Sunday 1st December 2024
We are on our way home! Temperature -1°C.
We got up at 7am, we were pretty organised. Just showered, ate breakfast, finalised a few things in our packing and sat down with Benny for a last minute chat.
We then headed to the bus stop, about a 15 minute walk with luggage. The bus arrived on time and we were on our way at 9.45am.

First stop Berlin Brandenburg airport via Flixbus. Then on to London with British Airways. Then we fly the rest of the way with Qantas via Singapore to Sydney.

See you all soon xxx

Saturday 30th November 2024
Our last day with Benny. He is off to work for the morning and we started to get a little organised. We packed away all our extra things that we have purchased whilst we have been here and made sure we could also manage the rest of our luggage. Both Kristen and I came with some extra room in our bags, so we are thinking we should be okay when we pack up tomorrow morning. We also have had a big day today. We went for an exercise around the lake mid morning, Kristen ran and I walked. At lunch time we went with Benny to choose a real Christmas tree and started the decorating. We then watched their performance of Nutcracker at 7.30pm, which once again I loved. It is a very young company now with many of the older dancers retiring since last time we were here. There is really only Soo-mi, Jean-Blaise, Natalia, Emily and Benny in the older age bracket left from 2022. We then came home with David to finish decorating Benny’s Christmas tree. After their dinner, and  a couple of gifts for Christmas for the boys,  we started decorating the tree at about 11pm. A wee bit too late for us girls. It was done by 11.45pm and we said our goodbye to David, had a little chat with Benny and then hit the sack as we are on our way home tomorrow.

Friday 29th November 2024
Today we got an early start as we had to make a quick trip back to the Leipzig Markets to buy some Christmas stars in case they don’t have them at the Chemnitz Markets. So off we go on the 9.31am train for an hour and 4 minutes train ride. We managed to find our way to the Leipzig Markets, buying my elusive headband along the way. Kristen’s found the star stall and  after about 30 minutes decision making time we w ere done. We could either run to the station or enjoy a little a stroll around the shops until the following train. SO we just took our time and caught the 12.21pm train back to Chemnitz.

We then just had a chat with Benny, some lunch and a little rest time until it was time for Benny to return to work for his dress rehearsal tonight. Kristen and I walked with Benny to work and then went on to the Chemnitz Christmas Markets. We started in the Medieval section and then continued looking around for another few hours. We enjoyed a pulled pork bun and hot chocolate before heading home to thaw out.

All three markets were a little different but special in their own way. We have enjoyed some lovely time together exploring the many different stalls and Christmas fare.

Benny is coming home tonight with Valeria, Livia and David, to enjoy a quick dinner and birthday cake for David’s birthday.

We shared a lovely night with Benny, David, Valeria and Livia for David’s birthday. Once again, it is lovely to share a small part of Ben’ life whilst we are here.

Happy birthday David.

Thursday 28th November 2024
A little quiet day today. Its is a little cold and dreary today, so yet another slow start after an amazing sleep last night. Kristen managed a run whist I lay in bed. A luxury, so to speak. We had a swim before lunch and then went to lunch with Soo-mi, David and Ben. This was a delicious Italian meal followed by a decadent ice-cream dessert. A quick look around the shopping mall in the town centre with its beautiful Christmas decorations. We then came home for a rest until Benny gets home at 9pm for an indulgent dinner of baked bread and cheese. Yummy!

Wednesday 27th November 2024
Kristen and I managed a run in the morning and a plate of stir-fry vegetables for lunch. Yippee! We are missing our veggies so much as bread and potato are the staples here. We then had a little rest for half an hour before heading out with Benny and David after work again at about 2.30pm. Today’s adventure is back to Dresden and their Christmas Markets. Kristen managed a little Nanna nap on the way again today which has enabled her to survive on this whirlwind trip we are on. I have enjoyed these times getting to know David.

