Blogs from Saxony, Germany, Europe - page 7

After a short train ride, we arrived in Dresden, and were met on the platform by Dieter and Gudrun, dear friends of Arnold and Doris, Andrea's parents, and also dear friends of Cheryl, who had stayed with them in 2005 with Andrea, and again in 2008 with Laura. I was nervous about meeting them because I had been told by numerous people that they were excited to meet me, and frankly, that's a lot of pressure. But, as I shook Dieter's hand, I said "Ich bin glücklich, Sie kennenzulernen.", and he broke out into a great big grin and said "Ah! Without accent!" So, that happened. Gudrun was a ways down the platform, and after Cheryl got a big hug from her, I shook her hand, too, and decided to mix it up, saying "Freut mich, ... read more

Today in Dresden was a bit slower but worth it. A stroll in the Zwinger Palace was cool, they have four different exhibits, a math and science, porcellon and something else I cannot remember, I checked out the arts one based on suggestion from a travel book and it was definitly worth it. They had a lot of works from Druerer and I even saw an original from Rapheal that was really cool. The architecture here is amazing not only in the design, but also the symetry of the buildings. The art of the time was interesting and there were a few paintings of saints that stook out in my mind, sadly pictures were not allowed and I could not remember the names of them. One was a temptation of a saint in a cave, there ... read more

One of the things I love about spending time in Germany is the people, Despite the language barrier, they are such a hospitable bunch, always going out of their way to make me feel welcome here. Ralf's friends and family have always welcomed me with open arms and the more time I get to spend with them, the more I count them among my own friends and family. It's not always easy to keep up with the conversation, and thank goodness for a few that try to speak English with me and for Ralf's conscious efforts at translation, but I never feel excluded. My German is coming along but it is my hope some day to be able to speak more fluently. So far during our trip this time we've had a chance to spend time ... read more

We made plans to have a night with Ines at a small vineyard bed and breakfast outside of Meissen. On our way, we stopped for a self guided tour of Meissen Cathedral. Let me just say, I am certain I have never seen a more beautiful structure in my life. I couldn't take enough pictures to do justice but honestly, it was just beyond amazing. As soon as you entered the cathedral, it smelled musty (aka historic!). There was an organ player filling the cathedral with sounds of a traditional church music and then the sense of sight as your eyes scanned every detail of the building. Words can't even begin the describe the beauty and I am so thankful we decided to stop for a tour on our way to meet Ines. You could go ... read more

Ines picks a great breakfast spot just a short walk from her flat. I love all the outdoor dining in Germany and the weather has been beautiful! Then a nice drive through the country side where the kids get to see some typical German villages. One of our main destinations today is the Konigstein Fortress. According to their brochure, The Konigstein Fortress is on a surface the size of 13 football fields and it is one of the largest hilltop fortresses in Europe. Embedded into the bizarre, rocky landscape of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, visible from afar, the fortress is enthroned on a table mountain. High above the River Elbe, the always-unconquerable fort offers stunnig views or Saxon-Bohemian Switzerland, the foothills of eastern Ore Mountains, and Dresden. We spend a good part of the day exploring ... read more