This morning, I left at 8, headed for Berlin.
First Stop: Terezin Camp
First choice (of today) that some of you have already questioned is my first stop on my way to Berlin. I chose to stop at the Terezin Camp. It was technically a work camp for political prisoners, so it was not an “extermination” camp. Instead, here the prisoners (men and women) were worked to death, executed for petty infractions, and died of typhoid fever or starvation. The camps where people were sent specifically to die, like Auschwitz, were further east, away from the larger populations, so easier to hide.
Some of you know the idea of “bearing witness” from the Bible. I learned it in high school, when I began reading about the Holocaust. To me, it meant a responsibility to not look away. Bad things happen all around us. Do you avert your eyes and just go about your business? Or do you carry the responsibility to look, and see, and feel, and help when you can but know the least you can do is watch, and then share what you have seen? We all make those choices every day. I visited the Dachau Concentration Camp and Memorial in high school, and then read Night, by Elie Wiesel. It destroyed me. And I read it again, before this trip. Sometimes it is important to remember how terrible human beings can be, while not losing sight of the strength, and luck, it can take to survive.
It didn’t feel right to me to experience the amazing beauty of this incredible area of the world, without seeing the scars of it too.
I chose not to take photos. It was as heartbreaking as you imagine, and I cried as much as you imagine.
Stop Two: Sandstone Mountains
The whole area of Elbe Sandstone Mountains offers incredible views, and I got to visit one of the must-see locations – the Bastei Bridge . The bridge was built when the area became popular to visit in the 19th century. From the Bastei rocks and the Bastei Bridge you have a panoramic view over the mountains and surrounding forests.
The mountains are situated on the border between Germany and Czech Republic. Both countries have designated the area as a National Park, in Germany the Saxon Switzerland National Park and in Czech Republic the Bohemian Switzerland National Park. These sandstone mountains are millions of years old and eroded down by wind and water.
It was gorgeous, and exactly the place I needed to be after my first stop.
Second Stop: Dresden Old Town Zwinger Palace
Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony. Today Dresden is Saxony’s second biggest city.
The city is (was) considered one of the most beautiful in Germany. It transformed into a Baroque landmark in the 18th century. This development started under the rule of king Augustus II the Strong. Most of the historic Dresden had to be rebuilt after the Second World War because much of the city was destroyed. On the buildings, the dark/blackish stones are original. The lighter cream stones are the reconstruction.
Zwinger Palace. According to Wikipedia, the name “Zwinger” goes back to the name used in the Middle Ages for a fortress part between the outer and inner fortress walls, even though the Zwinger no longer had a function corresponding to the name at the start of construction. The inner courtyard is currently under renovation so it can be used for concerts.
The Procession of Princes is a large mural of a mounted procession of the rulers of Saxony. It was originally completed in 1876, but it quickly faded. it was then replaced with approximately 23,000 porcelain tiles in 1907. It is the largest porcelain artwork in the world.
So now we are heading into the Catholic Church, and I hear music in the courtyard and initially assume it is coming from the Church. but then I’m listening and it sounds really familiar though I don’t know that many hymns? But…it sounds like The Police, I’ll be watching you?!? Creepiest hymn ever. Turns out it was just a street musician with an amp by the front door. But even if it had been coming from inside the church, that would not have been the strangest thing in there.
It is a Sunday, so both the old and new squares were very active (crowded). we wandered a bit more and stopped for lunch.
I haven’t been drinking much pop, just water to stay hydrated, but this was my third of the trip and the first I paid attention to. Starting about a year ago, packaging on plastic bottles has changed. Now, the kids don’t come all the way off. I had noticed with the other two, but though I just had a wonky cap. Which I guess I did, but they’re all wonky?
Caps in Minneapolis, at least, are supposed to be screwed on to the bottle for recycling – you can leave them loose. Well, Europe solved that same problem by redesigning it so they stay on. AND they treat them like glass bottles – you turn them in at stores, etc, and get .25 Euro back.
I had noticed in my room in Prague that the cleaning staff hadn’t thrown away an empty bottle. Now I understand why. I’m not going back for it though.
As we were leaving, I came across this thing. It is the worst smelling car ever. It burns gas and oil – on purpose. They were manufactured in East Berlin. It is a Trabbi or Trabant. The nickname is one letter shorter than the full name, which is just one more reason to dislike it.
End Stop: Berlin
I got to Berlin around 8, and stayed close to the hotel for the night. It feels good to unpack, since I’ll be here for almost a week. And I only have to carry one currency with me from now on, which is also nice.
