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Visit Beautiful Dresden, it is a City Reborn!

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In this post you will find links to items of interest you may enjoy, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping me support Travels with Tam, my travel, and citizen science!

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
A destroyed Dresden in 1945, from the Rathaus tower | © Deutsche Fotothek (www.deutschefotothek.de)/WikiCommons

Dresden is truly a city reborn. It was bombed to hell at the end of World War II, but Dresden has made a huge effort to rebuild, and they have created a miraculous city since Germany’s reunification in 1990. The East German government was not very interested in restoring historical Dresden, so much needed to be done.

Augustus II the Strong, Elector of Saxony, wanted to create a capitol that would impress foreigners as well as fellow Saxons. He spent a fortune making Dresden a center for culture and art. Porcelain became a staple of Dresden until it moved to the town of Meissen, but Meissen is still Saxony! Dresden became known as the “Florence on the Elbe” (Elbe River) and it is easy to see why, as it is known for its Baroque and Rococo grandeur. It is a magnificent city and I highly recommend visiting!

By the way, did you know that Vladimir Putin spent 5 years in Dresden as a KGB agent? It’s true, and fascinating to learn about. He was in Dresden when the wall in Berlin came down, and Germany reunified.

Here are some of my favorite Dresden sights with commentary about the city.

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
Dresden is a beautiful city. Here you can see the dome and bell tower of the Frauenkirchen.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
Wonderful Dresden.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
Carriage rides available on the square. These horses are big!
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
A little horse love!

 

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
This is the incredible Fürstenzug (Procession of Princes), a huge tribute to the rulers of Saxony. Originally painted in the late 1800s, the images were replaced with 23,000 Meissen porcelain tiles! It is 335 feet or 102 meters long, the largest porcelain artwork on the planet!

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises

 

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
In the Eastern bloc, the areas held by the Soviet Union built these prefabricated buildings for people to live in. They were built in Russia and assembled in Dresden. The buildings have attempted to improve the appearance of these apartment buildings by adding balconies and paint, but they are still a reminder of life under the Soviet Union.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The Fraunkirchen of Dresden. In English, Church of Our Lady. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dresden_Frauenkirche#/media/File:20061126105DR_Dresden_Neumarkt_1%2B2%2B3_%2B_Frauenkirche.jpg)

 

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
We had a street angel welcoming us to the Frauenkirchen!
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The cupola of the famous Church of Our Lady, the Frauenkirchen.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The incredible organ.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The church is absolutely gorgeous.

 

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
I loved the Frauenkirche Catholic Church. Stunning!

 

florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
Dresden Castle is still being restored.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The Blue Wonder Bridge taken from a local boat.
Florence on the Elbe is a good way to describe this area! The wineries are beautiful and right on the river.
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
The scenery on the Elbe River is beautiful! Check out Viking Cruise’s itinerary “Elegant Elbe”. I loved it!
The Saxon State Chancellery was directly across from our stateroom on the Astrild. We didn’t sail, but the views were gorgeous!
florence on the elbe, elbe river, dresden, viking cruises
Sunset over Dresden skyline from our Viking ship, Astrild.
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Did You Know that the Bridge of Spies is Real?

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me in my travels, and my mission to encourage others to explore this incredible world, experience other cultures, and help to make it a better place!
Glienicke Bridge, aka the Bridge of Spies!

Did you know that the Bridge of Spies is real? It’s true! Just 3 years ago the Academy Award nominated film, Bridge of Spies, was released and became a success! Tom Hanks played James Donovan, the Irish-American lawyer who played a big role in the Nuremburg Trials, negotiations over the Bay of Pigs prisoners, and yes, he negotiated the exchange of a U.S. Air Force pilot whose CIA U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960 in exchange for a convicted Soviet spy whom Donovan represented. Francis Gary Powers was the pilot, and Rudolf Ivanovich Abel was the Soviet Intelligence Officer. Donovan went to Berlin in 1960 to negotiate the exchange, and while he was there, the Berlin Wall went up.

