The Elbe - Dresden 2

The concert and the party in the beer garden lasted well into the night! The party goers final called it quits sometime after 2am. But a good not sleep nevertheless.

The view from our stellplatz last evening.

The famous baroque Zwinger Palace with its many features including The Old Masters Collection and the Porcelain Collection. 

Zwinger Palace

It is incredible the reconstruction that has taken ace since 1945 when 75% of Dresden was destroyed. The Zwinger has been rebuilt and the museum was the first to open n Germany after the war. It again is another photographers dream - aren't well all photographers these days! 

Zwinger Palace Nympheum

We also revisited the Fraenkirche today because yesterday it was closed due to weddings etc. this church too was completely destroyed during the war. This is seen as a symbols of the reconstruction effort with the contribution from Coventry, England, of the gold cross for the dome.

Frauenkirche 

Other place visited were the Semper  Opera, the Schloss and the Green Vault.

A closer study of the Furstenzug (Royal Processions) revealed more details of Augustus the Strong and his attempt to show the pope that he was really Catholic so the crown of Poland would be added to his kingdom. In fact Augustus II was not born as the heir to the throne, his older brother was the heir. But small pox, caught when trying to breathe good air into his sick mistress's mouth, took his life as well, and so Augustus became king of Saxony. 

Augustus II crushing the Lutheran Rose with his horse!

A walk later in the afternoon led to the Bohemian district in the Nwustadt. This took in the Golden Horseman - non other than Augustus II - the Japanese Palace - built again by Augustus.

Still very hot - so retreated to the shades area of the stellplatz.

The man - Augustus the Strong

A slightly absurd sighting was the Ayers Rock Restaurant under the Bruehl Terrace in the heart of the old city - with its Australian wine list and menu! It seemed a little out of place in this Medieval city! 

Ayers Rock Restaurant under the Bruehl Terrace