Prague to Berlin and Beyond Part 3Wittenburg, Magdeburg, Pottsdam, Berlin.
Docked with us in Torgau was the Theodor Fontane, Clara Schumann’s sister ship. This ship was going the other direction and is marketed only in Germany.
Friday morning we set sail to Wittenburg. I thought that this was a particularly pretty part of the Elbe.
Seeing Luther’s house and his church was fascinating. I knew so little about him; didn’t even know he married. His wife, Katherina, was quite something. Huge house, in which was, along with his family, housed some 50 boys from the University. She also raised and sold vegetables and brewed beer. Come on, she must have had SOME help!!!!!
Wittenburg pictures
We cruised on that evening to Dessau.
Next morning we took Bus 2 to The Garden Kingdom of Worlitz. This covers almost 17 square miles!……lakes..canals….little temples, etc, etc. Unbelievable. Created by Prince Franz Anhalt-Dessau, and supposed inspired by his trips to England.
I left my camera on the boat, so will borrow a few of Jeff’s pictures
I opted for a very soggy gondola tour, while Jeff did the walking tour. He stayed drier than I did. It was at least drizzling most of the time. But loved the gondola ride. Cannot believe that I forgot my camera :roll: :cry:
a few Worlitz pictures
We went on that afternoon to Magdeburg, our last port. And disembarked the ship the next morning. While docked in Magdeburg that last evening, we saw one of the most bizarre “happenings” of the cruise. I only have one picture that came out at all. There were all kinds of strange barges floating down the river. A few people walked to town and reported that it appeared to be some kind of quasi-religious festival, but it was complete with rock music and fireworks.
A search of German google “Elbe Fluss Feier Magdeburg 9 September 2007” got me some answers….a folk festival in honor of Mechthild of Magdeburg, a 13th century nun, mystic and author. It was one nutty festival!
http://www.bistum-magdeburg.de/Detailed/2289.html
(Yes, I know it is in German, but when I put it on the translator, it was not much clearer)
http://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/M/MechthildofM/index.htm
Next day we bussed to Pottsdam, first to the Summer Palace of Frederick the Great, Sans Souci and then to his Winter Palace, in town, so to speak.
Yes, people traditionally leave potatoes on his grave, because
“
Frederick the Great of Prussia saw the potato's potential to help feed his nation and lower the price of bread, but faced the challenge of overcoming the people's prejudice against the plant. When he issued a 1774 order for his subjects to grow potatoes as protection against famine, the town of Kolberg replied: "The things have neither smell nor taste, not even the dogs will eat them, so what use are they to us?" Trying a less direct approach to encourage his subjects to begin planting potatoes, Frederick used a bit of reverse psychology: he planted a royal field of potato plants and stationed a heavy guard to protect this field from thieves. Nearby peasants naturally assumed that anything worth guarding was worth stealing, and so snuck into the field and snatched the plants for their home gardens. Of course, this was entirely in line with Frederick's wishes”
Pretty smart King!
Then, we bussed on to the Pottsdam Conference Palace, and finally, to our Hotel in Berlin, the Berlin Melia.
Magdeburg/Pottsdam Pictures
A very short video showing the placing of Potatoes on the grave
Was not overly crazy about the hotel, but it was right on the River Spree and within walking distance of the museums and the Brandenburg Gate. Berlin was WONDERFUL!!! That afternoon we walked to the river and had coffee. Lots of lovely cafes along the bank.
Coffee on the Spree Video
Brandenburg Gate Video
Next day was the bus tour of the city, and it POURED!!!! Pictures didn’t come out well, at all.
Most of the group left on the 11th, but we stayed one extra night. The weather was much better, and we went to the Pergamon and Egyptian Museums These were just too fabulous to be believed!!!!!!!! In the afternoon, I took myself on a river tour boat on the Spree and then walked some more.
River Cruise on the Spree Video
ALL the Berlin photos, way too many, I think