Glienicke Bridge

The Glienicke Bridge connects the Wannsee neighborhood of Berlin to Potsdam over the Havel River. After World War II and the division of West and East Berlin, the Havel River was the border between east and west, and because of this, it was the site of many exchanges between the Free World and those behind the Iron Curtain. The East Germans called it the “Bridge of Unity”. Citizens of Berlin and Potsdam used the bridge to go back and forth, and the Allies used it for missions to East Germany. In 1952 the East German government closed the bridge to West Berliners and West Germans. When the Berlin Wall was built, East Germany closed the bridge to East German citizens as well. From that time onward, only Allied Military personnel and foreign diplomats were allowed on the bridge. The Americans and Soviets used the bridge for the exchanges of “spies” and prisoners, and so it became known as the Bridge of Spies.

On my recent trip with Viking Cruises to Germany, I had the opportunity to see and stroll on the famous, and infamous, Bridge of Spies. It is quite a lovely spot, and history remains intact by showing the Eastern bridge vs. the Western Bridge. They were painted different shades of green. The bridge was opened for East and West on the very evening of 10 November 1989, when the Berlin Wall came down. After visiting the former East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, I will never forget that date as it is the date when they all celebrate their freedom.

The history of the Bridge of Spies
The entry to the bridge is quite beautiful
Entry, from West heading East.
The East painted their half light green, the West dark green.
Germany divided until 1989.
The bridge spans a beautiful waterway.
A view of the Babelsberg Palace

Visiting the Fascinating City of Berlin with Viking Cruises

 

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Why Haven’t You Visited Awesome Potsdam, Germany, Home of Frederick the Great??

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me in my travels, and my mission to encourage others to explore this incredible world, experience other cultures, and help to make it a better place!
Potsdam is a lovely and quaint town. The shopping area feels like a movie set!

Why haven’t you visited awesome Potsdam when visiting Germany? Truthfully, I had never even considered it until I went on Elegant Elbe with Viking Cruises! I would certainly go again, it is so charming!

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Do You Love Essential Oils, Herbs, and Natural Remedies Like I Do?

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*This post contains affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting me in my travels, and my mission to encourage others to explore this incredible world, experience other cultures, and help to make it a better place!

Do you love essential oils? Do you believe in the power of natural remedies and want to start using them more intelligently?

There’s definitely a lot to learn!

You have to know:

  • What’s safe
  • What works
  • What to buy
  • Which remedies are right for each situation
  • And how to use them (recipes and techniques)

And with so many conflicting opinions online, finding clear answers can be hard — not to mention time-consuming and frustrating.

That’s why I’m so excited to tell you about the Herbs & Essential Oils Super Bundle.

Created by my friends at Ultimate Bundles (and with all-new products for the 2018 edition!), inside you’ll find 22 eBooks, 4 eCourses, 6 printables, and 2 membership sites — all to help you:

  • Match the best remedies to your unique health needs
  • Discover why and how the various remedies actually work (and the science behind it)
  • Use essential oils and herbs in your home for cleaning, relaxation, beauty, skincare, energy, even cooking and more
  • Feel confident with easy-to-follow guides whether you’re just starting out or ready for more advanced uses.

And the best part is, by partnering with the herbalists, certified aromatherapists, and other experts who created these resources (like me!), Ultimate Bundles can offer them to you at a 83% discount.

Instead of paying $567.48, which is what these products cost individually…

You can get them all for for only $47 in the Herbs & Essential Oils Super Bundle. It is definitely worth it!

Get your bundle right here: https://us154.isrefer.com/go/heosb2018/a16140/

Love,

Tam

P.S. This bundle is backed by a 30-Day Happiness Guarantee, so you can try it risk-free!

AND DON’T FORGET TO SHOP BEAUTIFUL YOU on Travels with Tam for green and biodegradable beauty products!

Get Into The Sea! Here are a Few of the Best Places In The World To Experience Sea Life

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Get into the sea! Everyone knows how I love to get in the Sea! As an avid diver, ocean conservationist, and animal lover, I can recommend some pretty amazing places! Life is always good when you are surrounded by water. If you are heading out on an adventure, picking the best destinations for your vacation needs to cater to both the inexperienced and experienced travelers in the group. When you think of the word adventure, do you consider it scaling up mountains, looking at new cultures, or heading into the sea? While we all have our own perception of what constitutes an “adventure”, heading into the sea to see animals always counts!

