A visit to Germany...

[jeffrefrig]

I hear, and see in pics/videos of Germany and I'd like to visit, but at this stage of what's going on in the Eastern Hemisphere, I don't want to leave US at all. Darned shame. My friend visited there with his girl friend. While at an outdoor diner he heard female American voices, talking loudly and using foul language. They walked through and dropped trash of some sort and kept going. A policeman was on them like now, poked one with his night stick, and mumbled something and pointed to the litter to pick it up. They kept walking and with no violence but sternness two other police came out of nowhere and the females picked up the litter. My friend was very impressed.

 

[Sistema1927]

We are hoping to visit Germany this Summer. My son and his family are there (US Army Civilian) for 3-5 years, and my wife needs a granddaughter (x3) "fix".

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

One does not want to be a "trouble-maker" in Germany. They have a different sense of humor about such things.

 

[SMSgt]

I remember one night in Heidelburg lasting all day.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I have a German sur name. We did a search on the family name. It seems our ancestors came to America in 1731 and settled in Pennsylvania. One served in the revolution . None in my family ever owned a slave. They did their own work.

 

[schutz5]

I lived in Northern Germany for 2 yrs during the mid 1990's.
Experienced the good and bad.
Funny that even the Germans acknowledge that if you want to start an innovative business,you go abroad where there is more flexibility. After you make it big and rich,you can go back to Deutschland and receive accolades and open arms.

Personally I believe that this country will change dramatically in the social sense as "western culture" continues to get diluted and castrated.

Otherwise,killer bakeries and killer S German soups.

 

[stu1ritter]

I remember one night in Heidelburg lasting all day.

I was stationed in Sandhofen, just outside Mannheim in the early 60's and we used to live in Heidelberg, at Zum Seppl's on the weekends. Heidelberg was a hop, skip and a jump away. Sometimes I wouldn't be able to figure out how I got back to the barracks. My initials are carved in the wall behind the table shown below, along with thousands of others.

Stu

 

[F4phantom]

I remember one night in Heidelburg lasting all day.

Oh to be 21 again, the memories.

 

[smithra_66]

Last month, I spent ten days in Germany and Austria...I wanted to attend some Christmas Markets, see the Alps in winter, and visit some friends in Munich.

Let me say at the outset here that I love this country, and I wouldn't consider living anywhere else. But every time I visit my ancestral homeland, I am struck by the stark differences in behavior and conduct over there. For example...

At gas stations, you pump your gas, then go inside and tell the cashier which pump you used, and you pay for your purchase. There is no pay-at-the-pump or pay-first required, not even a way to do so if you wanted to. Yes, there are signs advising that the pumps are under video surveillance, but the real reason nobody drives off without paying, even with very high fuel prices, is simply that Germans don't do that sort of thing.

When jewelry stores close for the day there, they don't remove merchandise from their windows, nor do they have bars or grates covering the front of the store. Rolexes, Breitlings, Omegas, etc., are right there, behind a pane of glass...but nobody does a smash-and-grab, because Germans don't do that sort of thing.

On this trip, I drove more than 900 miles in both countries...and didn't see any trash or debris on the sides of the roads. Public bathrooms are spotless..the cleanliness is remarkable.

Speaking of driving...they drive on the right and pass on the left, period. And where there are speed limits, they obey them strictly. There's no right-on-red permitted, and they come to a stop at stop signs and red lights.

The real shocker to me is in the area of public safety and crime. Yes, of course there are criminals there, but violent crime is a fraction of what it is here. For example: Baltimore, a city of 585,000 people, recorded 334 homicides for 2022...Germany, with a population of 83,000,000, had 257 murder victims nationwide in all of 2021.

As I said, I love my country...but man, we could learn a lot from our European friends...

Germany is a tiny country (compared to the USA), with MUCH MUCH less diversity and quite a bit less freedoms than we have.

It's kind of hard to compare crime rates, cleanliness, and things like that.

Totally apples to oranges.

I do know that if you go there to live, good luck buying 20 acres, building a shooting range, and collecting classic S&W revolvers.

 

[dmn57]

My great-grandfather was born in Germany and there's even a neighborhood somewhere over there that features our surname. We spent a few days in Munich on a 2019 whirlwind Euro-tour and really enjoyed it. Our youngest is lobbying at her company for an assignment to the Berlin office. If that happens I'd imagine we may become frequent visitors.

