The See My Dresden core team: (l to r) Seema Prakash, Karen Reimann, Laura Park
Meet the team! I have been very fortunate to find colleagues equally passionate about Dresden and about delivering high quality tours. When not running these tours, we are likely to be found researching, reading and developing new ones. This has given rise to a smorgasbord of possible tours for you to choose from.
Sampling for our culinary tour. This was at Felicitas where we decorated our own chocolate |
Wolfgang, who lends us a (extraordinary) hand from time to time |
Our story in brief
If New Delhi is the city of my birth and my growing up, Dresden is the city that captured my heart and changed my life the moment I arrived here as a tourist on a radiant day in 2009.
I was a visitor, but felt an immediate connection with the city. Soon afterwards, my personal story took an unexpected turn and my life had to begin afresh. Dresden's resilient narrative and symbolic ability to rise from adversity had resonated deeply with my own circumstances and now infused me with hope.
The new start was filled with challenges of a new culture, new people a new language and most of all: a new career. In Germany, faced with the reality that my qualifications and experience as a psychologist would not automatically help me work in the field, I accepted the fact that a new life demanded new knowledge and new skills.
I introduced myself to Dresden, delving into its rich history and intricate narratives, and developed a deep appreciation for its stunning architecture and exquisite collections. This fascination fueled a passion to share Dresden's multifaceted charm with others, leading me to pursue licensure as a guide through IHK (The Chamber of Industry & Commerce). Eventually, I began guiding tours, marking the inception of See My Dresden. My mentor, Wolfgang, believed that I, despite being an outsider, could truly honor Dresden.
Soon after, I met Karen and Laura. Both hailed from different countries and backgrounds, but shared similar experiences of starting anew, a profound love for Dresden, and a passion for storytelling and guiding.
In 2020, during the chaos and breakdown wrought by the pandemic, I found myself reflecting on the value of collaboration and teamwork and the idea of inducting others into my vision took root. Karen, Laura and I started with culinary tours, then group tours for solo travellers, and combined these with the private tours I was already offering.
In the beginning we made hardly any money on our group tours, rejoicing when we had even one guest. The hope of growth and the fantastic guest reviews kept us motivated. Slowly we have grown, and are thankful for those who believed in us. Also for the team that has slowly grown to three, then four and finally nine guides who share our enthusiasm and love of guiding and are willing to brave the rain, heat, cold and snow even for every guest who shows up for our tour.
I was a visitor, but felt an immediate connection with the city. Soon afterwards, my personal story took an unexpected turn and my life had to begin afresh. Dresden's resilient narrative and symbolic ability to rise from adversity had resonated deeply with my own circumstances and now infused me with hope.
The new start was filled with challenges of a new culture, new people a new language and most of all: a new career. In Germany, faced with the reality that my qualifications and experience as a psychologist would not automatically help me work in the field, I accepted the fact that a new life demanded new knowledge and new skills.
I introduced myself to Dresden, delving into its rich history and intricate narratives, and developed a deep appreciation for its stunning architecture and exquisite collections. This fascination fueled a passion to share Dresden's multifaceted charm with others, leading me to pursue licensure as a guide through IHK (The Chamber of Industry & Commerce). Eventually, I began guiding tours, marking the inception of See My Dresden. My mentor, Wolfgang, believed that I, despite being an outsider, could truly honor Dresden.
Soon after, I met Karen and Laura. Both hailed from different countries and backgrounds, but shared similar experiences of starting anew, a profound love for Dresden, and a passion for storytelling and guiding.
In 2020, during the chaos and breakdown wrought by the pandemic, I found myself reflecting on the value of collaboration and teamwork and the idea of inducting others into my vision took root. Karen, Laura and I started with culinary tours, then group tours for solo travellers, and combined these with the private tours I was already offering.
In the beginning we made hardly any money on our group tours, rejoicing when we had even one guest. The hope of growth and the fantastic guest reviews kept us motivated. Slowly we have grown, and are thankful for those who believed in us. Also for the team that has slowly grown to three, then four and finally nine guides who share our enthusiasm and love of guiding and are willing to brave the rain, heat, cold and snow even for every guest who shows up for our tour.
MEET KAREN
MEET LAURA
MEET SEEMA
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Seema Prakash talks with Alan Fine of Insider Travel Report about Dresden's accessibility by plane, train and automobile and its scenic, historic and cultural attractions, and why it’s an essential city to visit in Germany.
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