We are pleased to publish these memories of Andrea’s visit to Dresden (and beyond). In this first part of the blog she recalls eating pierogi – Polish dumplings covered in quark – a tour of Zitau, a performance at the Lonesome Lakes Festival, a family arts festival on the German Czech-Polish border, and more besides. The visit took place… Continue reading From Dresden with Love
Tag: Dresden
From Dresden with Love
We are pleased to include these memories of Andrea’s visit to Dresden (and beyond). In the second part of the blog she visits Dresden meeting many new friends, has a guest teaching session at Dresden university and meets Patrick, Annika, Lucas, Reiner She performs at the FrauenKirche and visits some of the local landmarks. Click here to… Continue reading From Dresden with Love
So what better place to be?
Pia Schmeckenbecher is a very welcome visitor to Coventry. She has been working as a volunteer with Coventry cathedral since September 2025 and here she tells us about the organisation that has sponsored her stay and the early links between Germany and Coventry. Out of all places - why would you choose to come to… Continue reading So what better place to be?
Coventry MotorFest: Celebrating the City’s Automotive Heritage
Coventry has many claims to fame, but one of the strongest is its place in Britain's automotive history. From Daimler and Standard to Jaguar and the modern JLR era, the city has long been associated with car manufacture and engineering innovation. Each year, Coventry MotorFest celebrates that heritage by bringing vehicles, enthusiasts and the public… Continue reading Coventry MotorFest: Celebrating the City’s Automotive Heritage
Dresden visit February 2026
Several members and friends of CAIF met German colleagues in Dresden, this in the week leading up to the remembrance of the blanket bombing of Dresden on 13 February 1945. Visitors and hosts included Claudia, Clive, Dave, Linda, Paula, Rainer, Reinhard, Sabine, Sinclair, Stefan, Ulrich and Emilia. Some of the events and visits in Dresden included:… Continue reading Dresden visit February 2026
Urban conversations
During our visit to Dresden we were able to attend a conversation around twinning organised by Dresden Technical University as part of their Urban Conversations programme. Those taking part included: Tine & Günter Starke – photographers whose work provided the visual framework for the evening Sabine Coady Schaebitz from Coventry University, editor of Heritage and… Continue reading Urban conversations
Trusting the Air: A Poet’s Dresden Sojourn: Part 2
Amy Rugg In part 1 Amy describes first impressions of Dresden, the Frauenkirche, meeting artists and working in school. In part 2 she tells us about working with students in a high school, leading a workshop at Veranderbar, a community radio invite, and an unexpected evening meal. Volkshochschule After a brief respite, Annika returned from… Continue reading Trusting the Air: A Poet’s Dresden Sojourn: Part 2
At the Priory Undercroft: Photographs from Dresden
Christine and Gunter Starke are renowned photographers from our partner city of Dresden where they have been documenting people and places for over 45 years. They are visiting Coventry this month and in advance they sent over sets of photographs which are now on show in the LTB’s St Mary Priory Undercroft near the cathedral. Christine and Gunter’s particular concern has been… Continue reading At the Priory Undercroft: Photographs from Dresden
Documenting the past
CAIF, the Coventry Association for International Friendship, and CDE, the Coventry-Dresden Exchange, are bringing Günter Starke and his partner, Christine, to Coventry from our twin city of Dresden in October this year. Now more than 80 years old, Günter is a legend in photographic circles in Saxony, having survived as a documentary photographer during the… Continue reading Documenting the past
Kiel and Coventry (part 1)
Several members from Coventry visited Kiel in May this month. We are very pleased to talk to one of these visitors, Richard Parker, a long-standing member of CAIF, and tour guide for Coventry cathedral. The blog is divided into two parts. Part one is about twin cities and part two is about Richard's talk at… Continue reading Kiel and Coventry (part 1)
Writing as reconciliation
Earlier we published reflections on the CAIF visit to Dresden. These included a contribution from Lisa Hagan, Head of English at Lyng Hall school. Later, we were able to catch up with Lisa to talk about some pieces she had written during her trip grouped together under the title of 'The Creative Fragments of an Anniversary'. Our… Continue reading Writing as reconciliation
Visit to Dresden 10-16 February
We publish below some blog contributions about our trip to Dresden [1] . To give you some background Coventry has enjoyed a strong connection with Dresden over the years. In good part, this began through each city's experiences of intensive air raids during WW2. In Coventry these raids were carried out early in the war,… Continue reading Visit to Dresden 10-16 February
Mary’s reflection on the Dresden visit
Below we are pleased to publish Mary Courtney's recollection of her first visit to Dresden. Similarities and differences As a first timer in Germany, I couldn’t help but be struck by differences and similarities with Coventry. Accustomed to seeing just one naked woman on a horse in Coventry city centre, our iconic Godiva, I was… Continue reading Mary’s reflection on the Dresden visit
Reflection on a visit to Dresden by Magda
Magda Kirndoerfer has been involved in promoting Kiel - Coventry links over many years. It was a treat to meet her in Dresden this time around. Here she picks out some events that she attended during her visit. As a 4-day guest from Kiel I am absolutely grateful for having been part of this large… Continue reading Reflection on a visit to Dresden by Magda
Dave’s reflection on the Dresden visit
Below we are pleased to publish Dave Hirons recollection of the visit to Dresden. Our visit to Dresden was made up of a number of exceptional experiences. It was 1800 miles of driving, there and back, but, having the car, gave us the freedom to stop as Linda required and we were able to get… Continue reading Dave’s reflection on the Dresden visit
A Definition of Speechlessness
This is another in our series on 'What my city means for me'. Here Patrick Wilden responds to the collapse of the Carola bridge on the Elbe river in Dresden. (The Elbe is over a thousand kilometres longs and crosses through Dresden as it makes its way from the Giant Mountains of the Czech Republic… Continue reading A Definition of Speechlessness
Dresden my Dresden: A view from the far side / Dresden von hinten
This blog is part of a series on what my city means to me. Here, Rainer Barczaitis writes about his part of Dresden some distance away from the historic centre but nonetheless with its own history and attractions. The text is in two parts, German and English. The English version is only partly translation, partly… Continue reading Dresden my Dresden: A view from the far side / Dresden von hinten
Coventry Association for International Friendship 