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Hotel Der Kaiserhof , Berlin June 29th, 1903. Dear Louie, We have been here 4 days, and after wandering and driving through
the vast city, viewing the many gardens, monuments, parks, and famous streets, meeting a good many distinguished botanists,
etc. we leave this eve at 11 o'clock for St. Petersburg, and will be on the train two nights. Berlin is a fine, clean, spacious
city, of a million and a half inhabitants. Many of the streets are very wide and are planted with rows or double rows of linden,
now in flower, or elm, and there are many squares abounding in trees, shrubs, flowers, birds, and children. Yesterday we
went by train and boat to Potsdam and saw the famous Sans Souci Palace of Frederick the Great, very interesting to readers
of Carlyle's history. The terraces and statuary are grand, and the fountains, but grandest of all are the noble woods and
lawns, wild looking, though all planted and tended with utmost care. The Emperor's palace in the city is much less interesting.
Today we were out at the famous Charlottenburg -- grand old woods and gardens there also, and old palace and new mausoleum.
Dr. C. Bolle, an old author and botanist, went everywhere With us, and has been exceedingly kind. I wish you would send him
a copy of Our National Parks . His address is Doctor C. Bolle, Schoeneberger Ufer 37, Berlin, Germany. I hope our darlings
are safe at home after a joyful instructive time in the grandest and kindest of mountains, and that you have got through the
lonesome vacation better than you hoped for. The time seems years since leaving you, so crowded has it been with novel views
and events. We all have taken cold in the horrid weather, now getting better. Love to all. In a few minutes we must go to
the train. Heaven bless you always. I have not yet had a word from home. JOHN MUIR