July 5, 2012 Berlin - Potsdam - Genthin Germany

We left Berlin for Genthin via Potsdam.

This is our hotel in Berlin, Hotel Prens. You can see the name on the black strip. Our room was the first floor, two windows on right. Nice size room but it was so hot. No air conditioning and the sun streamed in all afternoon. Restaurants underneath therefore with that and cars it was rather noisy.

Canal just along from the Hotel.

Branden-burger Tor in Potsdam.

We arrived in Potsdam without realising just how much there was to see. Wasted too much time looking for places in the town to realise that all the beauty of the area was scattered out beyond the town. Information centre didn't really explain this to us so by the time we sorted it all out we were running out of time. There seemed to be no brochures to explain all this. Bit disappointing as we missed out on seeing half of the beautiful buildings in the area. 

One of the town squares in same area.

Looking back the other way.

Driving around Potsdam.

This lake, called Heiliger See, has a beautiful park called Neuer Garden, all down the west side, left in picture. Unfortunately we didn't have time to see much at all. You could spend a day just slowly walking through the park as it has great old buildings to see.

PT standing around the back of the Gotische Bibliothek (above picture) looking out over the lake.

Went mad on this property as it was so great.  Schloss Cecilienhof  in the Neuer Gardens. Such a beautiful  old building.
The gardens were so well manicured.
As you can see there are so many angles to the building. Walking through the the arches to a lovely garden.

Right around the other side of the building where they had a restaurant.

Down on the lake edge with restaurant around the back of the building.

Two of the churches in town, above and below.

Inside the above church. Not usually so interested in churches but these old ones are so beautiful inside.

The Schloss Sanssouvci. These next three photos.

We have now arrived in Genthin to see Steffi and Torsten. What a great moment meeting up with them again. It seemed so long ago when we started to plan this trip and finally the time has come to be with them on their wedding day on Saturday.

We were greeted by their dog Altus. A great dog and they have the perfect big section for a big dog. Their house is down an access road off the main road in a forest setting. Altus barks when people pass by to walk in the forest tracks but we can come and go and he always greets us as though he has known us for ages.

This is Steffi and Torston's little boy Janne. He turns two in September. This is a swing that Torsten made as he said he couldn't put a plastic swing in amongst all the trees.

I will show you photos of their house tomorrow as I am a day late posting this due to no time after catching up with the family sitting outside until 10.00pm and still very warm.