From Berlin to Dresden

Sunday August 22

Travelling on a Sunday proved to be inspired once again. They packed me up and tidied everything away. The three little kiwis were joined by Ber Lin on the back seat. What a fuss that caused as they all wanted to sit next to him and only two of them could. Mary told them to sort it out or they could get and walk. That fixed the problem; they have agreed to take turns. Ka Pai is the reporter for today.

Ka Pai Finds His Way Into Dresden

It took only a little over two hours to get right to the campsite and find a spot, have lunch and head into town. At one stage the Tom Tom wanted to take them up a narrow one way street but Mary ignored the instructions and the route was successfully replanned. Alan was trying to insist she go up it, but she stood her ground and refused and it was just as well as it was one way coming down!

As museums tend to be closed on Mondays, they thought they had better try and make it to the Zwinger today. Normally they are able to get maps and directions from reception on how to get into town but as it was closed they walked out into the street boldly with little knowledge of where to go or what to catch. At the bus stop outside the camp were some very friendly people who told them to get on the next bus to get to the tram 11. Alan managed to buy a ticket off the bus driver that turned out to be an all day family ticket for €7 which seemed good value. The people on the bus got them off at the tram stop and onto the tram into town and then told them which stop to get off when they got there. Alan wrote down the names of all the stops and tram and bus numbers.

In town they managed to find the information centre and get a map and a town walk. The town was alive and festive. It was, as it turned out, the last day of their three day summer festival. There was entertainment of every kind everywhere, huge sound stages, food, drinks, and stalls with beautiful things for sale.

The priority was to get to the Zwinger, which was easy to find. The Zwinger is the most famous building in Dresden and survived the war. It is a beautiful Baroque structure and was built in the spce between the former town fortifications. It was built between 1709-32 and has a spacious courtyard once used to stage tournaments and festivals. The top attraction here is the very famous Dresden China Collection which they paid to see. It features numerous specimens of Chinese, Japanese and early Meissen porcelain, which are counted amongst the most significant in the world. It is the 300th anniversary of the Meissen Manufactory this year so they are celebrating it with various additional exhibitions. Of course there is plenty for sale as well. They gave the old masters a miss as they have seen so many of these and the street life looked like something to experience. And it certainly was. The quality of the main acts was superb, and doted around the streets were buskers of varying quality. Playing under a covered archway was a classical group of clarinet, violin and bassoon. They were so good that Mary decided to buy their CD.

It was exceptionally hot and the sudden downpour was an almost welcome relief from the heat. It took not time at ll to dry out and feel hot and sticky again. There were plenty of places to buy a cold beer and sit down so they found one and the man who served them, (all dressed up Bavarian costume) asked them where they were from. When they said NZ he called his daughter over as she had spent a year in Oz and had a trip to NZ while there. She spoke really good English (all the young ones do) and chatted away about time there.

When they were walking back to the tram they came across some paper recycling bins in the street with children’s art work on the sides so I decided that would be a good place to have my photo taken today. There are recycling sorting bins in the streets for everything and very little rubbish around even after such a huge event as they have had here over the last three days.

They managed to negotiate the public transport back to camp with little difficulty, although missed the connecting bus by seconds when they got off the tram and had to wait 15 mins for the next one. Back at the camp they booked in for two nights and also paid €1.50 for 8 hours internet. What a luxury and wifi right into the van. Mary caught up on all the NZ news off Stuff and listened to some radio as well. This could prove to be a real time waster!

They had not been in bed long when there was tremendous thunder storm with huge sheets of lightening. It has been so hot it is not surprising.