Dresden

12-23-16
Today was a day of travel. After about 8 hours and missing a connection in Hof we made it to Dresden. Upon arriving to the hotel, we discovered a small Christmas market outside our front door.  Yay more Gluhwein.  This market had an amazing apple based wine that was perfect on a cold evening.  There was a beautiful church next door, with an interesting history. Built in the 18th century it was destroyed in a fire, and rebuilt before the turn of the century. It was then destroyed again in the fire bombing of dresden during WWII and rebuilt again, opening in 2005, but it looks the same as it did in the 18th century, which is very interesting and strange at the same time.  The firebombed past makes Dresden an interesting city to visit, because you have to remind yourself, that while it looks old, most of the city was rebuilt to look the way it did before WWII.

J and I enjoyed Brats and Gluhwein in the Christmas market.  We also tried coco and a Wild Goulash with boar and deer.

The hotel in Dresden was the best yet.  Steam room, Saunas (3) and an outdoor hot tub to enjoy on a cool night. What a treat.  We slept great.

12-24-16
    Today is Christmas Eve.  Breakfast in the lounge morning sauna which was very relaxing then off to see the oldest Christmas Market in Germany.  Of course 2 more mugs came home with us (ours are different this time though) after 2 wonderful cups of coco.  After another bowl of Goulash, we got in line for Church.  Yes you read it right, line for church.  It was suggested that we line up an hour in advance to get a seat at church, they weren't kidding.  And while we didn't understand anything said it was still a beautiful service. We laid low today, just had dinner in the lounge and called home.  We were both feeling homesick at this point, away from family and all.

12-25-16
    Merry Christmas.   J and I opted to not stand in line in the cold for a service we wouldn't understand anyway.  Breakfast again in the lounge.  J has got me into Macchiatos --Yummy
   After J took a Steam and i took a Sauna we decided to explore Dresden. It surprised us how many restaurants were open on Christmas day.  We had an amazing Christmas Dinner at a local steak house.  J and I both went home that night with very happy bellies. In addition to the red meat I had my first German beer of the trip--A very tasty red ale.
   SO to summarize Christmas, I had red meat, and red ale with my red-haired man.  I am a lucky lady.

On the way back to the hotel we listen to a pianist on a grand piano outside our hotel. It was magical to say the least.

12-26-16 We'd planned several things for today but they were all closed for the holiday, so we took it as a day to relax.  Off to Munich tomorrow