A day of Observation

My first destination is Gedenksttte Munchner Platz a museum dedicated to the resistance against dictatorships in Germany and the abuses of the legal system perpetrated under the Nazi regime and the Soviet occupation.  It is located in the Georg Schumann Building, at the Dresden University of Technology which used to be the District Courthouse.  It was very stark to be in an area that includes an execution yard and death row.  

                                 

This museum is located about 30 minutes from the Neustadt and there is a noticeable change in the architecture.  The landscape begins to resemble the "typical" East German state run structures.  The change in the architecture and the heavy feeling I have from the museum have me thinking...what is the history of this city?......what happened during World War II?...what have the people on the tram next to me seen since the reunification of Germany?......what was it like in Dresden post 1945 and pre 1990?  

This is the short history via wikipedia.......Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendour. The city was completely destroyed by the controversial Allied aerial bombing towards the end ofWorld War II. The impact of the bombing and 40 years of urban development during the East German socialist era have considerably changed the face of the city. Some restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Semperoper and the Dresdner Frauenkirche. Since the German reunification in 1990, Dresden has regained importance as one of the cultural, educational, political and economic centres of Germany.[citation needed]  Here is the link if you would like to read the full entry.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden

Note, while wandering the halls of the Georg Schumann Building, at the Dresden University of Technology I find an advertisement for a Google job fair.  This reminded me that google is a very technical tool that I take for granted.  My next stop is Deutsches Hygiene Museum located on the edge of a large park called Grosser Garten.  It is purpose is to provide a dialogue between science and society, art and culture.  It was interesting enough but I felt a little pricey at 7 euro.

Next I walked the lane at Grosser Garten to Permoser IM Palais......The home of a statue gallery.  It is a beautiful building but it is closed for the season.  Check out this picture...... of the outside.  Note for lunch I had a hard roll sandwich with salami, leeks and tomato, dessert was a beautiful orange petit fours.  I am still amazed by the bread here in Germany!

I spend the rest of my afternoon walking the Garten and then catch the #13 tram home.  I see such a mix of culture.  Take for instance this light pole….it looks left over from the Soviet time here is Dresden. 

           and then there is this fountain…all mosaic                                                                                                      

    the “state run “looking  housing verses the VW manufacturing plant

 

I guess every city has its contradictions and today I noticed them in Dresden.  Tomorrow I plan to venture to more “traditional” museums and get ready for our trip to Prague.  

All my best,

Jill