As progressive as we Germans are, I’m sure we seem a bit foreign to the average traveler. So, I’ll help you figure out the simple nuances of eating like a German — even if you’re not eating traditional German cuisine.

Your first test is when you arrive at the eatery. You’re going to have to find your own seat (exceptions apply). Second, it’s not unheard of some stranger to come sit with you if the restaurant’s crowded — it’s an efficient use of space.

Don’t worry about making small talk — that’s definitely not the German way. Just eat your food and be on your merry way.

Next, see that basket of bread on the table? First rule of Economics applies here — no such thing as a free Mittagessen (that’s lunch in German), so chances are you’ll have to pay for what you ate. Just ask if you’re not sure.

You’ll even pay for condiments (ketchup, mustard, etc.) in fast-food joints. Although traditional fast-food in Germany is the Döner Kebap (served in a pita) — and never once have I seen ketchup on it. So eat that — and you’ll be fine.

All right, your food’s arrived, now what? Um, good manners say that you don’t eat until everyone has their food. Also, eating with your fingers — use forks & knives to eat pizza, will you?

It’s not bad form to eat “American-style” (that’s with the fork in your right hand, cutting with the right while switching the fork to the left) — it’s just not the most efficient way to eat.

And we know how much that makes a Kraut crazy, right? ;-)

Want to see a German get really indignant? Ask for a glass of tap water with or before your meal. You’d think you had just sprouted a third eye and a turned purple. Actually, I think that would garner less of a reaction. Do yourself a favor, if you want water drink Mineralwasser (sparkling water like Pellegrino or Perrier).

You’re fed. You’ve got your drink. Now it’s time to pay the bill. I sure hope you’ve asked if the restaurant took plastic beforehand. That’s right, even the best restaurants don’t always take your Master, Visa, or AMEX card.

And, never, never, never, leave your tip on the table for your server. It’s customary to round up your bill (usually 5-10%), telling your waitress or waiter what you’ll pay, then give it to them.

Just don’t ask ‘em to wrap up your leftovers in a Doggy-bag. That’s almost as bad as asking for that tap water. ;-)

I know I do. Yet, this isn’t about planes or automobiles, really. It’s all about the trains.

Germany’s network of trains is exceptional; offering a handful of choices for your train travel needs.

Suppose you’re in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, or Belgium; and you got this burning desire to come to Deutschland? By the time you’ve gone through airport security, managed to get your clothes & stuff back on, and sit on the tarmac for umpteen hours—you’d have already been there if you hopped on the ICE Train (these babies do 300 k/h or 186mp/h, so they’re really, really, REALLY fast).

Um, that’s the Inter-country rail line; but, not the only one. Express service of the ICE will take you nonstop on intra-German lines (like Berlin to Frankfurt, Hamburg to Duisburg, you get the point).

Don’t want to kill a day traveling? Use the Night Train (called the DB Nachtzug). Oh, this is a gem of a line—with sleepers, couchettes, and women-only compartments with routes taking you to/from Berlin, Munich, Copenhagen, and Prague (to name a few). There’s even room for your bicycle onboard.

Already in one of Germany’s big cities, and want to head out towards the suburbs? You won’t need the night train or the ICE—you’ll take the S-Bahn. No women-only compartments needed since most travel is within a 60km radius of any major city. They’re quick, they’re convenient, they’re punctual, and they’re affordable.

Better than having to fight your way to the center of town from the airport, I think.

Even better that just about everything runs on-time in Germany. Being punctual is of the utmost importance to us! ;-)

It’s also important to easily buy your ticket, too. Most of Germany’s train tickets can be bought on Bahn.de as well as at the stations themselves, even on the trains (with a small surcharge).

Wow, what a great (easy, affordable) way to see the German countryside and the best of its cities, no?

Maybe this is why we love museums so much; where everything is categorized, labeled, and methodically documented. “Sniff-sniff,” it’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?

Germany’s got a museum for just about everything and anything under the stars. Don’t want to be stuck indoors on a fine weather afternoon? No big deal, there are outdoor museum scattered all over the country, including the Winsen Museum Farm and the Hagen Westphalian Open-Air Museum.

Got a penchant for following military and war history? Check out the German Tank Museum, Königstein Fortress, and the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr.

It might seem a bit odd to come all the way to Germany go see mummies. Both the cities of Bonn and Berlin house fantastic mummy exhibits at their respective museums.

Yeah, I’d think that the religious museums like the Lorsch Abbey and Michaelstein Abbey, and the Maulbronn Monastery seem a more likely choice to be found within the country.

But, I did say we like museums — so never mind.

