The vibrant Berlin and the baroque Potsdam

It is desirable to live in Potsdam and work in Berlin. A commonality shared by Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

The Federal Chancellery, Reichstag building, and ARD summer interview.

The DDR Museum vividly illustrates, considering all senses, the German history from 1945, the division of the occupying powers until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

Consumer brands, not much different from today’s shopping apps.

Top athletes like Katarina Witt

Jens Weißflog or Täve Schur and the inevitable downside: Doping

Exquisite, Intershop, and Delicat... who can keep up with that?

The fact is that the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA) was a futile attempt to coordinate the economies of socialist countries. The GDR allowed capitalist companies like Salamander, Beiersdorf, Schiesser to produce their products at a low wage level.

Food was heavily subsidized, while luxury goods from the West were unaffordable.

“Erich's Krönung” topped it all off. Coffee in 1977 was made from beans, barley, and sugar beets.

The corduroy pants of the GDR were called “Boxers”, as need was great ;-))

To generate the necessary foreign currency, Christmas decorations from the Erzgebirge, Meissen porcelain, and historically hand-hewn stones were sold under the motto “Oh, if only I were a cobblestone, then I could soon be in the West.”

In the middle of Friedrichstraße, besides the Glienicke Bridge in Potsdam

is probably the most exciting sight of Berlin, Checkpoint Charlie. It was only to be used by employees of the Federal Republic of Germany and DDR officials.

Currently, Berlin is bustling. More than 10,000 people marched in early November 2023 to express solidarity with Palestine.

Potsdam, with its Sanssouci “without worry”, seems rather tranquil in comparison.

This Palais houses ten rooms, which, of course, appeared rather meager compared to the seven years war of 1756 against Austria and the gain of Silesia for King Frederick II of Prussia. So, the New Palais was built in 1763 mainly for demonstration and representation purposes with 630 rooms (970 spaces).

And now, something sweet after the heavy fare :-))