Oh, do I like Germany. Even though it was a whirlwind trip to a small border town, I have decided that I very much like those Germans and their hospitality.
Our adventure began at 7.30 on Saturday morning. Seven of us met at the seedy train station in Prague and found our cozy seats on the train quite nicely. For two hours, as the train lulled along, we chatted about everything except what it was we were going to do once we arrived to this town in Germany which none of us had ever been.
We were too excited about getting our passports stamped to care.
Czech border patrol guard. I tried to get a picture of him stamping our passports, but he said, “No! No! No!” I thought I was in trouble as this man was reaching for his gun, but he just said he would only be in a pic if I was in it too.
Turns out Dresden is a small enough town to navigate without much planning. When we first arrived we were starving and wanted to try an authentic schnitzel. The streets were already swarming with tourists (mostly Germans by the sound of it) but we wormed our way around to find a quaint little restaurant that served an EXCELLENT meal. (This might be the first time I didn’t take a picture of the food!)
Since we didn’t have much time as we planned only to stay till the 5pm train home, we left the restaurant and made our way around town.
Once again, as I am sure to say about every city I travel through in Europe, the architecture was beautiful.
Various buildings around the town center of Dresden. Top two are museums (I think) and the one on the right is a church (I am pretty sure.) Guess I should have stopped at the tourist center to get some information…Still pretty regardless of what they are for, right?
There was a quaint little old town area with shacks set up selling gifts, lights and garland as decor, and Christmas music playing throughout. It was such a nice feeling being here as there were much more smiles and laughs then seen throughout much of Prague!
As it is tradition…we partook in the Gluehwein (warmed red-wine). You buy a mug and the fill you up and you walk throughout town refilling at various stations. Everyone in this place had a mug and was posting up. So, when in Rome…
The main Gluehwein station. Notice how we weren’t the only ones participating in the day drinking festivities!
There were a few entertaining buskers, and after a couple mugs of Gluehwein, they were even more entertaining as seven tipsy Americans danced with an old man playing the guitar, posed with a man in silver trying to get him to act as if he were chopping off our head, and parading around town cheers-ing everyone around us!
Man in silver, two cowboys standing on their horses as they ride through town, and two men in silver who started beat-boxing when we walked by. An odd collection of German culture!
Sadly, we missed out on the more cultural aspect of traveling to Germany…museums, art exhibits, history tours. Dresden was a town completely destroyed in WW2. Much of the place is rebuilt with more modern architecture, but the pics I have are of some of the older places. Dresden has a very unique history that I wish I could share more about with you, but I will be back and share it will you next time!
Germany rocks. Can’t wait to go back.
If you want to see more pictures from Dresden, click here.
