To Leipzig

I'm typing this on my iPhone while waiting for dinner to arrive at my table. Silly, I know, but I somehow ended up at a posh hotel's bistro (the food is surprisingly cheap) and have nothing else to do. My entire outfit cost less than my neighbor's shoes, so out comes the prestige item! :P

Brotmarkt!

I am now in Leipzig after a couple hours by train. This day started with a trip to the Markt (market) portion of Dresden's Herbstfest (autumn festival) in the Altmarkt (old market). This weekend is a Brotmarkt (bread market), so the place smelled great. I had a Nutella crepe that was prepared in front of me, num! Had it been lunchtime or dinnertime, I would've picked up a roll or two for sandwiches. However, by then, I was well on my way to Leipzig.

I'm staying in what is perhaps the cutest little not-quite-hotel ever. It's located in one of the city's many passageways. These passages are really neat -- they're all over the place and host all sorts of businesses and shops. It's like a confusing secret world within the city. Every time you go into one, you find a new business, pub, or bar. Leipzig is fairly small, so I can't get too lost exploring, right?

I did a good bit of wandering today. This is a university town with a fairly young population. There is also evidence of youth subcultures that have so far been hidden, z.B., goths and punks. This is a big change from the other places I've visited. Perhaps I actually won't be the youngest person at the museums tomorrow? (Meh.)

In young people-related news, I am apparently able to screw up being hit on in any language. I'm perfectly fine with the kid going away, though. Didn't even have to scare him away with my status as a doctoral student! (Seriously, great party trick. Makes unwanted boys melt into thin air!)

Layers of building

I found the Thomaskirche today. It is where Bach spent his days, as well as the place where he was buried. Neat building, with its layers of history. I was there at a good time, too -- a woman was singing hymns with the organ. Pretty cool. I've been to so many churches since I got here that I'm afraid I will miss these grand, calming structures when I return to the States. We don't really have anything like them. Maybe huge libraries or museums, but I'm not sure they really compare.

I should probably head back now and post this. My Dresden photos are now uploadable, so I will update those posts with images. Spaß für alles!

To Dresden

Today was the looooong (okay, only seven hours) train trip from Bonn to Dresden and marks my first day on my own. It was actually a fairly uneventful trip. I had to change trains twice, but had ordered a window seat both times, so that was really no problem.

Hi, Mainz! Bye, Mainz!

The only bit that was not so good was my transfer in Mainz. I had planned to eat during the second transfer -- when I looked online, it was at a different train, to Frankfurt, with enough time to grab some food. Can't book online with no printer, though, so I had to speak with an agent. Result: different train. That was fine and all, but I didn't have much to eat with me. I ended up stopping at the vending machine on the platform between the two trains...which pulled up at the same time. (Good thing they were on the same platform!) The digestive-type cookies were good and I made it here without fainting from hunger. Generally a good thing.

Blocks...

There's a definite visual difference between the Rhein area and East Germany. You can still see the huge Soviet block-style apartments here and there's a lot of industry. Part of this might come from leaving the river. (Though the Elbe flows through Dresden, it's not, to my knowledge, a major water highway like the Rhein.) It might also have to do with economic differences, as Bonn is a rich area. The industrial focus of the DDR/GDR (depends on the language) is certainly a factor, though. (I'll likely see this more when in Leipzig.)

It was absolutely pouring when I got off the train. Perfect for the day when my place of temporary residence is the furthest from the station! I was pretty soaked by the time I found it and was glad to get into my room and take of my wet jacket. (My umbrella also broke, the casualty of a gust of wind and me having only one hand to hold on to it. Oh well, it was free in a girlbag and I found a new one in an Apotheke for only €2,75.)

After organizing myself in the room for a bit, I left to explore the area around the Hauptbahnhof and find some food. I found a lot of shopping and eating, which was nice. There's a huge hotel here that has three buildings right next to the Hbf. Each building has its own restaurant, even. I'll have to remember the name when I go by it again tomorrow so that I can link it here.

The Hbf and toward the Altstadt

After my wanderings, I stopped at the front desk to purchase internet access so that I could write this lovely thing. The hostel/hotel also has a bar on the top floor, so I decided to check out the view. When I can upload photos again, I'll post one or two of said view.

From the Franfurt (M) Flughafenbahnhof

(nb: This was written before I found an internet connection, so in the paaaast.)

I am currently sitting in the Frainkfurt (M) Flugbahnhof, waiting for my train to Bonn. Since it's about two hours in the future, thought I'd type a bit. (I'll have to wait for free wireless to post, of course!)

The flights over went smoothly. Sleeping on a plane always sucks, even more so if one doesn't have a window upon which to lean, but I was lucky enough to have a free seat next to me. Not that I completely fit in two airplane seats lying down, of course, but I was able to curl up in a few positions, making it not too bad. We were shuttled out into the deep reaches of the airport and had to deplane using (wet) stairs. Not sure I've done that with an international flight before!

Customs was surprisingly easy -- basically just a passport check and stamp, then a request to declare things that oughtn't be brought into the country. No forms, no lines (besides the initial passport check). Most of the waiting really, since I'm a fast walker and was through passport check before most people got that far, was for the checked bags.

So far, I've used German four times, twice successfully and once so la la. 1) A lady asked me to watch her bags while she used the toilet, then wished me a lovely day on her way out. Mich: "Kein problem. Tchüss." 2) Ordering espresso and a muffin for breakfast and answering "Für hier" (after the guy repeated the question...still not sure what "to go" is). 3) Asking if I could sit in a free seat. I mixed up the word order, but talked so quietly that the lady I asked probably didn't even actually hear me, much less notice my mistake. (The chair was free.) 4) Asking how large the coffee cups are at another stand. (Not worth €3.)

I also managed to find the train station easily (oh, the signage here!) and wander a bit before settling down to wait. Next job: figure out where my assigned seat is on the train. The plan is to watch the writing on the windows of earlier trains. Sneaky Chris hopefully FTW!

PS: Holy crap, the food court at the train station smells good! Fresh-baked everything, no fast food, just pastries and sandwiches.

PPS: Automatic doors!