Posts Tagged ‘Germany’
A trip to Germany for U.S citizens will require a valid passport and if you are planning on staying for more than 90 days on business you will be required to obtain a visa. Non European union members will be required to have a valid passport to enter Germany as well.
Germany of course has a main language of German but you can expect to find many people speaking English along the way. You should consider learning German so that you can ask directions or order off the menu, this will be very necessary in towns or cities that are not used to tourist.
When travelling anywhere in Europe you want to travel light. Only bring what you feel is absolutely necessary. If your items will fit comfortable in the overhead in the airplane then you can expect they will fit nicely in the save provided on the trains in Germany and throughout Europe.
You will want to see every inch of the beautiful countryside Germany has to offer but you of course will not have enough time. You should make a list of the more important sights of interest before you arrive. You want to make sure you are not rushing on your trip and that your favorite sights are seen. Central Germany is the place for the adventurous who want to ski or hike their way through the country. Southern Germany will offer castle tours that will be of great interest to the history buff.
When visiting Germany try to stay in one location. One part of Germany has enough to offer without you trying to travel long distances to get from place to place.
By staying in one area you will get to familiarize yourself with the locals and become a part of the charming town you are staying in. The vacation will feel more like a visit to home and will have you yearning for your return visit.
If booking your trip through a travel agent you can join some of the tour groups. This is a great way to travel Germany for someone who has never been and may be unable to determine what the hot spots are in the area they are visiting. Someone travelling alone might feel more comfortable in a group tour as well.
Most restaurants will charge you for water it is not free as it is in the states. You will also seat yourself when you walk in to any bar or restaurant. A good tip in Germany is two or three EUR since the wait staff is paid more than the ones in the states.
The grocery stores may seem a bit odd to the Americans visiting as they will be forced to leave a deposit to unlock their cart and use it, you get the deposit back only by returning the cart to location in which it was taken. You will bag your own groceries and pay for the bags you use as well. This does cut down on cost to the store and the prices are lower on the items they sell.
Public phones are rare in Germany so you might want to make sure to pay your cell phone bill before you go. There are public places like internet cafes that will allow you to make phone calls or log on to the internet but not many and they can be hard to find.
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Colmar is a city in Alsace, France. It was the last town in France to be freed after the second World War, on February 2nd, 1945.
Although Colmar was French for most of its modern history (as all of Alsace and also Lorraine), its population used to be predominantly German. Alsace changed nationalities many times in the course of history between France and Germany. During WWII Hitler reclaimed Alsace (it was annexed to France after Germany lost WWI) and it is quite shocking to see photographs from the time with Nazi flags hanging through the streets. Cultural supression of local culture led to the francification of Alsace (and Colmar with it). Notwithstanding, you will still hear a lot of German spoken in Colmar, some because of the numerous tourists from neighbouring Germany and Switzerland, but some spoken by native Alsacians, speaking their German dialect called Alsatian. Alsatian is the local minority language, although it is endangered, with ever fewer speakers in young generations.
Alsatian is not identical with standard German, but it is to a certain extent mutaully intellegible. In some parts of the city, as well as in Strasbourg, streetsigns will be written in French and Alsatian German underneath. Among the minority languages of France, Alsacian German is the most prosperous one nowadays (followed by Breton, Occitan, Basque and Catalan), and many Alsatians will be delighted to be adressed in German rather than in French (though not all of them). If you do not speak French, German will always be the next preference. English is unfortunately not widely spoken, however if you politely address someone in French they may make an effort to help you despite language barriers.
PLACE TO VISIT
Colmar’s old town is the main attraction if you come to Colmar. It is stunningly beautiful and well preserved. You should allow yourself a day to stroll along Colmar’s old streets and many many shops.
Maison des Tetes (House of the Heads) – a Renaissance building decorated with faces, and the Pfister House, a marvellous old wooden house, one of the oldest in Colmar.
Dominican Church worth visitig only because of a famous Schongauer painting. It costs 4.50 euros (2006) to get in. The painting is very beautiful and so is the church, but skip this if you are pressed for time.
St. Martin Church a large church entirely made of pink stone.
