On Saturday morning, I boarded a boat that actually sailed! Unfortunately, it wasn’t our Viking ship; it was a 50-minute sightseeing cruise on the Vltava. We had to check out of our hotel by 10 a.m., but our bus to Dresden didn’t leave until 1 p.m. Andy and Char suggested the sightseeing cruise, and (as always) I happily tagged along. Much as I’m out of my element (literally) when in the water, being on it is an instant mood booster.
Prague is beautiful from any angle, and seeing the city from river level only enhanced my appreciation for this urban masterpiece. (If you’re interested in the boat tour, go to the Prague Boats ticket office at pier 3B along the riverfront or visit their web site, pragueboats.cz. The cost is 450 Kč, about $22 US.)
On the way to Dresden, we swapped urban splendor for the natural kind. Just across the Czech/German border is Saxon Switzerland National Park. It’s nowhere near Switzerland, of course, but apparently “Switzerland” is used in these parts as shorthand for areas of striking beauty, and the National Park certainly qualifies. Giant sandstone pillars punctuate a mixed pine/deciduous forest, overlooking the lazily meandering Elbe and picture-book Saxon villages.
Then it was on to Dresden, our base for the next two days. It’s a vibrant, thriving city these days, far removed from the saturation bombing memorialized in Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse-Five.” I’ll have more to say about Dresden in a couple of days, after we’ve toured the city. Right now, it’s time to go to Meißen.
Tschüss, as they say hereabouts.
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