Hot-Dam Potsdam, June 16, 2010

Woke up this morning to glorious sunshine and it stayed with us all day. It was a perfect day for exploring. We were going to book a tour but decided that we would prefer our own schedule and pace as getting to Potsdam is very easy by train. Arrived at the station just before the non-stop regional train was to depart and Rita went to the ticket machine to purchase our tickets. For some reason she was having problems understanding the instructions and could not get our tickets before the train left the station. Next train was only 10 minutes later but it was the local milk-run train that stretched the trip from 20 minutes to almost an hour. Once in Postsdam we caught the bus to Sanssouci Park where the Palaces are located. Found the info center and picked up a map of the grounds and a pamphlet describing the Park and the Palaces.


Most of Sanssouci Park and the buildings were created by Frederick the Great starting in 1774 with a vineyard (it is still in existence and producing) followed a year later with the start of Sanccouci Palace that was to be his residence in the summer months until his death in 1786. The Park itself took several decades to be expanded and developed to its present size. The major design includes terraces (growing grapes and figs) that cascades down a hill from the Summer Palace to the grand fountain. From there a two kilometer avenue moves east and west. Smaller trails lead off this main avenue to buildings, gardens, lakes and forests.


We moved through the summer palace, down the Terraces, moved west on the Avenue and explored the Chinese House, Orangery Palace and New Palace before stopping at the Dragon House, a Pagoda style building built in the 1780’s and now a restaurant, for a very nice lunch. After lunch we had a very nice walk through some of the forest area before heading back and catching the bus into Potsdam.


Potsdam itself is a very nice town that has a relaxed feel to it. The entrance to “old town” is through the original city gates. We walked some of the cobbled streets and had coffee and cake in the Dutch section which still has many of the original red brick Dutch designed houses that were built in the early 1700’s.


Managed to get on the fast regional train back to Berlin and went home to shower and change for dinner. As mentioned in yesterday’s Blog, Martin Walter organized several dinner events at Refugium Restaurant over the past several years for me, Cam Routledge, Maria Greene and Alida Hume (ex Travel Alberta). It was as good as ever and Rita really enjoyed the experience. It was a perfect way to end our Berlin experience.


Tomorrow we are off to Dresden.

Summer Palace above the Terraces

China House Pavillion located in the forest

Orangery Palace built in the Italian Renaissance style to honor Fredrick the Great


Dragon Pagoda which is now a lovely restaurant

The New Palace built by Fredrick the Great to prove that he still had money and power

The City Gates of Old Town Postdam with sidewalk cafe in the foreground