I wrote this post over a week ago. It took me over an hour. Maybe two, I don't know. It could have been three for all you know. The point is, I accidentally deleted it somehow, and could NOT retrieve it. No undo function would undo my colossal blunder. It was infuriating, and I had to walk away from it for a while. But I think I'm finally in a place, both mentally and emotionally, where I'm able to come back. I'm back now. I'm ready to re-do this post and then get on with my life. So let's get on with it,
Last month (was it last month?) I went on a girl's trip with a couple of friends Eleanor and Aubree. I NEVER go on girl's trips (to be honest, I'd always rather go with Joe, if given the choice), but I've already gone on two girl's trips this year. Both good. Excellent even. Not complaining. Not sure where I'm going with this....
My first trip to Poland!!! Goal = buy all the pottery.
On our way there (it was a 6 hour drive) we made a quick stop in Weimar for lunch, across the street from Goethehaus (home of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - author of Faust)
Disclaimer - I've never read Faust.
Then we stopped in Dresden, just because we could, and I got to see a few things I hadn't seen when I was there before.
The Frauenkirche. It's pretty cool to come up out of an underground parking garage, and a scene like this is just, BOOM, right in your face with all it's awesomeness.
Eleanor actually snapped a few shots inside the church. The balconies are so cool.
From there we walked down Augustusstrasse, with the FΓΌrstenzug (Procession of Princes or Parade of Nobles, take your pick).
This mural was originally painted between 1871-1876 (located on the outer wall of the stallhof, or stables courtyard of the Dresden castle), to celebrate Saxon history and heritage. In order to make the work weatherproof, it was replaced with over 23,000 porcelain tiles between 1904-1907. Remarkably, they all survived the Dresden bombing during WWII.
Across from the mural is the courthouse
At the end of this road is the Schlossplatz with the Georgenbau, an ornate city gate, built into the front of the castle (built in 1533)
Next to the castle is the Katholische Hofkirche (1739), the Dresden Cathedral. Below is a picture looking back, with the cathedral on the left, and the castle in the middle background (the building in the front is just some random cafe, so ignore that).
We did not go into the cathedral. Can someone please explain to me why we didn't go into the cathedral? There's a narrow alley that goes between the cathedral and castle, and there's this enclosed walkway that goes in between the two - apparently the royalty did not want to have to deal with the public when attending church (let them eat cake?)
Do you see that this whole area is full of one beautiful building after another? Seriously. On the other side of the cathedral is Theaterplatz where the opera house is, Semperoper Dresden (1841).
And next to that is the Zwinger, which was actually our destination all along.
Doesn't look too impressive from the outside, but wait until you get into the gardens.
This amazingly beautiful Baroque palace was never lived in, but basically used for pleasure - exhibitions, galleries, gardens, parties, etc. Today it houses several museums.
The Glockenspiel (below) has 40 porcelain bells that chime every 15 minutes
The Crown Gate (below)
Nymph's Bath
Gorgeous. So glad we stopped in Dresden.
On to Poland we went, to our lodgings for the night - a Christian Ministry in an old palace.
The bed in this place was the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in! And the sisters who work there (not nuns, but I don't know what else to call them) make these nativity sets that are SO cute I was forced to buy one, even though it had to come out of my pottery budget.
They make larger sets with shepherds and wise men and animals and everything, but this is all I could afford.
The next day we spent the morning in Boleslawiec, Poland. This little town has a gazillion little pottery shops, each cuter than the next.
So many different colors and patterns to choose from, and NOT enough money to buy everything you want. It's a very happy and sad experience. This is what I ended up buying.
Just looking at that picture makes me giddy with happiness to know they are mine....and it makes me long for more ;) Boy, am I spoiled.
Then for lunch, Eleanor suggested a place she had been to, and man was it good.
We were served bread and butter? NO. Bacon grease, and yes, I ate it, and yes, I like it.
This sample platter that we shared had potato pancakes, pierogi, pork roast, stuffed cabbage rolls, and stew. Delicious.
Poland was beautiful to drive through, and there were SO many rapeseed fields. Yellow as far as the eye could see.
On our way home we stopped in Nationalpark Sachsische Schweiz (Saxon Switzerland National Park). Not exactly sure why this area is called Saxon Switzerland.
A. Maze. Ing.
We were headed for Bastei, which is that massive rock formation in the middle of the picture above, which towers above the Elbe River.
There was some sort of fortress or castle up here a long time ago, not sure when. Here's a model of what it would have looked like.
It's been a huge tourist destination for over 200 years. The Bastei Bridge was originally wood, built in 1824, but a stone one replaced it in 1851.
Walking out to a good lookout point.
Looking back on the bridge.
I was really wishing at this point that Joe was there with me, enjoying this place. It was so beautiful.
Way down below in the valley, there was some kind of concert going on. We could hear it, although we were so far up we could barely see it (look right in the middle of the picture below, you can see some kind of building/stage, and a lot of people)
That rounded out the last of our trip before we headed home. I couldn't have gone with more lovely ladies. I had so much fun with them.
