Happy Meowloween!

 Dress: H&M (15 euro), Ears: Claire's (6 euro), tights and shoes: already had them. This costume was so easy to put together and I can re-use everything I bought. I even tried my hand at fake lashes as part of my make-up look and I think it turned out great. I followed this make-up tutorial. 

 Appreciating the 20 minutes or so of curled hair before I head out into the humidity. It's not terrible, but it's there and my poor hair never stands a chance...

My good friend, Stefi, and I. She was Molly Hooper from Sherlock and I was a kitty cat. 

The YSA committee here are really good about putting together fun and safe activities for anyone that wants to come. Tonight they threw a Halloween party and it was so fun! We had soup and hot dogs (quite the combo) and then played games like 'name the song from the TV show or movie' and then we learned a few games from our Senior Missionary Couple. All in all it was a great few hours spent with friends and I can't wait to do it again. I hope ya'll have a happy and safe Halloween! 

YSA Scavenger Hunt

 First task was to get someone with gray hair to take a picture of us and the 'lipstick tower' (The top is slanted like a new tube of lipstick). Check!

 Next we were off to the city hall. We had to 'find the snail'. After a full lap around the giant building, and a helpful hint ala Google, we finally found the little bugger..

 Reenacting a famous scene from 'Faust'

Reenacting a scene from Harry Potter in the 'Diagon Ally of Leipzig'. This is supposed to be Prof Quirrel with Voldemort on the back of his head...can you tell?

What better way to spend a Friday night than with a scavenger hunt around the city? The young single adults from church decided to get together this past Friday and have some fun. We split into a team of girls and a team of boys and were off into the center of Leipzig to complete 5 different tasks. You don't see number five here because it's a video and Blogger doesn't let me upload those for some reason...Anyway the four pictures on here are the other four tasks that we had to do. We accomplished them in about and hour (the girls totally won by the way) and then headed back to base to enjoy some delicious waffles. It was a great night and I had a lot of fun! Can't wait to do it again :) Chow!

Leipzig Light Festival 2014

This post may or may not be almost two weeks late, but better late than never, right? The Leipzig Licht Fest is a yearly celebration marking the time when citizens would peacefully march in the streets and protest how the government was running. This year marked 25 years since the biggest and most effective march took place. Several important diplomats from Germany and the surrounding countries came to Leipzig. Some speeches were presented in Augustusplatz, the main city center, and then 200,000 people participated in a memorial march taking the same route that the protesters did 25 years ago. There were several different art displays showing how life was before the reformation. It's hard to believe the differences between now and then. I am so glad that people had the courage to stand up for what they believe in. I wouldn't be able to be here if they hadn't. What a privilege to be a part of such an important piece of history.

Schloss Neuenburg

 Most of the drive there was through lots of farm land. Reminded me of home. 

 This view. I could stare at it for days...

 This well is 100m deep! Hellooooo down there!

 Caption this...

 I am so jealous of whoever got to look out these windows every day...What a view!

I present the toilets of the middle ages...One for you and one for a friend! Never go alone again! Every five year old's dream! 

 Your business had quite the drop...

 An actual sword from the Medieval time period. This is for Nathan :)

 Saint Elizabeth

 my dynamic/artsy shot of the day

 stairs to nowhere...

 Another cottage you can rent. The castle is just to the right and the view on the other side of this cottage is to die for!

 You can always count on a horse picture from this girl.

 A yummy late lunch. Mine had the coolest presentation, I'd have to say.

 You can stay in this adorable little cottage! The castle is just to the left.

 I'm actually Rapunzel, guys... 

 Made it up these stairs and only tripped once! On the way up...

 Top of the clock tower. All the mechanisms that make it run!

 The glare is due to me taking pictures behind a window. Sorry!

 Stopping in Freyburg for cake and coffee time. 

 See the cafe with all the tables in front? That's where we stopped. So cute!

 Hot Chocolate, anyone?

 Turquoise for my mama :)

Mother Nature must have been feeling extra generous today, because, holy April 26th, Batman, the weather was PERFECT. Better than April 26! (name that movie reference!) And while I don't consider myself a 'photographer', I do so appreciate when the lighting is such that it doesn't look like a toddler took my pictures...

We went to another castle today and I have to say it's my favorite so far. It is perched atop a hill overlooking the adorable little village of Freyburg. The castle began construction under the direction of Count Ludwig in 1090. That gives you a little hint as to how old most of those stones are... The castle was left in shambles during WW2 and the political hardships that followed. Renovations to restore the beautiful site didn't start until the early 90s. They did a great job! You can find more information about the castle here.

One last piece of information that I wanted to share is about Saint Elizabeth. She was born in 1207 into Hungarian royalty. She married Ludwig the IV, master of the Schloss Neuenburg. She was left with the responsibility of caring for the people when Ludwig went off to war in Italy. Her service and charitable reputation paint her as an idyllic ruler. There is even a story about her hosting a leprous beggar in her own bed and personally nursing him back to health. She always cared for her people before herself. After Ludwig died, her uncle arranged for her to stay in the Bodenstein Castle. There she founded many hospitals and continued her good works, until, in 1231, and at the ripe old age of 24, she died from exhaustion. She died from caring for others. How amazing is that?! Needless to say, I've found a new heroine. Can't wait to meet her someday...

Today was such a great day and I'm so glad that I got to visit this beautiful village and historic site. Until next time!