Using the compulsory Park and Ride (where motorhomes can stay overnight for €5), we joined the crowds to take the walkway through the rocks to the viewpoints. After lunch we drove to the busy town of Bad Schandau for some shopping in the Lidl, which was full of Czech youngsters buying cheap booze, then across the river and back west to Kurort - Rathen, where a large sign in many languages told us that motorhomes are banned overnight, so we stayed at the most expensive private stellplatz of the trip, at €16 including hookup and (biochem only) services, and no access to the river due to a busy railway line. The next morning we drove along to the riverside carpark and took the foot ferry across the river to the landing stage for a pleasant trip on a vintage paddle steamer to Pirna and back, (with a good discount on fares for seniors).


We then drove on busy main roads to Dresden, and fairly easily found the stellplatz, right in the city centre thanks to the satnav. It is in a fenced in private carpark, attended in the daytime, so felt safe (€14/24hours services extra). In the evening we took the short walk across the Augustus bridge, dodging the speeding cyclists on the pavements, to the city centre, and found the tourist office which wasn't very good for information being more interested in taking hotel and concert bookings. We eventually got a poor guide leaflet and street map for 80 cents. We returned to the stellplatz along the banks of the Elbe as night time approached.

We strolled around the city centre the next morning, visiting the main historic attractions, and walked a fair distance to the Wolkswagen Phaeton factory in an impressive modern glass building. Entry is free for viewing but guided tours of the remarkably clean assembly line are extra. Returning to the Altstadt, we visited the rebuilt Frauenkirche, re-opened in 2005 after being flattened in WW2, as was most of the city centre. There is still evidence of bomb damaged buildings. The baroque interior is richly decorated with frescos, and gilt and marble columns which support the dome. From there we walked to the baroque Zwinger Palace, now a museum and art gallery with its tuneful Meissen porcelain bells and clock (it's lucky how often we arrive at these attractions at midday). Rebuilding work continues with the fountains and statues around the Nympheum courtyard now restored.
     
After looking at the 100 metre long mural  of the Fürstenzug, comprising of 24,000 Meissen porcelain tiles, and the contrasting mosaic "March of the Red Flag" created in 1969 but in fact not installed on the Kulturpalast until 2001, we decided we had seen most of the main sights and headed back to the stellplatz, hoping to buy a British newspaper, but oddly didn't pass a single newsagent or street kiosk. After lunch we had a couple of hours before our 24 hour parking ticket expired, so we walked up the quiet Königstrasse and back down the Hauptstrasse, where there was an indoor market, smart shopping arcades and modern art galleries, passing the gilt statue of Augustus II the Strong.