January 2014
New Year holidays 2013-14 lasted terribly long. I didn't go to Russia, and the prospect of lying at home for a couple weeks wasn't that joyful either. So back in late December we decided to go somewhere to the nearest abroad. After brief searches we decided to make a day trip to Dresden.
The story should start with how we bought tickets.
From Poděbrady, of course, nothing goes directly, so first we had to buy tickets to Prague.
For those tourists who plan trips in advance, there's an option to buy tickets for a specific date with discount.
As you can notice, tickets cost from 45 to 55 crowns one way. Without discounts they cost 83 crowns each, the difference of 60 crowns per round-trip ticket is obvious. 2 round-trip tickets to Prague cost us exactly 200 crowns. By the way, when buying such tickets you don't even need to print anything - you get an SMS on your phone with the ticket number, which you'll need to dictate (or, in difficult cases, show 🙃) to the conductor.
Next we were buying tickets from Prague to Dresden. The most profitable option turned out to be buying bus tickets from the company Student Agency. Nothing difficult, a week before the trip there were still free seats, so we successfully did everything (Russian plastic card worked again). In the end, our ticket came to email.
No need to print anything, when boarding you had to show passport and ISIC (student card equivalent that gives discounts).
In the morning we went to Prague. The train, by the way, was 10 minutes late, but we still made it. From the train station to the bus station it's not far at all, even if you don't know the area. Eventually got on successfully and went :) By the way, we got a cool bus - with a computer built into the seat. Everything was there - from games to movies, quite modern ones, not just past years' hits. But I didn't really use anything, slept.
As soon as we crossed the border, German customs officers entered the bus. Everything went quickly. On the way back there were no customs officers, apparently Czechia is happy to accept everyone :)
We were greeted by not the cleanest city (January 2nd after all). For me the abundance of trams was immediately surprising. And also, everywhere people run across the road, and there are practically no traffic lights. Generally speaking, in Russian terms, they cross in the wrong place. In Moscow you can even be fined for that.
We went for a walk.
Well here's something first, beautiful, gothic.
The city, it seemed, was still sleeping.
Very similar to Czechia, just everything very polished.
At first it was completely uninteresting.
By the way, people run across roads of any width. And they're quite wide here.
And then we started approaching the tourist center. Excavations were underway. On the stand it literally said - "We're digging here because we'll build an office center." Sad.
Martin Luther. Still simple, not King yet.
This building is supposedly famous - everything light - is restored, everything dark - old wall.
But you could think they just didn't wash it.
Typical tourist horse carriage rides. Smelled of shit.
Piece of old wall. Notice, everyone's very interested.
Around this stall you could hear lots of Czech speech - they sold mulled wine (prices exorbitant).
Here's the price, for example - 9 euros, by today's standards, 400 rubles. In Czechia there are no such prices, except maybe in Prague center.
View to the other bank - there, maybe, Germans actually live. In the tourist part there are very few of them, most - Russian tourists.
Crowds of tourists everywhere. Guides tell everyone fascinating facts. Mostly made up on the spot.
I couldn't shake the feeling this isn't Germany at all.
The river, by the way, - is the same Elbe that flows in Poděbrady.
And the crowd around kept growing, which was very annoying :)
Many-many, really.
We reached the famous gallery too - you can't breathe there at all.
Really wanted to be a pigeon for a minute. And fly away.
Old friend - plague column. As always, very different from all others.
Over time taking photos became difficult - tourists everywhere around :)
And nothing special, everything around is the same anyway.
And I, here, was pleased by German words. I would, in Germans' place, give a discount to those who can read such words calmly.
But, in the end, motherland calls:
and we decided to spend a couple hours on what Dresden is so famous for among Russia's tourist population - shopping.
Adventures Shopping in Dresden
There won't be many photos, I was a bit dejected.
First, I'll probably say what I hoped to see here. It was January 2nd. I didn't particularly need anything - I bought a couple jeans back in September. So we just wanted to walk and admire European Christmas prices and, maybe, grab something simple.
First should be said about the scale - yes, lots of stores. Many shopping centers gathered in one place, like 4 of them. Not bad, right?
By logic, since there are many malls, means lots of good stores too? Wrong :) I had this feeling that in 3 out of 4 stores they sold Chinese mass market - sometimes you enter a shoe store and there's a strong smell of glue.
