ON TO POSTDAM

OUR TRIP STARTED BRIGHT AND EARLY AT 8 AM. THEN WE TOOK THE TRAIN FOR ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES TO POSTDAM. WE ARE SCHEDULE FOR A FULL DAY OF HISTORY TO SEE, BUT WHAT WE DIDN'T KNOW WAS THAT WE WERE WOULD BE A FULL DAY OF WALKING ALSO.

FIRST UP: THE NIKOLAIKIRCHE

THE Nikolaikirche WAS DESIGNED BY SHINKEL. LIKE MOST OF HIS BUILDINGS, THIS TOO WAS RESTORED, INCLUDING THE INTERIOR, IN 1981. HOWEVER, THIS BUILDING DOES NOT HAVE THE FAKE LOOK QUALITY LIKE SOME OF HIS OTHER RESTORED BUILDINGS. HOPEFULLY, I WILL PICTURES OF THE INSIDE LATER, WHERE THE ARRANGEMENT OF ORIGINAL STAUTUES AND PAINTINGS ILLUSTRATE THE BIBLICAL PHASES OF GOD'S REDEMPTIVE PLAN FOR MANKIND.

NEXT: POSTDAM'S VERSION OF THE BRANDENBURG GATE. THIS GATE ISN'T AS STUNNING AND MASSIVE, BUT REPLICA JUST SPEAKS TO HOW IMPORTANT THIS MONUMENT IS TO GERMANY'S HISTORY AND HOW THE MAIN PARTS OF THE CITY IS ALIGNED AND LAYED OUT LEADING UP TO AND FROM THE BRANDENBURG GATE.

A TASTE OF GERMANY. THE BRATWURST IS VERY GOOD AND MOST IMPORTANTLY IT IS CHEAP. ON THE OTHER HAND, THIS SMALL BUN JUST DOESN'T DO IT FOR ME.

AFTER WALKING THROUGH THE FIRST PART OF THE ENORMOUS SANSSOUCI GARDENS, WE COME UP TO AN AMAZING VIEW OF THE SANSSOUCI PALACE.

THE ATMOSPHERE IS SO RELAXING AND PEACEFUL OUT HERE. THE DESIGN OF THE PALACE IS LAYED OUT ON A CENTRAL AXIS CONNECTING THE GARDENS TO THE PALACE.

THE PALACE SITS ATOP THE SANSSOUCI GARDENS, WHICH OFFERS THE KING A OVERVIEW OF EVERYTHING BELOW HIM. HOWEVER, WHEN THIS PALACE WAS DESIGNED, THE ARCHITECT MADE A MISTAKE. THE DESIGN OF THE PALACE WAS SET TO FAR BACK, THEREFORE IT CAN BE SEEN FULLY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE SANSSOUCI GARDENS.

THE SYMMETRY IS ALMOST PERFECT, EVEN DOWN TO THE WATER FOUNTAIN. I APPRECIATE THE DESIGN, BUT IT IS JUST TOO SYMMETRICAL FOR ME.

THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL IS GREAT IN THIS PALACE . HERE IS A SCULPTURE THAT IS PART OF A NON-STRUCTURAL COLUMN. THE DETAIL IN THESE SCULPTURES IS AMAZING, ALMOST LOOKING LIKE REAL LIFE.

BABELSBERG PALACE