The Taylor's First Day in Germany

8/24/2010 - We had been awake for almost 24 hours and it was the first thing in the morning in Dresden, Germany. Naps are a danger to successful navigation to a new time zone, so we went off in search of something to keep us awake.



Jacoba and Ruby were already starting school a week late, so that was one stress point. It was a new school and they didn’t know anyone - more stress. In a totally different country – yet more stress. My colleague, Judson Graham, and his family offered to help Jackie and the girls slide into life in Germany by meeting us on our first day and letting our girls meet their girls (twin 11 year olds – Taylor and Tyler). They seemed to have gotten along just fine, judging from the fact that we didn’t see them again until they got hungry.

We went to a BierGarten (naturally) and it was a marvelous summer day. This BierGarten was beside the Elbe River which runs through Dresden. The first photo shows a contemplative Judson with a river tour boat in the background. At this BierGarten is also a ferry across the river, and the other pictures are of the ferry. It was a delightful day with delightful new friends in a delightful new place.





The kids played along the riverbank and the Graham adults and the Taylor adults enjoyed a few beers, had some food and watched the world go by. Before too long, the sun was going down and we needed to get back to the hotel to get ready for the next day. It would be the first day of school for the jet-lagged girls, but at least they would have a pair of friends.

This picture shows the ferry heading for the other side of the Elbe River.








This is a picture of the ferry about to dock on the far side. There are several ways to get across the Elbe River in Dresden. There are 6 or 7 bridges across and a ferry or two.

On the river can be seen an occasional motorboat, rowing shells, canoes, kayaks and swimmers. There is a bike path on each side of the river, and the bicyclist and walkers are out enjoying the nice weather on a good day.

Bicycling is a terrific way to get around in Dresden. Bicycles have the same rights (and responsibilities) as automobiles on the roads and at intersections, and there are plenty of bike paths in the woods and along the roads. There are even specific crosswalk signs that include a logo for bicycles. It is a very bicycle-friendly city. Luckily, we brought out bikes with us.

The first day of school was not as traumatic as expected for the girls. Their school is the Dresden International School and it has 500 students from over 50 countries. It is a great experience for the girls.

The ride to the school was about 25 minutes by tram from the hotel. They even met some school buddies riding the tram. Jackie took them to school on the tram every day we were at the hotel.

By the way, public transportation in Dresden is also nothing short of spectacular. The primary modes of transportation are the trams and the busses, but a pass can include rides on a ferry, one of a couple of inclined railways and one of several trains. Jackie has become quite adept at negotiating the transit system to get where she needs to go. This is good, because she chose not to drive over here. Driving is intimidating – there are zillions of new and different road signs and some very alien rules for Americans (at unmarked intersections and in parking lots, cars on the right have the right-of-way).


Next - A castle or two...