I was only able to attend the last EF held at the Ringberg, but that was enough to leave me with fond memories - particularly of the late-nights sitting around the fire pit.
It's funny - but at a certain size, when everything just feels "cozy", a certain "Critical Mass" is reached; and either adding OR subtracting people would lead to a diminishment of the experience, and the memories of the event grab your soul and color how you look back on it...probably distorting it, but for the better. It was never really as good as you remembered it, and any organised or controlled attempt to duplicate the experience leads only to frustration and disappointment.
As to Magdeburg - I shall miss the Maritim Atrium (sooo much like a Cathedral), and the Maritim Burgers, and the snackpoints with the Currywurst and Bratwursts and sandwiches, and the Bierkart, and of course the Bar and our special drinks. I'll miss the many Pizza places close by, the walks to the old Dom (I listened to an organ recital on Sunday of the first year we were there), and to the cafes about eight blocks to the south of the hotel, for nightlife. I'll miss the total convenience of the train station being so close, and of the Kaufland Market being even closer, and by our last year, feeling that I could walk into this market in total confidence like I actually was entitled to shop there, and not feel like a lost foreigner.
I missed the Fursuit Parade this last year (I stayed behind for the Art Show closing), but I did follow the fursuit "flashmob" to the shopping mall on Wednesday - and was particularly struck by the reception which we received, and how so many passersby and shoppers got into the spirit of the thing, and had a good time. It felt really good to see, and I'm glad I was there for that. I'm certain that most of the mall patrons will long remember that day, too.
