Friday was a full day! We were in class all day, and then I went to two different concerts. The first was Motets from the Thomanerchor. (Thomas Choir). The Thomanerchor is Leipzig's equivalent of the Vienna Boy's Choir, and almost just as famous. It was really one of the best choral concerts I've been to. Right after that concert ended we jumped on the tram and headed to an open air symphony/opera concert. It was great just to sit on the grass and listen to great music!
Before I continue on with the weekend, I'll give you the rundown of during the week. It was another full week, as to be expected. During the week we were in class, had seminars about the oral proficiency test we can take at the end, went to pronunciation lessons (my suspicions were confirmed...I sound very much like an American!!), and went to the theater.
This Saturday was another group excursion. This time to the Harz Mountains. The Harz Mountains are almost dead center in Germany. Compared to the Rocky Mountains, they really are just hills, but they're gorgeous in their own right. It was nice to get out of the city and enjoy some nature.
Before we reached the mountains, though ,we stopped in a nearby city that is famous for its "Fachwerk Haeuser." In Quedlingburg there are more than 100 restored Fachwerk Haeuser (Half-Timbered Homes), and the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage site. The oldest home is from the 1300s, and you can see how the style of Fachwerk changed throughout the centuries. There are homes depicting the styles of the 15, 16, 17 and 18th centuries. After the 18th century it wasn't in style to use the wood anymore, but rather to build brick homes. I went to the Fachwerk Museum and bought a few books about Fachwerk Haeuser, so I'll become more knowledgeable and answer any questions later.
After our short stay in Quedlingburg it was back on the bus (and another dose of Dramamine) and off to the Harz Mountains. Once we got there we rode the ski-lift (Seilbahn) up to the top of the mountain. Then we went hiking to find the horse hoofprint from a legend told about the mountains. We hiked back down the mountain, and then took the tram (Kabinenbahn) back up the mountian to go to the Hexentanzplatz (Witch Dancing Place). Walpurgisnacht is the 30th of April, when they drive the Winter out, and they burn all of the left over fire wood from the winter. That is done at the Hexentanzplatz. Of course, it's mostly a tourist trap, but still fun.
