Dresden to Berlin

Feeling  a bit city´d out, so took a brief excursion to the Sachische Schweiz. This is an area of sandstone massif to the east of Dresden above the river Elbe, and has been known as a tourist attraction for a couple of hundred years. The Basteibrücke, an open walkway and bridges, gives access to the area and opens up terrific views. It is believed that these rocky outcrops are the site of a medieval village sited here as a defensive measure.

Having stretched our legs and got some fresh air, we travelled on to Berlin.

Although there were major roadworks on the motorway, there were not actually any holdups, because speed limits and lane controls are adhered to by everybody, which results in the traffic flowing smoothly.

Our aire in the Kopernick area of Berlin is at the old gasworks, which at one time supplied the whole of Berlin. It was actually a British Company until the 1920´s. The aire is run now by a bear-like, jovial man, with a fearsome handshake. He spoke very good English, and was very helpful at explaining the use of the local transport network. Having to decipher S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses, as well as local and regional trains is not easy at first sight. Having got a daily card which covers all forms of Berlin City transport, we ventured forth, and found it delightfully easy.

We found that the 100 bus runs from one end of the city to the other, is included in the travel card, and takes in most of the sights without having to pay for an expensive sightseeing tour. We just followed the route on the map and spotted all the major sights. Brandenburg Gate, Reichstag, fragments of the Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of terror (gestapo Buildings) Unter den Linden, and so on. Then decided to get out and look at some in more detail.

Berlin is extremely interesting, and some of the museums and displays are quite disturbing, including the station at Friedrichstrasse where there was a border between East and West which became known as the Palace of Tears.