We spent the morning at Sachsenhausen POW camp. Our wonderful guide was very sincere and I couldn't help making fun of the fact that she mispronounced v and w. it's a common language translation issue. The camp was a revised version of the original and was a fitting memorial
to murdered Jews, POWs and German undesirables. Later they interned Russians and Nazis as punishment for their crimes. The interesting twist in how they managed to kill so many had a lot to do with a medical exam that included a shot to the back of the neck and Merit pay to the Nazi who could kill the most in one day.
San Souci
To contrast that experience completely I travelled up to Potsdam (where the treaty was signed) to visit the summer home of Fredrick the Great. San Souci gardens are modeled on Versailles. The home is as flamboyant as Fredrick and in decadent Rocco style. We visited the home and the room in whic he entertained Voltaire. The church is an architects dream with Greek, Italian and French influences. We has a great Turkish meal in the quarter and topped off the night in Berlin at some punk rock 'Russiandisko' at White Trash.
Wittenberg
We left early for Wittenberg and a tour of Martin Luther's home 'quite the contrast'. We toured an alternative 'gymnasium' school that was very artistic. The kids spoke great English! Then we visited downtown Wittenberg for the castle, museum and Everything Martin Luther. It was a small town centered around its famous professor and Protestant Reformer!
Then we took a bus ride to the gorgeous Medieval town of Quedlinburg. We are staying 4 days at the base of the castle in a Medieval styled 4star hotel. Tomorrow we have lunch with the Mayor so I'll have to behave myself!
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