After our little break in Potsdam, we got back on the road and headed to Leipzig. We only had one night there, but if we were to do it again, we'd stay longer. It was a great city with amazing architecture and beautiful old buildings. It's a pretty big University town and apparently the zoo is amazing. But we didn't do the zoo since we had just done the Berlin zoo. The apartment (Studio 54) was one of our favorites and it was in the most perfect location right in the heart of everything. We will definitely go back and stay there again.
First we took the kids to the Panorama Tower to check out the view. Then we walked around all the fun shops and had brawts for dinner.
As we walked around downtown the next morning we found this church in a quiet little square. Bach lived here the last 27 years of his life and was the music director at the Thomaskirche.
After touring the little square we got lunch at the Doner stand and satisfied Ryan's craving for his favorite food in Germany. On our way out of the city we went to the Volkerschlachtdenkmal (aka the denkmal or the Monument to the Battle of the Nations). It was built in 1913 to commemorate Napoleans defeat at Leipzig in 1813. Finley thought it was very cool with all the massive stone soldiers inside and out. I have to agree, it was very impressive.
Standing in front of the monument. There is a HUGE reflection pool behind them that you can't see.
This design on the ceiling was amazing and went all around the rotunda.
One of the sweet soldiers standing guard on the outside of the monument tower (at the very top).
Finley checking out the beautiful view. I loved all the foliage in this town. So much green space and all the trees were starting to change colors. Germany in the Fall is just beautiful.
The Archangel Michael at the entrance.
After the monument we got back on the road and drove to Annaberg-Buchholz, the town where Ryan's mother grew up. It is located in the Ore Mountains near the border of Germany and the Czech Republic (our next stop) so we stayed just overnight to break up our drive into Prague. We came here back in 2006 so we were ok with this visit being so quick. Once we checked in we only had time for dinner and then it was to bed. The next day we got up early and hit the old shops in the old town and market square.
This is the view of the Annenkirche (St. Anne's Church) from our hotel.
This area of Germany (the Erzgebirge region) is known for their Christmas Markets, hand-carved decorations, smokers, nutcrackers, pyramids, etc. Each kid got to pick an ornament for the Christmas tree and Ryan and I each bought a hand-carved item for ourselves to add to our collection at home.
Then it was off to Prague. Those pics coming....hopefully sooner than later.
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