blog.mygermancity.comThe Germany Blog - Stay Current With Everything

Germany Driving On The German Autobahn June 12th, 2012 | Filed in Travel Tips You’ve just arrived in Germany at one of its major airports ( Frankfurt , Munich , Berlin , etc), you’ve got your luggage; and you’re now headed to the car rental counter for a chance to drive on the infamous Autobahn (or any part of the country’s 636,000km of roads). Ohh, perhaps in a convertible since spring and summer are so beautiful in Germany. Errrr… put on the brakes for a moment. Yes, driving in Germany is probably one of the most exciting things you could possibly do in your lifetime — but it ain’t no easy feat. If you’re coming from the U.S., you’ll just need your passport and driver’s license to drive here. Otherwise, you’re required to have an International Driver’s License. Hmmm, rules already and you haven’t even gotten behind the wheel yet. ;-) Please… those 30-inch thick road beds on the Autobahn are so worth the wait — have some patience. A proper, valid license isn’t the only thing you’ll need. You’d better learn the rules” of the road — and fast if you want to survive out here — one of them is never to pass on the right (big no-no). Someone behind you flashing their high beams? Uh, Sunday Driver, get out of the left lane you’re going too slow. Whatever you do, don’t flip ’em the bird on the way by — they got the right of way. Oh, and get this, running out of gas on the Autobahn is illegal! There’s no excuse to run out of fuel — there are service areas with Tankstellen (gas stations) every 40 – 60km. They’re open 24-hours a day, 7-days a week with restrooms and a restaurant or snack bar. They’re like service plazas found all over the New Jersey or Pennsylvania Turnpike in the US — only better. ;-) All right, it’s time to be serious now for a minute. Whatever you do, do not (DO NOT) drink & drive. The legal limit for blood-alcohol is .05, but Germany’s getting stricter by the minute. Some places will throw the book at you for a .03. Want to sample the best of German beer , wine , or schnapps ? Leave the keys to the Audi or Mercedes behind, OK? If you’re not imbibing, remember to always wear your seatbelt. You’re traveling at speeds of 250 km/h (160 mph), or faster in some areas, so safety first. Don’t worry if you find yourself in trouble. There are callboxes along the roadside to help you. You don’t even have to worry about which way to find the closest one, there are posts that point an arrow to it. I would, however, worry about where you’re going. Germany’s road signs on the Autobahn list their routes by city (the furthest city listed first) instead of numbering east/north/whatever. You don’t want to find yourself in Stuttgart if you’re headed to Kiel , do you? Learn to read a map (or use a GPS) so you know which cities are along the way to where you’re going. Just don’t stop along the side of Autobahn to do it — that’s illegal too. ;-) 5 Comments → | Permalink June Brides, Weddings German Style June 4th, 2012 | Filed in Culture & Art , Traditions It’s June and everyone talks about a June bride. Hell, even the venues seem to charge more for this high season” of the bridal year. So I got to thinking (which could possibly never be a good thing) about weddings in Germany . Sure, every culture has its wedding rituals and traditions, and Germany is no different. Getting married in Deutschland can be a three day affair. Day one usually includes a civil ceremony since a totally religious ceremony isn’t valid. The civil ceremony isn’t the big day in the life of the bride & groom; it’s usually just attended by family and a handful of close friends. Brides and grooms wishing to get married in a medieval church or elegant cathedral will have to do it on day two of the festivities. Here’s where the big party comes in — right after the religious ceremony. Never attended a German wedding before? You might notice the lucky couple carrying bread and salt, which is symbolic for a good harvest.” They might also be carrying some coins to throw at any kids nearby, as guests throw rice. Careful, someone might lose an eye! ;-) All the dishes being broken (on Day 1) isn’t a lover’s quarrel between the lovebirds. It’s traditional to break old dishes. Scaring away any evil spirits, I gather. There might not be new modern music or sappy love songs as their first dance as a married couple, traditionally it’s the Waltzer . But, hey, every couple’s different — so it’s a gamble. Still, I like tradition. Want a proper wedding gift for the German couple? You can never go wrong with a ceramic pig that signifies good fortune, or a Black Forest Cuckoo Clock (yes, I’m serious). ;-) OK, so the cuckoo clock might be out — get the newlyweds a bridal cup,” which should be given BEFORE the actual nuptials because (again) tradition says it’s for the first toast. I hope that cup’s filled with a great German wine. I’ll drink to that — I’ll drink to love — and I’ll drink to the lucky couples, whoever they are! 2 Comments → | Permalink German States In A Nutshell, Part 2 May 28th, 2012 | Filed in Culture & Art , Dream Trips , Parks & Nature , Places To Live , Regional , Sights , Travel Tips Here it is, the much anticipated part two of my German Federal States In A Nutshell.” There’s a lot of history, culture, and economics in each of Germany’s states . Isn’t it much easier to break it all down? OK, OK, maybe I didn’t add every little nuance into all of them, they are snippets after all. ;-) As a reminder, here’s Part 1 of German States . Where did I leave off? Oh yeah… Lower Saxony If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times — Lower Saxony is best enjoyed by bicycle. All the better to see all this agricultural landscape. Whatever mode of transportation you’re using to see this state that includes Hanover , Göttingen , and Wolfsburg , will work all the same. You’ll certainly eat good, there’s everything from potatoes to sugar beets, and wheat that are grown around here. Take that, Schleswig-Holstein , MeckPomm , Brandenburg , Saxony-Anhalt , Thuringia , Hesse , and North Rhine-Westphalia . Wow, would you believe that all those places border Lower Saxony? Yeah, me either. North Rhine-Westphalia Eighteen million people live within this most populated state, if you’d believe it. Not so hard to understand when you’ve got cities like Dortmund , Düsseldorf , Aachen , and Cologne — as well as lots of medieval architecture, half-timbered houses, and UNESCO World Heritage sites scattered throughout its many villages and towns. Cologne is a big favorite. It’s got an annual film festival, a huge Carnival season (November to February), and the largest Gothic church in Northern Europe. If you want a picture — stand far back, its towers are 157 meters high (oh, and it took over 600 years to complete!). Rhineland-Palatinate This is a predominantly Catholic state that borders Baden-Württemberg , Saarland, Luxembourg, Belgium, and France. No wonder they appreciate the great wines that come straight from this region. Viticulture might be big business here, but visiting charming cities like Trier , Speyer , Mainz , and Worms are also a must-see. Saarland The Saarland is Germany’s smallest state, which also borders France (as well as Luxembourg and the Rhineland-Palatinate). French is widely spoken here; and you’ll find cities like Saarlouis , Neunkirchen , Saarbrücken , and Sankt Wendel . Saxony No, this isn’t the land of the Saxons of the Germanic Tribes , but where you’ll be when you’re visiting Leipzig , Dresden , Zwickau , and Chemnitz . It’s also a wine region, has mountains, and castles. Sadly it isn’t known for being a top spot for tourists to Germany, though you’d miss out big time not to spend some time here too! Besides, did you know that recent excavations have found 29 million year old fossils ? Hmm, maybe more people will come to visit from now on? :-) Saxony-Anhalt Saxony-Anhalt is proud of its rustic Harz Mountains, Martin Luther, and the Romanesque Route that winds its way through this...