Potsdam Favorites

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Favorite thing: The Chinese House is a garden pavilion in Sanssouci Park in Potsdam. As I noted in my letter to my mother, Frederick the Great had it built, about seven hundred meters southwest of the Sanssouci Summer Palace, to adorn his flower and vegetable garden. The garden architect was Johnn Gottfried Büring, who between 1755 and 1764 designed the pavilion in the then-popular style of Chinoiserie, a mixture of ornamental rococo elements and parts of Oriental architecture.

Fondest memory: Two of my three pictures of the gardens are of the Chinese musicians that stand around the edge of the building.

Favorite thing: Surrounded by lakes and fields, Potsdam can be called a city of palaces and gardens. Although it celebrated its millenium in 1993, the most significant chapter of its history started in the second half of the 17th century when the Elector Frederick William made it the royal residence. It's not certain why he chose Potsdam; one of the reasons could be that the neighbouring area was covered with thick forests and the Hohenzollerns were known for being keen on hunting.
In the times of Frederick William I Potsdam became a garrison city with houses for distinguished officers. Frederick William I was often called the soldier king because the tool he used to introduce the reforms with was his army. During his long reign the number of houses in Potsdam grew from 220 to 1150. He established a special regiment of soldiers, called the Potsdam Giants, in which served the tallest men he could find all over Europe.
But it was his son Frederick II who was called the Great by his contemporaries. During his reign Prussia became the most modern country of Europe. But by many people he is best remembered because of the Sanssouci Palace - the place which was to become his retreat from the wars, army and his wife (also probably from other women as he was rumoured to be homosexual).

Favorite thing: Just in a few minutes Berlin can be easily reached by public transportation. Since the reunification of Germany on October 3, 1990 Berlin has become a metropolis as it once was. It is the biggest city of Germany with a population of about 3.5 million and attracts with a huge offer of culture and history. At least go to "Museumsinsel" and on top of "Fernsehturm" at Alexander Platz.

Berlin

Fondest memory: This over 80-year-old film town offers a colorful program filled with shows and attractions. Special VIP tours for adults and children allow each person to gaze behind the scenes of film and television. Sometimes you are invited to act as a character in a short film. I was in the mid 1990 to serve as supporting actor without text in a short movie. My task was to walk in front of a house while the actors had a dialog in the foreground. You see nothing special.

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Favorite thing: I have tried to find out more info about these characters in Stadtmitte, Potsdam but apart from them being called the Green Family and created by a local sculptor I have nothing else to tell you about them!

There were lots of tourists having their photo taken with them so I had to wait for them to go before I could take this one!

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Favorite thing: Don`t miss a walk around in these wonderful area.Enjoy the fontane, the wonderful park, all the interesting things here.
And if you enjoy your walk don`t take a look at your watch. Hours will go fast...

Favorite thing: In the courtyard of Sanssouci, from place near of entrance, you can enjoy view to Ruinenberg, that is situated on the hill, just in front of Sanssouci Palace. It is water reservoir place for fountains in the park. Besides there are artificial ruins around and that was the reason to get such name to the place. It was built in 1748.

Favorite thing: Chinese House is the example of the popular mode of Asian in European architecture. It was built by Johann Gottfrid Buering in 1754-1757 (although one of the guides says the works finished in 1764). The house was used for the sommer dinner. There are a lot of golden figure around, one of them is on the picture. To go inside is possible from May till October.