The Glienicke Bridge across the Havel River connects Berlin with Potsdam.
During the Cold War, and until the fall of the Berlin Wall, the bridge was a point for exchange of imprisoned secret agents.
It became known as the Bridge of Spies, and features in a Steven Spielberg movie of that name released in 2015.
A frisson of excitement went through our tour group on the bus as we crossed this historic place, and went on to see Potsdam, formerly the jewel of the Prussian Empire and the home of Kings and Kaisers, their most famous palaces and their vast armies.
We went to Sans Souci, the former summer palace of Friedrich the Great (1712-1786) and, following the reunification of Germany in 1990, his final resting place.
More like a large single story chateau, this dainty Rococo style palace has just ten principal rooms, all styled in Friedrich's personal taste now characterised as 'Frederician Rococo'.
As I lover of pink, I was entranced by its sugar-candy sweetness and style...
After a walking tour of the historic centre of Potsdam we enjoyed the contrast of a visit to the Museum Barberini, Potsdam's very new fine arts gallery, where I enjoyed some fine Kandinskys:
At evening we embarked on the Elbe Princesse, our floating hotel for the next week...
Drifting into the sunset along the Havel River towards the Elbe..
and on into the night.
We had the river to ourselves, and never saw another cruise boat.
Blissful...
XXXX
Love the vibrancy of the two Kandinskys and also the opulence of the 'Frederician Rococo' style palace.
ReplyDeleteI have never travelled along the River Havel - only the Danube and the Rhine.
Look forward to seeing what else you visited and saw on your travels.
I would take home one of those Kandinskys in a hearbeat - aren't they wonderful?
DeleteThe Danube and the Rhine still await us - but we seem to be converted to this type of holiday. Mr C is keen on one in the South of France, with a focus on Cezanne and Van Gogh.
Hi Patricia wow what beautiful places you have been,thankyou for taking us along with you xx
ReplyDeleteHi Shez, glad you enjoyed. I will do a couple more posts because it is not only fun to share, but makes a permanent record for us too. Unfortunately Mr C fell and broke a hip the day after we came home! Life has turned in quite another direction for us at the moment.
DeleteI noticed this and I am sorry to hear it Patricia. My sprained ankle isn't in the same league as a broken hip, but I can empathise withthe frustration. And SO good that you had this amazing sounding trip to think about.
DeleteThank you Jenny, I know you can empathise! The frustration with arranging services and appropriate help is almost as bad as the original medical problem :)
DeleteWhat a holiday! I would love to see the Kandinskys. I am not into the Potsdam style but would like to see the palace anyhow. We never seem to end up in that bit of Berlin!
ReplyDeleteBest holiday ever! You would love those Kandinskys, they absolutely glowed. I have seen one or two previously, but these were outstanding. Head to the former Eastern Bloc part of Berlin - it is very elegant these days. The Opera house is a gem.
DeleteWhat an interesting cosmopolitan and historical city, Trish. I have only been to Bavaria but have yet to visit Berlin. I've read the bios of some of the Prussian royals, so enjoy seeing some of their palaces. I'm very fond of Empress Victoria, Queen Victoria's eldest daughter who had a happy marriage to Frederick III, but was sometimes unfairly treated by the Prussian court, mostly due to the high-handedness of Bismarck. She married at 17 and I can imagine her being familiar with the places you toured. I look forward to seeing and hearing more!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra, I have read of Empress Victoria, and the difficulties in Prussia. I am pretty sure she would have known the Summer Palace, and also the palaces at Charlottesburg which we also visited. There is a lot of restoration of the buildings from the 18/19c, which are lovely, and emphasis on post-Wall Germany, but perhaps understandably, not much mention of WWI and WWII.
DeleteDear Patricia
ReplyDeleteNot good news at all that your husband has broken his hip.
Not for the faint hearted - luckily it didn’t happen when you were in Europe.
Take care
Shane xxx
Dear Shane, Thank you, yes it was bad news for him. There will be a long period of recuperation and wheel chair is involved. Yes, lucky it did not happen either before we were due to leave or in Europe. I think all that taking care on the cobbles led to a relaxation of attention on the first morning home! xxx
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