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Spending our last day in Dresden, against Gary’s better judgment, we even attended a modern ballet in the beautiful Semperoper. It was, –huh,–interesting. Strolling back to our camp in the park it was still light enough to sit outside and enjoy the evening.

Around 3 o’clock in the morning we were suddenly awoken by a loud banging and clanging right in front of our truck. We tried to ignore it but after half an hour we peaked outside. Early vendors were already setting up their stands for the huge Friday market. We quickly moved to the other end of the park where it was quiet. When we awoke, it looked like a small village had been built overnight. As we have mentioned before, we love markets. The morning was spent shopping in what had become our backyard. Couldn’t have planned it better.

A quiet camp in the park. No one around.

Overnight our peaceful camp had become a huge open market.

Fresh flowers, fresh bread, and a basket to carry it all home.

We paid only €3 for 24 hours parking. For €14 around the corner, there was actually a small RV parking lot with a dump station, water and hookups. We didn’t need any of that in our self-contained camper.

The Goldener Reiter statue (1736), showing Augustus the Strong, the Elector of Saxony and King of Poland, dressed as a gilded Roman Emperor.

Dresden’s stunning Frauenkirche was originally constructed between the years 1726 and 1743. It is one of Germany’s greatest Protestant churches.

You can tour the city on a bicycle built for seven. Everyone peddles. Looks like fun!

The surging Elbe River had crested 6 meters, (19.5 ft), above normal, swamping much of the city’s riverfront.

We weren’t in the Black Forest but a slice of the famous Black Forest chocolate/cheery cake was a special treat.

Monika’s smile was enough to chase the rain clouds away for our last day in the Dresden.

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Having seen the Volkswagen Transparent Factory, we found the perfect camping spot in a beautiful park nearby (€3 for 24 hours). The tram station was close but we walked into town and immediately were impressed by all the beautiful old buildings. Dating back to the 18th century when this was the capital of the Saxon Empire, the style of statues and monuments was quite different than those we had seen in London.

The architecture of Dresden was so amazing, it’s easy to imagine why they called the city “The Florence of the North”. Monika has been to Florence and she says that the ornate style is similar, so that’s something to look forward to if our route takes us through that part of Italy.

We found the perfect camping spot in a beautiful park nearby (€3 for 24 hours).

When we arrived in Dresden it was just recovering from the worst flood since 2002. The river was still receding.

The Lutheran Frauenkirche (1738) was destroyed in WW II and painstakingly restored only after the reunification of Germany.

The Residenzschloss (Palace) on your right and the Hofkirche (Cathedral) on your left are connected with a second story bridge so the royals were able to enter the church without being seen by their subjects.

The Catholic Hofkirche’s (1755) crypt contains the heart of Augustus the Strong. Heavily damaged in WW II it has been painstakingly rebuilt.

This section of the Zwinger (outside view) contains a world renowned porcelain collection started by Augustus the Strong soon after the nearby famous Meissen porcelain factory was founded.

The interior court of the Zwinger with its Nymphenbad fountain is very popular among tourists.

This section of the Zwinger (court view) houses the world famous porcelain collection. The clock rings on the hour with bells made of what else….porcelain.

On the Theaterplatz is Dresden’s glorious opera house, the neo-Renaissance Semperoper. Among others, premiers by Richard Wagner, Carl Maria von Weber and Richard Strauss happened here.

This neo-classic statue resides high above the Semperoper’s entry halls.

The King Johann statue on the Theaterplatz was created by Johannes Schilling.

Many of the restaurants and cafés in Dresden have been beautifully restored to their original elegance. This one in the Italian Village is overlooking the river Elbe on one side and the Theaterplatz on the other.

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Getting an early start from Rosberg, we headed slightly out of our way to the 18th century Saxon capital of Dresden, famous throughout Europe as “The Florence of the North”. Our primary goal was to visit The Volkswagen Transparent Factory (Die Gläserne Manufaktur) where they make Volkswagen’s luxury sedan, the Phaeton. The factory’s walls are made almost completely of glass. For more details see:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muyGGyZrW08

The Volkswagen Transparent Factory is quite impressive, although it’s not really a factory. It’s more of a high-tech assembly plant. All components of the Phaeton come from other cities and countries. The company is quite proud of the Phaeton, but if we were going to spend $80,000 to $120,000 on a luxury car, I don’t think we’d want it to just have a Volkswagen logo on the grill. Most of them go to China.

