Freiburg, Neuf Brisach, Colmar and Breisach

from 17-19 July....

In Freiburg, at the top of the Münsterturm.. (i think that's what it's called) .. Climbed up all 200 over steps with my backpack because I forgot that all Hbfs have locker facilities.. :S .. it was. a workout. But the view was really great though. Windy too. It's really worth the climb sans backpack.

Took the Schauslandsbahn from some outer area of Freiburg. It's a 25 mins (one way) long cable car ride all the way to the top of i-don't-know-where. But all in all, the view was fantastic and the weather was really good. Didn't manage to spend a great amount of time there though. Had to take the 25 mins ride down again to catch the bus back to Freiburg... so that I can take a train to Breisach.. so that I can take a bus to Neuf Brisach. =)

More on Neuf Brisach later, but we're now in France, past the river Rhine (really great view as well.. it's like something out of a picture). Arrived there at about 17++hrs and was immediately ushered  off to a 2 hrs organ lesson. =)

This is a cathedral in Colmar. St Martins I think. Colmar's a really nice town with old buildings a-plenty. Went there on the 18th, after organ practice in the morning and a short lesson. Then went back to Neuf Brisach to practice some more.. before going over to my teacher's for dinner.

About the teacher's house: It has 2 grand pianos, 1 harpsichord, 1 pipe organ, and 3 clavichords.

*GASP.

ya i know.

It was a really cosy place. Self-designed and built. (wow right) His garden's filled with lavender and rosemary plants.. even a self-dug pond.. and his 2 cats! Bibi and John. John's a really really fat cat. 

He invited another student of his, David, and other friends over as well. And his wife's a superb cook. It was a really good gathering... and I'm definitely, already, missing the times in Neuf Brisach...

This is the organ in Neuf Brisach that I practiced and had lessons on. It's a fantastic organ with excellent balance and sensitivity to touch... spent... hours and hours practicing in the three days there..

Here's a cathedral from Breisach, where the train station is.. My teacher dropped me off at the French border and I walked over to the German side of it... albeit with a heavy heart after saying goodbye.. I guess it's suddenly hitting me that I am truly going to leave. Really really soon. Even as I blog now, I really should be cleaning my room in preparation for the move to Leipzig. oh dear.

all in all... totally memorable trip.