Brief stop in Dresden

And so we come to Dresden. My stay here came at the end of at least three weeks of travelling, failed experiments and post Lindy-hop exhaustion, so I wasn't exactly feeling all that adventurous. Furthermore, this was also a business trip, as I was attending a conference for both of the two full days I spent in the city. I spent the first evening I arrived and the evening of the first day of the conference eating in my hotel's restaurant and polishing my presentation for the final day.

Presentation given and conference completed, I walked back to my hotel for a brief lie down before I took advantage of the lengthening spring days and the gorgeous sunny weather to get in some late afternoon/ early evening touristic rambling in. Having asked my colleagues in Potsdam what to do, I also had a final (brewery-based) goal, all that is required of course to turn a simple stroll into a quest!

Anyone with even a passing knowledge of history will understand why a British person might feel particularly awkward in the city. This has nothing to do with the behaviour of the current inhabitants, and probably lies squarely in the head of said visitor, but, there it is, nonetheless. I will say that the past in Dresden is something that is very much remembered and in evidence, be it through the photos in my hotel detailing the area before its destruction in the war, or through various other plaques and memeorials throughout the city, or through the imposing and beautiful bulk of the reconstructed monumental buildings along the banks of the Elbe. This feeling that the events of 70 years ago are still held very much in mind may stem from their magnitude but also perhaps the fact that as late as 1993, the majestic Frauenkirche lay simply (and symbolically) as ruins in the centre of the city.

My stroll took me through the centre of town as the sun was approaching the horizon, painting the incredible monuments in warm yellows and later oranges and purples. The Frauenkirche is huge, its bulk and impact impossible to capture easily in a photograph. Nearby lie several other impressive buildings and the broad sweep of the Elbe as it curves through the city. The green meadows across the river sloping gently down to the water looked incredibly enticing in the slanting evening light, and I was drawn across the river and to its shore, where I spent an enjoyable half hour skimming stones and taking pictures of the many locals enjoying the atmosphere.

Just as the sun dipped below the horizon I made it to the brewery (or brewery-owned restaurant) recommended to me by my colleagues, Watzke's. I was not at all disappointed and enjoyed an excellent meal with brilliant beer, a very satisfying end to my month abroad in Germany.

Check the green link to see my full gallery of Dresden photos!

bis bald,

der Tom