Prussian Versailles, they say

| 07- May-2019b | Today is our last full day in Berlin. Based on recommendations, we took a little field trip about 35km southwest of Berlin to Potsdam. The train dropped us about 2km short of our expected terminus, but we successfully navigated our way into town and onto the expansive grounds of Sanssouci Park.

 

The Chinese House was built between 1755 and 1764 in the flower and vegetable garden of Sanssouci Summer Palace. It’s ornamental gold and blue facade add to the pastel palette used across the property. Back in the day it was used for small social gatherings.

Sanssouci was the summer palace of Fredrick the Great. Built in 1745-47, the original structure had basically 10 rooms.  It was expanded later when it became the residence of Frederick William IV. It continued to be a residence for royalty until 1918.

Considered the last great Prussian Baroque palace, the Neues Palais was constructed in the 1760s. Not initially a residence for the royal family, the palace was used for visitors and social events. 

The restored wooden windmill. Originally built in the 1730s, the first major restoration took place in the late 1780s. The wooden mill was burned to its stone base in 1945, and one of the few buildings on the property to suffer any major structural damage in the war. In the 1980s the current replica was built using the architecture plans from the 1780s.

 

After a long hike back to town, we decided on street dogs for lunch followed by beers. We had to check out the currywurst, the local dog – it’s boiled, then fried, then smothered in a curried tomato sauce, like a curry ketchup. 

 

After the hour train ride back to Berlin, we needed ice cream, of course. This cute local shop is a few doors down from our apartment.

Our neighborhood is home to a small, but highly regarded Lebanese restaurant. We strolled up the street and got the last indoor table. HUGE menu, but we both decided on shawarma platters. Good call for our last night in Berlin.

Tomorrow we head out for Copenhagen. What was a 1 hour flight has turned into a half day affair going through Stockholm after our original flight was cancelled.  Boooo.  We expect to be in town by 3pm or so and ready to take on the Danish capital.

Signing off from Berlin – Auf Wiedersehen!