Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with germany

2 weeks driving around Europe at Christmas - what not to miss?

allkindsoftime — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:12:48 -0800

European road-trip for the holidays (filter). Meeting up with a friend in Paris on the evening of the 19th - both of us traveling there from different continents and wrapping up on Jan 2nd back in Paris. Here's the current plan:

Week 1 (Road Trip!):
12/19 - Arrive Paris, stay overnight.
12/20 - Drive to Munich, staying with friends.
12/21 - Explore Munich, Christmas markets, etc.
12/22 - Drive to Vienna with a stop in Steyr, Austria*.
12/23 - Explore Vienna, Christmass markets, etc.
12/24 - More Vienna, Christmas Eve Mass at St. Stephansdom*.
12/25 - Drive to Venice.
12/26 - Explore Venice.

Week 2 (based out of Geneva, where we have a free apartment):
12/27 - Drive to Geneva.
12/28 - Ski Chamonix, stay in Geneva
12/29 - More skiing, still in Geneva.
12/30 - More skiing, last night in Geneva.
12/31 - Drive to Paris for New Years.
1/1 - Explore Paris
1/2 - Friend flies out, I'm off to London for a day then flying out myself on the 3rd.

*Both of these were "local recommendations" given by friends - cool things to see and do. I am particularly interested on these around our route.

My questions:

1. Cheap / decent hotel near the airport in Paris - any suggestions?

2. Driving - we're both pretty set on it because a) we both love driving / road trips, and b) we crave the flexibility of being able to stop off in this or that place along the way, stay at a B&B outside the city rather than a hotel in it, etc.. We realize trains are good around here but would really need a strong argument against driving to sway us at this point. Any tips on tolls / etc. appreciated, as well as things along our routes not to miss.

3. Hotel in Vienna - same as above, we are looking for something more local / small, preferably on the city outskirts. From what I understand most of Europe will shut down on the 25/26th, so I figure on spending Christmas day on the road.

4. Hotel in Venice - see above.

5. Best skiing recommendations within reasonable driving distance of Geneva? I'm pretty set on Chamonix as I've been reading about skiing there my entire life, and extreme skiing is my "thing," although not my friend's, so I'm only pushing for one day there - the other 2 days we're looking for something more enjoyable to ride together.

6. New Years Eve in Paris - where to go? What to do? Where to stay?

Any input on the above or anything I'm not thinking of is appreciated in advance. I've only been to the UK and Greece before so if parts of (hopefully not all!) my plans are idiotic, please hope me. We're pretty much going off of the Lonely Planet guide and the AskMe tags (i.e. Vienna, Venice, etc.) for things to do in the cities we are at, but any other suggestions on stops along the way that are don't-miss are appreciated.

How do you solve a problem like Maria losing her ID?

apophenia — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:46:11 -0800

What form of identification can I get in Germany? I am an idiot and I lost my American learner's permit last night. Aside from my passport, it was my only form of personal ID. Here, my ID is checked at least once a week during ticket checks on the train or when I'm boozing it up. Though I still have my passport, I'm wary of carrying it around with me everywhere.

A. Will a photocopy of my passport be a valid form of identification?
B. Can I somehow procure another form of ID here? Because I'm not German, I can't get a state-issued Personalausweis but because I'm not in America, I can't just pop into the DMV and get a new permit.

Les we forget

fantasticninety — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:12:27 -0800

How is Remembrance Day celebrated in Germany? Does anyone here live in Germany or is German? What kinds of conversations are had on this day? Is there a moment of silence? Are there videos shown in school before this day? Is it an official holiday?

Thanks for any answers on this.

when Wikipedia articles fall short, it's time for a book

bluishorange — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:49:48 -0800

Have you read an informative, engaging book on German history? If so, what is it? After visiting Berlin last year, I became quite interested in German history. In particular I was fascinated by the city of Berlin itself, WWII and the events leading up to and following it, and the Berlin Wall years.

The 20th anniversary of the fall of the wall has me thinking about it again, so I've decided it's time to stop my casual internet reading and move on to a proper book. I read very little nonfiction, so I'm hoping for something that's not too dry. But I was an English major, so it doesn't have to be, you know, a kids' book or anything. Also, military strategy puts me to sleep.

