Leipzig and Erfurt

When my parents came at the end of August, our first trip was to Leipzig and Erfurt. In Leipzig we met up with my aunt and uncle from England, as they flew over for a few days with us. Both places were chosen because of their connections with the composer Bach, as well as for being beautiful places.

Dinner on the train to Leipzig

The new town hall, very near our apartment

We spent one afternoon in the Stasi museum. It was full of all the ways they observed people and all the equipment they used. They had machines to open and reseal letters, record telephone conversations (onto confiscated western cassettes) and to photograph people secretly.

Machines to read all letters entering and leaving East Germany

While we were in Leipzig we also had some good meals in famous places. We went to two different famous coffee houses and also for dinner at the Auerbachs Keller.

Coffee in Zum Arabischen Coffe Baum

We went out on the SBahn to the Völkerschlachtdenkmal - The Monument to the Battle of the Nations. Which was fought against Napoleon in this area. It was completed in 1913, one hundred years after the battle. Dad and I climbed up (part way with an elevator) to the top.

Monument with grand view across the lake

Selfie at the top .. before retreating from the mass of flying ants!

Last dinner in the Auerbachs Keller 

After Leipzig, Mum, Dad and I went on to Erfurt. It was not detroyed during WWII, and thus still has a very pretty old centre with colourful houses.

Pretty view down a small street near our hotel

Houses over the Krämerbrücke

One afternoon Mum and I went to the Folk Museum. It had all kinds of artifacts from what life in the area used to be like. I liked how the different areas each had a theme, often with a small reconstruction of what a room or place would have been like.

An old store

On our last morning we took the train to Arnstadt, where Bach had worked before Leipzig. They have a magnificent Bach Church there. My favourite part was the organ:

The organ towering over the rest of the church

After a short time in Arnstadt we took the train back to Erfurt, just in time for lunch before our train back to Frankfurt.