 

[SMSgt]

Oh to be 21 again, the memories.

Our gang of high-school graduates stopped in a bar there. The place had a little chairlift going around the room overhead. You'd buy a beer and place it on the chair lift, and when it reached the stage, one of the oomph a band members would take it and ask what song you'd like to hear. We took it as a challenge. Big mistake. You haven't lived until you hear Inna Gadda Da Vida on a tuba and accordion. Place also had the best pizza ever.

 

[Beemerguy53]

One of my best memories of Deutschland is at a Christmas market, in the Old part of town. It's snowing and we're drinking Gluwein. Post card stuff.

Rudi, I visited Christmas Markets in Salzburg and Sankt Veit, Austria, and in Berchtesgaden, Munich, Brunnthal, and Bad Tölz in Germany...what wonderful events! Neighbors get together, socialize and shop, eat and drink, in a peaceful, festive atmosphere...how nice!

 

[Beemerguy53]

I hear, and see in pics/videos of Germany and I'd like to visit, but at this stage of what's going on in the Eastern Hemisphere, I don't want to leave US at all. Darned shame. My friend visited there with his girl friend. While at an outdoor diner he heard female American voices, talking loudly and using foul language. They walked through and dropped trash of some sort and kept going. A policeman was on them like now, poked one with his night stick, and mumbled something and pointed to the litter to pick it up. They kept walking and with no violence but sternness two other police came out of nowhere and the females picked up the litter. My friend was very impressed.

I hate to say this, but the term "ugly American" is based upon how so many Yanks act over there. I've seen it myself many times, and it makes me cringe.

Somewhere, tucked away in my pre-digital camera photos, is a shot I took of an ancient wooden door at one of the gates into Rothenburg ob der Tauber, a medieval walled city in Bavaria. That gate was huge, hundreds of years old, and crudely carved into it was "USA #1"...

On this trip, I visited the town of Hallstatt in Austria. It's on an Alpine lake east of Salzburg, and is said to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. People from every country in Europe, and from all over the world, come there to take in the scenery, shop, and eat...yet this sign warning against uncivil behavior was in only two languages.

 

[zwartepiet]

On this trip, I visited the town of Hallstatt in Austria. It's on an Alpine lake east of Salzburg, and is said to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. People from every country in Europe, and from all over the world, come there to take in the scenery, shop, and eat...yet this sign warning against uncivil behavior was in only two languages.

Great thread BG53!

We visited Hallstatt in 2018 and were blown away! Also, we were baffled by the number Chinese tourists visiting the area. Apparently China has built a "replica" Hallstatt in their country….something of an amusement park for them.

I think your assessment of the Eastern European view of their responsibility toward their fellow man is spot on!

Thanks for posting!

 

[bluetopper]

No recent German family history here but I always thought it interesting that my wife's great grandfather was in the German Army in 1906 under the Kaiser and he received orders to go to Africa for a multi-year deployment. And he would have to leave his wife and small children. He and his wife decided for him to desert and they boarded a ship bound for Galveston.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Great thread BG53!

We visited Hallstatt in 2018 and were blown away! Also, we were baffled by the number Chinese tourists visiting the area. Apparently China has built a "replica" Hallstatt in their country….something of an amusement park for them.

I think your assessment of the Eastern European view of their responsibility toward their fellow man is spot on!

Thanks for posting!

Thanks for your kind words. Yes, Hallstatt is a major destination for Chinese vacationers...as is the rest of Germany.

True story: Back in 2011, I was visiting Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a few days. Rothenberg is a medieval town, complete with the defensive wall around it, in northern Bavaria. It's steeped in history, and attracts millions of visitors annually.

On that trip, I went to dinner at a local restaurant, and didn't speak a word of English to anybody. From asking for a table, to ordering from the menu, to asking for the check, I spoke only German.

When I paid the check, and bid my waitress a cheery "Auf Wiedersehen", she replied in English..."Have a good night, sir!" I looked at her and asked how she knew I spoke English? She told me that since I wasn't a local, and I wasn't Chinese, she figured I had to be an American...

