Leipzig

Thai guest journalist’s stay in Saxony comes to an end.

Once, I was given the opportunity to admire the sight of Leipzig from the 28th floor of a building. I was standing in the office of Marit Schulz, the marketing manager of Leipzig Tourismus und Marketing GmbH. Marit guided me through the floor so that I could see the city from all four sides, which left me with a very special impression of Leipzig. The steeples of St. Thomas and St. Nicolas churches are impressive from any angle. I was lucky with the weather that day, too. The sky was so clear that I could see as far as the Völkerschlachtdenkmal, Europe’s largest monument.

If you look at the square in front of the old city hall from bird’s eye view, you can hardly help but imagine what it must have been like in the 15th or 16th century as people from all directions poured into Leipzig to carry out their trade. Even today, 500 years later, this atmosphere is still perceptible.

As a person dealing with the tourism affairs of the city, Marit Schulz emphasizes that in many respects Leipzig is a unique city that draws more and more visitors every day from places like North America, Asia and Russia. For impassioned Bach lovers, as many Japanese tourists are, Leipzig is practically a must. In addition, over recent years Leipzig has evolved into an important location for artists of all genres. The city provides artists from all over the world, whether from the fields of music, visual arts or acting, with areas and spaces for exhibitions and performances. “One of the special features is that Leipzig is a city of freedom and independence. The slogan ‘Leipzig. The city with no limits’ says it all. The people of Leipzig are proud that the process of reunification of the two parts of Germany commenced in their city. The Berlin wall fell in part because of their love of liberty. In October 2009 more than 150,000 people came to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the peaceful revolution. “You’re cordially invited to come when we celebrate the next twenty years,” Marit said to me with a warm smile. In 20 years – in the year 2030 – sounds interesting. I will certainly be curious to learn how Leipzig will have changed over the next 20 years.

In late September I met with Burkhard Jung, the mayor of the city. My conversation with this friendly, smart mayor was so animated that I could hardly believe it when my scheduled half hour was over. We talked in particular about Leipzig’s charm and both agreed that Leipzig holds very special status culturally, historically, architecturally and literarily. The city also has a pleasant size; it is not too large. Jung told me that 75 percent of Leipzig’s inhabitants love their city very much. The mayor’s wish for the next twenty years is that Leipzig will experience lasting, balanced development, turn to more and more environmentally friendly technologies and become a centre of education. A considerable drop in unemployment is another important target. In 20 years the population will probably increase from the present 520,000 to 550,000. Until then, Jung hopes to have transformed Leipzig into a city of European dimensions.

Now, I am flying back to Thailand. I once again pass by a beggar in front of St. Nicolas Church. For the past month, we have seen one another every day. Even if we do not really know one another, the thought that I am walking down this street for the last time saddens me. Now, I am one of the 75 percent. Since my first day here, every night before falling asleep I have wondered to myself what this city’s real charm is and now I know: it is Leipzig’s people. The helpfulness of people I never met before, the friendliness of a sausage vendor trying to understand a foreigner with an exotic language and the list goes on and on.

All of this is the hospitality in a foreign land, the charm that I will not forget. Auf Wiedersehen in 20 Jahren! Good-bye my Leipzig!