Prussian Wunderbar.

Friday 13th September 2024. Ronald Dahl Day and Chocolate Day.

Wittenberg to Potsdam – 103km.

I will get some of the normal routine stuff out of the way, so that I can get onto the Potsdam stuff….which is ‘wunderbar’!

I’m mixing Ronald Dahl Day and Chocolate Day together by mentioning Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It hits both Days….I may manage a little chocolate myself later.

I was up early for the cycling. Had a good breakfast and was off like a shot. I wanted to get to Potsdam early…ish and before the forecast rain started.

My plan worked. I covered the distance by 1.30pm and I was still dry….if not a bit worn out.

I had a shower and was straight out into Sanssouci Park to see the various Palaces! I say various because I think there were about….wait for it….six!

It started to rain at this point but I had ticked off the main palace contenders of the day. Quite a selection, don’t you think? They would have looked better with a bit of sunshine and blue skies but I can’t have it all.

There are other worthy buildings and features of the park which I didn’t cover. A temple, a Roman Baths, the Sicilian Gardens and the Botanical Gardens too.

I know I was being a speed tourist. I didn’t go inside these places. I didn’t have the time or the money. There were other places in the town I wanted to see too.

I have already done a lot of walking in addition to my earlier cycling. I must admit I was getting rather weary and cold.

Briefly, the wealth that paid for these Schloss‘ came from the era of Prussian King Frederick the Great, who reigned from 1740-86.

However, Potsdam is more famous internationally for being the place where the leaders of the victorious nations met after the Second World War in Europe. Stalin, Truman and Clement Atlee (Churchill lost the election immediately after the War) met to decide the future division of Europe. The Russian (and therefore Communist) sphere of influence was extended into a quarter of Germany and other countries of the Eastern Bloc. The French, British and Americans took responsibility for three quarters of Germany which became West Germany. Berlin was divided up so that three quarters of it remained with the West of Germany and the remaining quarter was within the East. The Berlin Wall was built.

Also at Potsdam at the same time the leaders gave Japan a final ultimatum….surrender unconditionally OR face “prompt and utter destruction”.

The meeting was at Cecilienhof Schloss, north of the town. I haven’t managed to stretch my legs so far unfortunately.

I was by this stage completely worn out and cold. I needed a boost….

Tomorrow I will be in Berlin and meeting Janice at the airport. I won’t be blogging daily for the next four days but I will do a little review of Berlin. My cycling legs (but not walking legs) will be rested as well as my typing fingers.

I just need to celebrate Chocolate Day now….look what I found….

See you next week.