I know this is a very broad subject to ask for A book about, but as of now I'm just trying to get my feet wet. Anything helps. Thanks!

Are there any examples of East German wifes informing on their husbands for Stasi?

Kattullus — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:50:11 -0800

In a critique of Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others) Slavoj Žižek asserts that "in all known cases of a married couple where a spouse betrayed a partner, it was always a man who became an informant." Famously, Ulrich Mühe, star of Das Leben der Anderen, asserted that his ex-wife spied on him for Stasi, though both the ex-wife and her supposed Stasi superior denied this. Other than that case, are there any examples of East German wifes informing on their husbands for Stasi?

Vegetarian seeks tasty food in Western Europe

embrangled — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 04:57:04 -0800

What tasty foods should an adventurous vegetarian eat in the UK and Western Europe? I eat eggs and dairy, but not meat and only rarely fish. I'm not overly uptight about trace animal products or stock. I'll be travelling through England, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany. These countries aren't generally known as hotbeds of vegetarianism, but I'd still like to try as many interesting local foods as I can.

A meat-eating friend has been joking that I'll starve - I'm more optimistic, so help me prove him wrong. I'm not worried about what I'll eat, but I'd like to expand my culinary horizons beyond "That one vegan cafe in the hippy district". Which quintessential European meals and snacks just happen to be meat-free?

Berlin car sticker duplication?

runincircles — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 06:56:10 -0800

Berlin-Filter: mandatory car emissions sticker stuck in post... I got a Feinstaubplakat for my parents who are visiting this week from Britain, driving over obvs., posted it but left it too late and it hadn't arrived by the time they left (the photocopy of it, posted simultaneously but separately, did). If I go back to the KFZ-Zulassungsstelle and explain (I have the Quittung) are they going to be willing/able to issue another, or can you not have 2 Plakate issued for the same car? Or should I not contact the KFZ-Amt at all 'cos giving them details of a car without a Plakat is asking for trouble? Or if we just have the photocopy laminated and in the windscreen and the receipt in the car will that satisfy the Beamte if the car gets stopped? Thanks!

Places to drink in Munich that are NOT the typical beer hall?

badish — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 09:11:36 -0800

Hi, I'm going to be in the Munich area over the holidays and I want to find a place to hang out and drink. I've lived there already and I'm over the typical Bavarian biergarten/hall scene. Ideally, I'm looking for somewhere cozy and student oriented, good music playing (indie, downtempo, alternative hip-hop etc) and good, natural lighting for people watching. 100 super bonus points if their beer of choice is Augustiner!!! Thank you!!!!!

20th Century History of Berlin in Moving Pictures

Beardman — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:37:54 -0800

If you were giving a crash course on the history of Berlin 1933-1990, and you were limited to just a couple films, which ones would you assign? Documentaries preferred, and they must have some kind of English language option. Ideally, I would like one film covering Berlin during the Nazi and GDR periods. However, I could deal with, say, two Nazi films and two GDR films.

Damals in der DDR sounds like exactly what I'm looking for in the latter period, but from what I can see, there aren't any subtitles.

Note: I do know about The Lives of Others. If there are similar features that really immerse you in the life of the GDR, I'd be interested in hearing about them, but again, I'm primarily interested in nonfiction, and particularly in films with an 'informative' rather than 'slice of life' tone. Loathe as I am to say it, think Ken Burns.

Thanks!

How do I get from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to Alexanderplatz late at night?

maryrosecook — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 10:06:26 -0800

How do I get from Berlin Schönefeld Airport to Alexanderplatz late at night? As I understand it, direct trains from the airport to Alexanderplatz cease at 22.55. I will be arriving at the airport after that time. I have been told that it is possible to take the S-Bahn and then change onto a train that goes to Alexanderplatz. Is this possible? Is there a better way? My German is terrible, so the easiest/most-unfuckupable route is preferable.

How to get connected and get working as a retoucher in Berlin?

freudenschade — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:27:52 -0800

Talented, creative, experienced (but mostly non-German-speaking) Canadian digital artist looking for postproduction/retouching work in Berlin. Got any leads or advice for my girlfriend? We moved to Berlin a couple of months ago, and after some much-needed down time, the job hunt has begun. We have visas that allow us to live and work in Germany for at least the coming year. Being fairly competent in German and focused in the tech/software/marketing world, I'm OK for leads for now, but my girlfriend could use some tips.

