Polar Bear Safari - October 11-13, 2024

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June 6, 2025 - Potsdam - Berlin Trip - Day 3

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Today's adventure took us to Potsdam by train.  Upon arriving, we walked to Sanssouci Palace Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I am going to preface my tour details with some information about Frederick the Great as this will provide context for this complex. Frederick II of Prussia, known as Frederick the Great was born January 24, 1712, the son of the authoritarian King Frederick William I and Sophia Dorothea of Hanover. His childhood was marked by conflict with his father, who despised Frederick's love of French culture, philosophy, and the arts, preferring military discipline.   Frederick's interests in arts and philosophy conflicted with his father's militaristic and authoritarian views. The relationship between father and son became strained and a t 18 years old, Frederick tried to flee Prussia to England with his friend Hans Hermann von Katte.   The escape plot was discovered, and both Frederick and Katte were arrested. Fred...
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June 5, 2025 - Berlin Trip - Day 2

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Today our  day began with an immersive exploration of Berlin's divided history. Christine and Richard led us through the story of East and West Berlin, starting at the iconic  world clock in Alexanderplatz.  It was erected in 1969 and shows the time in 148 major cities around the world and it was o nce considered the absolute highlight of East Germany. As Christine explained, this simple timepiece represented hope and modernity for East Berliners who had so little access to the wider world. We passed by historic St. Mary's Church.  The exact age of the original church is unknown but was mentioned in historical records as early as 1243.  It was originally a Roman Catholic Church but  became a Lutheran Protestant church during the Reformation in 1539.   It is located in the former East Berlin. We stood on the  ‎⁨Platz des Volksaufstandes, ground zero for the people's uprising in East Germany in 1953 and now a memorial.  There are numerous ...
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June 7, 2025 - Potsdam - Berlin Trip - Day 4

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Today during our early hotel breakfast before taking a train back down to the Potsdam area, I almost choked on my croissant when suddenly standing before me (+ Connie, Richard and Christine) was my old Basel and UCSF buddy Christoph Rochlitz and his wife Sabine, who had driven 9+ hours up from Basel to surprise us (while still limping 5 weeks after his total knee replacement)! The Herrmanns were complicit in this secret ambush, as Christoph and Sabine were going to join us on our planned boat trip later in the day.   Needless to say we spent a couple of hours catching up with each other.   After breakfast it was decided that Chris and I would drive with Christoph and Sabine to Potsdam, while Christine and Richard retraced our train trip from yesterday and we would all meet at the marina in Potsdam. As our boat trip wasn't scheduled until 1:30 PM, at Christoph's suggestion we went to visit the iconic Tempelhof Airfield, one of Berlin's most historically significant and com...
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