European Experiences
Business Trips to Germany

In the year 1999 was my first trip to Germany, actually it was also my first trip to Europe! 

Dresden: Old mural on a building, prior to WWII, many building around Dresden also had the murals.

This first trip was to Dresden. Dresden before WWII was the art center of Germany. The Allies virtually leveled Dresden in a bombing campaign. After the war Dresden fell behind the iron curtain of East Germany. As such many "communist" style buildings were built, while older building fell into disrepair. 

Enter the 1990's. The Berlin Wall fell and the two Germany's became one again. Dresden has been re-building itself every since. One of the biggest investments is the move-in of the high-tech industry. AMD or Advanced Micro Devices main wafer fab is located here. 

Berlin: Everywhere the eye could see, construction cranes

What I liked about Dresden is that its Strassenbahn, or Streetcar system is still largely in-tact and has recently received newer trams. I really must return to this fine city.

Guard tower at the old Checkpoint Charlie

At the end of my brief trip to Dresden I went by train up to Berlin. Berlin in 1999 was very busy building a unified city, as well as preparing the city to become the nation's capitol city again. I had never seen so many construction cranes in all my life.