Dresden

    The readings were enticing enough to make the 40 Euro (about $50) ticket and three hour one way bus ride less daunting.
     The 7:45 am meeting time found me tired and less the enthusiastic. When they announced that we would be in Dresden until 11 pm, THEN begin the three hour ride back and I almost left the bus. But, in for a penny, in for a pound, and off we went.

     My seat companion and I intermittently dozed and visited and the three hours were not unpleasant. We arrived an hour before our scheduled tour guide so we had free time. We were off-loaded at a charming park and given a return meeting time.

This was my time of greatest exploring. There were people about but not crowds. I followed my camera from one towering edifice to another. Not knowing their names, uses or ages detracted nothing from their beauty.

At the appointed time we met and were given an hour-long driving tour of Dresden, narrated by a woman speaking wonderfully understandable German. At one point we passed a women's health center and this statue was in front.  It is named "The ball thrower"

This was followed by walking tour with a different but equally understandable speaker.

     One of the first buildings she pointed out was the art academy with a unique dome. She explained that the Dresdeners called it "The Lemon Press" It is amazing how accurate that description is. Each time I caught a glimpse of it, I chuckled at the memory.

Dresden is hosting a "Stadfest", city festival and by this time the people are beginning to crowd in. We became separated from the tour at the "Procession of Princes" which is a huge mosiac depicting the family tree. The mosaics are from Meisen and survived the fire bombing of Dresden.

 

We wandered through the festival. Here were stalls selling every imaginable hand craft.    

stages of music and shops of foods with inviting aromas. Well it was two in the afternoon, so we bought Brats on hard rolls and plopped down on the church steps to enjoy the, Frau Page was of like mind and joined us there, having bought her own meal.

     Since we had missed the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) Frau Page offered to give us a tour. My thought was, "Not ANOTHER church" but I tagged along.

 How very badly had I misjudged. This was anything but "ANOTHER church" I have never and I must reiterate, NEVER been in such a church.

First of all, it is open and ethereal. Secondly, there are no stained glass windows, so the light was pure and clear. Of course this was mid-day. Next, there was no oppresiveness, no call to atone. The pale jade pillars were echoed in color all over the place, enhanced with pinks, yellows and whites. All of this is a reconstruction, only consecrated in 2005, based on records. I cannot expound eloquently enough to describe this, dare I say "Heavenly," beauty.
     My energy flagged in direct proportion to the escalating heat. We sought shade and refreshments and found both in an Eiscafe, more or less an outdoor ice cream parlor. I had Eiscoffee on the recommendation of Frau Page and it was scrumptious. Strong, creamy coffee served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream in it and surprisingly not sweet. I could have easily scarfed down another one.

     We ambled through royal residences, gardens and other buildings

 until the bells invited me to Mass. The priest must not have spoken High German as his mother tongue, for he enunciated carefully and clearly. Or maybe he was being considerate of the many tourists. Whichever, I was much better able to participate than in Ilmenau.
     After Mass, there was another three and a half, four hours and we were zapped. We actually went from seat to seat, waiting ang watching but not much touristing. We had managed, however, to put over 23,500 steps or over nine miles on the pedometer.
     Our bus pulled out of Dresden at 11 pm and I awoke in Ilmenau a little before 2 am. This bus-ride sleep was topped by a brisk walk through Ilmenau to the Jugendherberge (our lodging place), about 3,000 steps. By 2am it was cooler and easier to walk home. Exhausting, though it was, it was a wonderful trip,