2017-09-01 The Palaces of Frederick the Great

Today was the tour field trip to Potsdam.  Debbie had studied the maps and routes.  She was able to lead the group through 3 transfers including 2  U-bahn trains, a regional train and a bus, like a well-oiled machine.  (Actually, a well-oiled squeaking machine because the others kept questioning her auth-ri-ti sometimes sending Debbie into a frenzy).

Joyce:  “How do we know when to get off the bus at the palace?

Debbie’: “When we pull up to the gate”

Joyce:  “Are you sure?”

Debbie never actually thought about it since the book said to ride the bus to the palace. She trusted the book but maybe Joyce was right.  So, Joyce with Debbie in tow quizzed the bus riders.  (Not an enthusiastic group).  Guess what?  The bus pulled up to the visitor’s center and the group stepped off. (Debbie thinks it was a test from Joyce to see if she knew what she was doing).

Cultural Moment: Sanssouci Park is a group of palaces and garden complexes built by Frederick the Great during the 18th century and expanded under Frederick Wilhelm IV.  First stop was Sanssouci Palace – Frederick the Great’s summer residence.

It was at Sanssouci that the group would first encounter some issues.  First several stink eyes had to be administered to a bus load of tourists from China that must have had limited time to see the palace.  The tour group pushed through and were reprimanded several times by the staff for not having photography wristbands (This involved purchasing a band – Debbie knew about the band and had already outfitted Larry with the appropriate band).  This pushing was what made Joyce and Jerry receive reprimands for stepping on the wood flooring.  The group of 4 also noticed that an alarm kept going off, they were all ready to stand behind the guard and deliver additional supportive stink-eyes until the guard approached Joyce to tell her to move her coat.  (Oops!).

After the four finished the tour, they discovered how to take selfies and were quite thrilled.  Thus, the many selfie pictures our children have received.  The group then decided to visit the kitchen and winery. (This could be counted as a wine club field trip.)  Unfortunately, the wine club field trip had an incident.  Jerry got lost.  The other three split up and conducted a search.  Debbie found Jerry wandering around.  (Join the chocolate club – they do not lose members.)  Debbie is also a bit obnoxious calling herself the finder since she takes credit for finding Joyce’s bag and Jerry.

Lunch was outside in a biergarten (beer garden) by ourselves.  At this point, Joyce discovered that she has lost her ticket.  After retracing steps and going back to the ticket office, the entry people tell Joyce just to use her receipt.

Next stop was the historic windmill – Debbie’s definition – a really old looking windmill that let you  walk to the top.  It has steep stairs and you hoped that you didn’t slip and were dumped unceremoniously on the floor.  No problem showing the receipt to get into the windmill.

On to the New Palace at Sanssouci.  Joyce presented her ticket at the reception area for an assigned time.

Reception person (RP):  “This is a receipt”

Joyce:  “I don’t have a ticket, the other reception desk said we could use this”.

RP:  Nein (No), I must have a ticket.

Joyce:  “I don’t need a ticket” as she steps closer to the to the desk.

Debbie:  “Perhaps you should talk to the lady at the front reception”

RP:  “It is not right.  I must have a ticket”.  Voice is raised.

Joyce:  As she lifts her leg to go over the counter, “I don’t need a ticket”.

Debbie:  As she pushes Joyce’s leg down, “Let’s call the other office and ask to speak to the British lady”.

RP:  “You must have a ticket” as she hands the tickets to Debbie.

Joyce:  “I want to speak to a supervisor”.

RP:  To Debbie “I gave you four tickets” as Debbie drags Joyce from the room.

The group stomps back down to the New Palace and uses the ticket. Cultural Moment:   The New Palace was built by Frederick the Great for his guests.

More houses were visited.  Frederick liked to build.

  • The Roman Baths – Built in the style of an ancient Italian villa but not a lot to see.
  • Chinese House – Another building that shows the preference of the time for Chinoiserie (We can’t make this stuff or words up).
  • Charlottenhof Palace – the place of crown prince William IV and his family. The scene extensive reprimands.

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Charlottenhof Palace  – The group mistakenly thought that the tour would have the following:

  • English audio guide – Nope
  • Tour guide that would know an English word other than – No
  • Written handout – Yes but it was 1 page for 12 rooms.

List or reprimands received by the group during the tour

  • Debbie needed to turn her backpack to the front
  • Joyce touched the railing so she wouldn’t fall over putting on her shoes
  • Debbie and Joyce were told to wear their jackets instead of tying around their waist
  • Joyce was in trouble for carrying her jacket instead of wearing it (Stink eye only)
  • Jerry and Joyce for getting off the rug on the floor.

To tour, one had to wear shoes over their regular shoes.  The only way to move was to slide.  Larry really got into it and swung his arms like a speed skater.  He recruited Joyce to the speed skating team until she quit when she almost fell.  Both got questionable looks from the guide.  Debbie was concerned that she would pass out from the heat because she was wearing a jacket.  (We know your question why didn’t they leave?)  There was no way out as the guide locked and unlocked each room as the tour group traveled from room to room.  (Debbie was going to fake fainting but was unsure that she could fall on the floor without getting off the rug or that Larry could stop when he speed-skated over to her).   We think that the guide was actually good as the German member of the tour were smiling and nodding.

After the Charlottenhof Palace, the group headed home on a crowded train.  Joyce thought that she had found the best seats ever with tables and plush chairs.

Debbie:  ”We can’t sit here”.

Joyce:  “Yes, we can”.

Debbie:  “No, we are going to be thrown out.  You don’t mess with the Germans on this”.

Joyce:  “It is fine.  They won’t throw us out”.

Conductor:  “Tickets Please.  (Deep sigh).  These are not first class tickets”

Debbie:  “I knew it, I knew it, I knew it.  I have never been kicked out of a seat.”  This is so traumatic. (Wait she only thought this).  What she said was “We are moving now ”.  Everyone got a stink eye for this.

Debbie had to buy a doner with lots of chili on it to soothe her wounded self for 4 euro.  (More intense writing here).  Meanwhile, the other three were cutting lines and throwing the Chinese food place into disarray.  There needs to be a serious discussion on obeying the rules….

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