Walking Trip - Potsdam

Well today I am privileged to have the company of Marvo's dad. Learning from my prior mistake last Sunday, I got up quite early to make sure I am ready by the time he leaves for work. He will be dropping me off to his parents' today.

Breakfast at Rebrucke:

Breakfast @ Rebrucke

Marven's dad is a very lovely guy and I am grateful, very grateful I should say, for his valuable time he is prepared to spare me in order to show me around.

He drove us to the Babelsberg Park, it took him a while to find parking but finally got one. As we got off his car, he told me the area is part of Potsdam University and the units there are accommodations for uni students.

The Babelsberg Palace

The Parks main attraction is the neo-Gothic style palace : Schloss Babelsberg. Used as the summer residence of Wilhelm I and his wife. Very unfortunately I could only admire the palace from the outside as it is close during this time of the year...just as almost all the other buildings/attractions in the park as we found out.

The Flatowturm Tower

A closer shot of the Flatowturm

I do ask a lot of questions but due to my limited or rather non-existent knowledge of his language, I sometimes do not know what to say or ask. But I kept praying, I hope I am not boring him or asking too many questions.

the famous/infamous Glienicker Bridge (Freedom Bridge) over Havel

We spent a bit of time in front of the palace, here Marven's dad told me about the bridge (Spy Swap Bridge, also known as the Freedom Bridge or Glienicker Bridge), showed me where the Wall was by the River Havel.

snow covered grounds of Babelsberg Park

Then we carried on and walked some more. Wary of my steps, trying to make sure I do not step on the icy part of the road, the walk was good in that crisp morning air. There were no people in the park aside from a couple of joggers we met along the way. So totally different from the walks I have in NZ where everything is green. Right here the ground is covered in snow except for the parts where it has turned into ice.

a commercialised parasite: the MISTLETOE

Above this white ground are bare trees, whose only sign of life is offered by the appearance of a globula (or a ball like figure) of MISTLETOEs perched high above those leafless branches, some covered in fresh snow!

The Cecilienhof Palace is known for the Potsdam Conference negotions that took place here

From here we drove towards the other side of the river. Just after the bridge, I was told it was the most expensive part of Potsdam where the rich and famous lives. Models, actresses and in particular Joop, (the perfume guy) resides here. We crossed the bridge and went to Schloss Cecilienhof - Cecilienhof Palace. This English - Tudor style palace is well known for the signing of The Potsdam Agreement by the Big Three. Conference negotiations between the victorious Allies during WWII were held in this palace. It is quite a humbling experience/feeling to walk thru the building knowing that things that happened here many years ago are part and parcel of the history that influenced the rest of theworld and changed or affected our lives one way or another.

House Details from the Alexandrowka Village

I thought the tour was over but found out there is more to see. He told me he would like to show me some Russian abodes. Apparently, the King was quite generous, he built a house for each Russian singer and accommodated them in one area. In one of these houses, now transformed into a cafe, I enjoyed my chocolate drink...Katherine the Great's favorite chocolate drink...it came as creamy and as full as you can imagine...served with a glass of water. Took me sometime to consume it due to its richness but it was lovely and the wildberry crepes went well with it. HHHmmm my tastebuds are craving for it just now!!!... and so this was a lovely day! One I never expected, but lovely in deed!

I was prepared to stay home the whole week while my buddy went back to work. This is such a lovely gesture and surprise from them, one I will always be grateful!

Other buildings I saw at the park:

Alexander Neweski Chapel

Pfingstberg Belvedere, Potsdam

written by

jorgn_craw on November 29, 2008 from Potsdam, Germany

from the travel blog: Euro Trip 2008

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