Germany - What Things Do You Like?
Jan 30th, 2010 | 12:41 AM
#42
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,508
Likes: 0
Hi all,
I moved to Bavaria in the Fall of 2008 for the reasons so many of you have listed: public transportation; great, fresh food at weekly markets; friendly restaurants that become a social event --
Here are some that may not have been noted (didn't read ultra carefully):
Weihenstephen yogurt, especially the chocolate sprinkles
Giving the greeting of the day to strangers on the street
Getting to the start of an Alpine walk easily and quickly
Benches everywhere, both in town and on the walking paths
Cars that don't crowd bikes
Bike lanes everywhere, everywhere
German matrons with groceries in the bike baskets
Living in a snow globe (as a friend of mine says)
Population that is fit and active well into the golden years
Recycling is a way of life; garbage is sorted before it's put out
Dogs are well behaved
Drivers (usually) obey driving rules
Ah, that's all I can think of right now!
s
I moved to Bavaria in the Fall of 2008 for the reasons so many of you have listed: public transportation; great, fresh food at weekly markets; friendly restaurants that become a social event --
Here are some that may not have been noted (didn't read ultra carefully):
Weihenstephen yogurt, especially the chocolate sprinkles
Giving the greeting of the day to strangers on the street
Getting to the start of an Alpine walk easily and quickly
Benches everywhere, both in town and on the walking paths
Cars that don't crowd bikes
Bike lanes everywhere, everywhere
German matrons with groceries in the bike baskets
Living in a snow globe (as a friend of mine says)
Population that is fit and active well into the golden years
Recycling is a way of life; garbage is sorted before it's put out
Dogs are well behaved
Drivers (usually) obey driving rules
Ah, that's all I can think of right now!
s
Jan 30th, 2010 | 08:43 AM
#45
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 0
Ingo, thanks for clearing that up.
bettyk, a good language teacher is truly a jewel to be treasured forever!
swandav2000, you mention many of my favorites. I especially loved the friendly "Gruess Gott" I got everywhere in Swabia.
Several people have mentioned how often they see people walking and riding bikes in Germany. I love the fact that the national pastime on Sunday afternoon, no matter what the weather, is to go for a family walk.
bettyk, a good language teacher is truly a jewel to be treasured forever!
swandav2000, you mention many of my favorites. I especially loved the friendly "Gruess Gott" I got everywhere in Swabia.
Several people have mentioned how often they see people walking and riding bikes in Germany. I love the fact that the national pastime on Sunday afternoon, no matter what the weather, is to go for a family walk.
Jan 30th, 2010 | 08:55 AM
#46
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 57,091
Likes: 5
co-incidentally, there was a 30 minute programme on BBC Radio 4 this morning about why Germany is not a popular tourist holiday destination and recommending travelling by train to some lesser-known areas such as the Harz mountains and Thuringia.
using your encyclopaedic knowledge of the German railways, Pal, if you flew into Berlin, and wanted to spend 10 days or so in that area, where would you go and for how long?
[oops, this sounds a bit like a quiz question, but I know that Pal LOVES answering Qs like this. Everyone else feel free please to join in!]
using your encyclopaedic knowledge of the German railways, Pal, if you flew into Berlin, and wanted to spend 10 days or so in that area, where would you go and for how long?
[oops, this sounds a bit like a quiz question, but I know that Pal LOVES answering Qs like this. Everyone else feel free please to join in!]
Jan 30th, 2010 | 09:04 AM
#47
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,508
Likes: 0
hausfrau,
Yes! Your comment reminded me of a walk I took in Dec 06 around Mittenwald (before I moved here). It seemed like I was walking in a blizzard, and I wondered if I were insane to be out in it. Then -- holy cow -- several elderly (in their 70s??)couples passed me. Just a walk in the park for them! I hope to be just like that!
s
Yes! Your comment reminded me of a walk I took in Dec 06 around Mittenwald (before I moved here). It seemed like I was walking in a blizzard, and I wondered if I were insane to be out in it. Then -- holy cow -- several elderly (in their 70s??)couples passed me. Just a walk in the park for them! I hope to be just like that!
s
Jan 30th, 2010 | 02:27 PM
#48
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
hausfrau wrote: I love the fact that the national pastime on Sunday afternoon, no matter what the weather, is to go for a family walk.
