Dresden is Funktified...

Walking around Dresden was a pleasure even in the rain - I don't know what it is about this city but I love it. It's relatively small, but lively.

It has plenty of gorgeous old buildings, interesting architecture, monuments and castle type complexes to appease the tour groups:











But the historic center isn't overrun with tacky shops and crappy restaurants. Instead, the little squares are cozy and inviting, and there are tons of niches and alcoves to discover.



My favourite fountain in Dresden - this is becoming a bit of theme isn't it? - is actually a group of three fountains, called Still Waters and Troubled Waters (of which there are two).



See the second fountain behind and to the right?


I stayed across the river Elbe, in Neustadt (New Town). This area is brimming with cafes, bars and restaurants alongside cool little shops selling sarongs, jewelery and incense. It's decidedly alternative, and just the kind of place I'd want to live.



But the coolest thing about this neighbourhood is the alleyways that aren't alleyways - they're like little secret passages lined with shops and cafes. You can weave back and forth between two parallel streets and feel like you're traversing different worlds altogether.



This is the coolest of all - Art Alley:




Even the playgrounds are funky and unique:



I happened to catch the first day the Dresden Music Festival: the streets thicken with food and bar pavilions and the crowds amble about, stopping to listen or drink or eat.





Overrun with live bands and Dj's, after dark the Neustaldt is thumping with everything from south african drum-techno, to break beats and jungle, to spanish hip hop, to trance and house - although the dominant genre of course is german thrash/industrial.

I wish I could have stayed longer than 2 days, especially since it was raining off and on the whole time. Nonetheless, Dresden left quite an impression on me. It might possibly be my favourite city in Germany (so far).