Dresden 2022

      After 10 nights in beliebted Weimar I took the train to Dresden for 4 nights. I used the 9euro card that Herr Cresse told me to buy.  I used it to take the bus to the Hauptbahnhof and then the RB to Leipzig and then the RE to Dresden. In all it took about 3 1/2 hours and was no different than it would have been otherwise.  I am at the Dresden HIlton which I booked using points.  For a King Executive, including Executive lounge and breakfast, I paid 100000 points and 217 euro.  Terrific!

      I have taken it slow and enjoyed my time here, again.  I went to the Alte Meister Gallerie and saw the special exhibit on Bellotto.  The nephew of Canaletto.  I used the new ipad to go through the collection.  On Saturday I went to the Rezidence and there are new parts open there.  There are a series of "Paradezimmer".  I used my audioguide in all these rooms.  They have a painting of the Saxon Elector meeting Louis XIV and in the middle of them both is  "Liselotte" von der Pflaz!  I was happy to see her again.  Today I went back to the Old Masters and went through on my own.  I was there over 2 hours again but I skipped the Bellotto and only saw the paintings.  I found the Vermeer!

     The eating has been good.  The first night I ate at Gansedieb.  I have been there before.  It is German food.  I had Bauerschnitzel.  It was very good.  I had a 1/2 l red to go with it.  The next night I ate at El Rodizio, a steak house.  I had PiriPiri gambas which were very good, and a lot of them too.  Then I had an Entrecote, rare, with broccoli.  All very good and a 1/2 l of sangria to go with it.  Saturday night I ate at Tex-Mex Sante Fe.  Also new.  I had salad and then ribs and wings.  Very good but the "hot" sauce was not very hot.  Tonight I ate at a Czech restaurant in Konigsstrasse over the bridge in Neustadt.  Also new and also very good.  I had garlic soup which was great and then Rinderroulade, which I have not had yet this year.  I drank two Czech beers - Staropramin Granat.  All my eating experiences have been great.  Good service, good food, good price.

     There has been a Kunst Fest on the Altemarkt for 3 days so I stopped there for a drink twice after dinner.  Last night a couple shared my table and we had a good time.  They are about my age and they live here in the Dresden area.  They have traveled a lot so we had plenty to talk about.  And it was all in German!  I am sitting outside at the Dampfschiff, which is part of the Hilton and I found the trains I am going to take home tomorrow.  I have my stuff together so packing will be nothing and the train is not until 10.