And finally the sweet part - prices. I didn't find prices lower than in Czechia (in Moscow, accordingly, either). Well in veery rare cases, only. Can only recommend C&A store, 4 floors of very cheap clothes, I always bought something there, in Moscow and Prague, for pennies you can stock up for a year, quality - satisfactory.
From funny - know, future tourists, finding a free toilet = being a hero. All paid, everywhere minimum - half a euro, cash. And we stupidly didn't have it, I'm used to paying by card (even in Poděbrady there were no problems with this).
Nowhere special to eat - everywhere pricey (we're spoiled after Czechia). Wanted to buy local shawarma - don't take cards. Decided to snack at McDonald's - stood in the longest lines I remember. For a cheeseburger, chicken burger, cola paid about 5 euros.
Further - more fun. We decided, finally, to stock up on chocolates (Ritter Sport, Milka). At least they're cheaper here than anywhere in the world (came out to less than 1 euro per bar), and big assortment. Went to the first supermarket we found (LIDL, even in Czechia there's one like this, I think), grabbed some. Went to checkout, rang up - turned out they don't take cards (seriously?). Conspiracy! Well okay, went to look further (along the way tried to somehow buy magnets, small items, souvenirs, by card - can't). You know what, grocery stores - are a rarity. In one of them they didn't take Mastercard, only Visa (this is something new altogether). Eventually, finally found the right store. Will share my catch with you :)
Small stuff, of course, but pleasant 🙃
Anyway, we left Dresden with mixed feelings - very strange city. Will say right away why I walked with a card, without cash. Still live in Czechia, and for one walk was too lazy to withdraw money. Especially since ATMs rarely have small bills (withdrawing large ones is stupid - what if there's no change, and where to put them later - unknown). Don't use exchange offices on principle. Thought that, like, 21st century, civilization everywhere. No, in tourist cities - not really.
We returned to Prague quickly, on schedule, like coming home :) In Czechia everything is much more pleasant - both prices and atmosphere.
So, let's sum up. Is it worth going to Dresden?
In my opinion - no. Will tell about pros and cons:
Pros:
➕ not far from Czechia, easy accessibility
➕ can say you were in Germany
➕ C&A store - cheap, cheerful, 4 floors of choice
Cons:
➖ boring surroundings - seems like I've seen too much of such architecture already
➖ abundance of tourists - always annoying. When you go abroad, don't want to feel in home atmosphere (especially not in its best manifestation)
➖ prices - very high, rip-off everywhere on everything - on food, clothes, toilet (though this stops few people - people come out of stores with piles of bags. In Prague outlet - tens of times more interesting. Apparently the role is played by the fact that all these stores, though bad and nameless, are, still, in Germany)
➖ problematic to pay - maybe this only affected me and on this day specifically, but be on guard
➖ problematic to find food (I can live in Czechia for a couple days on the price of one portion 🙃)
Anyway, it's up to you to decide, of course. But from me I'll say - it's not worth it. Well, if only once. Trip to Dresden cost us about 2300 crowns (slightly less than 4 thousand rubles) for two
December 2022
We returned to Dresden from time to time, but I only took photos this time
December in Dresden is so touristy that I didn't even expect and was surprised. Lots of people.
What's interesting, in 2013 Russian speech was heard all around. Currently 90% of tourists - Czechs, organized groups. Almost no Russian speech, only Ukrainians meet once an hour.
Dresden - wide city, no "narrow alleys" here
Pedestrian zones separated by concrete blocks wrapped in black bags. Concrete blocks appeared in Europe after terrorist attacks with vehicles ramming into crowds. Black bags appeared only now to preserve beauty
Turned out there's transport in the city. But looks somehow crappy - city is very big, population density is small
None of the tourists really know this, but the city has another bank
From which you can look at that normal one
On the other bank ordinary non-tourist panel life
So panel that Germans themselves from other cities will be surprised
Shopping center, inside village village - Chinese goods, antiques with grandpas
About changes. In 2013 I complained that Dresden has too many tourists, only tourist crap is sold, toilets - paid, and cards are barely accepted anywhere.
As of 2022 here's what changed: cards started being taken slightly more often. Out of three places where we paid, cards were taken in one. Progress.
Trees sold in the neighborhood
They live like this
Or like that
Respect Švejk
Kebab and neurosis. Kebab and ayran - 10 euros. Huge, enough for two. But still, pricey for a village
My opinion: Dresden for Germans - is like Ostrava for Czechs. Ass-end of the world somewhere far in the east, where everyone lives in panel buildings, wears "make America great again" caps and is about to learn to write and shit for free, like people