The Dresden Christmas Markets are also amazing, with lots of the same stalls but also some very different ones. Again, we looked and many decorations and enjoyed some new food. Today Kristen and I shared a roll with ox cooked on a spit and a crumbed melted brie in a hot pita bread.  It was all really yummy. Kristen tried a different glühwein which was a little nicer than the night before, it had an apple flavour. I once again had hot chocolate. We enjoyed all the traditional Christmas stalls and also visited the Medieval section which was quite dark in decoration and was different, with bow and arrow activities and lots of interesting goods to buy. We met Helena for a drink and chat and it was lovely to hear how her life was going now. Wilhelmina is now 6 and shares her mothers enjoyment of dance, performing with her mother on the weekend. Helena is still dancing on Saturdays and Sunday, with a 31 hour job as a PE teacher. At the end of the night, I indulged in a decadent hot chocolate with nougat and whipped cream. This was made on thick melted chocolate and was divine. A very expensive treat but worth it.

The market closed promptly at 9pm and we were on our way again at 9.52pm on another hour train ride. Yet another very late night. I was comatose again on the train. Benny must be so tired also as he is working as well as entertaining us.

Dresden Christmas Market
Home to the oldest Christmas market in Germany, Dresden does Christmas like no other city. During the day, the city is much like any other in the winter — gray, chilly, empty streets. But come evening, the city transforms itself into a Christmas wonderland. Like many major German cities, Dresden boasts more than one Christmas market. The Old Town has multiple markets that seem to merge into one never-ending mass of holiday cheer. Everywhere you look there are lights strung up, towering Christmas trees decked with shiny baubles, and permeating the air is the smell of candied nuts and mulled wine!

Dresden´s Striezelmarkt
Dresden’s residents love their Striezelmarkt. Since 1434, the market has preserved its distinctive character despite a few changes. The world’s largest Erzgebirge step pyramid, which made its way into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1999, is 14.62 meters tall and can be seen far and wide. More than 2.5 million people visit the romantic Altmarkt Square every year.

Winterlights of Dresden
The Christmas market on the Prager Straße represents the southern entry to the Christmas city of Dresden and invites to strolling on Dresden’s best known shopping mile. The market, which is called “Winterlights of Dresden” since 2012, also offers a light highlight next to numerous sales stands with regional specialties from Dresden and surroundings. The 15 meters high Christmas tree is lit fantastically, the whole show musically still framed every evening. A “winter light world” enchants children as well as adults. The house of Santa Claus stands below the crossways stairs. Two rustic child merry-go-rounds for the little visitors are built in the middle section of the market, next to the Pullman Hotel.

Christmas markets at the Frauenkirche
A Christmas shopping excursion thus also takes you past the traditional Christmas market at the Frauenkirche. Traditional products like pottery, glassware and lace from the Vogtland region are sold on Münzgasse. The eight-meter-tall climbable pyramid, covered in handmade wooden figurines, is the main attraction of this small market. In order to bridge the waiting time until Christmas for the little ones, Santa Claus comes daily from 4 pm and has a surprise for every child.

Medieval Christmas Market
his market takes place in what were once the stables of the palace. Craftsmen sell goods made with traditional medieval tools and everyone wears medieval clothing.

Gebrannte Mandeln (Roasted Almonds)
Fresh almonds roasting in the pan with plenty of sugar!! Paper cones overflowing with candied almonds are the perfect interim snack while browsing the stalls looking for your next caloric-laden dish!

Tuesday 26th November 2024
2°C-12°C today.
This morning we just hung at home for a short rest and recovery. We then went to the theatre to watch a stage rehearsal of Nutcracker at 11am. Once again for me and also for Kristen we found it very interesting to see the way the performance is put together, as opposed to when you see the final production that appears seamless. Just a simple movement to exit the stage takes preparation and set positioning. It was another great experience facilitated by Sabrina, Benny’s director. She has always been happy to allow us into the work space. This went until 1pm and we then headed home for a quick lunch and a momentary sit down before heading to meet Benny at the train station again at 3pm.

Our next adventure is by train to Leipzig Christmas Markets which Benny is excited to share with us. This is about an hour train ride in the opposite direction to Dresden. We enjoyed the scenery in the daylight this time, once again passing through farmland along the way albeit minus the snow. On arrival at the station we were amazed at the lights and Christmas decorations. They were beautiful. Leipzig is one of the biggest train stations in Germany, I think Benny said there were 23 platforms all on one level.

