Dresden. This hotspot is perfectly lit. You can’t miss it, not even from the other side of the Elbe. The light attracts visitors. Every evening, especially on weekend evenings. As soon as dusk begins in the late afternoon, Dresden residents are almost magically drawn to it. Because it promises variety in the corona lockdown, Advent mood. What many are missing so much now.
Fährgarten instead of Striezelmarkt
It comes from the Fährgarten Johannstadt. Chef Jens Bauermeister and his employees lure visitors to a place that was always orphaned in December in previous years. Because actually the Fährgarten makers would now be working on the Striezelmarkt. “When it became clear that it couldn’t take place this year, we took all of our decorations to make the people down here happy,” says the boss. “Everything is dark in the city, it cannot be compared to other years. We took everything out of the warehouse and hung and set it up here.”
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The “stars and wine” concept on the Elbe is working. Since the strict lockdown in Dresden there has been a lack of (mulled) wine, but guests also like to order children’s punch and coffee. And Bauermeister has a few delicacies made especially for this according to old recipes. Quark balls like the one his grandma made. “There is no comparison with the Striezelmarkt,” he says. He cannot or does not want to give sales figures. “But we have to keep our heads above water.” And his 15 permanent employees have something to do despite the Striezelmarkt-Aus, Gastro-Lockdown and mulled wine ban.
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Gudrun Krause from Prohlis does not want to buy anything in the Fährgarten and nevertheless came to the Elbe in Johannstadt with a couple of friends. In one of the shelters that Bauermeister has set up, the trio takes two large thermos flasks and a small lid jar from their rucksacks. “This is coffee”, assures Grudrun Krause and to prove it, the cups brought with you are generously poured. “In the glass is the coffee cream, women need that”, she laughs and completes the hot drink. Usually the ferry garden is not one of the preferred destinations of the three Dresden residents; it is too far away from their home for that. But now it works. “There’s a bit of a Christmas spirit here,” says Gudrun Krause, “I think that’s good and there is enough space”.
No police controls on the Elbe
Bauermeister and his employees have ensured this with barriers and a new opening in the fence. The ferry garden is now only accessible from the Elbe side, there are no seats, the exit leads to the Elbe Cycle Path. Drinks and food are available at the usual stalls, the hygiene concept works. “We have large waiting areas,” explains the boss, and the guests don’t have to come close anywhere. So far there has been no trouble, and the police are relaxed. Yes, there have been “audible movements of people” at the Fährgarten in the past, says police spokesman Marko Laske. The offer there did not prove to be a “focus with a view to violations of the Saxon corona protection care”. This applies equally to the Schillergarten and the “Watzke” on the Elbe in Mickten. Unlike in the spring lockdown, the Elberadweg and the Elbe meadows are now no control focus for the officials. “No patrol trips on the Elbe Cycle Route are currently planned,” says Laske, after all, no “sun worshipers” are to be expected there.
World Cup onlookers and walkers jostle more on the Augustus Bridge than is good in the Corona lockdown. © Christian Juppe
Checks would still not be wrong, shows the weekend with the 4th Advent. On the Augustusbrücke the Dresdeners stand close together when ski sprinters fight for victory on the Königsufer this weekend. Even the warning signs set up by the organizer are of no use and the World Cup security staff who patrol the bridge are simply overwhelmed by the rush. The attraction of the free standing room is enormous. So huge that even two people from Dresden who stopped by on their weekend stroll and now stop even though they find the crowd uncomfortable. “Now I’m here already, I want to take a picture too,” says the woman, who would rather not give her name. When looking at the snow band on the Elbe, the two pensioners do not quite agree. “That is an ecological problem,” says the woman. “If you think about the amount of snow that is moved elsewhere for such sporting events, that is harmless,” says her husband. Then a handful of cross-country skiers chase past below. A quick cell phone photo, then the two Dresdeners are satisfied and continue walking.
The sandstone blocks at the Augustusbrücke are used by André for climbing training because the mandala bouldering hall is closed. © SZ / Christoph Springer
The most important thing about the corona virus in Dresden:
Two bridges across the Elbe, Michelle Schneider and two friends use a wall for climbing exercises. You have brought a thick mat to protect you in the event of a fall. Then they climb the sandstone wall below the Albert Bridge. “Otherwise we’re in the mandala,” says the 25-year-old. This is a climbing hall in Albertstadt. “But it’s closed now.” So far, nobody has complained about her climbing exercises and the weather is good enough. Sports on the sandstone blocks are also not forbidden.
The spectators crowd close together on the Augustus Bridge at the Ski World Cup. © Christian Juppe
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The organizers’ signs indicating the distance rules do not prevent the crowd. © Christian Juppe
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The decorated ferry garden from the Elbe. Hotspot yes, but not a Corona hotspot – that’s what boss Jörg Bauermeister wants. © Christian Juppe
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Drinking beer outdoors, on the other hand, does. A trio not far from the climbers doesn’t care. They openly enjoy their Bavarian bottled beer, the masses to the left and right of them on the Elbradweg do not bother them. But they don’t want to talk about it. Maybe you know after all that this is actually not allowed. Beer drinkers also stand behind Jens Bauermeister’s fence. Protected from the wind and in such a way that they cannot be discovered immediately, they put the bottles on. They keep their distance, but obviously they also know that this is not entirely okay. They also don’t want to say anything about their actually not allowed weekend fun right next to the ferry garden, where Jens Bauermeister does everything to ensure that his Advent hotspot does not also become a Corona hotspot.
On Sächsische.de we would like to share very different reports from people infected with corona in Dresden. If you have already got over the illness and would like to tell us about it, write to us [email protected]ächsische.de.
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