We had one more morning in Berlin and spent most of it checking out a chocolate store. We needed something a little lighter today. On the way we crossed the Gendarmenmarkt square. 

There we saw the German Cathedral and the Konzarthaus. Both were badly damaged during World War II and have been rebuilt. The church was Lutheran but now houses a history museum. 

Opposite the German Cathedral across the Gendarmenmarkt is the French Cathedral. It’s the older of the two churches and was built by the Heguenots shortly after 1700. 

Next stop is the Fassenbender and Rausch chocolate store located on the corner near the Gendarmenmarkt. 

Before crossing the street, we watch the traffic go by. It’s a rush of cars, trucks, and especially bicycles, all meeting and passing smoothly at a four-way intersection with no traffic signals. Bicyclists abound in Berlin much like what we saw in Munich and unlike our experience in Rome which is buzzing with motorcycles and mopeds. But the bicycles are moving incredibly fast here so you have to pay attention crossing streets.

Inside the chocolate store we wander around google-eyed. So many choices, so little time.  

In addition to all the candy boxes and packages, there were mini replicas of local landmarks made from chocolate such as the Reischstag. 

We buy several types of truffles to sample, then head back to the hotel to grab our suitcases and meet our guides and the rest of our group. At this point, after all the walking, I am really looking forward to getting on the bike. 

Our three guides for the trip include Milan, originally from Croatia, Sasha from Russia, and Axel from Germany. They all speak several languages of course, unlike us. 

Already dressed in bike clothes, we board a bus and drive about an hour out of Berlin to our bikes. After getting our bike seats and pedals on, and getting the bikes fitted (seat forward, handlebars tilted closer) we start riding the eight-mile warmup ride. The first highlight includes riding across the Glienicke Bridge. It connects Potsdam and southwest Berlin and is also known as the “spy bridge.” Between 1962 and 1986, Americans and Soviets used it for the exchange of captured spies. 

And the other highlight was Schloss Cecilienhof. This was the location that in July and August of 1945 the Potsdam Conference was held. Truman, Churchill, and Stalin gathered to decide how to administer punishment to defeated Nazi Germany. This was the primary issue of contention. The Americans, Brits, and French wanted the country under one administrative authority; Stalin wanted four Germanys. The result was the division into West and East. The goals of the conference also included the establishment of post-war order, peace treaty issues, and countering the effects of the war on the German people. 

Louis, Gay, Ross, and Jerry check out the map of the grounds. 

From here, it’s a short ride into Potsdam to the Hotel Brandenburg Tor, our home for the next two nights. A Pilsner beer seemed to be the refreshment of choice in the hotel cafe to discuss what we’d seen on the ride. A fairly sobering day after all. 

I take some time to sort through my bike bag to get it ready for tomorrow. Chapstick, Kleenex, a few Euro, a credit card and a power bar. All basic requirements.

Our group of 17 had dinner at the Der Butt Restaurant about five blocks from the hotel. Their speciality is local fish and we had catfish. Fun place, fun waiter. 

Arriving back at the hotel after dinner.