Back in the car and back on the Autobahn. More precision driving and
more speed. Exactly what we came for.
We find the Hotel Kipping which is a
little off the beaten path. It’s an old house with parking (very important), in
the back. Our room is huge with double entry doors and a balcony. And it’s air-conditioned (equally important
as the heat wave continues).
We spend the rest of the day exploring.
Lunch is on a terrace, (Radeberger Spezialaussechank Café), overlooking the
Elbe and the Augustus Bridge although the food is not as impressive as the
view, and the view is interesting but not impressive.
We have a reservation to visit The
Green Vault at 4pm so we wander through
the massive pedestrian plaza admiring the beautifully ornate buildings. We
enter the courtyard of the Frauenkirche and climb partway to the dome. It’s
just too warm for too much exertion. We find a bench in the shade and spend
some time church-gazing.
The Green Vault is filled with treasure
arranged room by room in categories. It was all collected by Augustus the Strong,
ruler of Saxony (now known as Dresden), in the 1700’s. Intricately carved
objects of copper, bronze, amber, ivory, silver, gilded silver, gold, and gemstones:
each one has a display room devoted solely to objects made of each material
with a decorated ostrich egg thrown in here and there. It is overwhelming to
consider the value and preciousness of the collection. Simply stunning.
Entrance
to the Historic Green Vault requires advance purchase of tickets for a specific
entry time slot. In order to enter the “vault” one must pass through an airlock
and also put all bags and coats in an outside locker.
We use
the rest of our time in Dresden walking through the Zwinger pavilions a
beautiful collection of intricately designed architecture. We stand and wait
patiently for the glockenspiel to chime to no avail. Not a peep.
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