Where to Now?? Part 1

( Dresden, Germany, Government building on Elbe River)

I had a dream last autumn, but figured it was just a dream...a desire that was out of reach because of  Covid, age, lack of confidence and finances.  So I put it aside and decided I couldn't go.  My grandson, Joshua, was getting married in Dresden, Germany in March!  My first grandchild to marry!

     Autumn passed, Christmas came and went, then I was recovering from Covid during January. My desire to go to the wedding resurfaced. Early February I considered the possibility and started making arrangements...bought a refundable air ticket, made hotel reservations that could be canceled, posted a "Go Fund Me" page, got a blood antibody test and did a lot of praying.

March 15 found me boarding a flight from Seattle to Amsterdam!!                

Where's Gram G?

18 hours later, Josh, Neri and her friend met me at the Dresden airport

They treated me to German fast food..doners...lots of veggies and chicken with garlic sauce wrapped in pita bread! 

Dresden Train station in "New Town"

 

Josh and Neri get around by public transportation...train, trolley, bicycle, shoes...

LOTS of bicycles all over!!

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Our family group stayed at the Dresden Felix Hotel for 9 nights

I had my private room with  metal and  wooden furnishings!  Big Lou would have been proud!!

(Much of our furniture in Park Falls sported metal.)

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The next day we spent a few hours touring historical Dresden "old town". 

Josh explained that Dresden was in East Germany after the war and many buildings had been destroyed. In recent years they were rebuilt with as many original bricks as possible and the rest filled in with newer.  The rebuilding is continuing to this day.

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THE WEDDING!

Neri's shower...

Grandma Joanne, Mom Jen, Grandma Geo, Cory girlfriend, Cloe

Bride...Neri

Jen, Josh, Burt

Debbie and Gerry, Mike and Kira

Dad and Neri...

(Neri and family are from Argentina)

Mr. and Mrs. Josh and Neri Schmidt!

Each table had a small electric grill (Raclette) to cook one's individual food choices..

A little Deutschland line dancing

A couple German fun facts...the wedding cake is cut and eaten before the dinner.  Wedding rings are worn on the right index finger.

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Monday, March 21 Burt drove us to the...

Saxon Switzerland Mountains National Park featuring the Elbe Sandstone mountains

(not in Switzerland, though)

The Bastei Bridge was built 200 years ago to enable people to walk through and view the sandstone features

Elbe River viewed from Bastei Bridge

Remnants of ancient wooden fortress

Catapult and stone cannonball

National Park Crew

With Debbie and Gerry on the bridge

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REFLECTIONS

     It's been a month since I last blogged, but I think I have good reason.  This has been an epic, "trip of a lifetime".  I've been on many other trips but this one is unique in lots of ways.  I will be recalling it and "digesting" it for several weeks, even months.  I'm so happy that I was able to go.  I haven't quite reconnected to daily life, but it is fun to view pictures and relive the various experiences! Expect to receive more posts of Gram G  Germany adventures! 

This has been a good 5 GeoGram weeks in the life of Grandma G.

"A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul..." (Proverbs 13:19)