Germany - What Things Do You Like?
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:10 AM
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Germany - What Things Do You Like?
I've recently visited Germany for the umpteenth time and the following are some of the delights i find there that keep me coming back:
The Ubiquitous WURST STANDS, in train stations and on many street corners - first thing i do when getting off the train in my first German town is head for a Wurst stand and ask for a Brat! And a beer!
Those lively PEDESTRIAN SHOPPING ZONES - no cars just pedestrians in these, during opening hours, throned streets, likely to have street musicians, entertainers, etc.
BEERGARDENS - like those in Munich - both the indoor type like the Haufbrauhaus and outdoor types like the Chinese Pagoda in the huge park- not only beer but pretzels, typical German foods - spatzen, etc. And Leiderhosen-clad Oompah Bands -and amazing fraus unfathomably carrying a few dozen huge streins full of beer in each hand without spilling it all!
HAUPTBAHNHOF TRAIN STATIONS- The main station in or near the town centers - mini cities in and of themselves - lots of shops, snacks stands and just a hubbub of activity.
ALDI + LIDL MARKETS - Deep discount food for picnics
GERMAN TRAINS - Twice an hour everywhere it seems - trains going here, trains going there - trains going everywhere -fast trains going up to nearly 200mph and slow commuter trains stopping every few minutes.
GERMAN WINES - Those great Mosel white wines, especially. In the winter GLUHWEIN - hot spicy wine served in train station kiosks and street stands - a warm up on a cool day
CHRISTMAS MARKETS - So so much fun- social gathering points for locals into the night.
BAKERIES - on pedestrain shopping zones - their wares in the windows entice you to go off your diets - Love the Bismarcks (a k a Berliners i guess) and Poppy-Seed Strudel and Strudels of all types
GERMAN FOLK - Always polite to me and friendly.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT GERMANY?
The Ubiquitous WURST STANDS, in train stations and on many street corners - first thing i do when getting off the train in my first German town is head for a Wurst stand and ask for a Brat! And a beer!
Those lively PEDESTRIAN SHOPPING ZONES - no cars just pedestrians in these, during opening hours, throned streets, likely to have street musicians, entertainers, etc.
BEERGARDENS - like those in Munich - both the indoor type like the Haufbrauhaus and outdoor types like the Chinese Pagoda in the huge park- not only beer but pretzels, typical German foods - spatzen, etc. And Leiderhosen-clad Oompah Bands -and amazing fraus unfathomably carrying a few dozen huge streins full of beer in each hand without spilling it all!
HAUPTBAHNHOF TRAIN STATIONS- The main station in or near the town centers - mini cities in and of themselves - lots of shops, snacks stands and just a hubbub of activity.
ALDI + LIDL MARKETS - Deep discount food for picnics
GERMAN TRAINS - Twice an hour everywhere it seems - trains going here, trains going there - trains going everywhere -fast trains going up to nearly 200mph and slow commuter trains stopping every few minutes.
GERMAN WINES - Those great Mosel white wines, especially. In the winter GLUHWEIN - hot spicy wine served in train station kiosks and street stands - a warm up on a cool day
CHRISTMAS MARKETS - So so much fun- social gathering points for locals into the night.
BAKERIES - on pedestrain shopping zones - their wares in the windows entice you to go off your diets - Love the Bismarcks (a k a Berliners i guess) and Poppy-Seed Strudel and Strudels of all types
GERMAN FOLK - Always polite to me and friendly.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT GERMANY?
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:19 AM
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the autobahn - wonderful, smooth roads with polite drivers (assuming you know the system)
the food!! schnitzel, wurst, rumpsteak, kraut, etc etc etc and the way that seasonal ingredients are used so well - especially mushrooms and asparagus
the gorgeous window boxes with flower all summer long; despite our best efforts, no lady of the house would tell us what she puts in the soil to produce such lovely blooms
the food!! schnitzel, wurst, rumpsteak, kraut, etc etc etc and the way that seasonal ingredients are used so well - especially mushrooms and asparagus
the gorgeous window boxes with flower all summer long; despite our best efforts, no lady of the house would tell us what she puts in the soil to produce such lovely blooms
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:41 AM
#4
Zweibelkuchen
Burg Eltz
Bernkastel-Kues
Haus Lipmann
Rothenburg ob der Tauber (especially at night)
Wieskirche
Würzburg Residenz
Hohenschwangau Castle
Linderhof Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle
MarienBrücke
German Beer
Rathaus Glockenspiel in Munich
Gulaschsuppe
Burg Eltz
Bernkastel-Kues
Haus Lipmann
Rothenburg ob der Tauber (especially at night)
Wieskirche
Würzburg Residenz
Hohenschwangau Castle
Linderhof Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle
MarienBrücke
German Beer
Rathaus Glockenspiel in Munich
Gulaschsuppe
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:50 AM
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All of the above except the ALDI and LIDL markets.
