A warning to future Potsdam visitors first: don't make the mistake I made to walk from the train station to the Sanssouci park. It takes at least half an hour and there is not much to see underway. I was jealous of other tourists happily biking around, as that seems the best way to explore this rather large area. This also gives you the opportunity to visit some of the more remote places like Alexandrovka and Bornstedt.

My walk through the deserted streets was brightened up a little by the sight of the pumping station in the shape of a mosque/minaret. Over-the-top architecture like this makes a visit worthwhile. That's also the case with the China house in the Sanssouci park itself.

I skipped most of the rest of Sanssouci: there are so many of these megalomaniac building frenzies in Europe, and there are way too many of them on the list. I don't go inside anymore, but rather have a walk in the gardens and sit down somewhere to read a good book.