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Monday, December 8, 2014

A Student in Berlin, a Tourist in Potsdam


Since moving back to the States in April, we wondered when our next trip in Europe would be.  We didn't have to wait long.  In last year's trip to Berlin, I met an American who was getting his masters degree from Freie Universität Berlin, or Free University of Berlin.  Intrigued, I researched a program, applied, and months later, found out that I had been accepted.  I was excited to attend a German university, and Emily was eager to join me during the week-long introduction in October.

Rost und Silberlaube buildings

FU Berlin's campus is on the outskirts of the city in the Dahlem district.  It was founded in 1948 by students who protested the oppressive Soviet impact on Humboldt University in downtown Berlin.

Ok, enough of the boring school stuff.  Em and I got to see more of the city during the evening hours.


As always, we spent some relaxing time in a Biergarten.  This one was in the Tiergarten near the zoo.


Em spent a day at the zoo, which looked really well designed.  She said the animals were able to roam in large environments.


While walking near Gendarmenmarkt with some friends, we found a treasure for the girls: Fassbender und Rausch Chocolatiers.


Yes, that's a chocolate Brandenburg Gate.


F&R take their hot chocolate seriously.  I'm not a chocoholic, but I'd go back in a heartbeat.


We took a long walk along the river Spree to the East Side Gallery again.  The Berlin Wall graffiti was interesting as always.

I didn't take this photo, but I really liked this graffiti

This graffiti is not at the wall - we took a very strange street art tour in Kreuzberg district one evening.  I didn't take many photos, but it was bizarre.  A homeless Australian was our 'guide', who took us to his favorite hangouts.  Some of the art was pretty interesting though.

I didn't take this photo either, but we spent some time in front of this painting

For a day trip, we took a 20 minute train ride over to Potsdam, the City of Emperors.  It is much more traditional-looking than modernized Berlin.


We grabbed some food from street vendors and went to check out Sanssouci Palace - a playground for the Prussian military elite.


The expansive grounds were filled with fountains, gardens, and groves.


The tea house was intricately gilded.


This windmill is perched on the hill above the palace.  It was a perfect spot to stop and enjoy a dunkelweizen.


The sun was wearing out, so we walked back into town to get dinner as the fountain in front of the Brandenburger Tor lit in a colorful display.


We're not sure when our next adventure is, but we were thankful to get a chance to see Germany again.