SansSouci was remarkable. Magnificent and deliberate, in some ways obvious, in others not quite so obvious. Muskau and Branitz held stories as did Wörlitz, but I was so readily reminded of the life/death, innocence/reality, war/family opposites present in this landscape, perhaps because of the strong axes that were so prominent or the isolated and readily visable locations of the statues. The story hits you from the very first step - the sphynxs on either side begin it right as you start walking towards the Palace.
My step tracker said we walked nearly 8 miles the first day in Sanssouci, testifying to the spatiality of the estate and the breadth of territory to cover in trying to understand what happened there.
I must conclude by relating that I had the privelege of running into Harri Günther, prior Master Gardener and director there at Sanssouci, whilst out and about at the close of the day. He took interest in my measuring trees...again...and after a brief conversation I discovered who he was and his connection to that place and all that we were studying. Very special moment indeed!