Unterlinden Museum It is a most interesting museum situated in a medieval convent near the tourist information center. It exhibits objects ov very different arrays, but its highlight is definitely the Isenheim altarpiece by Gruenewald, a revolutionary Alsatian Renaissance painter. Even if you are not much into art it is still shocking to see how modern and inventive this painter was. The museum also shows some very interesting touring exhibits and also musical events. The locals are very proud of this museum and many people turn out for the openings of exhibits.
Bartholdi Museum dedicated to the sculpture of the Statue of Liberty who was native to Colmar.
Little Venice, enjoy this little corner of the city; with small canals reminiscent of Venice, Italy.
Bartholdi High School, near the Little Venice. Dating back to 1698, it is worth a sight. If you are brave enough to go inside, you will be able to see one of Auguste Bartholdi’s original sculpture : “Genie funebre”.
Make sure to keep an eye out for dates painted onto the side of buildings. Some of the oldest date back to the 1300′s.
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Germany is one of those European nations that have had a long historical past. The rich cultural heritage as well as the excellent historical background makes this country very popular among the tourists and there are hordes of them traveling several kilometers to visit here. This is also one of the most advanced nations in the world as per as technology is concerned and there are several amazing music festivals that take place here too. So the wanderlust inside you is slowly rising isn’t it? Or has it absolutely grasped your senses so much that you wish you would have just packed your bags and went off for Germany? In both the cases you do need to know a few things about traveling here and a few necessary tips are surely going to help you. First and foremost you got to decide as to when you wish to travel here. We are talking about the climatic conditions and the weather. It’s best to travel to a foreign nation when there is a perfect weather there which benefits the tourist. There are a few things apart from that which are to be kept in mind by the traveler. The basic essentials have to be kept in mind and the factors of moving, eating and sleeping need to be promptly taken care of.
Restaurants and Bars
Note that water is not complimentary. If you order water you will get carbonated bottled water. In most restaurants you can request tap water and they may or may not charge you but it is most likely straight from the sink. In some American fast food restaurants, (i.e. McDonalds) you must pay for ketchup as well. Be aware that the menus at most fast food restaurants in Germany are not exactly the same. You may also notice that a sandwich that you recognize from back home may taste a little different or it could be smaller. When you enter a restaurant you will not be seated, just walk right in and pick the table of your choice. Tips-wise, the amount should be much smaller than you would give in the States (this is because the waiters/waitresses get paid more than in the States) A tip of two or three EUR would be considered a good tip for very good service.
Supermarkets
If you shop for groceries in Germany you will notice the supermarkets have all of their large rolling carts outside in a designated area and they are locked to one another. In order to utilize a cart you must place one EUR in the cart itself, you will see the slot on the handle. Upon leaving the supermarket you latch the cart back to the other carts and pull the device out where you placed the coin, now you can retrieve your coin. When you have all of the groceries you want, proceed to the check-out counter. You will have to purchase plastic bags to put the groceries in or you can take one in yourself. If you decide to purchase one they are usually visible at the counter and normally only cost a few cents. If there is a long line do not put all of your groceries in the bag, put them back into the cart and bag them away from the line.
Closing hours
On Sunday everything is closed except for some restaurants, bars, gas stations and shops at the main train station and bigger airports. Some bigger stores are realizing that they can make much more money if they open on Sunday so they are doing just that, but I would not rely on it. During the week shops in bigger cities close at 8 PM at the latest. You may see shops in smaller cities closing even earlier.
Public Phones
Public phones are very rare in Germany . If you find one you will notice that they only take telephone cards. You can buy a telephone card in different shops like ‘T-Punkt’, ‘Telekom’, ‘Post’, and ‘Vodafone’,or you can go to an Internet cafe.
Miscellaneous
‘Bad’in front of a town’s name, for example ‘ Bad Homburg ‘, does not carry a negative connotation as would be your first inclination. On the contrary, -Bad” in front of a town’s name normally means that the town is designated as a healthy location with very clean air and water.
Munich is the capital city of the state of Bavaria and the third largest city in Germany. It is well known for its culture, architecture and the “Okoberfest” (the annual beer celebration). Getting around is easy because of its modern and efficient public transport system. On all major streets there are bike lanes, so it is safe and easy to travel by bike through the city. In Munich there are several interesting landmarks to visit like a large number of museums, art galleries, concert halls and historical buildings.
