5am setting on the alarm clock so the internal one goes off at 4am
complete packing and walk/tram to berlin's central train station
we're on the first train out to prague with a full day stop in dresden
it's a 2 hour journey ripping through the east german countryside
dump the bags into storage, purchase a map and walk to the city
we have had a couple of people mention it is a beautiful place
but my memory tells me it was flattened as part of world war 2
a lot of re-building since then but surely it cannot be authentic
zwinger is the local palace now housing a couple of museums
it seems to have survived the ww2 bombardment quite well
not like the neighbouring opera house that has been rebuilt
impressively though to these eyes it looks centuries old
ditto the main bridge across the river to the new town
a pleasant wander and an opportunity to take it all in
it's all very functional in the real world of the new town
back over another bridge and panoramic views of the city
but i can't get the thoughts of bombardment out of my head
a busker on a cello in a tunnel provides a moving soundtrack
the swan by saint-saens is the piece he informs us as we applaud
we are heading to the green vault museum to view some treasures
it would be easy for apathy to creep in after too many museums
but this one is quite enthralling as each room features a theme
jewellery and ornaments of amber, ivory, gold, silver and bronze
apparantly one of the finest collections in all of europe - nice
next - frauenkirche - the church rebuilt 60 years after the war
a huge single domed building and ornately appointed interior
which had me thinking it must have cost squillions these days
as a contrast a visit to kreuzkirche which survived the bombs
but the superficial damage remains on display in it's huge interior
our visit coinciding with some big, loud, serious organ music
very moving really and and the head again in wartime mode
fortunately there's some live music playing nearby
seems there is a dixie jazz festival on in town
a german outfit on stage playing a known tune
...when the saints go marching in...
mixed feelings about that tune in this place
moving on - prague here we come