Background: She graduated from Sheridan College with a diploma in Applied Photography in 2004. Spent the last four years working for Dixon Film & Photography, one of the top advertising photography studios in Canada -- the past two of which were as head retoucher, working on national and international ad campaigns for big clients in partnership with top ad agencies. She's incredibly talented, and able to contribute to projects creatively as well as technically. Basically, she's a postproduction ninja. She just needs someone in the industry here in Berlin to take notice.

You can view samples of her professional and personal (fine art) work here: www.lunaland.net

So, creative industry Berliners (and others in the know), what can she do to make some more connections locally and find the right position? Full time would be ideal, but regular freelance is an option as well. Again, she doesn't really speak German, but it seems like it would definitely be possible to find work as an English speaker in the mostly English speaking creative/advertising industry.

Any and all feedback is definitely appreciated. Specific suggestions for related work (i.e. art direction) would also be great. Danke schön in advance!

Best computer shop in Berlin with aggressive prices?

thewalrus — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:08:18 -0800

In Berlin, what's the best computer shop with good prices and a wide selection of products? The prices seem to suck here. I need to buy a couple of 1.0 or 1.5TB USB2.0+IEEE1394B external HDDs and some 16GB SDHC cards in the next few days. Near Aleskanderplatz if possible. I've found Saturn (www.saturn.de) but the prices seem stupid, 30 euros for a 8GB SDHC card, which is $15 (10.50 euros) from Newegg... Hard drives that would sell for $110 in North America are the equivalent of USD$170 after the USD:EUR exchange. Is there a proper computer shop somewhere near Aleksanderplatz that has reasonable prices?

Perhaps I have been spoiled by years of ordering online in the USA from Newegg and Zipzoomfly, but the prices of computer stuff at retail in Germany seem rather high (even before the VAT). I'll be taking the tax refund at the airport on the HDDs when I leave.

Berlin cabaret help needed.

Xalf — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 01:22:14 -0800

We will be in Berlin from this Saturday until Wednesday. Please recommend a cabaret-type performance that will be comprehensible to non-German speakers, is not overly risque, and will make for a fun evening.

Seeking tips/advice for a trip to Oktoberfest (and surrounding area) for 2010.

gummo — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:54:49 -0800

Seeking tips/advice for a trip to Oktoberfest (and surrounding area) for 2010. Myself and 3 friends (American, 2 guys, 2 girls, 25-37 yrs old) have decided to go to Oktoberfest for 2010 (the 200 yr. anniversary). Our plan is to spend approximately 2 weeks on the trip. I'm looking for tips and advice on what we should do. We're initially thinking we probably want to do 2 or 3 days at the actual festival and in Munich, and the rest of the time, either before or after or both, in surrounding areas.

Thoughts:
-We're not afraid of a big noisy party (quite the contrary)
-None of us have been to Europe at all
-We want to see as much as possible, not just the Oktoberfest tents
-I've read that we want to reserve seats at a tent. I'm not convinced of this. The idea of being stuck at one table all day does not sound appealing. But would a reserved table be a good home base? Or when we get up, does our reservation end?
-Overnight trains to some far away destination sound GREAT.
-Can I rent a car one of the days and drive on the Autobahn to get us to one of our destinations? Is a car rental a valid plan for a more extended amount of time?
-How far can we get in 2 weeks if we just spend a couple days in Munich and jump on trains a lot? Czech Republic, Switzerland, Sweden? Where could we/should we go? (I obviously don't want to spend the entire vacation travelling)
-Can we get trains with cabins and use those as our hotel some nights?
-We're more the type to not make reservations, just so we are open to jump in a cab or on a train and head out if we hear of something great 100 miles away. But I understand we probably want hotel rooms for at least the couple nights for the festival.
-Should we stay within walking distance of the tents for the few days in Munich, or are we better off 40 minutes down the rail or road?
-We're not afraid of hostels or roughing it (though I've never stayed in a hostel and have no idea how that works)
-We can spend money when necessary, but don't want to be frivilous, and don't need too many luxuries
-Things I've seen mentioned: Volksfest, ICE Train, Castles, U-bahn, S-bahn, Mike's Bike tour.