The most famous attractions in Munich are:
The Alte Pinakothek is one of the largest museums in Europe. It houses a large collection of paintings. This collection contains 800 paintings by European painters from the 14th century till the 18th century. Famous paintings in the museum are: Drer’s “Four Apostles”; Rogier van der Weyden’s ” columba-altar “; Altdorfer’s “Battle of Alexander at Issus”; Botticelli’s “Pieta” and Rubens’ “Self-Portrait with his Wife”. The Neue Pinakothek is Munich’s museum of 19th century painting and sculptures. The collection consists mainly of German Romantics and French Impressionists. Goya, Manet, Renoir and Cezanne are some of the painters which works are on display.
The Deutsches Museum contains over 13 acres of exhibitions containing invaluable original machines and equipment, models and reconstructions, from classical mechanics to telecommunications, from a full-size reconstructed coal mine to space travel technology. Making the museum one of the largest museums of technology and natural sciences in the world. You can see airplanes, submarines and the first X-ray machine among other things. The live demonstrations and hands-on instructional aids are fun and informative for the visitor.
Built for the Olympic Games in 1972 with its tent-roof covering 75,000 square meters,the Olympic Park had become a well known landmark in Munich. This landscaped park contains sport facilities, lakes, bicycle paths, concert venues, restaurants and a football stadium. Don’t miss the fascinating BMW Museum across the street, right next to the companies headquarters – which was constructed in the shape of a four-cylinder engine.
The Oktoberfest takes place every year late in September and runs to early October. The duration of the festival is two weeks.
Located at “Theresienwiese” you can drink beyond your limits, meeting folks from all over the world. All beer tents close at 11 p.m., so make sure you start your trip early enough. About 30% of the yearly beer production of all the big breweries in Munich are consumed during these two weeks. You can also visit a giant fun fair, side shows and souvenir stands. Every year the Oktoberfest welcomes nearly 7 million visitors. This makes the Munich Oktoberfest the largest festival in the world.
With a vast trove of cultural treasures, awe-inspiring architecture, museums of all kinds, historical landmarks and other displays of German heritage, Berlin is a must-see destination in Germany. Berlin is the nation’s capital and in many ways seems to be the nations’ cultural capital, given the rich history and modern entertainment, from shops to theaters to spas. It would be impossible to take in all that is Berlin in one day, so staying the night is a must. Thankfully, Berlin has no shortage of fine hotels, which offer the utmost in German service and comfort.
Mandala Hotel: This boutique hotel is an experience in itself, with a modern design that is functional and stylish. Despite the upscale appointments, Mandala manages to have a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere amid the elegance. Mandala also puts the best of Germany at your fingertips, with the highly rated Facil restaurant on-site and the 11th floor Mandala spa, considered to be among the finest in the world.
Brandenburger Hof: Despite being relatively new, Brandenburger Hof has a classic German feel, as it is decorated with fine art and authentic local decor. Rooms at Brandenburger Hof also feature balconies and all of the latest conveniences – WiFi, minibar, laundry service, etc. – so you won’t have to worry that you’re stuck in the past. This is also one of the cozier destinations, with just 82 rooms, comprised of doubles and suites.
Hotel de Rome: In less than five years of existence, Hotel de Rome has established itself as one of the finest in Berlin, if not all of Germany. This five-star hotel was born from a 19th-century bank buildling, and features high-ceiling rooms, an underground swimming pool, spa, restaurant and fitness center, all in the heart of Berlin. Hotel de Rome is nothing if not luxurious, and offers spectacular views from the rooftop terrace.
Regent: One major endorsement for the Regent is that it is the choice of celebrities, and given the luxurious rooms and stunning decor, that’s no surprise. The Regent stands above even other five-star hotels, with classic old world elegance, the most modern amenities, and professional and courteous service. Spacious rooms, fine dining and an enviable location make the Regent nearly impossible to leave.
Schlosshotel im Grunewald: History and elegance are united in grand fashion at Schlosshotel im Grunewald, a 19th-century structure that often hosted Kaiser Willhelm II. Plush rooms, elegant decor and modern conveniences abound as the staff spoil you with unparalleled service in your room, at the spa, or anywhere between. Schlosshotel im Grunewald contains only 54 rooms, including doubles and suites, so you can enjoy the luxury in a comfortable, uncrowded atmosphere.