Thoughts on Germany

The first thing have I have to say about Germany is that it is CLEAN.  Every place, everywhere is CLEAN.  In all of our hotels, you could have taken a Q-tip and cleaned corners with it and have it come back sparkling white.  Even ladies rooms in the smallest of places, were always sparkly and clean.  Everything had a shine to it.

 The second thing is that it is a much more economical place to travel than France or Italy.  Hotel rooms were lower priced and meals were the same. 

 Traveling on the roads there is similar to UK and Ireland in that you have to know the names of the towns in the direction you want to go.  Routes are marked on the motorways ("A" roads) but on the "B" roads, it is anyone's guess what the route number is - unless you stare down at the grass along the roadside.  Only then, you may see a small sign (much smaller than a mile marker in the US) that has the route number on it.  Best bet, just follow the voice on the Garmin.  We didn't use maps.  Took one again this time, next time will just leave them at home.  There were so many twists and turns and roundabouts and road changes going from Beilstein to Bacharach that even Jim said we would never have found it without GPS. 

 Audi’s drive faster than other cars.  If you see an Audi coming up behind you, get out of the way.  Jim doing the equivalent to 90 on the motorway, with Audi's flying by.....9 out of 10, it was always an Audi.  Our little Opel was a trouper, but no match for an Audi!  And, even though usually I pick the smallest car Avis has - this time I had upgraded to the next size due to plans to use the motorways.

 There is no sauerkraut like the sauerkraut in Germany and even in the Alsace region in France, where they call it simply cabbage - it is wonderful.

 Germans are like the Swiss, they do like their ice cream.  Sometimes difficult to find a place serving food during the day - one had to separate out all the Eis Cafe's.  Both men and women eating either big, really elaborate sundaes there or else eating their midday meal in a bakery with these fantastic pieces of cake or strudel.  Sweets are not Jim's favorite although he did eat an ice cream sundae of the first days we were there.

 I ate more fruit and fiber while in Germany than ever.  Wonder brown breads with all sorts of wonderful seeds, including nice, crunchy sunflower seeds.  Breads were crunchy on the outside, moist and wonderful on the inside.  Fresh fruit salads every day - big cherries, strawberries, pineapple...terrific!

The lunchmeat for breakfast is not our favorite.  I haven't had what we old folks in Baltimore call "summer baloney" in years.  I had it every morning in Germany, usually with tomatoes and also a soft or hard boiled egg.  Muselix was the second runner up, and like in Switzerland it cannot be beat.  Many nice things to eat, but the Germans really go for the lunch meat and cheeses - even Brie and Camenbert for breakfast.   And I guess it isn't surprising that no one eats lunch meat sandwiches for lunch!!!!  It is amazing to watch them eat.  First they go to the buffet and come back with a BIG bowl of fruit, then they go get a bowl of whatever sort of cereal and then it's the lunchmeat, cheeses and bread.....and then, they go for slices of cakes - more like pound cake than a coffee cake. 

Well, since the German's all eat like this and then consume beer all hours of the day - they also ride bikes!  They have serious bikes with big tires, many gears - and they ride all over the country.  If they aren't on their bikes, they are hiking - serious hikers, seen way out in the country. 

Every afternoon I felt myself being thirsty for a beer - didn't even mind what food came with it - started looking for my afternoon beer!!!

(The last of photos from England have been uploaded)