We walked to the Leipzig Christmas Markets which were beautiful! The lights, the market stalls and the overall ambience was amazing. It was the first day for the markets here and the number of people there was incredible. There were crowds in every direction. Benny was so excited to share this first time experience with Kristen. She was indulged with the famous glühwein (mulled wine) which is served hot. She chose a white wine whilst Benny had a red, I thankfully had an ever indulgent Weiss heiss schokolade (white hot chocolate) which was very decadent. Unfortunately, for Benny, it wasn’t Kristen’s ideal beverage but it did keep her hands warm. She managed to drink half of it and then gave it to Benny to finish. We walked around the market stalls looking at all different kinds of Christmas decorations – from timber to ceramic, embroidery to metal. They came from small to extra large and every size in between. There were also wooden, leather and jewellery stalls as well. The most numerous stalls were food and drink ones, with many people indulging in these the most. After many years, the best experience for most people is to share time together with friends and family over hot wine and traditional food. Kristen and I shared a few traditional market food, firstly a langos and then a handbrot. Benny shared a Flammlachs (Flame-Grilled Salmon) with us which was really yummy. We finished the evening with a hot chocolate. Kristen bought some lovely, unique decorations tonight. I managed a really good small leather travel wallet which I tried to buy last time we were here. I now won’t have to borrow David’s wallet next trip.

The markets closed at 9pm and we then walked back to the station for the trip home. We marvelled once again at the festive sight of the train station. We were all exhausted. We managed to secure a Harry Potter styled cubicle for the trip home. I was so shattered I had my first sleep on the train, being woken 10 minutes into the trip by the conductor checking the tickets. I was in la-la land and struggled to connect with my brain to get my phone and passport out, to display my ticket and identity. The conductor was a little grumpy as we think she thought I was a fare evader but once she saw my ticket she smiled and changed her tune.  We finally arrived home at about 11pm and I tried to stay awake to chat with Benny whilst Kristen got to sleep, as my snoring had kept her awake the night before. After 10 mins I hit the sack as I only managed a couple of lucid words with Ben in that time. I had the best 6 hours sleep ever that night. Yeehah!

Christmas Markets in Leipzig 2024
The tradition of the Leipzig Christmas Market dates back to the 15th century. It is one of the largest and most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany with around 300 stalls in the middle of the historic old town. There are different markets in Leipzig city centre but they are all organised by the city authorities with the same opening times.One of the most important locations for the market is on the central Marktplatz (Market Square) near the Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall) with the traditional city Christmas tree. The stalls on the nearby Naschmarkt behind the Old Town Hall specialise in handicrafts. The Market Square location is linked to the other main grouping of Christmas stands by the pedestrian Grimmaische Strasse, which turns itself into a fairytale forest with decorated trees. This connects to Augustusplatz in front of the Opera, featuring more stalls, a nostalgic carousel and a Ferris wheel that provides stunning views over the city. There is also a small Finnish Christmas market here. Both the St Thomas Church (Thomaskirche) and the St Nicholas Church (Nikolaikirche) also have smaller markets nearby.

Langos
Dough is deep-fried and served hot, topped with garlic, sour cream and cheese to name a few. Langos originates in Hungary, but it has become a popular German Christmas Market food. This is unsurprising, as this indulgent deep-fried dish is impossible to resist.

Dresdner Handbrot (Stuffed Bread)
This is a dish that originates from Dresden and literally ticks every box for me! And lets be honest what could be more delicious than fresh bread stuffed with cheese and ham! Of course there are often other fillings to choose from but this for me is heaven.

Flammlachs (Flame-Grilled Salmon)
Salmon being cooked over a fire. This is possibly the only other remotely “healthy” German Christmas market food, should that matter to you. To prepare Flammlachs, a slab of fresh salmon is cooked on a wood plank over an open flame. The result is flaky salmon that’s slightly smoky in flavour.

