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I'm on a tour of Germany now. It's been cool and drizzling a bit. Should warm up soon.
I've heard interesting facts over the last couple of days.
There's no speed limit on 60% of the freeways. In the cities and towns they have limits, especially at night.
It costs about $4-5,000 to get your licence here.
Same as Australia they can start learning at 17, but full licence is 18.
Very different though is a 0% alcohol requirement for ALL drivers.
Bit tough!!
They like posh cars in Germany, and will forgo holidays etc to have a nice car, whereas is Holland they prefer a nice house and things in it.
They rarely close their curtains at night so as to show off their possessions.
Italians don't care re cars or possessions but love to wear fine clothes.
Interesting.
Turkish descent people are the biggest immigrant population here ( mainly left overs from the 60-70's 'guest workers')
And then Vietnamese.
They now expect an onslaught of Syrians.
There are an incredible amount of trucks on the road, probably 1/2 of all vehicles. They are often passing through Germany as its in the middle of Europe.
They take up the complete outside( slower ) lane of 3 lane freeways.
As with all other countries except Australia people drive politely and with manners. No honking and serving in and out of lanes.
As with the other Cosmos tours we are driving a lot, breaks at cafes on the freeway then a quick zap through a city.
We've seen Cologne,Hamlin and Hamburg so far. So we're at the top of Germany on the coast, but all we saw was the Cathedral and Town Hall, and some did a 1 hr boat ride of the port.
I didn't do it, and came straight to the hotel and read info on the net re museums in Berlin to see. I'm getting a cold and don't feel great.
Hope it doesn't last.
Back again.
I had a fabulous day in Berlin. I didn't go on the group tours as had a plan! I must have walked 20 Kms. I found my way into the city and queued at the Reichstag to get a ticket to go up into the glass dome. I got one for the 1.30 pm time slot, so off I went.
I saw the Holocaust memorial and Checkpoint Charlie again, and found my way back to a museum Chelsea and I passed on our walking tour 6 weeks ago. It was about the Nazi's, SS, camps etc and the atrocities that occurred , and how it was allowed to happen. I was there over 2 hrs and could have stayed longer. Then back for the amazing ramp climb into the dome. Great view.
Then a hike across the city to see the Berlin Wall Memorial and documentation re the escape attempts and deaths.
Then to the Cathedral. The ticket included entry to the crypt which was full of mausoleums of dead kings and kaisers etc. Royalty ++. It also allowed for a climb to the cupola dome so off I went and scared myself silly going up 300 little circular metal stairs ( my usual nightmare)
Then a platform to walk outside around the dome! Nasty!!
I was so glad to get down.
After some more sights I toddled back across town for 90 minutes with a few geographic challenges ( as in I was lost)
18/09/15
Today we went to Dresden which was mostly flattened in the war then was part of Communist East Germany so parts of it are ugly. But since reunification in 1990 lots has been done to restore the city and buildings.
Germany has a 'solidarity tax' to pay for the roads etc that needed upgrading in the east after 1990. It was supposed to be for 4 yrs but is still being paid.
Dresden has the Glaxo Cline factory that makes the worlds flu vaccines. Filtered cigarettes , coffee filters, smooth milk chocolate were all invented in Dresden.
The first European porcelain after China was developed there and still sells for massive prices.
There was a VW factory with glass walls so you can watch the cars being assembled. It was an expensive model with a price range of Aus$105-210,000!!!
Lots of towns have glass towers full of new cars either being stored or on display.
New cars don't sit in big outside paddocks like at home!!
Many musicians of note come from there too.
Then it was on to Leipzig , more musicians-Bach and Menoldson included. One of the first uprisings in 1989 against the Communist regime occurred there. It had a few historic buildings including a MASSIVE memorial to the war dead. We are as usual staying out of town, so got a buffet dinner included. Scrumptious food.
19/09/15
Two hours drive to Weimar, capital of state. More historic buildings, a nice Saturday market with lovely fruit and vege stalls, and decorations made of onions strung together.
Many famous poets and painters come from here. Statues everywhere. Also an amazing library that was the Queen's, now public.
It used to be in E Germany so has had massive renovations and a facelift.