And the different color roofs depending on the part of the country you are in.
Each town's twist on various types of sausages, expecially Bratwurst. And that lovely Bavarian sauerkraut!
The various styles of beer and the various ways beer is served around the country.
When I'm in Berlin, the Eisbein at Brauhaus Georgbrau, with an in-house brewski of course. I saw where someone wrote in another thread some time ago that no German eats Eisbein anymore, only tourists--that is sad as the meat under that covering of fat is some of the most succulent of any dish I've ever enjoyed. In this case I'm extra glad I'm a tourist.
I'm a history nut, and I could spend an entire vacation visiting nothing but castles, although I don't, and Germany has pretty much any sort of castle in just about any condition that you like your castles from a heap of rubble to pristine; from ancient to having flush toilets; from clean and simple to complex and convulted. Love the castles.
Someone else mentioned the people. I've made some wonderful friends in Germany over my years of living and vacationing there, and I've always found people to be helpful, polite, and friendly.
And the different color roofs depending on the part of the country you are in.
Each town's twist on various types of sausages, expecially Bratwurst. And that lovely Bavarian sauerkraut!
The various styles of beer and the various ways beer is served around the country.
When I'm in Berlin, the Eisbein at Brauhaus Georgbrau, with an in-house brewski of course. I saw where someone wrote in another thread some time ago that no German eats Eisbein anymore, only tourists--that is sad as the meat under that covering of fat is some of the most succulent of any dish I've ever enjoyed. In this case I'm extra glad I'm a tourist.
I'm a history nut, and I could spend an entire vacation visiting nothing but castles, although I don't, and Germany has pretty much any sort of castle in just about any condition that you like your castles from a heap of rubble to pristine; from ancient to having flush toilets; from clean and simple to complex and convulted. Love the castles.
Someone else mentioned the people. I've made some wonderful friends in Germany over my years of living and vacationing there, and I've always found people to be helpful, polite, and friendly.
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:55 AM
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The mountains in Bavaria
Rahm Schnitzel and Spaetzle
Burg Hohenzollern
Sauerbraten and Kartoffel Knoedel
Bodensee
Apfel Strudel
The Black Forest
all the fine pastries
One would get the idea that I like food. LOL.
Rahm Schnitzel and Spaetzle
Burg Hohenzollern
Sauerbraten and Kartoffel Knoedel
Bodensee
Apfel Strudel
The Black Forest
all the fine pastries
One would get the idea that I like food. LOL.
Jan 29th, 2010, 09:57 AM
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'the autobahn - wonderful, smooth roads with polite drivers (assuming you know the system)'
Which autobahns are those then? Two lanes for vast stretches, they don't appear to have been upgraded since WW2. Munich to Koblenz was a non-stop series of road works in this autumn. The much-vaunted 'no speed limit' just for a few km at a stretch. And I'd like to thank the 'polite' wench who nearly took us out cutting across 3 lanes at the Munich airport exit.
Glad I've got that off my chest. I agree about the food though.
Which autobahns are those then? Two lanes for vast stretches, they don't appear to have been upgraded since WW2. Munich to Koblenz was a non-stop series of road works in this autumn. The much-vaunted 'no speed limit' just for a few km at a stretch. And I'd like to thank the 'polite' wench who nearly took us out cutting across 3 lanes at the Munich airport exit.
Glad I've got that off my chest. I agree about the food though.
Jan 29th, 2010, 10:52 AM
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After 6 months here in Germany I have come to appreciate:
Germans willingness to speak English, all the while apologizing for their "poor" English, which is actually near flawless. Unlike the French who have you muddle along for some time before finally rescuing you-- more because they can't stand to hear their language slaughtered any longer than out of niceness
I love their civic pride as a general rule. My neighbors are out shoveling snow the minute it leaves a dusting on the walks be it 23h or 6 am. Their courtyards, flowerboxes, street gutters are all maintained year-round.
I like their frankness and directness...though it first took me somewhat aback. And they love to have a good time. Also, Sunday is still sacred i.e. stores are closed, etc.
