Our annual VERBI team trip led us to Potsdam, a beautiful city close to Berlin.
The first thing we did on our trip was to put on our sunglasses, since the weather was great and the sun was shining when we stepped onto Potsdam’s water taxi. While riding on the river called “Havel” we passed a variety of sights like the so called Schiffsbauergasse, Potsdam’s theatre, the Babelsberg Palace, and the former border crossing point Glienicke Bridge. It became famous due to the exchange of international agents in the later 1980s.
Babelsberg Castle
Glienicke Bridge
Our boat trip’s final destination was Cecilienhof Palace where we took a guided tour through the country-style residence of Prince Wilhelm of Prussia and Duchess Cecilie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
Cecilienhof Palace
This castle played an important role in German history since The Big Three – Truman, Churchill/Attlee and Stalin – met there in August 1945 in order to negotiate terms at the end of World War II. Irreconcilable political and economic differences, however, laid the foundation of the Cold War.
This is the place where the allies discussed the future of Germany.
Afterwards, we walked through parks and gardens passing several castles and churches before enjoying our lunch on the Pfingstberg Hill admiring the beautiful view of the surrounding country.
Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church
Lunch
Next stop was Belvedere Castle, where we climbed the castle’s tower to get a unique view of Berlin from the far! Near the castle we then visited the Russian Colony Alexandrowska with its timbered houses and orchards.
Belvedere Castle
Our VERBI team
Timbered house in the Colony Alexandrowska
The last step on our tour was a visit of the Dutch Quarter. However, the fact that this was the largest building complex in Dutch style outside the Netherlands in Europe became a minor matter when we faced our final destination: an ice cream shop.
Dutch Quarter
Finally ice cream for everyone
