English

THE MIRACLE OF DRESDEN

Willkommen in Dresden! We love to share art and beauty with friends – and OUR GUESTS ARE FRIENDS. What a privilege to call such a great city our working place! We are passionate guides and have got museum guiding permits as well.

Dresden – slowly and silently has risen from the ashes of World War 2, because Dresden folks have been taking tremendous efforts to reconstruct their architecture highlights one after the other again since 1945. Our ardent wish was to finally build up baroque FRAUENKIRCHE CHURCH, too, – a poor ruin and yet a powerful symbol against the absurdity of any wars. Full of optimism – we just had knocked down that wall which had splitted up our country into 2 Germanies, and we had fought for our democratic rights and won! We started collecting money and fund raising in 1993. That wish was met by an unbelievable support worldwide. Thus, that sad heap of rubbles transformed itself into a reconciliation symbol: people of all those countries that killed each other during WW2 contributed to its resurrection in 2005. Reconsecrated in 2005 this church became Dresden’s most popular and best-known building within few years only! Our crazy DRESDEN MIRACLE.

Let us take you on a walk now: a few steps behind Frauenkirche you may admire the Art Academy with its dominating glass cupola – respectlessly called the „LEMON SQUEEZER“. Now let us present you all our Saxon princes and kings on that long wall, painted on Meissen Porcelain Tiles – the „white gold of Saxony“. And 800 years of Royalties! They give us the ouverture to the Royal Palace with its Renaissance facade and elegant towers. Today it is full of museums such as the world-famous „GREEN VAULT“ ROYAL TREASURE AND GEM COLLECTION: grand opera for your eyes! Or do you prefer the „OLD MASTERS‘ ART MUSEUM“ with Raphael’s most popular little angels and their „SIXTINE MADONNA“?

Passing by the Mistress’s palace – all of a sudden there opens a serene and cheerful courtyard, called ZWINGER: „party zone of 18th century“! Entranced by its playful statues and spring fountains – we absolutely need a „Kaffeepause“. In winter times it is a must to taste „DRESDENER STOLLEN“: a dream of butter, rhum-drunk sultanas, almonds, and some secrets we keep for ourselves…Aah! It is sweet paradise on earth! And the opposite of weightwatcher’s good intentions… In all the other seasons we are addicted to „EIERSCHECKE“ with its golden top of whipped egg yolk on sweet cheese cake. You see: nothing goes in Dresden without a good cup of coffee and a piece (or two) of cake…

Being fit again for new impressions you may admire SEMPER OPERA and the CATHOLIC COURT CHURCH – a symphony in sandstone and all the saints go marching on the roof. You have seen enough baroque monuments? Just cross River Elbe (Madame Elbe is our secret queen, dramatically meandering within the city, shaping vast green river banks and inviting you there to a nap or a picknick (alas – you are still full of cake) – and discover there the NEUSTADT with its art galleries, artists, street musicians, cool stores and a remarkably high concentration of pubs and cafés. Now we could tell you what „Anglo-Saxon“ and „Dollar“ has got to do with Saxony. Curious? However – let us talk about that next time. Enjoy the Neustadt now, hear the music and celebrate life! Auf Wiedersehen!

PS: and for the carnivores: there is also yummy SAUERBRATEN-roast beef with a glass of local wine…