Whereas yesterday's train hit speeds of upto 247kph, today's was a little slower, but very picturesque - past many golden canola fields, green rolling hills, quaint towns and cities that are well known in terms of Church history, or hymn tunes - Erfurt, Leipzig, Weimar. Intersting to think that we were travelling ground that was very familiar to Bach and earlier to Luther, but neither of them now would recognise anything much of their world - except the churches that continue to dominate the skylines. Fast trains, and elevated highways make travel so much easier. We left at 9-20 and arrived 5 hours later in Dresden and then walked the length of the shopping plaza to eventually find the Hilton Hotel, which was right next door (literally) to the Church that Rosslyn wanted to revisit - the Frauenkirche. When she and Natalie were here 2 years ago, there was a concert on so they could not go inside. This Church was bombed in 1945 and lay in rubble for over 40 years until it was finally rebuilt in all its splendour and re-opened in 2005. The other joy of the afternoon was that of finding that today was a holiday - Pentecost Holiday) and so in the square was a Spring Market, along with the maypole - needless to say we wandered that and had a ball (well, actually, chocolate coated bananas,) as black storm clouds gathered. WE went at 6pm for a service at the Frauenkirche and so heard the magnificent organ being played there for this 1/2hr devotion time and then went to the Ayers Rock Restraurant, just around from the hotel for our tea. Don't have to wake up early in the morning but we plan to do a hop-on off bus tour of the city which appears to offer great possibilities of interest.
Whereas yesterday's train hit speeds of upto 247kph, today's was a little slower, but very picturesque - past many golden canola fields, green rolling hills, quaint towns and cities that are well known in terms of Church history, or hymn tunes - Erfurt, Leipzig, Weimar. Intersting to think that we were travelling ground that was very familiar to Bach and earlier to Luther, but neither of them now would recognise anything much of their world - except the churches that continue to dominate the skylines. Fast trains, and elevated highways make travel so much easier. We left at 9-20 and arrived 5 hours later in Dresden and then walked the length of the shopping plaza to eventually find the Hilton Hotel, which was right next door (literally) to the Church that Rosslyn wanted to revisit - the Frauenkirche. When she and Natalie were here 2 years ago, there was a concert on so they could not go inside. This Church was bombed in 1945 and lay in rubble for over 40 years until it was finally rebuilt in all its splendour and re-opened in 2005. The other joy of the afternoon was that of finding that today was a holiday - Pentecost Holiday) and so in the square was a Spring Market, along with the maypole - needless to say we wandered that and had a ball (well, actually, chocolate coated bananas,) as black storm clouds gathered. WE went at 6pm for a service at the Frauenkirche and so heard the magnificent organ being played there for this 1/2hr devotion time and then went to the Ayers Rock Restraurant, just around from the hotel for our tea. Don't have to wake up early in the morning but we plan to do a hop-on off bus tour of the city which appears to offer great possibilities of interest.
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