 

[moonclipman]

Last month, I spent ten days in Germany and Austria...I wanted to attend some Christmas Markets, see the Alps in winter, and visit some friends in Munich.

Let me say at the outset here that I love this country, and I wouldn't consider living anywhere else. But every time I visit my ancestral homeland, I am struck by the stark differences in behavior and conduct over there. For example...

At gas stations, you pump your gas, then go inside and tell the cashier which pump you used, and you pay for your purchase. There is no pay-at-the-pump or pay-first required, not even a way to do so if you wanted to. Yes, there are signs advising that the pumps are under video surveillance, but the real reason nobody drives off without paying, even with very high fuel prices, is simply that Germans don't do that sort of thing.

When jewelry stores close for the day there, they don't remove merchandise from their windows, nor do they have bars or grates covering the front of the store. Rolexes, Breitlings, Omegas, etc., are right there, behind a pane of glass...but nobody does a smash-and-grab, because Germans don't do that sort of thing.

On this trip, I drove more than 900 miles in both countries...and didn't see any trash or debris on the sides of the roads. Public bathrooms are spotless..the cleanliness is remarkable.

Speaking of driving...they drive on the right and pass on the left, period. And where there are speed limits, they obey them strictly. There's no right-on-red permitted, and they come to a stop at stop signs and red lights.

The real shocker to me is in the area of public safety and crime. Yes, of course there are criminals there, but violent crime is a fraction of what it is here. For example: Baltimore, a city of 585,000 people, recorded 334 homicides for 2022...Germany, with a population of 83,000,000, had 257 murder victims nationwide in all of 2021.

As I said, I love my country...but man, we could learn a lot from our European friends...

Sounds like you had an amazing time in Europe. Germany is one of many European countries I'd visit definitely.

 

[Rlg#17]

Been there several times, all on a BMW motorcycle of course. Once on a guided tour (Edelweiss) and several times going free lance. Good friends, good memories for sure. Even was there for the 75th Jahre anniversary of motorcycle production. One heck of a party. Even got a tour of the plant.

Did 159 mph on a K1200. That was top end. Hit 180 of a Honda Blackbird and it was still going…. People do get out of your way, and NEVER pass on the right. Lane splitting is allowed and accepted, people yield to and are aware of motorcyclists…. A true joy to travel there.

Did most ofthe countries in Europe, France never again, the only real hitch was when we had sub guns pulled on us leaving Czech Republic. But it worked out for the good.

Ide go back in a minute, but those times are gone. But the memories are there. I certainly echo your observations about traveling there OP.

Regards from the Bluegrass, Rick Gibbs

 

[Golddollar]

On that trip, I went to dinner at a local restaurant, and didn't speak a word of English to anybody. From asking for a table, to ordering from the menu, to asking for the check, I spoke only German.

When I paid the check, and bid my waitress a cheery "Auf Wiedersehen", she replied in English..."Have a good night, sir!" I looked at her and asked how she knew I spoke English? She told me that since I wasn't a local, and I wasn't Chinese, she figured I had to be an American...

When I used to go to Quebec province and spoke French, it took about 3 words out of my mouth and the locals knew that it wasn't my first language. But they did appreciate the effort.

 

[jkd88]

Deutschland ist Wunderbar!

Stationed in Germany in the mid 80's. One of the many nice things about continental Europe was being able to drive to visit other countries just like we drive from one state to another here in CONUS. One of my most memorable experiences was locating survey markers that would be used by artillery units (way before GPS). Just myself and three other guys drove around the countryside for about three weeks living in guest houses and being immersed in the authentic native, non-GI culture. One of the survey locations was the steeple of a tower located in an Opel car factory. We just pulled up the gate in our 1/4 ton jeep and using my very broken German got them to understand I needed to get up into the tower. We got a very nice tour of the Opel factory (and the tower). Another location was located inside an elementary school, we were surrounded by kids who were out for recess and wanted to meet us to try their English skills. I had a little 35mm camera and took a photo with them, wish I could find it now.

There were some places/people that were not enamored with the US presence but by and large most people were very friendly. I lived "on the economy" which was a much richer experience than living on post. Some guys basically spent their entire tour on US military installations and never really got to see the country or meet the people. I had a wonderful time but as others here have observed, all the traveling I've done all over the world always reinforced just how good we have it here in the US.