Today we spent our time just looking around Magdeburg. It was sunny but cool, much better than last week. We headed first for the Hundertwasser building, the pink building in the first slide. It is a housing, shopping complex and hotel building of unique design, unlike anything you've ever seen before. It was designed by the Austrian architect/artist, Friedensreich Hundertwasser. There are also restaurants in the complex where Shiel and I had a cup of coffee and a bee sting. (We've mentioned those before. The ones we had at the B&B were better).
We went to the Dom (cathedral) via the beautifully open cathedral square. Beware if you go there as there are fountains which shoot up out of the ground around the square. They operate on timers. They attract cyclists who try to ride between the water jets without getting wet.
The photograph I have attached of the Dom below was taken from inside the cloisters. Behind the Dom (cathedral) there is a boundary wall which has been modified to allow for the growth of a very large tree. It was good to see the old tree was considered a significant feature in the presence of all the man made structures.
There are also views below taken from inside the Dom of some of the statuary and wood carvings. There was no charge to enter the Cathedral but a 2 Euro fee to take photographs. It is well worth helping to keep such beautiful old buildings in good repair. The cost must be enormous. Magdeburg has so many old churches.
We also visited the modern art gallery in the former Monastery of Our Lady. The Monastery itself is worth a visit but the modern art seemed to me very much like the King's beautiful invisible coat in the Hans Anderson story. If you think global warming is a con then take a look at some of the exhibits in the modern art gallery. However as you would have to pay 4 Euro to do so though I'd say visit the Dom instead and leave your money there.
There were some very good sculptures outside the art gallery though and some interesting old religious statuary in the cellar of the building.
The ladybird with colouring inverse to normal landed on Shiel whilst we were having coffee in the Hundertwasser building.
The dog you can see urinating in the photo below is just one of the many creatures around an interesting fountain in the restaurant area of Magdeburg.
In spite of the fact that they tried to charge Shiel one whole Euro (nearly $NZ2) to urinate today, admittedly in the Hundertwasser building, I still think Magdeburg is a great place to stay on your Elberadweg or Elbefussweg.
Tomorrow we set off west again towards the North Sea.
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