Then thru the rain and miles of pine forest to Coberg, the seat of the long serving Saxon-Coberg Royal family ( Prince Albert married Queen Victoria)and a Castle full of great stuff. Not the usual furnishings, furniture and paintings but collections of armoury , weapons , coaches and sleighs- all back to 1500's. fabulous.
More driving to Nuremberg. This was Hitler's favourite city, with him saying it was the ideal German city. So rather ironic that the WW11 war atrocity trials were held here!!! The law courts were not destroyed in the war whereas Berlin's were so that's why it happened here. Many of Hitler 's biggest rallies were held here.
Nuremberg is the centre of Germany's massive toy industry.
There is also a big gingerbread industry and some sort of special sausage.
A local delicacy is liver soup with dumplings!! Oh joy!
Tomorrow we get back to Munich. Some are heading to the Octoberfest.
It's only going to reach 14oC so a cold day.
19/09/15
Got to Munich. I wasn't going to the dinner as it cost too much so was basically stuck in the town with no shops open, so reluctantly went with 4 others to the Octoberfest. Well it was FABULOUS!! Really busy , but very civilised. Very few drunks. There are 12 massive vinyl tents ( that look like sheds) set up, cater for 10,000 people in each. They are full of tables and benches, and you can only be served beer if you are seated at a table. It only comes in 1 litre steins ( nearly 2 pints) costing €9.30 ($14)
It is noisy++. But great.
You just find a table and sit.
Each tent belongs to a specific beer company, so you can only get that brand in the tent.
Companies vie to get a tent.
The beer is a special brew for the festival only and is a higher alcohol percentage than usual.
Outside the grounds are like a fairground with rides and food / souvenir stalls.
I had a ball ( 1L of beer may have helped my disposition) and we only just got back to the bus in time.
Out hotel was sadly out by the airport and the idiot reception man was trying to check us in one by one at 10 pm until we revolted.
20/09/15
On return to the hotel tonight our cards didn't work. We'd been checked in for 1 night! My room hadn't been cleaned tho the beds were made!
We got a free drink to say sorry re last night! Hmmm.
Today after a city tour we had a free PM.
I shopped until sick of it then lay in a park in the sun until time for the bus.
We have a 5.30 am wake up call tmw as have a busy day. Oh joy!
I received FABULOUS news today that my son Michael and his wife Zareena are expecting a very much wanted baby girl.
They have 2 boys so are very excited.
I got more info today re Germany but am struggling to remember it.
Maybe it'll come to me.
I went to the railway station and the tents are still set up for the refugees and the welfare groups were there. A relief to see it.
23/09/15
The trip is finishing tomorrow, we're back in Frankfurt.
The weather isn't great. Cool and wet..
We stayed in the Black Forest last night.. Very dense pine forests with Lynx, bears and wolves. So named as its so dark when you are in them.
Today we visited Heidleburg, with a lovely ruined castle, the oldest uni in Germany and a lovely river.
Yesterday was lots of driving, more nice villages, but not alpine like in Switzerland or Italy.
We went to Germany's most visited sight yesterday. Mad King Ludwig 11 's fairytale castle Neuschwanstein. it has turrets and is so pretty. One room has been made into a cave.
He went bankrupt, and then was arrested, then mysteriously drowned. Hmmm.
I've remembered info re a new bullet train that is being built from Ulm to Studgart.. They can't cross roads, as that damages the tracks, they have to be level so need bridges and tunnels to maintain the speed.
I'm actually sick of seeing nice towns and castles !
3 days rest in Frankfurt, then I'm off to Paris for a 2 week trip around France.
Home in just over 3 weeks.. Yippee.
Carol.
- comments
deb hi Carol...congrats grandma :) xx I feel this blog was full of interesting facts, I enjoyed it more. You didn't feel as lonely and exhausted so that make me feel better for you xx I went to the Octoberfest in 1985, and yes is was very civil too. Why are there so many Germans wanting to leave there, NZ has so many living here and they hated Home, but you made it sound pretty good, strict may-be. Sometime boundaries are good. Keep safe, enjoy France. Looking forward to seeing you home again Love Debz
Anne Sweeney Excellent very easy to read/ lots of detail blog! Well done dear Carol, and as Deb said, so good to hear you sounding pretty content. Would love to have been with you at the Beerfest....must be why Chris managed 3 trips there!! Take care my dear, and enjoy your last 3 weeks...what a huge adventure. What's next?! Cheers,Anne xx