In German? Himelfarb = Color of Heaven. In English? Himelfarb = Bad jokes about your name.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to travel to Dresden, Germany with Christoph, the director of the Burma Center, and I had an absolutely great time.

We caught the train early in the morning, and though I was tired, I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful two hour ride that followed the river all the way from Prague into Germany. Dresden is an incredible city. Having been fire-bombed to pieces in WWII, I was expecting open spaces and signs of destruction. Having been part of East Germany, I was expecting to see the Communist bloc housing I have come to recognize throughout the Czech Republic. What I experienced was totally amazing - a mix of the old and the ultra-modern, and communist housing that has been renovated and painted in cheery colors. Unless you have been to these Central/Eastern European countries, it's very difficult to explain why communist architecture is so dreary - though it does remind me of the "projects" in Harlem and the South Bronx. Nondescript, run-down, and above all, GRAY, this housing looks as miserable as the people that probably lived there were - but in Dresden, they have done everything they can to make the flats look cheerful and modern and the effect is uplifting.

The people were beyond friendly and there were plenty of smiles from the people waiting on us in the cafes, the people walking in the park, and the people I encountered on the train. As I've expressed before, smiles are few and far between in Prague, especially among strangers, so it was like taking a deep breath of fresh air after being stuck in a stuffy room. I felt totally renewed and hadn't realized how heart-hungry I was for some kindness and friendliness. People didn't seem to mind as much that I didn't speak the language, and seemed happy that I used the three words I know in German.

Christoph was a wonderful guide, taking me through the main square, telling me stories about the various buildings and landmarks. He took me to a great restaurant in an arbor where I had an amazing salad with beans (Amanda will understand why that's amazing - beans are nowhere to be found here)! And we finished out the day with a long walk through a beautiful park to a small cafe on a lake where people were lounging in rowboats and discussed life over cafe lattes. I could have stayed there for a few more days - but alas, I had to make my way back to Prague. I'm hoping now, however, that I can make at least one more venture into Germany before I leave Europe. I could never have guessed that I would love it so much, but it truly touched me in a way that I can't explain. Down to the crosswalk sign people (who have on hats), Dresden was really fantastic.

Some highlights:
*The buildings and statues are almost black - mainly due to the ash from the bombings.
*There is a Volkswagen factory where the parts are brought in, but you can have your car custom assembled in front of you.
*Flats in Dresden are uncommonly cheap in Europe - so maybe I can move there someday. :)
*The transportation system is ridiculously efficient. Each tram stop has the numbers of the next trams and when they will arrive on screens.
*Waiters and waitresses are ridiculously efficient - both places we went, the waiters carried small, electronic machines where they could imput our order, print out our checks, and provide change for us.
*La Boheme was playing at the opera house - my favorite.

And I saw a pug puppy. So, of course, that completely and utterly made my day.

Anyways. . .I have a very busy rest of the week ahead of me - finishing up a few more documents for the Center, attending the annual exhibition at Iva's school tomorrow, tying up loose ends for Amanda and my trip to Vienna and Budapest in a couple of weeks, a Burma Center event Friday afternoon, and a big night out Friday night. I'm so busy, I'm not sure if I'm ever going to get a chance to relax. But, hey - that's the way I like it!