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 Travelers Digest Review of Dresden
We travel the globe for years at a time to bring our viewers updated and valid tourism information and to seek out the best industry business’s serving the tourism trade. Unfortunately, at time, we do discover business’s that should be brought to the attention of tourists and travelers. I will disclose such an unscrupulous business in my review of Prague, but for all you not desiring to wait…the business to absolutely stay away from in Prague, Czech Republic, is MARY’S TRAVEL & TOURISM. They supposedly provide tours, accommodations and other services…what they provide is rudeness, total contempt for their clients and exorbitant prices and even then they don’t deliver what the client wants, expects and/or pays for…STAY AWAY! 

After touring through the entirety of The UK, including Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Southern Ireland as well, we ventured into a small country with the most intelligent and welcoming people…Holland, or otherwise known as the Netherlands. After a joyous month of touring, filming and gathering our tourism information we soon departed for an extensive tour of Eastern Europe, beginning in Dresden.

The two day venture across Germany was interesting, especially the magnificent city of Dresden. The last world war brought untold and incalculable devastation to most of Europe and Dresden definitely received more than its share. On the night of February 13, 1945, hundreds of Allied bombers released a firestorm of bombs on Dresden, killing 135,000 people and demolishing 80 percent of the city. 

Driving into town in our rental car, I didn’t expect to see much of interest, but crossing a bridge over the Elbe River, I soon realized I was wrong. Pulling into a lot to park, Dakota, Arkady, my Russian friend, his sweet wife, Julia and myself grabbed our cameras and some bottled water and commenced strolling toward the center of the city’s remaining glory, as viewed from the bridge.

The Elbe River flows directly through the heart of the old section and along its banks stand the most glorious and stunning churches, temples and Palaces with architecture as splendid and abstract as any found in Europe. Needless to say, we were impressed. I could not help but ponder why no company or agency suggests or promotes this city as an interesting destination for tourists. It is much more than simply interesting and its ancient past is quite evident in its role in history and is still reflected in its people. After sitting for an hour in a small café along the river drinking our coffee and discussing the city, we once again, began our walk toward the overpowering, but beautifully impressive building in the center of the square…The Dresden Gallery & Museum. It was massive, gloriously ornamented and creatively imaginative. It would have indeed required the design of a genius and the skill/fortitude of some of the best craftsmen and engineers the world could produce…now or then. Next to it was the building that originally caught our eye…The Sachsen Palace. First mentioned in the early 13th century, Dresden gained prominence from 1485 to 1918 as the capital of the powerful dukes (later electors and kings) of Saxony. The city emerged as a leading cultural center in the 17th century, most notably during the reign (1694-1733) of Frederick Augustus I, elector of Saxony and also during the reign, 1697-1733, of King Augustus II of Poland. During this period the alchemist John Friedrich Böttger invented the Meissen porcelain technique, making possible European production of the porcelain previously imported from Asia.

The Palace was definitely still fit for a King while proudly bestowing its grandeur as second to none in the world. We ventured into the palace, marveling at every step at the interior structure, the paintings, statues and the elegantly preserved furnishings highlighting an era of royalty. Our misfortune, and perhaps our readers, is that they insisted on no photos. Once again outside, our cameras were quite busy, for sure.

In the photo on the right is the Dresden Horse. A proud symbol of the city’s long enduring past and its courage to forge its future. The intricate clock and calendar built in to the horse marks each passing second to the city’s 800^th Anniversary. We stood watching the gears and hand carved mechanics of the intriguing clock for several minutes. When I witness such marvels, I am enlightened with the delicacies of man and then glazing around at the remaining debris of World War 2... I am sickened.

Written by Mike Smith
Touring Editor
June 14 2005

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