Potsdam

On the weekend we took a trip to Potsdam as a group.  Potsdam is a city about 40 minutes south of Berlin by train.  Historically it was a residence of the Prussian royal family, and is popular amongst tourists today for its parks and palaces.

Potsdam provides a very calm atmosphere, and a great break from the metropolican environment.  It is popular among Berliners for this reason, as they can go here to relax and re-energize before going back to the capital.  Rich Berliners often move out to Potsdam as they can keep running their business operations without being too far from the action, yet at the same time, without having to live with the daily hustle and bustle of Berlin.  One of the main attractions is the Sanssouci Palace built as a summer palace for Fredrick the Great, one of Germany's more prominent historical figures.  It is part of a greater park structure, with several other palaces, which ultimately provides for some great scenery and strolls.

Along with the parks, Potsdam is also sprinkled with many lakes, and you often see people heading for the water to kayak or windsurf.  One of the more memorable experiences from the trip was taking a water taxi across the lake system to have dinner at a lakeside restaurant.  After that experience it became evident why people have been drawn to this area for relaxation for hundreds of years.

Historical Fact: The Potsdam Conference took place here, a conference between the victorious allied powers that was to decide the fate of Europe and its countries following WW2.