3 Dresden to Meissen

It was another day of perfect weather, a feature of each and every day!  The Dresden hotel a little way out  of the city centre and close to a Lidl. I visit the store to buy small tool kit for my bike which I manage to smuggle out of the country three days later.

So, again along the cycle path we go. I am distracted and pull over to examine a lovely church. The village people are busy at work giving the interior and church yard a jolly good clean. Inside the architecture all is careful Baroque in the sanctuary while the rest of the church is gentle Lutheran.

The Museum of the DDR, again close by the river, is a remarkable discovery. It is located in the offices of an old power station which some people have converted to a four-floor homage to the DDR.   

The apparition of the DDR continued along our path across the following days, in deserted factories, farms and village buildings. The scale of farming we saw was so obviously a product of the collective endeavour.

In the museum everything about this regime, the culture, and the people is on display. Every artefact is lovingly shown and the length and breadth of the collection is extraordinary! This is the world of Smiley, repression and a failed intent.

Meissen, more famous for pottery than Norfolk, perches above the Elbe like an old red crow. 

Meissen view from a roof top bar

Roof tiles glow in the sun as we climb through narrow streets in each of the perfect view, which is, afforded by a bar. Marvellous.

We ate in the town square and are served by a delightful Australian. 

More Meissen

Afterwards we deployed electrical assistance to peddle home. A good sleep delightful hotel room on the banks of this charming river. The next morning I again enter the breakfast room early for a coffee and the opportunity to colour in the previous day’s drawings.

Now vine fields line the gentle slopes that nestle against our broad river. The local wine is excellent as we can testify; Mike chose a delightful red last evening, a surprising discovery for us.

ELBE 201

In 1945, as World War II was drawing to a close, Nazi Germany was caught between the armies of the western Allies advancing from the west and the Soviet Union advancing from the east.

On the 25 April 1945, these two forces linked up near Torgau, on the Elbe. After the war, the Elbe formed part of the border between East Germany and West Germany.

FOOTNOTE

(Deutsche Demokratische Republik or DDR), was a state in the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War period from 1949 to 1990

2 Bad Schandau to Dresden

Bad Schandau: A short walk before breakfast into the town square and the delights of a camp statue: a river creature depicted doing something questionable with a young boy. The church looks benignly on, having already given this charming scene its benediction.

(Mike, Dave, Ian, respectively a former fishmonger, airline pilot, chauffer and wannabe artist thought it would be nice to cycle up the the Elbe. Or is it down the river Elbe?  These five days are the first part of a project that is planned for the next couple of years, powered by Kalkhoff electric bikes.)

By 9 o’clock we were on the cycle path. We had hired excellent bikes, with a modicum of electric help to make the going good!

We passed through hay fields, wild flower lanes. Across the river were mountainous outcrops and small villages. These scenes that set the rhythm for our day. On one occasion there was the sounds of children’s’ cries from the forest, reminding me we are not far from Austria.  We took a coffee stop at 11:05 and only two hours later we collide with the perfect place for a lunch of wurst and kartoffelsalat.

In the afternoon the river broadens as we are close to Dresden. On the east bank there are grand villas, some are architectural flights of fancy in the Von Trapp style. Each villa is south facing explaining the deep tans of wealthy Germans.  

Once Dresden is clearly visible the chaps stop to allow me to paddle in the river. This is a delicious and symbolic experience.

We arrive in Dresden, in good time for Tour Guide Mike to show us the nice bits, including the remarkably reconstructed cathedral.

Poor Dresden, as I draw the cathedral Mike goes off to buy me the post card of Dresden at the end of the War. This votive offering remains in the back of my book now.