My first foreign trip of 2013 was supposed to be to Paris. Unfortunately, the snow put a stop to that as my flight was cancelled. At the last minute I decided to go to Dresden instead. Only 2 hours by coach from Prague, it makes a good weekend destination. The last time I was in Dresden was 2001, so I was sure there would be lots of new things to discover.
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| Boris the backpack waits at Burger King for the Friday night Eurolines coach to pull in. |
I stayed at a very nice "aparthotel" on Louisenstrasse, which just so happens to be the restaurant, bar, cool-small-independent-shop part of the Neustadt. I was recommended a walk up Louisenstrasse and onto Alaunstrasse and then on into the city centre, which I'm really glad I did.
First stop was
Fruehstueck at the very pleasant Cafe Eckstein (corner of Louisenstrasse and Alaunstrasse). There are various breakfast menus to choose from as well as a "build your own" breakfast.
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| Freshly-baked rolls, Edam and a Bio-Ei - my perfect breakfast :) |
Fortified by a hearty German breakfast, I was ready to head out into the cold (-6 that weekend!). I stumbled across the arty part of Dresden known as the
Kunsthofpassage and spent way longer than I meant to there. It has lots of lovely little craft shops and interesting architecture. So nice to see artisans making and selling all in one place.
Before I made my way further into town, I made a warm-up stop in the form of a savoury muffin and fruit tea at Fraeulein Lecker.
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| Muffin burger! |
It was then time to head through the snowy streets and over the Augustusbruecke.
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| Hauptstrasse |
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| Dresden Altstadt from the Elbe. |
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| Dusk on Augustusbruecke |
I was particularly pleased to see the East German
Ampelmaennchen when crossing the road. There are also female versions with pigtails and a dress!
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| Green Ampelmaennchen at dusk. |
I was excited to find some
Ampelmaennchen earrings at the station just before I headed back to Prague and had to get them. Nothing like a bit of
Ostalgie (East German nostalgia).
