Dresden

The weather was a bit of a surprise when we arrived here yesterday. I had to wear jeans and a fleece and I was still cold! Prepared for similar conditions today, I sweltered in jeans, what is happening to the world?

Despite the strange weather, Dresden gets a big thumbs up from me.

It’s had a tough time. Bombed to bits in ww2, then under communist rule. Reunification in 1989, and although this was in theory a happy time, I’m sure there were huge adjustments that had to be made. Very resilient people.

I read that when Dresden was bombed, it was estimated that around 100,000 refugees were in the city too, escaping the Russian advance. What a terrible thing war is.

The first thing you notice about Dresden is the amount of building going on. Not modern, fancy apartments as in most cities, but recreating the old. The buildings destroyed in the war are being rebuilt, exactly as they used to be.

In a sense, this seems quite bizarre. Why not move forward and build new stuff, the past is gone. So far just rebuilding the Frauenkirche (church of our lady) has cost over €180 million . But Dresden was considered a very beautiful baroque city and the decision was taken to rebuild the most iconic buildings. Personally I’m glad they have, it makes it one of the most unusual cities I have visited.

The Frauenkirche for example is quite amazing inside. The galleries are painted in pastel hues and the altar is white, gold and baby blue. I loved it and was also pleased I could light a candle for Mum and Dad.

The most amazing sights though, (and I’m going to exhort you all to go and see them) are the outrageously fabulous Green and New Vaults in the Royal Palace. They are filled with the most jaw dropping collection of treasures I have ever seen. Most of it was from the 16 and 17 centuries, many items collected by King Augustus the Strong. He certainly was a bit of a magpie and he designed 8 interconnecting rooms, each with a different theme, to show off his treasures.

The collection was transferred elsewhere in 1938 when it seemed war was imminent and then confiscated by the Soviets at the end of the war. Luckily they returned them to Dresden in 1958. (I bet a few bits and bobs found their way into some pockets though!)

I could bore you to death about this collection but I won’t because if you love beautiful things, you must come and see it for yourself. All I can say is, Victoria and Albert museum- eat your heart out.

Steve and I also pottered over to the Neustadt quarter, where the students and hip young things hang out. I felt a bit old but could understand the attraction. It’s very noticeable that Dresden has a healthy student population as they’re all working in the bars and restaurants.

There’s loads to see and do here and it’s a very walkable city but if you don’t want to walk or are going further afield, there’s trams and trains.

I wouldn’t say it’s cheap but neither is it outrageously expensive. Our hotel, The Indigo, is very cool (and practical, not like the bloody hotel Wetterhorn) and we could park right outside for 3 euros a day. It takes 10 minutes to walk to the centre.

It’s quite strange really how somewhere grabs you. I didn’t like Prague at all but I know some people love it. Probably those people wouldn’t like Dresden but I’m sold.