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-   -   Don't waste your time learning those foreign languages. (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/dont-waste-your-time-learning-those-foreign-languages-629043/)

wally34949 Jul 7th, 2006 06:53 AM

Don't waste your time learning those foreign languages.
 
Just back from Europe for four weeks and I got along just fine. The only word I can say in German is Kindergarden, and that's on a good day. A couple of things about Germany, tho.

Don't be surprised if you see the headlines of the newspaper saying, "Die Bitte Bush." I can't believe they want to bitte him. I expect Bush to add Germany to his axis of terror soon.

And those gangs in Germany. I saw warnings for the Ausgang (I thing their from Australia), the Eingang and the Noteingang. One warning on the bus said if the Noteingang comes, break the window and run.

And don't be surprised if you see people drinking bottles of beer in the streets, drunk. I saw stores that had special doors for people to use who had too much to drink. It said, Druken. They spell it a little different, but Wally figured it out.

And those fahrts. Warnings everywhere. I assume it is that high meat diet they have in Germany. Never smelled one, tho.

Well, as the French say, WeWe. Gotta use the little boys room.

cocofromdijon Jul 7th, 2006 06:57 AM

Lol!
we don't say wewe but pipi! oui oui!:-d

Robespierre Jul 7th, 2006 06:58 AM

Gesundheit.

cadillac1234 Jul 7th, 2006 07:49 AM

In England they keep calling exits the 'Way Out'.

Who the heck taught them English?

JaneB Jul 7th, 2006 08:23 AM

I always thought "Ausfahrt" was a large city in Germany with MANY exits. :)

dfr4848 Jul 7th, 2006 08:51 AM

Actually, Ausfahrt IS the largest city in Germany. Has to be.

Mathieu Jul 7th, 2006 09:08 AM


In Zurich, we once took a sort of trip on the ferry that makes stops all around Lake Zurich picking up and dropping off people. It was the first time anyone of us has experienced a 'round fart' (Abend rundfahrt). And it took an hour and a half !

JaneB Jul 7th, 2006 10:38 AM

And my personal favorite is that large city in Italy that can be reached from every exit on the autostrata--Uscita.

J62 Jul 7th, 2006 10:45 AM

Last trip my hotel was on Einbahnstrasse, but there were signs for this street every which way, sometimes pointing in opposite directions - very confusing.

sandi_travelnut Jul 7th, 2006 10:59 AM

The saying should be that all roads lead to Ausfahrt, not Rome.

RufusTFirefly Jul 7th, 2006 01:59 PM

Unleitung is also a popular name for German towns.

Robespierre Jul 7th, 2006 02:10 PM

And that guy Bahnhof sure had a lot of streets named for him!

Survivor Jul 7th, 2006 02:16 PM

I have nothing to add, but this is a great post from Wally!

Binthair Jul 7th, 2006 05:25 PM

Ich bin ein Berliner! Kindergarden nein! Kindergarten!

mcnyc Jul 7th, 2006 05:43 PM

Interesting. This summer in Berlin, I saw many signs to fahrt. While I didn't perform on command, there were plenty others around me who did so on everyone's behalf.

It was especially nice when they told you from where to fahrt...ausfahrts come to mind.

katya_NY Jul 7th, 2006 06:14 PM

fahrt is the favorite word of 7th grade German students in my school... and apparently the adults on this page!

We should really give up on speaking other languages... those Europeans just want to practice their English anyway.

%%-

P_M Jul 7th, 2006 06:34 PM

As funny as this post is, it doesn't compare to wally's trip report from Key West where he was robbed at the clothing optional bar. That's still one of my all-time fave threads.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34704528

wally34949 Jul 8th, 2006 01:57 AM

Does anyone know if they found Philip Blatenbeaten and Austy Leaks on the Berlin Subway? They announce their name at each stop.

mcnyc Jul 8th, 2006 09:49 AM

Wally, I think they were still lost as of June 27. Poor guys...

wally34949 Jul 9th, 2006 07:11 AM

P.M. You know that Key West story is 100% True. I now travel with 2 credit cards and 2 Debit cards from two different banks. I also carry some travelers checks. I got along fine in Europe for four weeks. Only lost my $1.50 Target towel.

P_M Jul 9th, 2006 07:31 AM

Glad you didn't lose that towel while you were wearing it in Key West. :-D


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