Dresden, Germany

We have a new tradition that may get a little too expense to keep up if we ever move back to the United States ... For the past three years we've gone somewhere to see the tradtional Christmas Markets. The first year was Nuremburg, then Salzburg, and this year we went to Dresden. We tend to stick to German-speaking countires for these trips. First, not knowing the language sometimes gets a little old (Forget going to France if you don't speak fluent, accent-free French. Now that I think about it, forget going to France for any reason). Second, the thought of Christmas and Germany just kind of goes together, doesn't it?

We left Thursday morning around 9am. It's almost a direct route from Bratislava to Prague to Dreseden. We arrived in Prague at about 11:30 - lunch time. Took a few hours to hit the Christmas market in Prague and had lunch at the Red Hot Blues Jazz Club - best onion rings we've had in Europe ... actually the only onion rings we've ever found in Europe. The real reason to stop in Prague was not lunch or the Christmas market, but to visit a small American food store downtown; we are out of Pam Cooking Spray and wanted to stock up (you gotta have Pam ... well, you don't but life in the kitchen is not as easy without it). Anyway, the store was closed. Apparently the lady that owns it decided to be pregnant and sick that morning. I guess I'll have to grease and flour the pans.

We left Prague around 2pm. It's almost 2 hours more to Dresden. It would have been faster if it wasn't -5 degrees C outside with icy roads. I think I've mentioned how I hate driving on snow and ice. It was dark when we arrived (it gets dark early) and it took a while to find the apartment, but we made it. By the way, if you are traveling with kids go for apartment rentals instead of hotels - less money, multiple bedrooms and your own kitchen. We hit the grocery store (something I like to do anyway when visiting a different country) and went back to the apartment to make dinner.

The next two days were spent in Dresden. Dresden has 7 or 8 different Christmas markets, the biggest one has been held annually for the last 573 years - it was cool. There are rides for kids and lots of food to eat ... Kartofelpuffer with apple sauce, 1/2 meter long bratwurst, currywurst, chocolate apples, crepes, some sort of almond/cinamon pastry, roasted pigs (Bremen loved that) and everything else you can imagine. We had a blast. Here are the pics:


Some buildings in Prague - you have to ask Marcy (I have no idea)

Marcy was recommended this ice cream shop in Prague, just so happens to be on the most expensive street in the city. The ice cream was good ... but I also like Thrify Ice Cream (25 cents a scoop) ...

Some big, famous clock in Prague - again a Marcy question...

Dreseden - 573rd annual Christmas Market


Bremen said, "come here mom" and then proceeded to pull the branch of the Christmas tree back to have it smack her in the face ... see how happy he is?


Wandering the streets of Dreseden we found these cool buildings surrounding an enormous courtyard. It was dark, you can't see it well. If you come visit, we'll take you there.

After the trip, Bremen said his favorite part was riding the trams. Here we are buying a ticket.



One of the best things about Europe ... fresh cookies/pastries from the bakery.

Not very many pictures of Marcy on this trip - sorry.


Bremen loved the idea of chasing the street sweeper through the Fussganger Zone.

Bremen spent a lot of the time on my shoulders.


It rained - sorry, nothing else to say and it's 11pm and I need to work in the morning.

Yes, more rain.

It rained on the whole family.

Another market in Dresden. This one must be younger than 573 years. They didn't bother to say how old it was.


Other pictures of Dresden.

We were at the top of a church tower. They had pictures of what Dresden looked like after WWII - everything destroyed. Try explaining WWII to a 4-year old. He was really concerned and asked, "dad, were the American's bad 'cuz they bombed everyone." Bremen knows he is American and is quite proud of that. I think he was feeling a little hurt.


He didn't really want to pose with the toy soldier. We did get him to salute, but that picture didn't turn out.