So, Hivemind...

What should we do? Start at Oktoberfest, end up there? If we're only going to see 2 or 3 days of the actual festival, which ones do we want? Where should be book a room for the actual festival? Where else should we go? What else should we see? Are there any other events scheduled close enough? We're thinking of this more as a mini European vacation that involves Oktoberfest. Not simply an Oktoberfest trip. Any advice, experiences, ideas, cost estimates, are greatly appreciated.

Interviews, Research & Archiving, oh my!

ikahime — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:06:04 -0800

I'm preparing for a massive personal archiving/interviewing trip with my grandparents and need advice regarding many aspects of the project. My grandparents came to America from Lithuania during WWII and have an amazing story that my cousin and I started documenting several years ago. Life being what it is, we really only got a rough outline and are now going for another week long visit with them (now 97 and 90 years old, but still witty and spry). Not only do they have some great/astounding anecdotes that we haven't documented, they also have an amazing collection of photos (some taken by Life Magazine photographers) which are in not such good order (to say nothing of being stored or digitally preserved).

Here are some of my concerns that perhaps y'all could help me with:

History: I'm not a historian, and so have been trying to bone up on the Soviet-Nazi conflict that took place in the Baltic States. Books and online resource recommendations are appreciated.

Preservation: I need to construct a good workflow for organizing/digitizing old photos. How best to store? Should I be uploading to the cloud, or bring an external hard drive with me?

Interview: Getting these stories out of them is not usually too hard, but I'm wondering about tried and true methods of biographical interview. Should we march thru the historical timeline? Jump around and organize later? Are there some good prompts I shouldn't forget to ask them?

Documentation: I would like to either film or audio record or both. I will probably have access to a decent microphone + laptop and a so-so digital video camera. Should I have both roll at the same time, or just favor one vs. the other? This is my weakest link. Is Audacity a good enough program, or should I be throwing down for something else?

In addition to doing this for my own (and my family's) edification, I'm gathering this info now for some sort of creative project in the future (still yet to work out - could be something as mundane as a book, or more outlandish like an interactive sculpture, or hyperlinked map). I've started making things like timelines and maps of their trip from Lith to Germany to Britain to the US; got any other ideas of rich add-ons?

Lastly, I'm looking for other media to bring with me that may enhance their reminiscing, especially music of the era/region (they were in Germany for quite a few years in the late 40s. Got some faves?

Thanks to all in advance!

Rockin' Mexico

freddymetz — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:16:08 -0800

GuitarFilter! I'm going to Mexico in september and i want to buy a guitar. Coming from Germany, are guitars much cheaper there? I specifically want to buy a Taylor Baby guitar (280 euros in germany), or should i buy a handmade one that mexico is so famous for? :p

Looking for organic German beer in the US.

piratebowling — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 07:21:48 -0800

I had some very tasty organic been in Germany years ago. It was brewed by Rother Bräu, and was either the Öko Urtrunk, Öko Ur-Weizen or the Öko Ur-Pils. I may have even tried all three at various times. I'd love to be able to track down any (if not all three) of these in the US. How do I do this? As a total last ditch, I would take recommendations for similarly awesome organic beers that are available in the US. The beer had sediment, but was drinkable. It was not heavy, bright, and pretty balanced. The day I dropped by bottle after spending the last of my money was a very sad one.

Carseat rentals in Germany

dublin — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 08:28:38 -0800

Renting a carseat in Nuremburg, Germany without renting a car. Anyone with knowledge about this? Am flying into Nuremburg Germany and staying 1 week about 45 min away with my 13 month old daughter. We aren't renting a car, but will be in cars, so I am wondering about the possibility of renting a carseat there. Anyone have any clue how I would go about doing this? Thanks!!!

Books on Hitler - Nazi Germany

snap_dragon — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:05:05 -0800

I just finished reading Hunting Eichmann and am wondering if any MeFites could recommend any other popular nonfiction books on Nazi Germany, Hitler, war criminals, etc. I don't do huge tomes well (400 pages or less!). The only other books I have read are MAUS and Explaining Hitler. Thanks for your input. So much out there...don't know where to begin. Probably the more well known the better as they may be available at my library.

