We left Dresden this morning and I was sad to say goodbye to the beautiful city. Dresden reminded me a lot of some of my favorite places in Italy because of the beautiful Baroque architecture you’ll find near the old town square. But, many of the buildings standing today aren’t the originals. The history in Dresden is part of what makes it so fascinating.

In February of 1945 the U.K. and U.S. bombed Dresden, destroying much of the city. The move was controversial because the war was nearing its end and the area targeted was largely civilian. Historic buildings including the Zwinger, Dresden Palace and Frauenkirche were destroyed.

It took decades, but the buildings were reconstructed using any stones that could be salvaged from the damage, along with new materials. Many of the blackened sandstone seen on buildings throughout Dresden is the stone from the original buildings. The city decided to rebuild the structures to match their original designs. Some have only been completed in the last 15 years. Their beautiful facades, peppered with some of the materials that survived the bombings, serve as a powerful reminder of the brutality of war and the importance of history.

That combination of beauty and history makes Dresden one of the most amazing places I’ve visited. We took a walking tour of the city, which was a wonderful way to see some of the major landmarks and learn the stories behind each place. I’m already looking up books to check out when I get back to the states so I can learn more about Dresden. It’s a place that fascinates me.

I’m dying to make a return visit with James since he’s never been to Dresden. I would love to spend a night at the opera, visit the Christmas Market and bike to Hamburg on the Elbe River cycling path.

I also can’t wait too long to come back for a plate of Saxon Sauerbraten from the Pulverturm. This was something I was so nervous to try, but so glad I did. The tender beef, red cabbage and enormous potato dumpling made for one of the best meals I’ve ever had. I can’t wait to try recreating this at home!

We have a day of traveling ahead of us again tomorrow, so I’ll try to check in before the end of the week. Until then, prost!

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This week has been packed with guest speakers and visits to important sites throughout the city. Every moment has been fascinating, but I figured I’d tell you about some of my favorites from the week.

The Reichstag

The Reichstag is one of Berlin’s most famous buildings and is known well for its large, glass dome. This is the building where German parliament meets. We had a wonderful tour here earlier this week and learned a lot about how the German government operates. For example, members of parliament are fined for every unexcused absence. Our tour guide made the experience especially memorable because of personal stories she shared about some of the people connected to the building’s history. I highly recommend scheduling a tour if you’re in town. And make sure to walk to the top of the glass dome!

East Side Gallery

Shortly after the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, some artists got the idea to turn a portion of the infamous structure into an open-air art gallery. Artists from all over the world came to paint the Berlin Wall and this portion now stands as a memorial for peace. It’s quite the experience to look at the artwork with the wall towering over you, imagining what life must have been like for the decades Germany was divided. We were lucky enough to tour the gallery with artist Kani Alavi, but you can also visit the site by yourself.

Hohenschönhausen

This site served as both a Soviet and Stasi prison. It has a fascinating and disturbing history. The prison housed Nazi war criminals, but also people who claimed to be completely innocent. Many of the people held during the Stasi era were arrested for trying to escape East Berlin. Our tour guide was a historian, but former prisoners sometimes give tours. Make sure you don’t miss the on-site museum.

Saucisson

We were lucky enough to spend half of one day in nearby Potsdam, where Frederick the Great built his summer palace. Even in the rain, Saucisson was absolutely breathtaking. The grounds are lush and the views from the property are spectacular. I wish we could have spent more time in Potsdam because the entire town looked so different from Berlin and appeared to have several interesting areas to explore.

Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin

Some of us noticed this theater when walking home from dinner one night. There were signs for The One, which features costumes from Jean Paul Gaultier. We decided to get tickets on a whim and I’m so glad we did! The variety show was unlike any performance I’ve seen. It featured breathtaking dancing, acrobatics and costumes. There was so much going on during each song that my eyes didn’t know where to look. The theater itself is beautiful, so I’d recommend catching a show if you can.

My European adventure continues in Dresden tomorrow, which I’ve also heard wonderful things about. Let me know if you have suggestions for places to see!

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I’ll be in Europe for the next three weeks as part of the amazing RIAS Berlin Fellowship. The fellowship gives American journalists the opportunity to see how German news outlets work, gain a better understanding of German politics and understand the role Germany plays in the world today. The program is packed with amazing speakers and tours, including stops at a refugee camp, the East Wall Gallery and NATO. I’m looking forward to soaking it all up over the next two weeks.

On top of the planned activities we will actually have quite a bit of free time. We were on our own for our first full day in Berlin and I spent time walking around and taking in some of the German Unity Day celebrations. I have a few places I definitely want to check out, but I’d love to hear your recommendations for Berlin, Dresden, Prague and Brussels.

The fellowship last two weeks and then I’ll meet my parents in London for a week of vacation. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and want to make the most of my time here – so send your suggestions my way!

Today we have an orientation before heading to the Reichstag for a tour. I’m not sure how much time I’ll have to update the blog, but I’ll try and check in a couple of times a week to fill you in on my adventures. But, for now, I’m in desperate need of coffee!

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