March 11th activites

We started the day (Thursday) with breakfast at Gerhard's apartment. Marita had to work, but the breakfast was all laid out when we got there. After that Gerhard took us to Halle, where we will have our first concert on Sunday. On the way there we tried out our new GPS, just to get used to it. We plan to use it when we drive our rented car after the tour is over. For a while it was quite funny because Gerhard's GPS chattered away in German while ours spoke to us in English. We could easily compare how they were acting. Gerhard didn't always follow the route Mrs GPS had identified so there was a lot of re-calculating going on - or in German 'neu berechnung'. After a while I shut ours off because we were laughing too hard.

Eventually we got to Halle, and found our way to the university district. We stopped to ask a couple for direction to the Aula, the name of the room where we will sing, and they told us to look for the building with two lions at the top of the steps - and when we saw them we felt right at home because it was just like the post office building in Brantford.

The building was being restored from within so we had to stay away from the re-construction activity. This beautiful old building at Martin Luther University is being lovingly brought back to life after being ignored for so long under the DDR. We found the room on the 2nd floor, and were in luck because it was open. There was a man setting up for a presentation and panel discussion, and he let us come in and look around. I took a few pictures (will post later).

Gerhard took us on a walking tour of the centre of the city, and there we found an old tower and a church with two twin steeples. Right next to these was an open farmers market. Just off the market there was a big statue of Handel, so of course I took some pictures. We have to find time to go there and get a picture of our choir in front of this statue. Handel was born in Halle. We then went for lunch to a cafeteria style restaurant (2nd floor) overlooking the square. The food was being prepared as we watched. I had potato pancakes (Sachsen style) - just like my mother used to make.

On the way back to Leipzig, Gerhard took us to Merseburger, where there is an old fortress like building surrounded by interesting shops and cobblestone streets. (pictures to come). After walking for a bit we entered a small cafe with all kuchen prepared on site. It looked like a drawing room. There was an old style piano, and after we were served, the owner favoured us with a number on the piano. At that moment we were the only customers, so we found out by chatting that she had friends/relatives in both Washington and Ottawa, and had visited both places. I had just finished commenting that there probably would be more people here in the summer, when the door opened and 2 groups of people came in and filled up the place.

After getting back to Leipzig - via the Autobahn so Gerhard could demonstrate that his Mercedes can go over 200K - we got dropped off at the Penta Hotel to freshen up. Elfrieda spent time on line, while I had a snooze, and then we left for our symphony concert at the Gewandhaus - a ten minute walk from our hotel. We arrived more than 10 minutes later than we had arranged, so Gerhard and Marita were waiting anxiously. Gerhard looked at his watch and then gave us a (or should I say, Elfrieda) a YELLOW CARD or first warning.

We found our way through to the seating behind the orchestra. Both Elfrieda and I thoroughly enjoyed this and would book seats like this again. There was no problem hearing the music, as the acoustics in this concert hall are superb. We heard music by Haydn, Elgar, and Mendelsohnn.
The violin cello soloist received five call-backs of applause.

After the concert we all went back to the Penta for a nightcap in the beautiful lobby. Don't expect Ontario liquor laws to apply. The reception desk and the bar are one and the same, and you can take your drink anywhere - very civilized.

I am making this posting on Gerhard's computer, having just had breakfast here, so I can't get at the pictures to post for you. We are looking forward to seeing many of you. Jane's parents arrive today, as does the e-piano. Our friend Karl-Heinz Hartmann (Charly) will bring it to the hotel today.