02 May 2009

san souci: French word meaning without worry


san souci:  French word meaning without worry

As I sat toying with the idea of even starting a blog, I tried to  think of a name that was unique and meaningful.  I recalled people, places and experiences to come up with a name...

When I was 20, I had the lucky experience of travelling to Berlin, Germany to study abroad with a small group of fellow students.  We were treated like royalty by our hosts/hosting agency and enjoyed fine food, fantastic tours, opera, trips to the nearby countryside, etc.  This was all in an effort to educate a small group of college students studying German about the customs and education of Germans.  It was a spectacular opportunity.  Nevertheless, one afternoon we arrived at the most beautiful palace in Potsdam.  It was the summer palace and retreat of King Friedrich II.  He named it Sansoucci -- a place where he could stay without worry.  Here he enjoyed his favorite summertime hobbies and never worried about the formalities of being royalty.  The gorgeous palace sits atop a lovely terraced vineyard.

What could be better that a life without worry, endless summers and beautiful vistas greeting your every glance?  So, with that short bit of history, I have decided to name my blog san souci -- a palace of my favorite things without worry.