Dresden Dos

I could tell you about the walking tour or the military museum, but I’ll just give you the fast highlights because I’m getting sick of writing such detailed accounts of passive things (me, stuck in an elevator, or looking at paintings, for example).

1.      I ran into my mom’s friend from college again, this time outside a large ceramic mosaic of Saxony’s kings. We had a few moments to catch up on our trips and with one another before I was whisked off to catch the group again.

2.      As I caught the group with my friend Arielle, the worst mime ever jumped up and growled at us, making squawking and gas-passing noises. I did not enjoy this strange assault. If you’re going to be a mime, then at least be quiet.

3.      At the military museum, Alana and I tried to make conversation with our very blond-hair, blue-eyed Youth Information Officer guide. He didn’t really talk a lot, it seemed for a lack of confidence in English, which was valid, but it made the 500 meter walk a little awkward. That’s a half of a kilometer. Which is, well, I have no idea how far.

4.      We had lunch in the military academy’s mess hall. As stupid Americans, we couldn’t figure out how to navigate their cafeteria line, which is weird because it was the same as in America. You get a tray, slide it down, take what you want. But, when you don’t really know what anything is, it’s harder to take what you want. I ended up with a vat of rice pudding with apfelmusse in it. Literally, this dish had enough rice pudding to fill two Kozy Shack family packs. I was unsure I even liked rice pudding, but it turns out I do. Just, not in mass quantities. My gracious friend Mitzi donated her Kosher smoked salmon tea sandwich to me and I split it with two other starving vegetarians. My stomach is still suffering from the endless milchreise. I maintain that rice pudding is a dessert food, to be eaten in small quantities.

5.       At the German military history museum, we had to suffer through more of Liebskind architecture. The design structure is meant to make you feel awkward and uncomfortable, creating big empty spaces and few straight lines. We saw tanks and rockets and submarines and a lot of interesting things, but our feet were dragging and we sat at every bench we saw. In an extra half hour in the space, I got a sudden influx of energy and wandered through a history of both wars. Included was a human foot, several Nazi uniforms, and a recording device made by IBM, used by a racial analysis institute. Apparently, there is a whole book on the relationship between my future employer and the National Socialists we all hate, and I think I should read it. Whether talking economics, politics, past or future, I’m feeling optimistic about where I’m headed.

I’m literally headed toward Berlin right now, and I’m pretty excited to return to our hotel, my belongings, and a night of free time. Did you know the unofficial motto of Berlin is “Poor, but Sexy”? Well, it is, and as a post-grad, pre-employment travelista, I would say the motto kind of fits the girl and the adventure.