After sleeping like zombies we are finally awake. Yesterday’s travel was long and arduous with Air Canada actually being a good flight and on-time in a brand new 787 Dreamliner – nice aeroplane.

The second leg of the journey via Deutsche Bahn  train was the weak link this time. A very nice train and capable of high speeds.

We arrived in Leipzig over two hours late for no apparent reason after travelling about 7,500km. Found our Airbnb apartment right in the centre of the old city and got settled with wine from the handy store downstairs.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.3401408,12.3772094,19.07z?hl=en

Taking the train gives a good view of the land. Frankfurt is quite urban and moving into the countryside everything is very green and well cultivated with well kept farms and houses in villages on the way.  As the train approaches the Leipzig area it slows down and stops occasionally and the local landscape while remaining green is obviously much less well tended with older buildings collapsing and evidence of old industry and infrastructure abandoned. The effects of being in the former East Germany are being erased since 1990 and many new structures and renovations are apparent.

Leipzig itself has a historic city centre with very limited traffic and is excellent for walking about. This week there is a major influx of visitors due to a Catholic event which is celebrating 100 years.

https://www.katholikentag.de/english/about_katholikentag.html

There will be about 20,000 people attending the event for the next 5 days plus an additional 10,000 daily visitors. Stages and stalls are being set-up all over the downtown area and it looks as if the next few days will be lively.

Grimmaische Strasse by the University of Leipzig

The Market

Across the street from the apartment is the historic Nikolaikirche. dating from 1165. The church has been a locus of religious, political and musical history. With original performances of Bach and being involved in the 1989 demonstrations against communist rule.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Church,_Leipzig

St Nicholas Church

More exploring tomorrow. M&M.