A jaunt through Dresden

Dresden (known as Drježdźany in Sorbian, Drážďany in Czech and Drezno in Polish) is the capital city and, after Leipzig, the second-largest city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the border with the Czech Republic. Its name derives from Old Sorbian Drežďany, meaning “people of the forest”. An important thing to note here is that there is a difference between Sorbians (also known as Lusatians) and Serbians; they are separate ethnic groups in Europe, with completely separate histories.

Dresden has a long history as the capital and royal residence for the Electors and Kings of Saxony, who for centuries furnished the city with cultural and artistic splendor, and was once the family seat of the Polish monarchs. The city was known as the “Jewel Box”, because of its baroque and rococo city centre. The American and British bombing of Dresden in World War II towards the end of the war killed approximately 25,000 people, many of whom were civilians, and destroyed the entire city centre. After the war restoration work has helped to reconstruct parts of the historic inner city, including the Katholische Hofkirche, the Zwinger and the Semper Oper.

A view of Dresden in 1945, after the Allied bombing

We visited that old part of the city and we walked around in the section between the Frauenkirche and the Hofkirche in the course of an afternoon. We didn’t stay. We were on a fairly tight schedule and needed to move on. That evening, we made it to a small town named Radebeul, where we spent the night. Enjoy the photographs, there are 93 of them!

In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany
In the historic part of Dresden, Germany

Places

Three days in Berlin

During the same trip where we visited Prague, we spent three days in Berlin. It is an interesting, vibrant city that holds the tragic distinction of having been the most bombed city in history. During WWII, the Allies dropped 67,607 tons of bombs on the city, destroying 6,427 acres of buildings. As a result, the city’s architecture is a thorough mix of the historic and the modern.

Because it was the start of summer and it got fairly hot during the mid-days, I was able to appreciate the strong breeze flowing along the Spree, which you will see in a few of the photos shown here. It was also a blessing to be able to step into large, majestic historic buildings that always stay cool, to take shelter from the blazing heat.

Enjoy this gallery of 126 photographs!

In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Hotel, Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
In downtown Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
Berlin, Germany
On top of the cathedral in downtown Berlin, Germany

Places

Two short visits to Prague

Back in 2011, we visited multiple cities in Germany and on the way, we stopped in Prague. It was only for an hour or so while we were on our way to Germany and half a day on our way back. It was about to rain the first time we were there and the second time it was quite hot, even for early June.

Prague is a beautiful city. I was glad to so many historical buildings restored to their former selves. Practically everywhere you turned, there was something beautiful to see. The photos shown here are combined from those two occasions. Enjoy!

In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic
In downtown Prague, Czech Republic

Places

A jaunt through Geneva

This past summer we visited Geneva, Switzerland, during the Fêtes de Genève. It was a short business trip, if I recall correctly it was about a day and a half, but in-between the business meetings, we snuck in a jaunt or two through the old town. One afternoon we started down by the lake, on the Promenade du Lac, and we climbed uphill on the beautiful stone steps toward the Rue de l’Hôtel-de-Ville and the Promenade Saint-Antoine, then we came back down to the lake to see the Jet d’Eau. The following day, we visited the Promenade des Bastions, where the Université de Genève is located. And that was it. It was August, it was incredibly hot, even for Geneva, and the only area tolerable enough during the sweltering daytime heat was the lakeshore. It really says something about global warming when Geneva’s weather becomes intolerable in the summer…

Geneva is a beautiful city with a lot of history. It’s a wonderful thing when a country has a chance to develop and to build upon the successes of previous generations without the ravages of war, which to say the least, reset the clock of progress for a place. Switzerland has been in this enviable position for hundreds of years where it has been able to stay neutral and thus its people have had decent lives and have been able to see the fruits of their labor and to leave something worthwhile behind for their successors.

I hope you enjoy this gallery of photographs from a privileged place, full of beauty and value.

Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland

Places

A visit to Las Vegas

Situated in the Mojave Desert, its Spanish name means “The Meadows” because of the wild grasses and desert springs originally found there. An oasis in an otherwise dry and unwelcoming place, it became known to Native Americans over 10,000 years ago. It was discovered by the modern world in 1829, when a young Mexican scout named Rafael Rivera put it on the map. Settlers were slowly but surely drawn there and in 1905, it became a city. In 1911, it was incorporated.

Its growth back then was limited by the small water supply, but in a couple of decades, things were about to change in a big way. The year when Las Vegas came to be known as the place we know it today was 1931, when it legalized gambling and reduced residency requirements for divorce to six weeks. This move was “blessed” later that year when construction on the massive Hoover Dam started nearby. This meant the city now had access to an incredible water supply and it began to grow in spite of the Great Depression, helped by the influx of workers who stayed there to work on the Dam. The workers wanted to have fun when they weren’t working and thus Las Vegas began to gain its reputation as Sin City. After WWII, the big real estate developments began and the Strip as we know it today began to take shape. Hotels, casinos and stores, each bigger, more colorful and more lit than the other, dotted the ever-changing cityscape. And let’s not forget the appearance of heavy-duty, commercial air conditioning units in the 1950s, which can be credited with the tremendous growth in human settlements in what were uninhabitable areas. None of the large real estate developments in any of the hot places in the world would function without air conditioning.

Here is a gallery of photographs I took back in 2010 during a visit to Las Vegas. Drab during the day, its colors washed out by the desert sunlight, this place truly comes alive at night and it stays that way till morning. Throngs of people always crowd its sidewalks and the car traffic slows to a near halt on the Strip due to gawkers. If you’re going to visit, I recommend you do it during the cooler seasons (autumn, winter or spring). Visit the shops and museums during the daytime and save your evenings for walking around on the Strip and taking in the lights and the entertainment. It is unlike anything on Earth at night. The place screams abundance and availability of anything and everything. It is the pinnacle of consumerism. While I was there, I got a clear sense that everything you could want was readily available. Ads are everywhere, for every thing. All of the luxury brands have a visible presence there. Every big hotel has its own shopping mall inside, exquisitely decorated, lit to perfection and air conditioned to keep you comfy and happy. Restaurants are everywhere. Bars are everywhere. Should you want to go outside, hustlers on the sidewalk hand you phone numbers for “entertainers” of all sorts. Young women invite you into the casinos. Big LED panels flash ads at you non-stop. The buildings are all lit to perfection, to accentuate their architecture and make them stand out and draw you in. You will get visually and mentally overwhelmed by it all, so be ready for that. As I said above, I took these photos in 2010. The city has changed yet again since then. Some places already look different. Frequent change is the only constant there.

Enjoy the photographs!

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV, USA

On the Strip, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

In the foreground, commuter airplanes for Area 51 staff — or so the guide claimed — Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

A large intersection on the Strip, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

MGM Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Belaggio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Strip, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

City Place, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Luxor Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

On the Strip at night, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

New York Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Treasure Island Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Aria Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Strip, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Strip, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

City Place, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA.

Mandalay Bay Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

City Place, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Bellagio, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

City Place, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The famous Las Vegas welcome sign, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

South Point Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Palazzo Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Wynn Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV, USA

The Venetian, Las Vegas, NV, USA

Raoul Pop

One man's life

Tag Archives: cities

A jaunt through Dresden

Three days in Berlin

Two short visits to Prague

A jaunt through Geneva

A visit to Las Vegas

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: