Radebeul: The sun salutation of the wine-grower
The wine discovery oft he year is called „Sonnengruß“. It can be bought either as „dry“ or „off-dry“. The delicious drink is offered by the vineyard Neufriedstein at Radebeul. The liquid can be consumed at the corresponding season bar restaurant. By chance the vineyard is idyllic located high above Radebeul. So while enjoying you wine you also can take adavantage of an awesome view from the top. I cannot think of any better way to spend a summer evening. Later we spoil ourselves with a visit to Schloss Wackerbarth. A dignified place. However, we liked the small but nice vinery a little better.
Villa Teresa: love fades, hectare stays
On the next day we plan to cycle on the Elberadweg. We ride to Coswig and discover the Villa Teresa. Of course we do not have a clue who Teresa was. A signpost at the building’s wall however provides us with more information. Teresa Carreño was a concert pianist from Venezuela and is the eponym. Her third spouse, Eugen d’Albert, a pianist and composer like her, brought her to Coswig. But there is more competition between them then love. The couple breaks up. Anyway, the villa and the corresponding garden are gorgeous. Today the building is being used for weddings.
We move on towards castle Moritzburg. Many might know it from the movie „Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel“. The film has been shot over there. The route leads us through the forest. A real pleasure upon the heat. We stop at the water lilly lake. This pond is located in a forest graveyard and looks enchanted. It is a nice place for a picnic. By the way we are very thirsty and thus stop at a guesthouse.
Pub talk
It is like an oasis in the desert for us when we discover the terrace of the Eisenberger Hof right in the middle of the midday heat. We sit down and order two cold drinks. Next to us sits a birthday party company. It is the ninety-one birthday. Without giving an details my ears are flattening aftr ten minutes of unintended listening – which might be due to the volume. Their conversation is packed with prejudices and clichés.
At castle Moritzburg we lock our bikes and explore the terrain. I am positively surprised that the place is not as packed as i expected. At the entrance of the property pottery figures are sold. Among them I spot the „Little Mole“ which I know from GDR-TV. As a child I’d love to watch it on TV and it is still cute. Upon this nice weather we do not feel like going inside the palace. We rather move on to the nearbye Fasanenschlösschen and the mysterious lighthouse. I am curious what it is. I did not expect something like that upcountry. And suddenly we stand in front of it. It is a nice example of its kind. Unfortunately we cannot climb upon it. The port faciity en miniature is charming and the tower are really beautiful and capture my heart immediately.
Historical dung tavern
We want to move on to Meißen. Once again on the cycle path we spot a signpost to a „Historical dung tavern“. The name can be asribed to a former dung place which existed close to the tavern. The path leads us back into the forest. Weh ave still 20 kilometres to Meißen. The heat increases significantly and our throuts get dry again. Fortunately we come across another „oasis in the desert“. This time it is the restaurant Buschmüle that safes us. We are lucky to get our beers quickly. The animal spirits return. Thus refueld, we can embark on remaining distance to Meißen.
The Fettbemmenschänke
Close to the historical centre of Meißen we come across a Fettbemmenschänke (sorry, cannot be properly translated). It is not in use any more but the name only is worth a picture. Later on we learn that the name Fettbemmenschänke stands for bread with lard. The historical centre of Meißen is a real highlight. Due to a shortage of time – there’s a birthday party tonight – we can only visit the market place. But who knows, we might come back one day.
Back on the Elberadweg we go back to our holiday appartment at Radebeul. Altogether we rode about 60 kilometres today. We are proud on us that we made it beside the heat. But the awesome landscape, the many sights and the nice stops made it easy for us.
Short trip to Dresden
The next day is even hotter. The quicksilver jumps to 39 degrees centigrade. Prior to our journey back home we want ot cycle to Dresden. It is only a ten kilometre ride on the Elberadweg. But the sticky hot weather makes it hard. Therefore the flying visit to the city is short. It is much to hot within the old part of the town. I take a look at the royal seat and of course on the Frauenkirche, the symbol of the city.
Afterwards we are yearning for the city beach outside the city limits. We relax a bit before we go back to Radebeul and drive home. That is how a wonderful weekend ends. Fun fact: during our journey back home the temperature falls from 39 degrees to 21 degrees celsius.
