Visiting The Queen

CLICKBAIT! I actually didn't meet The Queen.

I have always wanted to have tea with The Queen, but my trip to Queen Sophia Charlotte's Charlottenburg Palace will do. When we arrived at Charlottenburg Palace, we first admired the palace itself and an equestrian statue. Of course, we had to take a pic of this spectacle for "the gram". Then, we were given tickets, which were taken out of Christopher's pretty envelopes. However, before we stepped foot inside the palace, Christopher recommended us to trek around the court garden and take a good look at Charlottenburg Palace at the bridge.

Motion Europe Admiring Charlottenburg Palace.

Stepping into the court garden, I was expecting there to be only tourists, like us Americans from Rutgers University.  I was quite shocked by the mix of tourists and locals around the area. I saw a middle-aged woman smiling and passing by us, taking their morning jog. Is we were making our way to the bridge, we saw more joggers and families with children around the area! I presume that many locals come here in their spare time and enjoy the nature and wildlife in the Court Garden of Charlottenburg Palace. 

A Sea of Flowers in the Court Garden.

Speaking of seas and bodies of water, we reached a water-bridge where we got a lovely view of  Charlottenburg Palace. We took a good minute here admiring the lush green scenery and its juxtaposition to the royal palace. Mmm, isn't it breathtaking? 

The Court Garden - Across the Pond, Literally.

When we made our way back to Charlottenburg Palace, we had an encounter with Papa Swan. Will wanted a good view of the swans for a photo, but I think he got a little too close because Papa Swan was starting to wobble their way to him! As it turns out, these two swans had four little swanlings! Mama Swan was keeping an eye out for her younglings, but Papa Swan and stepped closer and closer to Will. I had to concoct a plan before Will gets attacked, so I sacrificed myself as bait. I stepped to the other side, inching towards Papa Swan. Papa Swan turned around and made eye contact with me. Will was set free, but I was its next target. Papa Swan slowly wobbled towards me, and I didn't move a single bit. He progressed towards me, and in snapping motion, he bit my dress! Let me tell you: don't. mess. with. the. swans. A local German warned Charlotte and me that the swans could get a little aggressive and he used his hands to mimic the snapping of the swan's beak to emphasize their defensive attacks. I think that Papa Swan's defensive actions were valid though, we were rather close to their children, and he was protecting his babies. 

Will vs. Swan.

After that dramatic confrontation, we headed back to Charlottenburg Palace to visit the old palace.
Before we entered the exhibition, we were given red wristbands, which allowed us to take photos inside the palace. This was pretty neat because could use our cameras to capture the beauty, art, and details that home Although I must inform you, the photos I have taken does not compare to the magnificent beauty of this royal home itself. When I stepped into the first room of the palace, I immediately noticed that the rooms were beautifully adorned with golden curved rococo styled frames, wall brackets, and armchairs, Austrian style curtains, and wooden rooms. The frames held paintings of Queen Charlotte herself, her husband, King Friedrich I, their son, politicians, dignitaries, relatives, and scholars.

The Esteemed Queen Charlotte.

It seems like Queen Charlotte had a knack for interior decor and Baroque-styled furniture. You can totally tell be the damask throne...

The Halls of Charlottenburg Palace.

... and marquetry pattern engraved in the wooden walls. Look. At. That. Symmetry.

Ceiling and Wall Art.

Even the ceilings were painted with Greeks gods and goddesses, adorned with flowers and gold frames, and the corners of the ceilings were had little figurines of scholars. Queen Charlottenburg held high value in the art and sciences, hence the small statues of intellectuals.

I am telling you, you don't see this sort of interior design in IKEA, so I am sort of stoked that I got to lay eyes on such beauty. But I digress, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest them of all. This palace is filled with mirrors because it served as a reflective surface of the Court Garden. As one can tell, Queen Charlotte not only had a deep appreciation of lavish interior decor and garden design but also had a fascination with Chinese art. If you look at the lower right corner in the picture of the Green Room, there is a display of porcelain, which was imported from China.

The Green Room.

Here are other pieces of furniture that were embellished with painted Chinese artwork.

Display of Chinese Paintings.

Harpsichord with Chinese Artwork.

Another Harpsichord with Chinese Artwork.

Study Table with Even MORE Chinese Artwork.

Needless to say, I was shocked by the Chinese influences in art at Charlottenburg Palace because the interior design of the rooms was mostly inspired by European art. I was even more blown away when I stepped foot in the Porcelain Cabinet.

Porcelain Cabinet. Creds to Erin!

This room is filled with 500 pieces of Eastern porcelain. The way porcelain was manufactured was a mystery to Europeans. Therefore, porcelain was precious and they would only display the porcelain as a decorative art rather than using it. I was obviously amazed by this spectacle and I told Christopher all about it, and he gave me a little history lesson: the time Charlottenburg Palace was erected near the Era of Enlightenment. As it turns out, Europeans looked up to Chinese scholars, knowledge, and developed civilization. Christopher went on to say that The Orphan of Zhao was the first Chinese play to be translated in Europe. Writers had a fascination with the structure of the play. Voltaire also had a deep fascination with the play and its themes of Chinese morality and civilization. Honestly, who knew? I am most definitely going to check out that play!