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Take a Sensational Viking River Cruise and Enjoy one of Your Best Vacations Ever!

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The Viking Beyla! The ships were spotless and luxuriously comfortable.

I have always wanted to take a Viking River Cruise, so I was thrilled when my blogger friend, Suzanne Stavert of Adventures of Empty Nesters, and I were invited to sail! I chose the ship and itinerary, Elegant Elbe, and prepared for an exciting and fun trip! I was not disappointed! And best of all, I learned so much along the way, and for me, that is one of the best things about travel.

The Elbe River is not as famous as the Rhine or the Danube, but I loved the itinerary which took us from Berlin, Germany to Prague, Czech Republic. I hadn’t been to Europe for 10 years, and it was so wonderful to experience places I had never been before. Our exploration of the cities of Germany and Czech Republic, all behind the Iron Curtain of the Cold War, was nothing short of a revelation. It was my first real look at how people lived in places controlled by the Soviet Union. Of course, the trip was full of beauty and wonder, too, incredible countryside, castles, palaces, vineyards and ancient town squares. However, a funny thing happened on this trip, we didn’t sail at all.

Yes, I know, it’s a river cruise, but the drought in Europe had lowered the Elbe River to a point where we could not sail. There was much disappointment, but Viking handled the situation with seamless hospitality. After staying a couple of nights in Berlin, we went to the Viking ship, the Beyla, docked in Wittenberg, Germany. I was bowled over by the elegance of the streamlined luxury ship. It was truly, truly a beautiful ship. Suzanne and I were fortunate to have tours of the bridge and the kitchens, and they were so clean, so perfectly appointed, it was amazing. Our stateroom had a balcony and was absolutely gorgeous! The dining room, lounges and bar were spotless and very luxurious. The food was delicious. We met so many new people, most of whom were dedicated Viking passengers, having sailed with Viking at least once, and most had gone on more than one trip. That is certainly a testimonial to the excellence of Viking Cruises.

Our stateroom and balcony were lovely, and identical on both ships.
Here I am with the Captain and Chief Engineer of the Viking Beyla!

 

I have no idea what any of this is, but one thing I can say, the engine room and bridge are absolutely, 100% clean. You could eat off the floor.
The fabulous kitchen crew and chefs!
Suzanne with the Beyla Executive Chef!
A beautiful sunset from our balcony on the Beyla.
Every day we had a schedule and paper delivered to our room so we would know what was happening the following day!
We loved meeting new friends!

After two nights on the Beyla, we switched to her sister ship, in Dresden, the Astrild. Actually, it wasn’t like changing boats at all, the ships were exactly the same, and Viking handled everything smoothly. The crew was different of course, but both crews were absolutely fantastic. Our program director, Benne Bennison, remained for the entire trip, and she was absolutely professional and very enjoyable to travel with. She did an amazing job with ninety people who were disappointed not to sail! After three nights on the Astrild, we went to Prague and a hotel there.

Our first night on the Astrild was German night, so cheers to Schnapps!
Chef Rene of the Viking Astrild!
Meeting new people is one of the best things about a Viking Cruise!
German night would not be complete without pretzels!
Sunset over Dresden, the view from the Astrild.

Comfortable Viking coaches took us to all the sights that had been originally planned, and so we had a fantastic time on our non-cruise cruise! I do hope to take a Viking Cruise that actually sails at some point, but hats off to Viking Cruises for making this trip absolutely wonderful! I cannot think of a single thing that wasn’t perfect. Every passenger enjoyed the trip, and planned to take another Viking Cruise. Thank you, thank you Viking River Cruises, for a marvelous experience! Take a Viking Cruise, y’all, and #traveltamstyle!

 

You’d enjoy reading more about the destinations, yes?

Why Haven’t You Visited Awesome Potsdam, Germany, Home of Frederick the Great??

 

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