Meet Deutschland: Germany

Compared to Italy, Germany did not have a star-studded Renaissance.

Compared to France, Germany is not naturally romantic and fashionable.

Compared to Denmark, Germany lacks poignant fairy tales.

Compared with the Netherlands and Belgium, Germany lacks that richness and aroma.

When traveling to Europe, many people would not consider Germany as their first choice. Even though this place is full of forests, lakes, castle towns, sausages, pork knuckles, beer cheese, romantic Central European style, varied historical sites, The romantic and charming Rhine River, and the roaring speed and passion.

And Germany seems to be that glass of cold beer, which always gives people an inexplicable memory.

Every time I mention it, there are various flavors that are hard to let go of.

This is really not a joke. The great Germany actually makes countless tourists scratch their heads because they have no cash in their pockets. Even if your first stop is Berlin, Munich, Hamburg or Frankfurt, you don’t have cash in your pocket and you can’t even buy a train ticket. Can you believe it?

Most restaurants and cafes still don't accept credit cardsto this day. Even restaurants with credit card machines basically only accept local German bank cards, not to mention those street markets and small shops.

So we put this in the most important position. Remember to prepare a certain amount of euro cash in advance when traveling to Germany.

If Germany is not your first stop on your European tour, it's a good idea to set aside some euro coins. You will find them extremely useful: not only for consumption, but also for tips.

That's right, the Germans, who have always been known for their rigor, have actually learned tipping culture in a decent way. Waiters in bars, restaurants and other entertainment venues are accustomed to collecting tips. However, in general, 10% tip is the highest , or a simple "stimmt so" (keep the change, no change required). Of course, if you feel that the service is really bad, consumers have every right not to tip.

Speaking of cash, we have to mention the pickpocket problem on the streets of Germany, especially in areas where tourists gather.

In addition, there are many bicycles or electric scooters on the streets of Germany that scan the QR code and pay for rent. Although this mode of transportation that is loved by locals is very convenient, remember not to place valuables casually in the basket or hang them on the handlebars.

If you're the type who likes to keep your wallet in your back pocket, be sure to change that habit.

Also try to carry your backpack in front of you, just in case someone is thinking about it all the time.

Remember that France that didn’t like going to work on Sundays? Hee hee, same as Germany.

It's true that good people don't learn from others, and "bad people" know their way around them.

Never make Sunday a supermarket shopping day , because what awaits you is a closed door.

Influenced by the Christian church , the practice of keeping stores open was strongly condemned by the church. The Christian Church believes that every believer should not work on Sunday, go to church to pray, and spend time with his family.

In 1900, Germany had its first Store Closure Law ” (Ladenschlussgesetz). It strictly regulated the opening hours of shops. After being revised in 1919, it stipulated that shops could only be open from 7 am to 7 pm from Monday to Friday, and they must be closed on Sundays. The Sonntagsruhe (Sunday rest) of shops in Germany officially began.

Later, with wars and various historical and political factors, as well as social development and changes in religious structures, this "Shop Closing Law" was revised and updated several times. But even though the hours the bill allows stores to open from Monday to Friday have been changed again and again, the iron law of "Sunday closing" has never changed.

However, unlike the romantic French, the strict Germans still have their own easy-going side.

In case tourists from other countries don’t adapt, the government is really keeping a hand.

Shops in train stations, airports, gas stations, tourist attractions, etc. are exempt from extra opening hours on Sundays.

Of course, the restaurant is not legally owned by the store and is therefore not subject to this. So even if your friends’ trip to Germany starts on Sunday, you don’t have to worry about being hungry and not being able to feed the Five Zang Temple.

Add a funny thing: December 24, 2017 is Christmas Eve, which happens to be a Sunday. Germans are actually arguing online over whether they should go to work on this day or not.

Do not believe? Search it yourself.

Although public transportation in Germany is relatively developed, with trains, buses, and airplanes providing different modes of travel in various regions, many small towns still require 1-2 transfers to reach them. Since waiting and transfers are time-consuming, and public transportation has "strict" timetables, self-driving has become an increasingly popular way to travel.

Germany has been promoting the anti-urbanization process, making roads outside cities particularly easy to travel. Many well-known classic self-driving routes attract many self-driving travel enthusiasts around the world.

Driving in Germany is safe as long as you are familiar with and obey the traffic laws. The icing on the cake is that Germany's automobile manufacturing industry is very developed. Even most local taxis are Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and the cost of renting a car is very affordable.

What I have to say is that German Autobahn Network - The statement that Germany's highways have "no speed limits" is not entirely accurate.

Strictly speaking, it is the recommended "speed limit" of minimum 130 km/h and "no comprehensive speed limit".

However, when entering near towns, encountering special road conditions, and certain high-risk road sections, there are still individual speed limits. Friends must pay attention and abide by traffic regulations.

This is your first self-driving trip in Germany. If you plan to drive on the highway, you must be prepared in advance and stay calm at all times. If you don’t have the confidence to press the accelerator to the bottom, try to drive in the outermost lane on the right side of . On the one hand, it ensures smooth roads; on the other hand, it does not put too much psychological pressure on "novice" drivers who are experiencing German highways for the first time. But the most important thing is safety first and avoid abusing the innermost express lane.

After all, even if the speed exceeds 180 kilometers per hour, there may be a car flashing its headlights behind you.

Another note: If you need to use mobile phone software to navigate your self-driving tour, be sure to prepare a car mount in advance. In Germany, like many countries, it is illegal for drivers to touch their mobile phones while driving.

Trivia :

If you thought Germany only had beer, you were wrong. Fanta was invented by the Germans during World War II when they were restricted from importing Coca-Cola syrup. After the war, it was taken back by Coca-Cola Corporation.

In addition, the lemon flavored Fanta originally invented in West Germany was later renamed to - Sprite .