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Day Six: A Great DaySlept in today and Karl awoke with a pronouncement that it was going to be a very good day. Not that yesterday wasn't, but it wasn't really. We got up and took the local tram to Dresden, which we had learned how to do the night before and did the Rick Steve's walking tour. You can see many historical buildings within a very short span of time in Dresden. We wandered and read about the Zwinger, Royal Palace and other buildings built by Augustus the Strong. It is interesting to witness the rebuild as they are clearly still working on it since reunification. After taking the inside of the Frauenkirche which although it is new is truly spectacular. It cost 100 million Euros and 90% was donated. The cross that sits on top was made by an Englishman whose father had participated in the firebombing of the church in 45, that is cool. The melted bent original is in the church. We stopped for a late lunch on the Elbe River and enjoyed a Dresden style desert, an egg custard like thing with raisins and almonds. Nice. After this large meal (we are averaging about one full meal a day - they are huge and heavy as you would expect), we went back to Radebeul and asked the gentleman about the little grapes we have been noticing all over the map (actually we knew, you can see vineyards everywhere). He gave us a map of a walking tour from the hotel and we had a fantastic stroll along this old road made of stones stopping at several local (smallish - 4--10 acres) wineries. The people greeting us were lovely, explaining all in great detail and no charge for tasting. Very relaxed and yummy. The last place we stopped, we were told that we were at the best cheese shop in all of Germany. So what could we do, more tasting and a cheese plate to share. The cheeses were quite varied and the bread was warm. It was fantastic, we are thinking of writing Rick Steve's and letting him know that it needs to be included on the tour guide, on second hand maybe not. Well, Dresden in the end did not disappoint, but mostly because we went off the beaten path. Off to Berchestgaden via an overnight train to Munich and then onward. Signing off for now, eye covers on, ear plugs in, Guten Nacht.
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