Day 3

Day in Potsdam. 

Leaving the apartment and not sure of exactly how to a) find the train and b) to buy a ticket ....we set off.  After s lovely breakfast  at the local bakery and on the general advice of the waiter last night we headed down the road in search of the Bahnhorf (train station).  Not hard to miss - we find the station (Ostkrauze) and a helpful German station attendant who could not speak English helped us to purchase a daily ticket that would allow us to travel all day (24hrs) on any public transport in the Berlin area including Potsdam.  Most of the stations are quite old and well used .




The train trip was quite pleasant passing quickly through the suburbs of Berlin out through the forested outskirts and into Potsdam.  Actually a very modern clean public hub that included a variety of shops mostly of the food variety.  A helpful tourist agent pounced on us at the top of the stairs  and directed us to the tourist bureau.   We purchased tickets for the "Hop on Hop off" bus which picked us up outside the station.
The tour around Potsdam was amazing.  A mixture of 16th to 19th century  Prussian royalty and extreme opulence versus the more modern day politics where the actions of the cold war or East versus West has brought home the reality for those of us who only read or heard about it.

The former headquarters for the KGB previously a girls school, the bridge painted a different color on each half and a "white line" denoting the political border and the exchange point for spies from both sides.  The remnants of the prison for political prisoners now a museum or monument to remind all of the recent past.

The bridge in Potsdam the different shades of green and white line  where up until the late 1980's separated East and West Berlin.

 In contrast, the stunningly beautiful castles and summer homes of the royals and rich families  from the late 1600's to early 1900's being carefully restored,  Walking through the massive gardens and forest areas, past the truly beautiful and arguably over the top ornate and awe inspiring buildings. The over use of full sized stone statues decorating each house.   The difference between the rich and poor very clear.