The Volkswagen Transparent Factory is quite impressive but it’s not really a factory.

Bertrand, the bear from the Espar factory, got to tour The Volkswagen Transparent Factory.

As it turns out there was much more to see in this historic city, still in the process of rebuilding WW II damage and re-uniting with the West….. and the recent flood waters.

The Palace in the Grosser Garten is slowly being restored to its original condition when Augustus the Strong reigned.

Many of the old buildings showed the stern character during the reigns of Augustus the Strong and Augustus III, (1694-1763).

We are almost traveling now. Time for a break!

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Driving on the Autobahn in Belgium and Germany is a kick. It takes some getting used to following a long line of trucks going 55-mph in the slow lane while Porsches, Audis and Mercedes are flying by at 95-mph or faster. One must keep a careful eye on the rear view mirror before pulling out to pass slow trucks. We are getting used to it. Though we don’t get the greatest fuel mileage with all this passing, we’re certainly glad to have the power of the big turbo-charged V-8 diesel.

You may recall that we switched from shipping to Germany to Belgium at the last minute because of the little-known entry cash deposit of 29% of the value of the vehicle German Customs required. Well, it was a bit strange then to drive across the Belgian/German border and not even slowing down. We wonder why coming in by ship is so different from just driving across the border.

Before heading down to Switzerland we had some stops to make and the first one was a visit with an old friend, Thomas Kreutziger, the founder of Alu-Star, one of the premier builders of overland expedition campers in Germany. We had to deliver an Everpure water purification system like we use in our own camper for his new Safari vehicle. A grassy meadow behind his house was a perfect campsite where he joined us for a coupled of days while we relaxed and took a deep breath.

A grassy meadow behind Thomas’ house was a perfect campsite.

Big turbo-charged inter-cooled diesel V-8s are not the norm in Europe. Everyone wants to see the engine.

We took time to try out the wildlife viewing seats in Thomas Kreutziger’s new custom Safari camper.

Thomas joined us for a coupled of days in the grassy meadow behind his house.

Monika found an Internet connection in the wild.

Could it be illegal to drink Black Butte Porter from Oregon in Germany? Don’t bother me. I’m working.

Our Tortuga Camper was a little bigger than Thomas’ Toyota, so he joined us for dinner.

What a beautiful painting. Just thought we would share.

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The wonderful town of Brugge had taken our mind off the fact that our home was still on a ship coming across the Atlantic, but there was plenty of time to worry about all the stuff that could go wrong. Had it survived being parked in the holding lot at Baltimore for 10 days, (5 days longer than expected)? Had security locks kept people honest? Was it really necessary to remove all the lights and other accessories from the outside? Had somebody backed into it accidentally? Had it been tied down correctly aboard the ship? Worry, worry, worry, worry, worry.

Monday morning we arrived at the Port of Zeebrugge with our wonderful agent, Rita Boussemaere, from Wijngaard Natie Logistics – Atlantic nv, necessary paperwork in hand. Required was the title of the vehicle, my passport and the European insurance papers. Though they were not needed, it was recommended to have the originals of these documents in case they asked for them. They didn’t.

Rita Boussemaere, from Wijngaard Natie Logistics – Atlantic nv, had everything under control.

Several ships had arrived during the weekend and it was a busy morning at the port. We turned in our documents and waited. The Customs Office at the Port of Zeebrugge is not located in the same building as the Port Authority, so communication is a little slower. We waited impatiently, watching traffic going in and out. One truck was loaded with six Maseratis, so we felt in good company. It was interesting to park next to a car-hauler carrying half a million dollars’ worth of plastic-wrapped sheet metal.

It was Interesting to park next to a car-hauler carrying half a million dollars’ worth of plastic-wrapped sheet metal.

At length, our patience was rewarded as we saw The Turtle V rolling into the parking area. A great sigh of relief!! Absolutely nothing bad had occurred. In fact, except for a little dust and a few rain spots, it hardly needed washing. Nothing had been touched nor tempered with. We set about immediately reassembling and repacking all the boxes and compartments. This was done quickly thanks to our careful packaging and labeling back in Pennsylvania.

“YES, this is the key!!” said Monika with a grin.

We can highly recommend the Wallenius Wilhelmsen shipping line. Very organized!

Everything coming off the Figaro freighter was well documented.

