Dresden, Germany

A few years ago my family traveled to Germany to visit my sister that lives in Berlin.  We spent most of the trip exploring her home base, but one day decided to rent a Mercedes and drive on the Autobahn to the beautiful and historic city of Dresden.  For those of you who aren't familiar with the city, it was decimated by firebombing during the end of WWII {which Kurt Vonnegut detailed in his fantastic but heartbreaking anti-war novel "Slaughterhouse Five"}.  The entire old town and Royal Palace were destroyed, with an estimated 25,000 citizen casualties.  This UNESCO World Heritage Site has since been completely rebuilt and now serves as a symbol of reconciliation and a quiet reminder of the inhumanity of war.  It was incredibly moving being able to explore this gorgeous city.  Our day concluded with a peaceful drive through the German countryside and a stop at the beautiful Morizburg Castle.