I caught an early train to Dresden from Kiel, having to go through Berlin…where I had been a week before, and would be again in two days. Dresden sits on the Elbe River, one of Germany’s few major waterways.
Most the tourist activity surrounds a statue of Martin Luther, and the Frauenkirche–a church all but destroyed in WW2, now rebuilt with different colored stones. I was told I could get into the church for free, but goons at the door stood next to a sign reading “8 Euros.” I admired from outside for a few minutes.
There was a band playing Schubert’s Ave Maria a few steps away. I visited a nearby castle, and saw the local parliament building. I’ll be spending a little more time in Eastern Germany next week, with a trip to Leipzig with other members of our program. It’s hard to imagine what a separation of East and West was like for the people. Some of my stories in the coming week will address those issues, hopefully accurately and with context.
