Hurtful People Ruined Our Dresden Trip

Dresden is such an easy day trip from Prague, and I can see why so many people take the trip. 

I need to write this down before I can move on.

However when our 5am bus to Dresden arrived almost 2 hours late, and what followed next in Dresden- it seemed like an omen that we should’ve skipped Dresden that day. 

Before I start sharing on social media or posting things about our day in Dresden there’s something I need to get off my chest so I could move forward and not feel like I’m lying to myself and others when I mention anything Dresden related on this blog in the future.

I need to write this down before I can move on.

We had a pretty good day in Dresden. It’s a beautiful city with lots of history and it was always on my bucket list. However, it’s what took place at the end of our day that wiped away all of the good memories I had from that city.

Fast forward to a few hours later from when this photo was taken we experienced racism on our day trip in Dresden.

Harassment at the Bus Stand 

We were waiting at one of the platforms for our bus back to Prague when two men who were in the same bus stand with us began to loudly talk about Meshach (who is Indian ethnicity, born in Trinidad). The guy said Meshach was and I quote him – “one of those troublemaker Pakistanis” according to these men. And telling Meshach (who is holding our 6 year old son, Tristan, who was asleep in his arms by the way).

Where is your motherland?

So we left the bus stand to avoid anymore confrontation when minutes later the guy comes over to me and the group of women I was talking to about the bus schedule. I don’t understand German but based on some of the occasional English words he threw in, he was basically “warning” them to watch out for me and Meshach because we could be making trouble. The women just waved him off and he left. 

Then he goes back to Meshach and asks him “where is your motherland?” Meshach told him he was born in Trinidad, then the guy pointed to a poster of a blonde white woman on the bus stand and said that his “mother land” is Germany and “see this” pointing to the poster, “white people are best.”

Ohhhh you’re from the United States?

And to make matters worse as if to throw more salt on a wound, two federal officers who were very clearly  singling out all non-white bystanders’ passports at the bus stop spotted us. 

Border Patrol

“Do you speak English?” asked one of the officers.

I told him yes.

“Can I see your ticket?”

Meshach pulled out our bus tickets and showed them.

“You’re going to Prague? Where is your luggage?” as he’s looking around and notices we just have my purse and Meshach’s backpack.

“We don’t have any luggage we are just here on a day trip,” I responded.

“Are you from Prague?”

“No we’re on vacation there. We are from the United States.”

Then the officers kind of chuckled. 

“Ohhhh you’re from the United States?” one of them asked – but it was so obvious they didn’t believe me.

“Can I see your passports?” 

We showed them our passports and suddenly their attitude changed. When they found out we were from the United States they started being nice to us, apologized and left us alone. 

Meshach also pointed out to me that despite their suspicions about us during questioning- when Tristan almost sleepily fell over one of the officers quickly stopped him from falling which was a nice gesture.

I know the officers were just trying to do their job. I’m aware of the refugee crisis and all of the border issues. They’re just trying to keep track of who is coming in and out of their country and if they came into Germany legally or not. 

But after dealing with the two men harassing us prior to being questioned by the officers it just made the whole thing even worse.

Sorry, Germany 

I’m trying really hard to not write off ever visiting Germany again based on our experience with the racist man at the bus stand in one city, but it’s so hard! When I look back at all of the pictures we took that day racism is all I could remember. Every time I think about our Dresden trip all I feel is hurt and anger. At this point in time, I wish we never went there. 

Meshach was very calm about the whole situation whereas I’m an emotional ball and it takes awhile for me to get over certain situations. I’ve always wanted to visit Germany and after Dresden I just don’t feel like ever wanting to visit again. 

I know it’s dumb to have a bad experience in one city out of an entire country, where other cities and towns could probably be the friendliest place ever in Germany, but I am just not dying to go back and explore more of Germany at this moment.

Maybe I’ll change my mind in the future.

Hate Sucks 

I know racism, xenophobia and all types of discrimination can be found all over the world. No country is perfect, but I just never witnessed something like that as a firsthand experience and it honestly sucks.

Have you experienced a bad situation on your travels that stopped you from going back? Comment below and share this post!

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