Fall in Leipzig

This weekend is a long weekend for Germans, who will celebrate the Reunification of Germany on Monday. The weather has been glorious. The temperatures have been especially spring like, the sky a perfect cerulean blue. The trees are changing and the park is bursting out in color – yellows, oranges and deep purpley-reds. Many people, especially children, were out and about during my morning run and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. It always makes me smile to see Germans out walking in the park with trekking poles. I mean are the gravel park paths really that challenging? Back in town there are a lot of tourists – perhaps because of the long weekend. Everyone was searching for the few places where they can actually sit in the sun while enjoying a pilsner or milchkaffe. I was one of them. It took me almost an hour of walking around the city to find a café with a free table in the sun. But just as I was about to give up – I was actually heading home – I found an open table, perfectly positioned in the sun at one of my favorite places. Along the way I discovered a few new shops and rediscovered some old ones that I’ll want to visit before returning to the US. I have really been enjoying these past couple of weeks of hanging out in Leipzig. Maybe knowing I’m leaving makes me appreciate it more. But whatever the reason for this happy, contented feeling, I’m going with it.