There were tourists everywhere, ourselves included. I knew that the Bastei Bridge was a popular tourist destination yet I hadn’t imagine busloads of tourists making their way through the narrow, curved roads of the Saxon Switzerland National Park.

It was overwhelming, at one point my friend Kelly and I paid the 2 Euros to enter into the fortress remains that sit nestled in the looming rocks of Bastei. There were less people there though we both struggled with height and uncertainty of the grated, metal bridges connecting the former fortress areas.

After some exploring and snapping photos, we ultimately decided to grab a drink and snacks at the nearby Berghotel Hotel where we were staying the night. The hotel had been built in the 70’s and gave some serious The Shining film vibes, particularly as the tour groups filtered out for the day.

The next morning, I went back down to the bridge and was delighted to find that I had beat the impending crowds. A fog permeated the landscape, slowly breaking up as the air changed and the morning sun cut through. I shot a few photos then took in the landscape before making my way to breakfast and moving on for the day.