Thursday - Leipzig & Gotha

Today we left Berlin. It was kind of sad to leave the city. I definitely don’t feel that I saw everything that I wanted to see, but then again, how is that possible to do in a city the size of Berlin? We did a lot of things here, and I do need to remember that and not feel badly about not getting to everything. I may never forgive myself for not going to see the Bust of Nefertiti, but as there is considerable debate right now concerning the authenticity of that piece, I just might be able to get over it!
We caught the train at the main train station in Berlin. It was a high speed train (similar to the ones I took in Japan, thought I don’t think it was as fast) that we took to Leipzig. Leipzig is a former city of East Germany, and another city that was heavily destroyed during the bombing raids of World War II. I finally felt that I was in Germany when we arrived in Leipzig. It is a very picturesque little town (actually, not quite so little) that has very old and traditional buildings throughout. We started our morning at the Nikolaikirche, which is where the Peaceful Revolution began in East Germany that ultimately led to the breakdown of the Wall and eventual reunification of Germany. This church was absolutely stunning. Someday when I manage to actually get pictures up, you need to check it out. The interior was a blend of soft pinks, mint greens, and gold. I think I could have easily spent a good amount of time in there exploring and just enjoying the surroundings, but we had to make our morning appointment at the Leipzig Museum of Contemporary History. Here we had a very excellent tour of the museum and a description of the events of the Peaceful Revolution. This museum also had a fantastic exhibit of what life was like in the old German Democratic Republic (East Germany). I really enjoyed what I saw of this museum, even though it was just in German. I am sure that as a German-speaker I would have enjoyed the many hands-on experiences that it offered.
After lunch we had lunch at a wonderful restaurant in Leipzig. It is a very old restaurant and was one of the places Johann Goethe frequented when he lived in Leipzig. I had a very tender filet of pork with potato dumplings and red cabbage. For years I have been disgusted about the idea of red cabbage, something of which I am reminded each year when watching A Christmas Story during the holidays. Remember when Ralphie’s mom served it up? Anyway, I was a little hesitant about it, right up until I took the first bite. Now I am pretty certain that I could eat red cabbage every day, as long as it is served as I had it in Leipzig. After lunch we went off to our next appointment which was at a museum dedicated to the influence of the Stasi on East Germans. The Stasi were the East German secret police, similar to the KGB in the former Soviet Union. Some might even argue that it is like the CIA in our own country or Scotland Yard in Great Britain. However, there are some major differences between the Stasi and our own services! The Stasi were everywhere and kept very close tabs on East Germans. They kept extensive files on the civilians, the extent of which was known only after the disappearance of East Germany. They were known quite well for their brutality. It truly is, in my opinion, a fascinating topic for study. At this museum, which is located in the former Stasi headquarters in Leipzig, you can see many artifacts related to the Stasi, in rooms that look very much the same as they did when the building was occupied by the Stasi.
After this, I visited the church of St. Thomas, where Johann Sebastian Bach spent many years in residence. I was able to see his grave and listen to someone practice one of the arias from one of his compositions. I then had some time to head out and finally do a little shopping on my own. I got some gelato (lemon, and it was great), and had a fantastic time walking down little streets lined with cafes doing some window shopping. I then caught my next train, which brought me to where I am now, in Gotha. Gotha is by far the smallest place we have been yet, but I love it. We got in tonight around 9:30 or so, and then quickly headed out for a late dinner and social time. My hotel room is near the train station, and I hear trains coming and going, but I have wonderful full length windows that open up to flowers and a nice view. As long as the bed is comfortable, I should be all good for the night! We are spending two nights here before heading off to Hamburg. From what I have experienced so far in just a few hours, I think that I am going to like Gotha a lot!