Amazing Dresden

This evening we are in Dresden. We are thunderstruck by the beauty of and grandeur to the old town centre. We are only here for two days and that is so obviously not long enough. Our hotel is slap bang next to the magnificent Frauenkirche where we just by super chance managed to get into just before the organ played for a while, before a short service to welcome visitors. Stepping inside is a jaw dropping experience. We have checked the places that we wanted to visit out on google and had looked at photos.  But those do not give the feeling you have gazing gormlessly at the breathtaking interior. We have visited churches hundreds of times but have never been stopped in our tracks and been so astonished that we had to sit down in case we fell over whilst gazing up into the vast tiered done and the indescribable chancel scene, carvings and paintings reaching up to the organ loft. Its whole effect is that of a most elaborate circular theatre like interior. 

On leaving the Frauenkirche we took another couple of loops around the outside gawking up at the Dome. Although the atmosphere outside was a strange contrast to the peaceful stillness inside. This was due to the strongest police presence that either of us had ever seen anywhere. There were four of five police vans on every single facet to the church and more surrounding the open space the church stands in. There was a demonstration going on with a stage in front of which was gathered a group of flag and sign wielding people preparing for speeches and that were followed by a march. Once the chanting built up to full strength the police added their bulletproof riot gear and donned their helmets and made ready their batons. 

All of this went on for long enough for us to eat a two course meal and for Steve drink his mineral water and me to demolish a glass of wine. Sitting watching I could in my field of vision see eleven police vans. We have wandered back to our hotel and I have downloaded photos and written all this whilst outside the demonstration still rages angrily on.