Monday 25th November 2024
This morning the weather forecast is again for a mild day. 1’C-12’C.
About 8.30 am we went for a walk and bought a plain croissant and drink for breakfast, then headed back to the apartment to enjoy a quiet breakfast before heading out for a homeless big day of sightseeing. We were on our way about 10am, first stop was to drop our luggage to storage, then it was time to try and find the souvenir ships where we had seen our ideas for gifts yesterday. Sometimes this was easier said than done. We retraced our steps over the Charles Bridge up to the castle and down the other side. We then headed to the Museum of Fantastic Illusion where we spent about an hour and a half putting ourselves in the funny illusions, as well as finding lots of illusions in the imagery. It was an interesting, fun- filled time. Then back we headed towards our luggage storage facility. We retrieved our luggage, checked out another souvenir store or two and then walked to Florenc bus station to catch our bus to Dresden, followed by a train to Chemnitz. Our ETA home was 8.30pm, unfortunately border control had other ideas and delayed our arrival at Dresden. So we will now be home at 9pm. The day was quite mild today. It is amazing how you adjust to the cold.
Along the way today, we managed to enjoy a few landmarks. They were:-
– Man Hanging Out – David Černý’s statue of Sigmund Freud hangs by a pole over Husova street, in the Old Town of Prague.
– Franz Kafka – Rotating Head by David Cerny. The Head of Franz Kafka (Czech: Hlava Franze Kafky), is an outdoor kinetic sculpture depicting Bohemian German-language writer Franz Kafka, installed on 31. October 2014 outside of the Quadrio shopping mall in Prague, Czech Republic
– Statue of King Wenceslas Riding an Upside-Down Dead Horse. At the Lucerna Arcade Prague you can find the monument Upside-Down Statue of King Wenceslas Riding a Dead Horse. The statue by David Černý, called The Horse, hangs from the main atrium and is a bastardised version of the imposing kingly statue situated in the Wenceslas Square.
– The “Woman with Umbrella” statue in Prague is a quirky and eye-catching sculpture created by artist Michal Trpák. It features a man and woman hanging from umbrellas, giving off Mary Poppins vibes as they float down from the sky. The couple clings to their umbrellas with a slight uncertainty, adding a touch of whimsy to the street in front of Mosaic House in New Town. This fun and playful statue is definitely worth a look if you happen to stumble upon it while exploring Prague!
– The Dancing House. It’s a modern building designed in 1996 by the american architect frank O. Gehry. On top there is a beautiful overview of the town with an external terrace of a bar. The external building remember two dancers and it is usually called by the citizen, Ginger and Fred.
– Národní Muzeum and Wenceslas Square. Unfortunately, the square was being restored which detracted from the enjoyment of this amazing view of the Museum at the top of the hill. So this activity was thwarted today.
– The Museum of Fantastic Illusions Welcome to the magical world of optical illusions! The famous alchemist Edward Kelley will magically trap you in his medieval lab.; Charlie Chaplin and Albert Einstein will entertain you. You’ll see the real smile of Mona Lisa and it’s not the one you know from the picture! Walk up the ceiling of the room, turn into a prima ballerina, see your true mirror image, become the most beautiful person in the world, and experience many more….

