Dresden, Deutschland

I have spent years learning about WWII (thanks to my major), therefore seeing Dresden was like watching history come to life. Even better, I walked the streets and cobblestone paths on the 70th anniversary of the unimaginable events that took place many years before I existed: the bombings of Dresden. 

This weekend, I was humbled to be a minuscule part of something much bigger.
I can admit that being in Dresden shook me, yet at the same time made me feel still. 
100% captivated.
If you have never been to Dresden, you are missing out on one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
Not because of the gorgeous architecture.
Not because of the expansive shopping opportunities.
Not because of the pretty gardens.
Because this is a city that makes you FEEL. 

"So it goes"

My traveling blog has been dead for the past month thanks to my husband being out of the country. Yeah, I could go visit places on my own without him, but seeing cool things and cities alone sounds like a drag. I don't know how I would share "Remember that one time..." moments. Having a travel witness is always fun because when nobody else understands the story from back home, at least one other person does! 
Once, I saw the end of a rainbow with a friend while driving in Washington state. We both know we saw it, and can share the experience forever. But when we have told other people about it, they didn't seem to believe either of us. At least we can validate what we saw with each other!

I digress.
Dresden. Is. Gorgeous.

It's almost unfathomable to imagine that this city was left in scattered ash and pieces after the bombings in 1945. Littered with ashes, bricks, ruble, and memories of what once was; in a smoldering state of despair. 

The firebombings started on the evening of February 13th, and continued until the 15th. The streets were on fire, and so were the thousands of people who called Dresden "home". The gruesome facts, I assume, cannot begin to describe what it was like to be here 70 years ago. The streets reached an inferno temperature of 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit. Air raid shelters did not save them. In most cases, a shelter became an oven. After the first string of bombs, people stuck to the ground while searching for loved ones; their shoes and feet becoming melting anchors. Women running with infants in their arms while their dresses were ablaze.

I don't care which side of war people chose to see, but the human in me knows that the incendiary bombings that took place in Dresden were inhuman. 

I can't give a full history lesson here, but what I have given is the background foundation for a reader to maybe understand why visiting Dresden was so important to someone like myself. 
Like I said, this city can make one FEEL. And I sure felt while I was there.

Obviously the city was rebuilt after the war with a majority of it restored to it's pre-war state. It's rather neat that they used the rubble to rebuild. You'll notice that many of the buildings have scorched, black bricks incorporated into the new structure. It is my belief that these bricks are a reminder of what a city and her people can overcome. If you look up many of the buildings online to see what they looked like before the war and compare pictures to modern day, you'll notice that they look nearly identical, then and now. It's quite amazing.

Zwinger Palace is nothing short of HOLY shit AMAZING. Someone out there may think I am crazy, but I really feel the Zwinger exterior wows much more than Versailles' exterior architecture. It's one of a kind, and totally Rococo, which I am crazy about! Augustus the Strong was actually inspired to build the complex after visiting Versailles back in the late 1600's.

There are four ways to access the inside of the courtyard. The Zwinger gate (which looks like a crown), being one of them. Strolling the grounds and garden is completely free. There is a porcelain museum and math/physics museum here as well, but we skipped them this time around. 
I do plan to visit again in a warmer season to see the gardens in full swing. Plus they shut the fountains off in winter, which is understandable, but a bummer. Must return to see them in action! 

I seriously could've spent the day at this palace wandering around with my camera. SO much to look at! It really is beautiful, and having now seen it in person, I'd chose to visit this over the exterior of Versailles, any day. Hands down. I will not lie, it is not as big as Versailles, though.

We floated through the rest of the city center with no real direction. We purposely do not time or fully plan out what we do when we visit any city in Germany. We kind of let the wind guide us. Of course, I always have a 'must see' list with me, but I don't rush to see anything, anywhere. 

The winterfest lives on in Dresden

I so badly wanted to go inside of the Frauenkirche but it was closed for the anniversary remembrance ceremonies

Piece of the original Frauenkirche wall that sits behind of the rebuilt church

I've said it a few times, and I'll say it again: I must return to Dresden!

It is such a beautiful city; rich in history and glorious architecture. The people are friendly and hospitable, and the whole place holds a calming ambiance that other cities we've been in do not. 
If you are ever in Germany, Dresden is a must. Something tells me it will be one of my top three favorite cities by the time I leave Europe...