Now our lives are changin' fast...

I'm listening to the newest Arcade Fire album, The Suburbs... it's so bloody brilliant. I just found out they're playing two gigs in Germany (both West, unfortunately...) one in Dusseldorf, the other Munich. At 33€ a pop plus travelling expenses, this venture will not be cheap. However, I think they're definitely worth it. Plus it might be nice to see Munich through soberer eyes than I did for Oktoberfest. I couldn't tell you a single thing about the place if it weren't for the photos I took. Apparently there is a train station there?

                             

And a church?

So, last night was that thing for Montags Demonstration, and despite all my preparatory research and excitement, I completely forgot about it and didn't go. Instead I went to see Gunther Von Hagen's "Körperwelten" (Bodyworlds, to English speakers...) at the Kohlrabizirkus here in Leipzig. In addition to the raddness of the name of the venue (Kohlrabizirkus? Really? So awesome.) the exhibit was highly intriguing. Although slightly creepy, it was mostly just incredibly informative. It's sort of easy to separate yourself from the idea of "dead bodies" when they look more like an art exhibit. Although the one that I think was meant to emulate Harry Potter riding the Nimbus 2000, but with his face peeled back and his own organs as the broomstick was actually a bit scary.
The remainder of the night was split between cooking and eating dinner at home w/ my friend Melinda, and going out to a bar called 4 rooms with Annika (who was in town for Körperwelten) and her friends Caro and Andi. I'd been to 4 rooms before with the ERASMUS students and it was LOUD and packed and dancey. Last night though it was quiet and chill, and we were even treated to free Pilsner Urquell beers. Pretty toll.

Today was an absolutely lovely day. I met up with my friend Melinda in the Alte Messegelande and we explored the  flohmarkt (flea market) for about 20 minutes, as it was wrapping up when we got there. Somehow I had it in my head that a flea market in Germany would be completely different and totally amazing compared to the flea markets in the states. How wrong I was. Aside from the fact that there were some interesting DDR/Soviet pins and stamps and coins, it was just exactly the same, by which I mean somewhat boring, musty, strange and grimy.

After the flea market we walked over to Das Völkerschlachtdenkmal (Memorial for the Battle of the People) which is a really cool monument to a Napoleonic battle here in Leipzig. Apparently 2013 is the 100 year anniversary of the completion of the Monument, and I think the 200th anniversary of the actual battle and they're currently sandblasting the stone in order to get the monument ready for celebrations. In any case, the monument is really neat. It's gigantic, flanked by trees that are a gorgeous golden hue at the moment, and set behind a massive reflecting pool.

After a thoroughly enjoyable visit to the vlkschltdnkml, we hopped on a tram in search of food. We only went 3 or 4 stops before hopping off at a döner place I've been eyeing for a while. Luckily for us it was: 1. open, and 2. CHEAP. I got a falafel (2€) and some halloumi (2€) and of course, a Coke.

I absolutely love Coke in Germany, I think it tastes tons better than at home because they use sugar and not corn syrup to sweeten it.

Halloumi, for those out of the loop as I once was, is fried cheese (the 3 rectangular things that look kind of like french toast sticks) and it is DELICIOUS. Actually, the whole meal was delicious. LOOK AT IT! How could you go wrong???

We stopped at the Eisträumerei (something like  the "Ice Dreamery," a clever play on words, methinks.) after our billig döner and got some coffee and kugels. Kugels = scoops, BTW. I went for cherry and chocolate. Good choice.

All in all, a most successful and lovely, sunny Sunday. Can't wait to see what the week has in store... classes start tomorrow! I'll be back soon to tell all about it.