Sunday 24th November 2024
The temperature was approximately 1’C-12’C.
Today we were a little slow to get going. The boys went for a walk and bought us savoury croissants (warm filled with ham and cheese) and juice/coffee for breakfast which we enjoyed in the comfort of our apartment. Then about 10.30am we were on our way sightseeing.
First stop was the astronomical clock in the Old Town main square. A little underwhelming for Kristen as it was for its the first time we saw it. We then liked at all the old buildings in the square which are magnificent exhibits of different architecture. We then continued to the Charles Bridge meandering through the cobbledrive streets, stopping in many little shops along the way. The view of the Prague castle from the bridge was once again beautiful. We detoured to the John Lennon Wall and then we walked up the hill to the Prague Castle. A magnificent building work over 700 rooms. The entrance is guarded by armed soldiers who do a change of the guard periodically i wonder if they have a heated mat or hot air blowing or their little shelters, s or must be freezing doing their job in the middle of winter. We walked around the cake then to the inner quadrangle with the St. Vitus Cathedral at its centre. This is the most amazing building. We then headedback down the hill and enjoyed al late lunch at 3pm at a Cafe near the Charles Bridge. We had a lovely lunch – Benny had pasta, Kristen had a burger and fruits and i enjoyed a mushroom and spinach risotto. We then walked back up the Petrin Hill through the park in the fading light, where we climbed 299 steps up a spiral staircase to the top of the Petrin Tower. The view of the Prague Castle, the Charles Bridge and the city was spectacular. This was one of Kristen’s favourite things we did in Prague. We then headed back down the hill to our apartment so Benny and David could get ready to head to Florenc Bus Station to head home. They were able to offload the wayward bag at the bus station and hopefully David will get his back soon. Kristen and I enjoyed a cup of tea and then decided to go out and try and get a cottons of souvenirs to avoid this time tomorrow. Do back over the Charles Bridge and half way up the hill. Unfortunately we weren’t very successful, only nagging one thing. So back to the apartment we go via the trdelnik shop across the road for our dinner ice-cream. Yummy. I had my earliest night and was asleep by about 10.30pm. Yeehah!

Astronomical Clock The Old Town Hall is one of the most significant monuments in the Czech Republic. It was established in 1338 as the administrative seat for Prague’s Old Town. Now, it is mainly used for the ceremonial purposes of the capital city, Prague. The historical town hall consists of a set of five medieval houses, the corner of which is adorned with a historical astronomical clock, a gothic oriel window and a massive rectangular tower. The lookout gallery on the town hall tower offers the most beautiful view of Prague. A tour of the historical halls in the Old Town Hall is a unique experience. The expensively decorated rooms date from various periods and are examples of the remarkable development of the town hall complex. The guided tours in various languages are organised in hourly intervals.

Old Town Square The most significant square of historical Prague, it was founded in the 12th century and has been witness to many historical events. In addition to the Old Town Hall and the Church of Our Lady before Týn, the square is dominated by the Baroque Church of St Nicholas, the Rococo Kinský Palace, the Gothic House at the Stone Bell and the monument to Jan Hus. In the pavement of the square are memorial stones marking the execution of 27 Czech lords in 1621, and the Prague meridian.

Charles Bridge Landmark stone bridge linking Prague’s Old & New Towns, with street artists & entertainers. Charles Bridge (Czech: Karlův most) is a medieval stone arch bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. Its construction started in 1357 under the auspices of King Charles IV, and finished in the early 15th century. The bridge replaced the old Judith Bridge built 1158–1172 that had been badly damaged by a flood in 1342. This new bridge was originally called Stone Bridge (Kamenný most) or Prague Bridge (Pražský most), but has been referred to as “Charles Bridge” since 1870.

John Lennon Wall  A historic legal graffiti wall in Prague, Czechia. After the 1980 murder of John Lennon a mural of Lennon was painted by an unknown artist onto the wall.

Prague Castle The Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic serving as the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic. Built in the 9th century, the castle has long served as the seat of power for kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The largest castle in Europe contains more than seven hundred rooms.

St. Vitus Cathedral Situated at the Prague Castle, St. Vitus Cathedral is the most important and largest church in Prague. The cathedral is the burial place of the former Czech kings and a home of the Czech Crown Jewels.

Petřín Hill is one of the largest urban green areas and its slopes are an oasis of calm in the center of Prague. The Rose Garden, or rosarium, at the top of Petrin Hill, Nebozízek Garden and the Seminary Garden with more than 2,100 fruit trees are particularly magical. A favourite destination for families with children and couples in love. The easiest way to reach the top of the hill is with the funicular. Petrín Lookout Tower is popular for its incredible views of the city and the mirror maze is an endless source of giggles. Walking paths crisscross the park and are lined with benches with great views; there are even several playgrounds here.

