Potsdam, Germany

After the Thinkshop on ‘Meridional flow, differential rotation, solar and stellar activity’ Mark and I spent several days exploring Potsdam. We were indeed ‘without cares’ as we wandered the wooded lanes, venerable structures, and picturesque landscapes of Sanssouci ("without cares") Palace and Babelsburg park.

One afternoon we visited the nearby Telegrafenberg Observatory which includes the Great Refractor, one of the largest telescopes of its kind ever built. Also at Telegrafenberg is the famousEinstein Tower (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Einstein_Tower). This is a solar telescope which was designed to verify some predictions of Einstein's theory of general relativity. Those particular measurements weren't successful but the tower continues to be useful for solar astronomy and the stylish design of the building helps to make it a popular tourist attraction. After that we visited Einstein's former summer home in Kaput.

Unfortunately Mark did not have a camera him, but he did have a cell phone however and he managed to get this picture of me next to Babelsberg Castle in Potsdam.