Christina....about the water and Germany, we just returned a few days ago and I totally agree that it is nearly impossible, no it IS impossible to get tap water. We lived in northern Germany 92-93 and you could ask for a carafe of tafelwasser when dining out, no longer. If you ask for tafelwasser it is now bottled and you pay a pretty penny for it. You used to also be served a small glass of tap water, or what I assumed was tap water when you ordered wine or sometimes coffee in a cafe, that too has come to a screeching halt.

>tafelwasser
LOL You should have asked to Leitungswasser (tap water).

Tafelwasser is bottled water, sold by Coca Cola and others. Bonaqua etc.

You ordered bottled water and they served bottled water, so?

for Leitungswasser