Sansoucci Park, Potsdam

The idiom 'It's a walk in the park' seems hillarious to me on this outting. I am a beach/sea person so this is all new to me, I've never took a walk in a park to enjoy it, I've only crossed parks to get somewhere else.

The day started off beautifully. Took an hour train ride from Berlin, enjoying the sight. Today, I was exploring alone.

Armed with a map, I made my way passed quiet cobbled street to the Sansoucci Park, entering from the Friedenskirche (Frieden Church). Sturdy and serious looking. Then I entered the park, walking under this beautiful canopy of greens. And my exploration began.

I was immediately lost in awe. Came across beautiful statues, but I felt like being in a labyrinth.

Every corner, every turn revealed a treasure. I put away my map, took out my camera and just clicked away. I wished I was a pro photographer so I can capture their beauty but.... alas, my amatuerish touristy photos will do for me.

Then I reached the Bilder Galerie. It was closed, no problemo, not like I'm gonna pay to see something I don't know how to appreciate. But I do like the look of the building, its yellow wall, the statues lined next to its tall windows. The statues look like statues of scholars, holding a globe, parchment, all their faces smiling, I like looking at them.

I thought I was amazed with THAT building, I came across many more yellow buildings, with beautiful statues and beautiful gardens.

 There was also a huge windmill there. I love the details in the sculptures, the flowers, the human faces.  I'm clueless about architecture, but I hear the Park embodies the Baroque arts, so I think I'm beginning to get a feel of what it is.

I'm transported into my own world. Imaganing how it was in the olden days when the royalties and their courts roamed the gardens. The Park is so serene, and sooo GREEN. The October air was cold, but fresh.

The highlight was the Schloss Sansoucci (the palace). More in awe.

I looked at the map and decided to venture to the New Palace, on the far end of its west side. From an obelisk in front of Schloss Sansoucci, it was a long straight walk to the New Palace.

 I can see its red wall from afar, but I never seem to get there. It was a looooonnnngggg walk. Later, I read that it was a 2.5 km straight avenue. I think somewhere between the 1.5 kilometer-2km mark, I had the sudden urge to do the number 1. I thought nevermind, I'll get to the New Palace, there should be a visitor's loo somewhere in the vicinity.

When I got there, I was again in awe of the beautiful architecture, forgot about 'the sudden urge' and started clicking away my Nikkon. Beauty, beauty, beauty. I started making my way back and again felt that sudden urge to go. i checked my map, and discovered the nearest sign to a loo was nearby the Chinese Tea House, which was a gazillion miles away. I had an idea of just running towards some bush, but the trees are so wide apart and there are pathways everywhere, with joggers and cyclers appearing at a moment's notice.

 I didn't want to be caught in an uncompromising position so I fought that urge, and boy it was tough, I wanted to cry, my head felt like it was exploding from the internal battle.

Several cigarettes and an eternity later, I came to the Chinese Tea House. Looked around and saw a tourist info booth. Ran to it and asked for direction to the loo. The nice lady said it's just around the corner. Around the corner is a few hundred meters away, going through another labyrinth of gardens. But alas, I was saved.

Then I had an etenity to enjoy the Chinese Tea House. It was beautiful though it didn't look oriental. It was quaint, a mixture of east meets west. There were statues of oriental merchants and ladies and Chinese garments.

Their eyes are small like oriental eyes but the rest of the features were very European. I noticed the roof has a design of a long dragon encircling it. It was a stark contrast to the other huge buildings around the park.

And that was the end of my exploration in the park. I decided to walk back to the obelisk and take an exit from there. Making my way from the Chinese Tea House, I noticed the sole on one boot started to peel off and was making a 'clack'ing noise. But i didn't mind. It was a good walk, I enjoyed the sights that I'd never thought I'd appreciate. One of my most memorable experiences.