In Germany it is a tradition to stop for coffee and cake ata bout 3 PM. The main meal at noon or 1 PM does not include dessert, so this is an appropriate time to have dessert. If you don't stop at the cafes how will you ever know about the wonderful apple strudels with vanilla sauce and whipped cream? Or any of the other wonderful cakes? Or the amzzing ice cream concoctions that some cafes create? And it gives you time to re-charge, either with caffeine or carbs, so that you can complete your day.

Just had to add my two cents! Some of my fondest memories of our travels to Europe (leaving in two days for our 11th trip, this time Italy, Switzerland and Austria - but mostly Italy) are: stopping in the countryside for a beer in Austria at 10 am (!)whenever we saw outside tables and listening to the cow bells and watching the locals meandering by. Sitting by the Seine having wine and onion soup with Notre Dame in our view. Picking up cheese and bread to go with our wine and finding a park with locals along the Dordgone and watching the kids play. Sitting at a outside cafe at a market day in France and watching and talking to the locals buy their bread and pots and pans! Looking forward to doing it all again soon. Sasi

After quite a few trips to France we have finally begun to have an "aperatif" hour before dinner, usually just wine or beer as it costs less than a Kir Royale, etc. We started because we wanted to postpone the start of dinner, as we were showing up far too early and noticed that most French don't dine much before 8:00 p.m. In Paris we have even begun to return to favorite cafes. Last night we went out to a very nice restauant near our home in Calif. and it came as a shock to have the check presented without requesting it and right after the coffee was set down. How rude it seemed! And yet the staff couldn't have been more polite during dinner. Culture shock at home!