Thursday 1 May (day 62)

We are up early for another long day of driving.  This time we are trying to make it to Dresden, Germany to see our friends Alex, Katja, Antonia and Gregor.  We drive through Slovakia and Czech Republic with brief stops at the borders to pay for road tax stickers (16.50 Euro for both countries which can be purchased from point of entry into Slovakia).  The last 50km we go off the highway for a scenic drive through a beautiful valley and along a river before getting back on the Autobhan in Germany.  There are so many signs it is a little distracting (especially for Julia) – yield, slow down when wet, speed limits, etc.  The speed limits we can ignore after a while because it is usually 100km/hr, 120, 130 and then unlimited.  Since we can basically go 100 at top speed (unless we are going down hill) there is no need to monitor the speedometer.  We arrive in Dresden in the late afternoon and Alex and Katja set about the business of taking care of us.  Cold beers to start and then light up the BBQ.  It is a dual holiday in Germany – May Day and Männerstag (Men's Day)!  Stanley and Niels can't believe their luck – what better day to arrive somewhere then Men's Day.  So Katja and Antonia had prepared the extensive meal with fresh bread, garlic humus, salads, and Katja grilled the pork, chicken and duck while the guys sat back and sipped wine.  This really was the best meal we have had in a long time.  The wine flowed late into the evening (and then early into the morning for some….). The result was that 9 people finished 5 bottles of wine, or was it the other way around?