DRESDEN

Germany is, for me, a long time love. One of those solid loves built in time and observation. It was hard to choose a German city to start with, and possibly I am making some injustice, but I am going to try… Let me tell you right now that this is a longer text than usual, but please understand that Germany is my home away from home.

I would visit every city I have been to again, be it for the sense of longing, be it to change the perspective. Dresden is the first city I mention here that I, indeed, visited more than once.

In Dresden I saw European snow for the first time. It was very different from the “gaucho” snow from my childhood. And after witnessing that snowflakes, in fact, have each a unique shape-as people do-, I put my tongue out and tried to catch some flakes.

Dresden has suffered a lot: wars, bombing, genocide… However, it has been beautifully restored and it does not resemble its cruel past. Dresden is located in the area known as East Germany, which was socialist. Yet, it does not look like most of East German cities. Dresden holds all of the great historical European cities’ characteristics: Baroque cathedrals, ancient buildings, monuments…

Dresden is so organized that it looks like a small town, and not the big city that it is. Clean streets and punctual transportation are things Germans know too well.

German food is plentiful and pleases, mostly, the carnivore types. Few people on the planet know how to prepare pork as Germans do. Throughout Germany, you will eat well, and a lot, paying very little. Each meal is a delight for the tired tourist, a caress for the homesick heart.

German beer is like music: hundreds of different types so that everybody can have their favorite. Forget your Brazilian experience with beer: they are so good you will not even notice they are not extremely cold. And just as the French have their eccentricities with their wine, Germans also have them. Leave your compunction at home! Pilsen beer with Sprite is called Radler, and it is great for a hot summer day. Weiss beer with banana juice is much better than it sounds!

Speaking of compunction, do not get shocked knowing that it is very common to hit the sauna naked in East Germany.
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For the Portuguese version, please visit Meu Diario Lirico de Viagem