How do we get our stuff to Germany without breaking the bank?

freudenschade — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:44:40 -0800

What's the best option for shipping several boxes of household items from Canada to Germany? In August, my girlfriend and I will be relocating from Toronto to Berlin. Seeing as we'll be there for at least a year, it would be great if we could bring more than just a couple of suitcases of stuff with us. Extra baggage charges on the plain are prohibitively expensive, as are the usual shipping options (Canada Post, UPS, FedEx, etc.). We've been looking for specific information on renting a small space in a shipping container, but online details are slim and mostly relate only to US companies.

We'd mostly be shipping some extra clothes, shoes, books and so on, and delivery time isn't that important. Any tips or experiences would be great. Thanks in advance!

What are some good books that take place in East Germany?

comfortinsound — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:36:57 -0800

Can anyone recommend good books (fiction or non-fiction) that take place in East Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall?

Schengen Visa Insurance

wigner3j — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:49:29 -0800

What online company should I use to purchase travel insurance that meets the Schengen visa requirements? We are traveling from Philadelphia to Germany for a week starting in early July. I just had a moment of panic when I remembered my wife doesn't have a US passport. Turns out she needs a Schengen visa so we are heading to NY tomorrow to apply at the German consulate. How about this insurance requirement for the Schengen visa? Can anyone suggest a reputable company to quickly provide this insurance and a letter providing proof? Is this generally covered by health insurance provided by employers? Finally, anyone know how long it takes to get one of these visas?

How to dress (or not dress) on my visit to Cologne, Germany?

RedReplicant — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:33:14 -0800

I'm going to be visiting Cologne, Germany on a research trip at the end of the month-- how should I dress? I'm an American PhD student from an East Coast university, speak decent (but not flawless) German and generally I try to avoid the major pitfalls like bright white tennis shoes, obnoxious t-shirts and fanny packs. However, one of my professors keeps suggesting that if I wear any color at all I will look like a tourist. Generally my uniform is a nice pair of slacks or jeans, a colorful top and a jacket or cardigan. Is that going to look out of place? Any pro-tips would be greatly appreciated, as it's my first time going to Germany alone rather than with a group of students.
Thanks!

Storing my stüff for a few weeks

trouserlouse — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:42:38 -0800

I arrive in Frankfurt next Sunday. I leave Frankfurt in the beginning of August. I will not be in Frankfurt in the meantime. Where do I keep my stuff? I've been looking at long-term storage of various types. The airport seems to want 5 euros for a "normal" bag per day, which for my two checked bags for 45 days is...a lot. Not very good for my student budget. The main train station wants 4 euros per day per locker, and it's not clear that I could keep stuff for that long anyway.

What other places exist for long-term storage of things in Frankfurt? (Also, if I stayed at a hotel for a night, is there any way they could hold my things?) If all else fails, what are the available shipping services?

Before and after a stag weekend in Hamburg...

Happy Dave — Mon, 18 May 2009 02:54:10 -0800

A weekend in Hamburg, with two parts to it - what's worth doing and seeing? Hello! I'm off to Hamburg in the last weekend of August. I'm really looking forward to it, but would appreciate the insights of Ask Me on a couple of things:

1) The occasion for the visit is a stag weekend. As far as I know, the only so-far-organised activity is paintballing on the Saturday. The crowd is not your typical Brit stag party, as it's composed of a multinational, multi-age crowd (Brits, Germans, Americans, some Scandinavians I think, ages ranging from mid-20's to mid-40's, I don't know about 60% of them), but I'd imagine a few steins will be being consumed. So recommendations for things to do in Hamburg for a large (15+) group of people, many of whom don't know each other all that well. I've heard something about a Fischmarket?

2) I'm catching an earlier flight than most of the rest of the group (mainly to avoid flying Ryanair, because we hates them, precious), so will be in Hamburg on the Friday afternoon between 5 and 10pm, before meeting the rest of the party. What could I/should I do with that block of time?

3) Random questions - what's the best plan for transport for the two and a bit days we're there? Any recommendations for budget hotels/hostels? Anything on that weekend that could be considered unmissable?