While that is correct, you forget to mention the generations of traumatized teenagers who have been and still are forced by their wardens AKA parents to join them on these utterly booooooring walks!
While that is correct, you forget to mention the generations of traumatized teenagers who have been and still are forced by their wardens AKA parents to join them on these utterly booooooring walks!
Jan 30th, 2010 | 08:12 PM
#51
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 682
Likes: 0
Goodness! All these loving descriptions of Wurst, strudel, pastries and whatnot make my mouth water and make me look forward to my Leipzig trip even more.
Of course, considering the calorie overload, I'm not sure I should praise you or curse you all. ;-)
I do plan on taking some long walks to burn everything off!
Of course, considering the calorie overload, I'm not sure I should praise you or curse you all. ;-)
I do plan on taking some long walks to burn everything off!
Jan 30th, 2010 | 08:38 PM
#52
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
When I first went to Germany in 1965, I thought all that walking the Germans do was very strange. Why would anyone walk when there are cars and busses?
I don't know just when I discovered that I love to walk, but I thoroughly enjoy doing so.
The above posters have given a pretty comprehensive list of all the reasons I love visiting Germany. It's just my favorite country, bar none.
I think most languages are difficult for one reason or another. Those verbs that can pile up at the end of German sentences can be frustrating, and the genders of many nouns baffle me at times. Spanish is a lot easier, but then one hits the wall when one encounters the preterite, the imperfect, the subjunctive.
I don't know just when I discovered that I love to walk, but I thoroughly enjoy doing so.
The above posters have given a pretty comprehensive list of all the reasons I love visiting Germany. It's just my favorite country, bar none.
I think most languages are difficult for one reason or another. Those verbs that can pile up at the end of German sentences can be frustrating, and the genders of many nouns baffle me at times. Spanish is a lot easier, but then one hits the wall when one encounters the preterite, the imperfect, the subjunctive.
Jan 31st, 2010 | 01:59 AM
#54
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
annhig:
You do not need enyclopaedic knowledge - you just need to type www.bahn.de
From Berlin, it is a three-hour ride to Wernigerode or Quedlinburg. Both towns in the foothills of the Harz are jewels and it will be hard to decide where to stay. Quedlinburg is quieter and a nightwatchman's tour is a fascinating experience. Wernigerode has some more options, especially the historic railroad that goes up into the mountains. Why not staying in both places - maybe two days in Wernigerode and one day in Quedlinburg?
http://www.wernigerode.de
http://www.quedlinburg.de/
The historic railway website:
http://www.hsb-wr.de/
Worthy destinations in Thuringia are Erfurt (Old Town), Weimar (Weimar Classicism) and Eisenach (Wartburg - the castle where Luther translated the bible).
http://www.erfurt.de
http://www.weimar.de
http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de
The train from Wernigerode to Eisenach takes 4 hours, the train from Eisenach to Erfurt 30 minutes, from Erfurt to Weimar 14 minutes, and from Weimar to Berlin 2:17.
This trip would make a nice loop and include at least four UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you include the mining museum in Goslar (also at the Harz), you can see five World Heritage sites.
You do not need enyclopaedic knowledge - you just need to type www.bahn.de
From Berlin, it is a three-hour ride to Wernigerode or Quedlinburg. Both towns in the foothills of the Harz are jewels and it will be hard to decide where to stay. Quedlinburg is quieter and a nightwatchman's tour is a fascinating experience. Wernigerode has some more options, especially the historic railroad that goes up into the mountains. Why not staying in both places - maybe two days in Wernigerode and one day in Quedlinburg?
http://www.wernigerode.de
http://www.quedlinburg.de/
The historic railway website:
http://www.hsb-wr.de/
Worthy destinations in Thuringia are Erfurt (Old Town), Weimar (Weimar Classicism) and Eisenach (Wartburg - the castle where Luther translated the bible).
http://www.erfurt.de
http://www.weimar.de
http://www.wartburg-eisenach.de
The train from Wernigerode to Eisenach takes 4 hours, the train from Eisenach to Erfurt 30 minutes, from Erfurt to Weimar 14 minutes, and from Weimar to Berlin 2:17.
This trip would make a nice loop and include at least four UNESCO World Heritage sites. If you include the mining museum in Goslar (also at the Harz), you can see five World Heritage sites.
