McGill Alumni Portal

Members of the northern section of the German McGill alumni branch gathered recently in Potsdam for an inspirational and fun-filled weekend. Bernhard Düchting, MSc’83, and Sibylle Stossberg, BA 08, hosted the event. Andrew Wood BSc’64, MA ‘70 was again behind his camera to capture the action. Bernhard sent us this report of the event-packed two days.

Saturday, July 21

Day 1 started with a gathering at the charming Café Rothenburg. It was easy to locate the red McGill caps. The walking tour of the Dutch Quarter, with stops at historic buildings and boutiques alike took us to the Neues Palais at the western border of Park Sans Souci. Shown in the Neues Palais photo at left are, from left to right, Albrecht Kurbjuhn, BA’79, Dagmar Kurbjuhn (Wife of Albrecht Kurbjuhn), Eric Walsh, Jan Raeker LLM’05, Sibylle Stossberg, BA’08, Bernhard Duechting, MSc’83, Andrew Wood, BSc’ 64, MA’70, Irene Wood (guest of Andrew Wood.

Here we got group tickets to explore the popular Friederisiko exhibition. Everyone was equipped with an audio guide and map to learn unknown aspects of the life of Friedrich der Grosse. He was an absolute music lover and who wrote scores for his favourite instrument, the flute.

After refreshments we took a walk across the park Schloss Sans Souci, this on a beautiful sunny day with puffy clouds. The day ended with team dinner at “Der Butt” sea food restaurant.

This restaurant offered the perfect setting for dining, chatting and giving away McGill collectibles. Alfred Kurbjuhn, BA ‘79, then treated us to a well-received malt-whiskey tasting ceremony.

Sunday, July 22

Everybody had to get up early on Day 2 to be at the Potsdam Harbour for a 10 am cruise on the Havel river on board the historical steam boat “Gustav” . The “red cap” team was treated to spectacular sights of Potsdam, Glienicker Brücke (where agents were traded between East and West), Pfaueninsel (where peacocks freely roam the park) and Cecilienhof (where Churchill, Truman and Stalin decided on the future of Germany).

Then it was time for the farewell gathering at another landmark café in Potsdam, the “Kaffeerösterei Junik”. Here everybody enjoyed his favourite blend of coffee or chocolate, before heading back to Berlin and Hamburg.

This was a joyous McGill reunion, we are looking forward to the next McGill reunion for the German McGill Alumni branch which will be organized by Madeline Bohr, BA’71.