Dresden and the Christmas spirit
Last weekend I went to Dresden, Germany, to visit Ele. She´s been in Prague so many times this year that it was my turn to visit her. Last time I was there was two years ago so it was really time to refresh my memory of the city. I don´t know how I do that but it´s always cold and snowy when I go there and this time was no exception. -5 C and snowing. It was the weekend when the famous Dresden Christmas market started so that was the main „event“ of my visit.
I went to Dresden right from my work because I needed to catch the last train at 4.31pm. The ride is only 2.5 hours and it usually goes by fast but this time I forgot my iPod at work (stupid) and it was dark outside so I couldn´t even look at the countryside. Which is pity because the train goes through a very nice part of country called the Czech Switzerland (and Sachsen Switzerland when you cross the german border). The train goes along Labe/Elbe river almost the whole time and there are hills and rocks everywhere. Pretty but as I said, I couldn´t enjoy it this time.
Ele picked me up at the station and we went to a nice restaurant for a dinner. The place was crowded but the pizza was good. Then we went to a student bar for drinks.
We spent the whole Saturday morning in bed watching tv. So lazy. We watched Harry Potter and Half-blooded Prince, Parenthood, 30 Rock and to my big excitement skiing on tv.lol We don´t have Eurosport or any sport channel so we don´t have skiing on tv very often so this was luxury. I just love watching any skiing sport on tv. Cross country, Alpine skiing, ski jumping, biathlon, everything. I was in heaven.
At 3pm we finally got out of the bed and went to the Christmas market. It was very crowded but so pretty. It is the oldest german christmas market, with a very long history dating back to 1434.
I loved how the stalls were decorated, every one of them was unique and so pretty. They were selling the usual Christmas goods. The wooden toys, candles, glass, decorations. It was all very pretty and charming. I bought 3 wooden Christmas tree decorations for my mom. Ele was more interested in the food stalls, though.lol The girl has a bottomless stomach, seriously. I bought a sausage and then we saw this stall that was selling fruit on a stick covered in chocolate. So we bought strawberries in chocolate. It was yummy.
The market has a real Christmas and festive charm and it was nice to just walk around, soak in the atmosphere.
When we were done with the Old market we walked around the historical center of Dresden some more. We ended at New Christmas market next to the Frauenkirche. At that point we were walking around for over 2 hours and the cold was really getting to our bones so we finally bought the delicious hot wine. Any Christmas market visit would be incomplete without a hot wine. That is a must.
We walked around the market some more but we were still freezing so we went to hide into a restaurant and ordered some hot drinks. My hot chocolate was dreamy. We went right to Ele´s place after that and practically didn´t get out of bed for the rest of the weekend. Since we were in such a nice Christmas mood we watched Meet me in St. Louis. Then we attempted to watch the first Harry Potter movie but I fell asleep in 15min.
And on Sunday we really just watched lots of tv shows and skiing again. Ele ordered pizza in the evening and then it was time for my departure. I think, next time I should go to Dresden in summer for a change.lol
The visit fulfill its purpose and got me in a Christmas mood. Bring the Christmas, I´m ready.
