with Leipzig in
the background.
Cheers to the start of a wonderful trip. I am drinking a wheat beer with
puréed banana, it was very tasty!