Dresden and Saxon Switzerland National Park

This was the highlight of the trip for me. Dresden itself was a pretty amazing city. The national park about 30 minutes away was spectacular. You must look at the pictures, even if I was not able to do the sights justice.

Bastei Chimneys

In Dresden, some of the highlights for me were the 100+ meter wall depicting the leaders of the region for thousands of years (all done in Meissen porcelein), and the artsy area where I found the nicest set of rain gutters in the world.

I am very glad that I decided to venture out to Saxon Switzerland National Park, even if it meant a very long day for me. (I left Dresden about 10 AM and would not arrive in Vienna until 11:30 PM). The Bastei rock formations and fortifications felt like discovering an unknown world (despite the swarms of German tourists). The sandstone formations along the banks of the River Elbe create narrow 'chimneys' that just hundreds of feet into the air.

Bastei formations

After spending an hour or so wondering about, I got back in my car and drove along the Elbe to Prague before getting on the Autobahn towards Vienna. This trip took much londer than the milage would indicate and I learned my lesson about secondary roads - they can be quite scenic, but at times you can hit cobblestones, tricky turns, and long stretches of alternating traffic flow (wait at traffic light for 15 minutes for other direction to come, then travel along one-way cliffside road for several miles).

All in all - a very interesting trip and I am glad that I chose to 'deliver' the car myself.

Bastei View

Dresden gutter

Dresden nightlife

Meissen movie

Meissen porcelein history of Dresden