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Day Two - Sanssouci Park
Thursday, July 19, 2001; posted by Paris
On Saturday, we started early again and did some shopping at the KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westems or Store of the West) store on the Kurfürstendamm. We met up with Sebastian in the afternoon and then drove through the Grunewald (a large, beautiful forest) to Potsdam in the former East Germany. We explored the palaces and grounds of the Sanssouci Park. In the evening, we the went back to see some more of West Berlin, and even got to see some remains of the Berlin Wall at the Wall Gallery.
The Sanssouci Park is composed of a series of palaces and gardens begun in the 18th century by Frederick the Great. At the center stands Frederick the Great's summer residence - Sanssouci Palace.
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Lisa and I standing by the Glienicker bridge. (st)
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This is the Glienicker bridge that separated East Germany from West Berlin. It is well known in the spy word as a point of exchange of information and spies between East and West. This bridge was not open for traffic in the days of the GDR. (st)
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This is one of two large buildings, built exactly the same way, that are behind the New Palace.
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Here is the backside of the New Palace. Notice how some statues are very dirty. Some have been cleaned, following years of damaging industrial pollution and staining eating away at the stone.
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The Sanssouci Palace which was built in 1745-1747. A major example of German Rococo architecture. (st)
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This is the New Palace, Frederick the Great's most opulent palace which was built between 1763-1769. (st)
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This is one of the arches of the Orangery Palace built between 1851-1864. This series of buildings are showing some decay. Facades are crumbling or missing, wooden windows are rotted. The bell towers have been supported and are under renovation. (st)
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This, I think, is the Belvedere built in 1788. A very long tree lined path leads to this building. The park is very large, and probably takes 30 minutes to walk from one side to another. Buildings are spread apart at all corners. (st)
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