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Showing posts with label parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parks. Show all posts

Postcard from Potsdam

I had only one short afternoon in Potsdam, a city, I try to see whenever I visit Berlin. Now I have one more reason, one of my sons just moved there, after one year of long commute from Berlin to his university. It is grand!

View to the garden at the Business School Potsdam

My son in front of his Alma Mater

The vestibule

At the reception

Front hall

Stair case near front


He rented a nice little apartment, together with a student friend, something German students routinely do, as affordable rentals are available. 
Now he actually can use his bicycle or the tram for a few short stops.
Potsdam has a much slower pace then Berlin, more like a small town, located amidst  beautiful parks and between lakes. The old Frederick the Great already found this place adorable, as he build Sanssouci, the amazingly beautiful summer palace of the Prussian royalties.

Sanssouci
Image

I have written more about it here, if you are interested to see some more pictures in summer time.


This time, just some street scenes, and places which caught my eye...

Typical Potsdam architecture

Church at the old town, Brandenburger Strasse

Beautiful court yard

Tiny cafe, our lunch place.

Italianate gardens

Flowers tell of spring everywhere

Market place 

This time we walked around town, he showed me his amazing university and the neighborhood next to it. 
Castle Belverdere is only 200 m up the hill from his school.




Castle Belvedere

Walking up to belvedere

Old garden wall

Lovely details


Potsdam might be small, but is filled with historical and architectural treasures.
There are distinct different neighborhoods. One more interesting and lovely then the next....
There is a Dutch quarter and the Russian village of Alexandrowka, all within walking distance, yet never reminding me of Disney World, as you might now think...



Distinctly Dutch

Gorgeous front

Just like any street in Gouda, Holland

Brick and sky
We drove by the Russian village, but I had no chance to take pictures, so I found some on Google Image:




Image from here.


Potsdam is wonderful to walk through, relax among the 
gardens of Sanssouci or have lunch in one of the small restaurants easily found in the center of town.
There is great opportunity to shop in lovely antique shops or even a department store on Main street.


Antique store

Great colors on this 18th century house


Oh, go and see it one day!






All images by V.Zlotkowski and as indicated.
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Impressions from the West Coast III

We loved the coast line and the magnificence of the landscape. We loved the towns and the big City Los Angeles! Without further ado:  Here are some more images! You can click to enlarge the photos in a image show.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park



Hiking with my daughter




Coast line between Big Sur and Santa Barbara 







Santa Barbara Hills

On the road to LA

Highway sign...

Downtown LA in the mist

View from our friend's house in Calabasas, near LA

Reminds me so of Italy

Sculpture on a street divider in Beverly Hills

Color blocking - picture perfect

Glamour home in Beverly Hills

Lush streets

Beautiful landscaping 

I could live here....



Massive life oak tree

Spanish style church in Beverly Hills


Beautiful Obelisk fountain

We reach Santa Monica beach

Late afternoon at Santa Monica Pier

Beautiful Spanish Mission style


Our journey came to an end here, after visiting the Pier and center of Santa Monica we headed to the airport and returned home to a glistening and cold, but welcoming New York! We have many memories and new impressions. The children LOVE California and my husband and I have gotten the feeling, especially LA has made incredible progress since we knew the city more then 20 years ago. It is cleaner and brighter, with amazing cuisine all over and felt safe to us, wherever we went.
What a big and wonderful country we live in...We are so grateful for all! 









All images by V.Zlotkowski copyright 2012
read more "Impressions from the West Coast III"
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