Nothing had been touched or tempered with.

The inside had been carefully packed for a possible rough sea. One of our clothes drawers had come open.

Repacking the truck went quickly. Our full propane tanks had not been a problem because they were not mounted outside.

We plugged in the Garmin GPS, slipped in the micro card containing turn-by-turn instructions for all of Europe, punched in the nearby sea resort of De Haan that looked friendly and drove away. A quick stop at a supermarket gave us the necessary ingredients for a welcome home celebration. Finding a quiet spot on a street near the ocean, we opened a bottle of wine and dined on escargot sautéed in butter and white wine with a fresh baguette. Monika whipped up one her famous one-pot Siberian meals. The Turtle V had landed and we were home on the road.

Modern Belgium highways were a dream to drive.

The grey Atlantic was not inviting. We could see why people flock to the beaches of California.

A quiet street near the ocean made a good one-night camp.

Fresh escargot simmering on the stove.

Some nice wine and escargot sautéed in butter & white wine with a fresh baguette.

The Turtle V had landed and we were home on the road.

A nearby bakery had free Wi-Fi and warm bread in the morning.

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We did find the “Red Light Zone” but these days it’s only know as the narrowest street in town. Andre’s B&B was full on Saturday so we spent the night at Charlie Rockets, a popular pub and hostel. We shared a room with six bunk beds and three British girls and one from Argentina. Poor Gary☺!! In the morning we had to try another recommended Belgium specialty: Real Belgium Waffles!

Once the Red Light district of Brugge, now it’s simply known as the narrowest street in the city.

We spent one night in Charlie Rockets hostel. Six bunk beds, three young British girls, one girl from Argentina and one bathroom. That was interesting.

We have all heard of “Belgium Waffles”, but we had to taste one of Belgium’s specialties. Delicious without any topping. Melted chocolate is a favorite.

The ship transporting our truck and camper had docked at the Port of Zeebrugge but we could not retrieve it until Monday. Had it made the trip safely?

Being budget travelers, we could always find a great place for lunch.

Brugge is circled and criss-crossed by peaceful canals.

There was always the temptation to stop at one of the many inviting street-side cafes for a cup of coffee or a cold beer.

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Strolling around town we notice a sign advertising a free harp concert. It was a fabulous performance by Luc Vanlaere playing several unique instruments. One of his original compositions was titled “Along Silk Road-Heading East”. Of course we had to by the CD. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cDAA5XXfdQ and http://mp3hamster.net/muz/luc%20vanlaere#.Ucd1r-BpdcM

Aside from chocolate and beer, Brugge was also a center for delicate lace work (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYSTZ4dDQKA). Belgium painters were famous for their extreme realism and detail. Museums had wonderful examples of both.

Lace making is an ancient craft in Brugge. The intricacy and precision required to make even a small piece of lace is amazing to watch.

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It was Saturday morning in Brugge, and being market junkies, we couldn’t miss the huge open market in the Markt Square. Aside from a large selection of fresh produce and flowers, there was an interesting assortment of live animals, specialized tools and clothing. Since we were not really traveling in the normal mode, we couldn’t buy much fresh food, but we almost ended up with a couple of fluffy little ducklings.

The Saturday morning market offered a huge selection of fresh produce and flowers.

We almost ended up with a couple of fluffy little ducklings.

Wonder what they’re selling here?

The other big square in town is the Burg, home to Belgium’s oldest City Hall as well as the Basilica of the Holy Blood were a few coagulated drops of Christ’s blood is said to be stored. The Markt & Burg squares are the medieval cores of town, but some of the creative fountains and statues were quite modern to say the least.

As we had discovered in London, one of the best ways to see the town was by boat. Brugge is circled and criss-crossed by canals. Bridges were built before cars were invented and since the city is no longer an important shipping port, the beautiful stone causeways serve their purpose, mostly for pedestrians.

Beautiful horses pulled carriages at a fast clip around town, and they didn’t know all the traffic laws.

The Burg Square is one of two medieval cores in town.

The beautiful stone causeways serve their purpose, mostly for pedestrians.

One of the best ways to see the town was by tour boat along the canals.

Of course we could’ve stayed in Holland for another month and never seen it all, but we knew our truck was arriving in a few days and we wanted to be a little closer to the port in Belgium. That gave us the perfect excuse to visit the beautiful town of Brugge.