Jan 31st, 2010 | 02:25 AM
#55
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Bavaria is our least favorite part of Germany (too touristy and we've met more than enough people like logos). There are plenty of places in Europe with gorgeous Alpine vistas, no need to fixate on Bavaria.
We love the rest of Germany. The food is much better, for one thing.
We love the rest of Germany. The food is much better, for one thing.
Jan 31st, 2010 | 04:49 AM
#57
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 0
Living in a 'Snowglobe"! Perfect! I just love to ski and that describes the area perfectly in winter.
Swandav2000: You also mentioned the walks and ederly I got a good laugh at that. I remember a mountain trail walk outside Kitzbuhel and I was so proud of myself after that climb up that I did not even notice the Elders and Kinders already at the top! Hearty People!
LOGOS: That BMW came back from California and had no rust! This is my 4th 2002 over the years! Keeping my eyes open for a mint "TII" next.
-john
Swandav2000: You also mentioned the walks and ederly I got a good laugh at that. I remember a mountain trail walk outside Kitzbuhel and I was so proud of myself after that climb up that I did not even notice the Elders and Kinders already at the top! Hearty People!
LOGOS: That BMW came back from California and had no rust! This is my 4th 2002 over the years! Keeping my eyes open for a mint "TII" next.
-john
Jan 31st, 2010 | 07:25 AM
#59
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 0
Cowboy, I know a very nice 17-year-old German girl who loves to go for walks. Of course it helps that her family has a dog (adds entertainment value) and her father is a serious woodsman/hunter type, so enjoying the forest is in her genes.
bmw, my parents had an early 70s-vintage 2002. To make a long story short, someone else burnt out their clutch and they couldn't afford to replace it, so they got rid of the car. What I would give to have it today!
bmw, my parents had an early 70s-vintage 2002. To make a long story short, someone else burnt out their clutch and they couldn't afford to replace it, so they got rid of the car. What I would give to have it today!
Jan 31st, 2010 | 08:36 AM
#60
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 12,820
Likes: 0
To me, a good example of what I like about the German people is when my sister and I, she in her early 60's and I in my late 60's, were in a subway area at the Munich Hauptbahnhof. We couldn't find an escalator and were stopped at the bottom of a long flight of stairs with our suitcases.
Without a word, a man grabbed Mary's suitcase, hustled it to the top of the stairs, plopped it down, and continued on his way--all without saying a word. Seconds later, a young woman in a business suit did the same for my suitcase.
Pretty typical--just get the job done without making a fuss.
As to language--and I have mentioned this expression before: "Ich verstehe nur "' Bahnhof,'" or "All I understand is 'train station,' which is what is said when you're perhaps reading something and you don't understand it. That cracks me up.
The word for pet--as in our pet dog or cat--is "Haustier," literally, "house animal." When I was in Prien am Chiemsee, which has a large mountain (Berg)very close to town, I heard the expression "Hausberg." I like that one too.
My favorite word in German is "Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung," which means "speed limit." I may not have spelled that word perfectly, but I think I've got most of it right.
When my sister and I were planning our trip to Germany, she was at first reluctant to go, thinking it would be kitschy. However, she decided to trust my judgement, and she knew I love Germany. Once we arrived and had been there for a little while, she said, "I could live here."
Without a word, a man grabbed Mary's suitcase, hustled it to the top of the stairs, plopped it down, and continued on his way--all without saying a word. Seconds later, a young woman in a business suit did the same for my suitcase.
Pretty typical--just get the job done without making a fuss.
As to language--and I have mentioned this expression before: "Ich verstehe nur "' Bahnhof,'" or "All I understand is 'train station,' which is what is said when you're perhaps reading something and you don't understand it. That cracks me up.
The word for pet--as in our pet dog or cat--is "Haustier," literally, "house animal." When I was in Prien am Chiemsee, which has a large mountain (Berg)very close to town, I heard the expression "Hausberg." I like that one too.
My favorite word in German is "Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzung," which means "speed limit." I may not have spelled that word perfectly, but I think I've got most of it right.
When my sister and I were planning our trip to Germany, she was at first reluctant to go, thinking it would be kitschy. However, she decided to trust my judgement, and she knew I love Germany. Once we arrived and had been there for a little while, she said, "I could live here."