Petrin Lookout Tower, one of the most prominPetřín Lookout Tower, one of the most prominent landmarks of Prague, was built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a loose copy inspired by the Eiffel Tower (at a ratio of 1:5). It is 58.70 metres high, and 299 steps lead to its peak, which is at the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower. The view from its top overlooks not only the whole city, but on a clear day you can see nearly all of Bohemia.ent landmarks of Prague, was built as part of the Jubilee Exhibition in 1891 as a loose copy inspired by the Eiffel Tower (at a ratio of 1:5). It is 58.70 metres high, and 299 steps lead to its peak, which is at the same altitude as the real Eiffel Tower. The view from its top overlooks not only the whole city, but on a clear day you can see nearly all of Bohemia.

Saturday 23rd November 2024
Today, was yet another big day. Kristen went for a run, then we spent the morning walking through Kuchwald Forest. It was very slippery, with black ice on the path. There was snow everywhere and it was very pretty and cold. Only about 2’C. We then walked to Sachsen Allee and had a look around the shop.
We headed back to Benny’s for a quick lunch and to get ready to go to Prague. Off we go again on the train to Dresden, then the Flixbus to Prague. We arrived at 6.30pm, unfortunately someone took David’s bag and we spent the next hour trying to find it and sort it out. The bus driver Haven David the remaining bag which seemed very strange. Unfortunately, it will have to be sorted out at Dresden on the way home. Lucky for David I brought his toothbrush. We then walked 25 minutes through the city to the Old Town to our hotel which is quite nice. After looking in the bag, it belongs to Ukrainian refugee and had all his paperwork in it and done valuables so hopefully he will return David’s bag. Luckily neither bag had a wallet or passport in it.
A quick sit down for David to fill in some paperwork and we are on our way to a traditional Czech restaurant for dinner called U Fleků. David and I had duck confit with potato dumpling and red Cabbage. Kristen had Beef in cream, bread dumplings and Benny had Goulash “U Fleků”, speck dumplings, bread dumplings. It was all very nice but it was the atmosphere that was amazing. There was an accordian player who kept getting request for music and often the divers were singing the Czech national anthem with lots of passion. As our was a beer house there was beer and shots a plenty. Even the kids did one shot of the localspirit called”Becherovka” which is made from herbs and spices. As always it has a very strong flavour and burnt their throat a little. It was also very beneficial having a fluent czech speaker with us. Thanks to David being with us. After dinner we walked to the river to look at Prague Castle at night which looks like a Walt Disney castle and then through the streets back to our hotel, via the trdelnik shop. These are donut ice cream comes lined in the inside with melted chocolate and filled with strawberries, vanilla cream and ice cream. They are also a traditional Czech delight. The streets are a maze of twists and turns.
We headed to bed at about 11.30pm, so another big day and night out.

Restaurant and Brewery U Fleků is one of the oldest, largest and most famous brewery and not only in Prague, but also in the whole of Bohemia. We are a place of pilgrimage for beer drinkers and a favorite place for all fans of traditional czech cuisine.

The word trdelník is of Czech-Slovak origin. The root of this word, trdlo, is the name of the wooden tool the cake ingredients are wrapped around during baking (which gives it its traditional hollow shape), and it can also mean “simpleton” in English (see trdlo). In the 21st century, the confection became popular among tourists in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. A variation of trdelník, with an ice-cream filling, has been popularized by Prague cafés.

Friday 22nd November 2024
Today we are having a quiet day. As always, a late start as it is still dark and it was only -2°C this morning. Not conducive to getting out of bed.

About 11am Kristen and I went to the Statdbad (local pool) and swum 1500m. Besides one run/walk this is my only other exercise I have done since we arrived. Kristen has had two runs. Before we left for the pool the sun was shining and the sky was blue. On the way home, the sky was dreary and it was snowing. Lucky again! This time we prepared ourselves before moving on, gloves on, umbrella out and rain jacket hood on. It also didn’t come with the ferocity of yesterday’s snow shower.

Tonight we watched Benny’s performance of Kaleidoscope. Four contemporary/neo-classical dances. Benny is in dance one and four, and two and three David is dancing. We really enjoyed watching them dance again tonight! Although it was little struggle as we are exhausted.