In 1277, the first trade fleet from Genoa, Italy arrived in the harbor of Brugge, making it the most important link with the Mediterranean Sea. Since then, it has had its ups and downs. Around 1500, the River Zwin began filling with silt. No longer an important port, the city died. In 1907, Brugge built a new harbor closer to the ocean called Zeebrugge, giving the Germans a place to try out their 1st generation of submarines during World War I. By 2002, Brugge was the Cultural Capital of Europe. Today it is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities and has become the most visited in Belgium. Thanks to strict building codes, the 13th century center was suspended in time five centuries ago.

This is a walking town. The 83-meter high belfry with its 47-bell carillon is an easily seen landmark from just about anywhere. We ambled through the cobbled streets, checking out the occasional museum, always tempted by the pleasant outdoor cafés along the meandering canals. We had been lucky to find a wonderful B&B (Andre’s B&B) just a short bus ride to the center.

Belgium is famous for its wonderful chocolate, so of course we had to try some just to see if it was as good as Swiss chocolate. It would cost a calorie-rich fortune to do a real side-by-side test, but for the time being we will give Swiss chocolate the edge. There was no lack of cute restaurants offering Flemish and Continental menus. We spotted a little hole-in the-wall pub on a side street. When we saw fresh trout being grilled, it was an easy choice for dinner. We were getting a feel for what this town has to offer and were looking forward to a couple of days here while we waited for customs to clear The Turtle V.

The 83-meter high belfry with its 47-bell carillon is an easily seen landmark from just about anywhere.

Thanks to strict building codes the 13th century center was suspended in time five centuries ago.

Belgium is famous for its wonderful chocolate, so of course we had to try some just to see if it was as good as Swiss.

We were always tempted by the pleasant outdoor cafés.

There was no lack of cute restaurants offering Flemish and Continental menus.

When we saw fresh trout being grilled, it was an easy choice for dinner.

When you think of Holland, of course there are windmills, tulips, and canals. To get a closer look at all of them outside of Amsterdam, our good friend, Dick Tensen, guided us on a tour through the surrounding countryside. The Dutch people are notoriously friendly and helpful. Dick and his wife Ellen were no exception.

We wandered through quaint villages with their beautiful brick streets. The classic windmills have been largely abandoned for modern power sources, but many are being restored. We found it interesting that they were not only used for pumping water. They were a general multipurpose power source for sawmills and grinding flour, coffee and many of the exotic spices that came by ship from far-off lands. Always, wherever we drove, there were canals and their accompanying drawbridges that keep traffic moving both on land and water. We visited an outdoor museum where we were able to watch the famous Dutch wooden clogs being made. Of course we had to try the Dutch pancake. It was sort of like a giant crêpe, prepared with anything from chocolate, or my favorite, bacon and cheese, all fried together as the pancake cooked. We’ll try that when we get home. (Oh, I forgot. We’re already home.) Next stop will be Brugge, Belgium where we wait for The Turtle V that is arriving at nearby Seebrugge.

Since much of Holland is really below sea level, the ever present canals are a way of life.

Though one might assume that the canals are saltwater, in fact they are fresh water fed by the many rivers coming from the interior.

Even today, canals are used for transportation so drawbridges are a necessary feature to keep traffic moving.

The Dutch pancake, whether served with powdered sugar, chocolate, butter and syrup, jam, bacon and cheese is a close runner-up to French fries with mayonnaise. We’ll have to try both again.

Dutch homes are often very small and compact but gardens give people the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors.

Narrow houses give rise to narrow spiral staircases. One side of these staircases becomes increasingly narrower and you really need to watch your step before it disappears.

With the proper fit and a thick pair of woolen socks the famous Dutch clogs are warm and dry, and perfect for outdoor work.

Using a pattern for each size, old belt-driven machines do much of the basic shaping of the clog.

The classic clog is still finish the old-fashioned way.

For the tourists, clogs have many uses beyond working in the farmyard.

Looks like Monika found the one-size-fits-all design.

Once abandoned for modern pumps and generators, many of the beautiful Dutch windmills are being restored to working order.

If you zoom in to the barrel on the left you will see that this working windmill is grinding fresh cloves.

Flowers in Holland in the Spring are not limited to tulips.

We did enjoy our brief stay in Holland but we anxiously awaited the arrival of The Turtle V.

The Dutch people are notoriously friendly and helpful. Dick and his wife Ellen were no exception.