I love that Germany has so many bike paths and that everybody uses them all year round. I was driving to work in a snow storm in the dark this week and there were beacons of bike lights shining on the snowy path next to the road; hats off to them, I've not seen a rider go down yet, but I sometimes wonder how they manage. And they don't let age or weight stop them; they just get out there and do it!
I used to get tired of German food after about 3 days of it; now I can't live without! Germany's cuisine is as honest and unpretentious as the people are:
All of the above and
Bretzel and bier after work
Bratkartoffelen (oven-fried potatoes)
Senf (mustard), in all its varieties
Neuwein
Apfelschörle
a "Radler" when it's really hot
belige salat and the yummy house salad dressing (why do they always "hide" the good stuff under a mass of greens instead of "displaying" it on the top?)
kürbissuppe with whipped cream and pumpkin seed garnish
Maltauschen
Quark
flammkuchen
Germans willingness to speak English, all the while apologizing for their "poor" English, which is actually near flawless. Unlike the French who have you muddle along for some time before finally rescuing you-- more because they can't stand to hear their language slaughtered any longer than out of niceness
I love their civic pride as a general rule. My neighbors are out shoveling snow the minute it leaves a dusting on the walks be it 23h or 6 am. Their courtyards, flowerboxes, street gutters are all maintained year-round.
I like their frankness and directness...though it first took me somewhat aback. And they love to have a good time. Also, Sunday is still sacred i.e. stores are closed, etc.
I love that Germany has so many bike paths and that everybody uses them all year round. I was driving to work in a snow storm in the dark this week and there were beacons of bike lights shining on the snowy path next to the road; hats off to them, I've not seen a rider go down yet, but I sometimes wonder how they manage. And they don't let age or weight stop them; they just get out there and do it!
I used to get tired of German food after about 3 days of it; now I can't live without! Germany's cuisine is as honest and unpretentious as the people are:
All of the above and
Bretzel and bier after work
Bratkartoffelen (oven-fried potatoes)
Senf (mustard), in all its varieties
Neuwein
Apfelschörle
a "Radler" when it's really hot
belige salat and the yummy house salad dressing (why do they always "hide" the good stuff under a mass of greens instead of "displaying" it on the top?)
kürbissuppe with whipped cream and pumpkin seed garnish
Maltauschen
Quark
flammkuchen
Jan 29th, 2010, 11:00 AM
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- I love the peace in a German restaurant where you can hear a pin drop while people are eating!
- I love the cows and the bells and the mountains
- I love hiking in the woods and finding a surprise set up of Enzian in a hollowed out log
- I love hiking for miles and then arriving at a hut that is filled with people and food and you have no idea how they all got there!
- I love eating outside at night and all you can hear are the crickets
- I love meeting people that will sit with you in a restaurant and be incredibly friendly
- I love a great big Germknodel
- I love the cows and the bells and the mountains
- I love hiking in the woods and finding a surprise set up of Enzian in a hollowed out log
- I love hiking for miles and then arriving at a hut that is filled with people and food and you have no idea how they all got there!
- I love eating outside at night and all you can hear are the crickets
- I love meeting people that will sit with you in a restaurant and be incredibly friendly
- I love a great big Germknodel
Jan 29th, 2010, 11:10 AM
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I like the Recycling bins all over train stations and city streets -one part for paper -one for glass, etc.
One thing i do not like - having to stand on a street corner waiting for the light to turn red so all can cross en masse - even though there may be no car in sight for miles no one dares cross, like in most countries - so i too, so as to not offend local custom, robot-like wait too for the light to turn.
One thing i do not like - having to stand on a street corner waiting for the light to turn red so all can cross en masse - even though there may be no car in sight for miles no one dares cross, like in most countries - so i too, so as to not offend local custom, robot-like wait too for the light to turn.
Jan 29th, 2010, 11:17 AM
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This is to protect the drivers from stupid people that step on the street without looking. It's such a mess, when you have to run over someone that cross the street when it's verboten. It's only a 5€ fine for the pedestrian, but the driver will get a shock for life, if he/she runs over you out of your stupidity. Obey the rules, everything will be fine and noone will be killed.
Jan 29th, 2010, 12:07 PM
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Our DS, DDIL, and most importantly, our two beloved granddaughters. We're going again in March to welcome grandchild #3. When they move back to the US in 2011, I can't imagine our going to Germany again.
