I wasn’t driving a Porsche or photographing tigers today but I managed to have another good day – it’s funny how that works out so well in Europe. Today’s post will cover a hodge-podge of items: my visit to Schloss San Souci in Potsdam, to Wannsee and the House of the Wannsee Conference, some photographs of the church “ruins” of Gedachtniskirche, a trip to KaDeWe, some dogs encountered along the way, and a fabulous dinner to end the day. I hope you’ll read and enjoy it all – pics will be shared too, of course.

I knew exactly where to go today to catch the S-Bahn to Potsdam – it’s nice to know where you’re going. I arrived at Potsdam, however, and was promptly back in the “I don’t know how to get where I’m going” camp. (I must say that while I enjoy the Lonely Planet book on Berlin, there are gaps in their information that leave you unsure of where to go.) I solved that problem by taking a taxi and I was at Sans Souci Palace only 10 minutes and 9.30 Euro later – money well spent.

I prefer my palace view through flowers…

A view from San Souci of some nearby Roman (I think) ruins.

I paid for the tour of the palace but that might be the last time. At this point, once you’ve seen one royal European palace you’ve seen them all. I don’t know if its that the audio guides end up sharing too much information or that I don’t really care that much about how the fancy royals lived, but I whizzed through the tour pretty quickly so I could spend my time out and about on the grounds. If I’m not interested in what the audio guide is saying, I just take the pictures I want (had to pay for a photographic permit) and move on to the next room – I feel absolutely no obligation to listen to the whole thing. I don’t think I listened to one entire “chapter” today. So unless it’s something really special, such as Versailles, perhaps, or Neueschwanstein (again), then I’ll just be happy to tour the grounds and photograph the outdoor architecture. Plus you’re often stuck in large groups and I believe I’ve mentioned before my abhorrence of groups in general, whether I’m part of them or not. Groups, ugh!

View of a charming little path on the grounds

I love photographing flowers and playing with the focus – I rather like the effect.

Potsdam looked rather interesting – many cool buildings including the Film Museum. If I hadn’t been trying to get to Wannsee before it was too late there was definitely more to see on the grounds of the Palace as well as in town. I ended up taking a taxi back to the Hauptbahnhof, too – I was waiting for the bus to come and some other tourists were talking about the circuitous route the bus took to get them there. When another taxi pulled up I flagged it down and happily spent another 9.30 Euro to get back to the station. And I could lower the window so the temperature was comfortable.

It was another beautiful day in general, but every time I got into a bus or train or building, the heat was stifling. I wish I had brought fewer jeans and more skirts or dresses. Oh well, I am surviving but not without a little bitching.

Wannsee was a cute little town with a lake (thus the ‘see’ part of the word). In 1942 several Nazi leaders including Hitler and Eichmann met here and discussed their Final Solution to the “Jewish question.” I was struck by the very ordinary feel of the neighborhood (at least today, perhaps it was more exclusive in the 1940’s) – the house was certainly not even the grandest one in the neighborhood – and yet such evil was planned and documented there. The conference room was simply the dining room. I’m sure it’s not decorated in the same way it was during the time of the conference, but again it was just a very ordinary room, like anyone might have in their home. The house now serves as a memorial / museum to the history of the entire Holocaust. While I took the 114 bus to the house (Haus), I walked back to town – which was infinitely better than getting back on the bus – and caught the rather warm train back into Berlin. I am becoming quite the expert on the transportation system here. I’m so proud of myself…

A view of the lake and a waterside cafe

View of the lake from the gardens at the House of the Wannsee Conference

Something about this street scene appealed to me – the bike looked ancient and I felt, for the moment, as if it were the 1940s. (I have a great imagination.)

Back in the hotel neighborhood, I looked in briefly at the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedachtniskirche, billed as a bombed-out tower serving as an anti-war memorial. (Bombed out during World War Two, the tower is now being renovated in some way so it’s under cover.) The church is striking, however, in the midst of all the modern buildings around it.

I then made my way to KaDeWe, a famous Berlin department store. I’m not a shopper (more of a buyer) but I have to tell you it was a pretty cool store. And air conditioned, thank goodness. I had to buy something, so I bought overly pricy sunglasses. But here’s the thing: they’re Prada, they’re cat-eye shaped and a lovely chocolate brown color, they were the cheaper of the two I was looking at and have I mentioned how good they looked on? I doubt I’ll regret it later and I can assure you I didn’t regret it when I walked out with those sunglasses on. Yes, I was wearing my contacts today and will need to do so more often just so I can wear the sunglasses. This purchase of an “item” on vacation has become a bit of a tradition. I can assure you that I treasure each purchase and more than get my money’s worth – the same will be true with these glasses. I’ll share pictures before the week’s end – you’ll see why I had to have them.

The other big thing about KaDeWe is their sixth floor – a treasure trove of every imaginable food item and gourmet bars and what not. It felt like the sixth floor was twice the size of every other floor. You wouldn’t believe it – pictures and words don’t do it justice. You’ll just have to make a point to visit Berlin and see for yourself. It’s a definite must for all foodies! I took a few pictures, but really, they don’t do it justice. They had Thai food, champagne bars, alcohol bars, a fabulous chocolate section, steaks, seafood, sushi, sandwiches, a bakery, a fresh produce section – just so many options. It was really rather overwhelming. I would have bought chocolate but there was so much I didn’t know what to buy. Plus I had already seen the sunglasses… Anyway, a very cool floor and a very cool store.

Saw quite a few dogs today. A cute little one on the train with his family, an adorable little one running across the bridge in Wannsee with a stick in this mouth. I’m not sure who he belonged to but I had to laugh when I saw him – he looked just like an average worker returning home after a long day’s work. Then there was an apparently homeless man in front of the KaDeWe entrance, and his dog was just posed so beautifully – I wanted to take him home instantly. I’m not sure what kind of dog he was but he was big, white, curly hair but definitely not a poodle, slightly floppy ears. Anyway, they were still there when I exited the store and I still felt that tug of wanting to take him home. But then they would both be sad (because I wouldn’t be taking the man, just the dog) and I really don’t think I could have smuggled him in. And what would I do with him in my apartment with two cats? Anyway, just a sad little moment. I wanted to take the dog’s picture but couldn’t do it stealthily with so many people around. I hope the dog gets enough to eat and drink and is healthy. Oh, and the man too, of course, because he’s the dog’s keeper and because he’s a human being… (I’m kind to and concerned about humans, but animals are definitely my favorite.)

The Wannsee dog with his stick

Ended the day with a great dinner at an outdoor corner café – one of the best features of Europe. I had a very drinkable sparkling wine (I’ve already forgotten the name but I did post it on Facebook), a good salad, a fantastic sweet and sour pumpkin risotto and a Berlin traditional vanilla dessert with raspberries, which was also very good. A lovely ending to a lovely day.