I found it fascinating on many levels β lots to interest me β so much so that this is the first of three blog posts on Dresden.
My hotel was right in the centre of the Altstadt, the old town, which made navigation very easy. Feeling somewhat under the weather on day one β running 1. And what a good choice that was. Purchasing a 20 Euro ticket at the hotel gave me three days of unlimited travel.
I understood most of the German commentary but the bus rattles, rocks and rolls along so it was hard to hear it all. In fact, I was first introduced to him in the taxi on the way from the airport as we drove past a gleaming gold statue of him atop a horse in full body armour.
He might have been the Donald Trump of his day β he certainly liked surrounding himself with power, riches, wealth and women. Indeed, he was rumoured to have up to illegitimate children. But I was more interested in his cultural legacy. Dresden, particularly the old town, was very heavily bombed by the British in the Second World War. And I learned that many valuable items were taken by the Soviets as booty after the war but were returned in the s.
Entry to the Green Vault is by timed ticket, and only two people can enter and exit at a time through double-layered automated glass doors. And, needless to say, no phones or photographs are allowed. The tight security is not surprising; in thieves broke into the vault and stole precious items from the Jewel Room β some of which were recovered but not all.
