The 30th of August is spent clambering about the mountains near Garmisch with Almuth, Matthew and Anna. The weather is stunning, the scenery more so. All perfectly rounded off with a glass of buttermilk and sheep-based entertainment. Amazingly good for blowing away cobwebs.
The weekend of the 12th of September is spent seeing my father's new house in Provins, now very partially decorated but looking pretty good. A brief trip into Paris on Saturday affords a visit to a wine bar and a crêperie with Simon and Alex. Much profitable discussion of the relative physical merits of European females is had, along with other topics of gravity. Sunday involves a lengthy garden party. Miranda helps relieve the overwhelming Frenchness. The 9 hour drive is exhausting but bearable.
The 20th of September is spent in Munich. The Residenz is incredible, even if finding the entrance takes half an hour what with endless Oktoberfest barriers. The endless signs stating that the entire contents/fabric of a room has been destroyed in WWII really impresses how much damage was done by allied bombing. The "Deutsches Museum" is like the London Science Museum but bigger and with even more exciting interactive sections and more detail on industry. The musical instrument section is mostly closed for renovation, grr. Most importantly, Oktoberfest. The beer is lethal, insanely strong and unavoidable. I have precious little memory of how I got back to Augsburg, save the time and platform of my train, drunken self-organisation once again proves its power. However, I doubtless would not even have made it to Munich Hauptbahnhof if Almuth had not endured my feckless insobriety. My umbrella is the only casualty.
The second rattle up the A9 of the year on the 25th September brings me to Leipzig, where Emily is spending her year abroad. The town itself is very attractive, mysteriously dominated by a massive market for the weekend, wherein is found excellent Backfisch. Two museum trips: the "Museum für Bildende Kunst" is doubtless a good example of its type, certainly in architectural terms, but does little to assuage a mild indifference towards 20th century impressionisty art. Dutch Masters are somewhat more entertaining. Clothing fascists ensure that no item of clothing is slung over the shoulders or worn in any unorthodox manner. I am content to re-don my jumper. A pony-tailed man, known only as the Jacket Warrior is not so amused at being asked to wear his eponymous vestment and has a quite vigourous argument with two members of staff. The musical instrument collection in the Grassi Complex is excellent: amazingly comprehensive with the first known fortepiano, a harpsichord with views of Pisa on the inside of the lid and some amazing woodwind and string instruments. Musical bargains are had in the form of singing in the Thomaskirche (although not by the main choir), the Josquin being particularly good, and in € 14 tickets to "Die Zauberflöte". All in all a very decent production. The singers were generally good, with Pamina pulling an extraordinary aria out of the hat. Prime empty seats mean we manage to get an excellent view after the interval. Much eating of stollen, brioche, foie gras and other unmentionables occurs, Augsburg will feel positively ascetic. Igudesman and Joo round off the weekend in fine style.
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