30,05,1968

I didn't take this photo. It was taken secretly 41 years ago and shows the church in the main square being blown up on the instructions of the Leader of East Germany. The church had survived the war bombs but offended Ulbricht by its very existence.

lotta bottle

Its Whitsun! It's a tradition that hundreds of "goths" gather in Leipzig for the weekend. Not all are as colourful as this young lady but most are interestingly dressed.

Centre of the town?

If you look at a map of Leipzig you find a huge swathe of green right through the middle. Actually the built-up area could be said to be Leipzig town on the right bank of the Elsterbecken and Plagwitz town on the left bank. When you travel over the bridges in a tram (cars are too low) you get a real sense of space and fresh air.

Schiller

With the warm weather the protective boarding has been removed and we can enjoy the many statues.
Schiller lived in Gohlis near Leipzig for a short while. He wrote "Ode to Joy" , the European anthem while he was here.

heron

.... but this guy doesn't seem to mind

garden idyll

I was first attracted to this rather charming but not very "German" garden because it shows a love and appeciation of the flowers and not just "tidyness".
Then I noticed the demo sign campaigning against nighttime flights. Leipzig is a hub for DHL who settled here just because the town allows them to takeoff at night. The roar of the machines can really be heard from a great distance at night when it is normally very silent.

journeyman

Apprenticeships are vital to a career in any trade here. This young man has finished his and is now spending time travelling. Theoretically he should finance himself through casual work in his new trade of carpenter.
The costume is traditional and it is quite usual for carpenters to wear special corduroy trousers and waistcoats.
Most trades also have identifying clothing but these days its mostly just the colour of their overalls.

goethe's back!

lucky lighting!

Weiser Elster millpond

Just behind yesterday's mansion is this very attractive house. The river is fast-flowing but here there is a weir and an old but still functioning hydro-electric plant.

Lützschena Schloß

In the park behind a very unremarkable mansion you come across this little gem. The landscape is part of the floodplain that protects low-lying Leipzig and is a protected natural area. The perfect "green" is water-weed.

statue

Just a small green area with a small statue. Art for the people (it's been there for more than 20 years).

when banks were rich

they spent a fortune restoring some treasures. At least this is something everyone can enjoy. The blue pipe is taking ground water away from the tunneling works.

doors

I just love this doorway. Because the building has still not been renovated, perhaps because the ownership is disputed, the courtyards behind the doors exude a peacefulness that is wonderful.
The guys in black are sitting opposite a cafe that they have made their own. We shall be inundated with goths in a couple of weeks at Whitsun.

coffee anyone?

This is our oldest cafe. People in Saxony just love strong coffee and were at the start of the mode in the 18th century. Unfortunately undiscriminating consumers are allowing the advance of 21st century "coffee dispensers" (small, medium or bucket-size?) to squeeze out some real cafes.
This one is a real gem and has retained its original layout and some features. You can visit a small museum and imagine how things were many years ago.

tax return time

I havent had time to blog for a few days because May is tax return time. And this is it! About 50 pages of info that could be dealt with on 10 and a load of photocopies as well. Still now I can relax and wait ( and save) for the bill!

Swan Park

This small park is right opposite the main station. The flats in the tower behind must have a fantastic view of the whole town, and in Leipzig the rents are very reasonable- perhaps €500 pcm for a middle-size 2 bedroom flat.

happy 600 years birthday

Our University is 600 years old! Originally an offspring of Prague it's one of the oldest that has been teaching continuously.
The main campus is being rebuilt but is sadly not ready for the public or good photos. Parts of the old complex were so good that they are being incorporated in the new and this stairwell is a great example. I was hoping for a better shot but really need an evening photo with internal lighting to show you how the two stairways cross and re-cross eachother. But birthdays can't wait.

kneipenmeile

For some reason the bars and cafes are concentrated in just a few streets. This is one of them. There must be a dozen next to each other, but elsewhere it's as hard to find a pleasant spot as it seems to be for the owners to break-even.

stairway to heaven?

JSB

Today I was lucky to pass by just as the light was favourable. He is our most notable internationally recognised superstar.

The mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding small

The millstone is in a bank forecourt, and I hope it does!

Wasser marsch!

I love the idea that water can march. It's geat to see the fountains again.

Sight-seeing in style

This old buses (there are three of them here) are slow quiet and give a great view, so much nicer for everyone than the modern coaches (air-conditioned, tinted glass, view restricted by headrest) that are so usual.

180 years railway anniversary

In April 1839 the first real railway in Germany was inaugurated. It runs from Leipzig to Dresden. The route was not easy but made a great difference to Saxony as a trading state. This obelisk commemorates the deed.

Dappled shade

Suddenly it's warm enough for me to seek a little cool shade.