Honestly, the land that IS modern day Germany has been around a lot longer than people, so no wonder we got all sorts of natural history museums. The State Museum of Natural History in Stuttgart is fantastic, as is the Lower Saxony State Museum.

Oh, I didn’t even add in our two volcano museums which can be found in the Eifel Region — the German Volcano Museum Mendig a.k.a. Lava-Dome in Mendig and the Eifel Volcano Museum Daun in Daun. That counts as natural history, does it not?

And speaking of people, OF COURSE we’ve got museums dedicated to the best of the best of our homegrown sons and daughters. The Goethe House in Frankfurt am Main and the Karl Marx House in Trier are only two of the many museums that are all about famous Germans.

While most of Germany’s amusement parks are closed for the winter, mid-March signals the beginning of their new season. So, if you’re longing for an escape from the winter doldrums, then an amusement park vacation may be just what the doctor ordered. ;-)

Europa-Park

The biggest of them all is Europa-Park in Rust north of Freiburg with over four million visitors each year. Europa-Park has fifteen parts or “lands” you can visit, from Russia and Iceland to Spain and Portugal. The park was founded by the vehicle-making Mack family, who opened it in 1975 as a showcase for their latest inventions.

Don’t miss one of the newest super-thrill roller coaster and the first upside-down ride, the Blue Fire. Balthasar Castle is the Cinderella centerpiece, complete with its own moat.

Bayern Park

A more traditional and charming outing can be found at Bayern Park in Reisbach, 126 km (78 mi) east of Munich.

The Bayern Park is not your everyday modern amusement park filled with adrenaline rides, but its charm lies in the simplicity of its attractions. Relaxing train rides, beautiful mock architecture and fun family rides ensure that you’ll still have a great time. Highlights include the mandatory roller coaster, river rafting, pirate ships, boat rides and the Schweinchenbahn (pig train).

Holiday Park

Holiday Park is a popular destination for the whole family, located in Haßloch in the Palatinate region. Here you will find carousels, extreme roller coasters, free fall rides, log flumes and relaxing boat and train rides.

With over one million visitors each year, Holiday Park is half-theme park, half-nature park with a very green, wooded environment.

Bavaria Filmstadt

Movie lovers will want to check out the Bavaria Filmstadt in the Geiselgasteig district of Grünwald (just south of Munich).

Bavaria Filmstadt gives its visitors a behind-the-scenes peek at the world of TV and movie making. The guided tours of Filmstadt offer some great insider stories and anecdotes about life in the movies. You’ll also gain some insight into the production of movies and TV. The film tour takes you through many famous sets of German programs and the 1980s kiddie film, The Never-Ending Story.

Some highlighted shows featured at this park include German soap operas and the comedy Raumschiff Surprise-Periode 1.

Phantasialand

Finally, the adrenaline junkies will want to book their tickets for my personal favorite German theme park, Phantasialand in Brühl (just south of Cologne). Rides like the Colorado Adventure, Talocan and Black Mamba will take you through hairpin turns, corkscrews, dark tunnels and a final splash as you barrel along on these extreme coasters. If that weren’t enough, there is also a unique collection of Chinese architecture, reconstructed German capitals and world folk music.

You’re missing some of our theme parks?

Don’t sweat. There are much more incredible theme parks in Germany, all of which will thrill, entertain and help you create new, wonderful memories.

—Marcus

His birth was greeted with much rejoicing by both family and the Prussian people as two previous heirs had died at young ages. As the son of the Soldier-King, Frederick William I, young Frederick naturally rebelled against his strict, aggressive father, even attempting to run away.

However, as the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Frederick II, upon becoming king, soon became feared and famous for his own war-like nature after a string of successful attacks on Austria and Silesia.

But this war-hardened king also had a softer side. He was a talented musician who played the flute and composed over one hundred sonatas for his favorite instrument. He was a polyglot who spoke Spanish, French, English, Italian and Portuguese, and dabbled in ancient Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

His love for the arts is apparent in many of the buildings that he commissioned, which are a great way for the casual traveler to appreciate his impressive legacy.

We begin at the Berlin State Opera on the famous street of Unter den Linden and designed by the famed Georg Wenzeslaus von Knobelsdorf. Next is the Royal Library, which today is no longer royal, simply the State Library of Berlin. St. Hedwig’s Cathedral is another of his famous creations. This eye-catching building with its distinctive light blue dome is a landmark Roman Catholic Church on the Bebelplatz. And then there’s Prince Henry’s Palace, now the site of Humboldt University, the oldest in Berlin.

But the best and finest example of what came to be known as “Frederician Rococo” style architecture is surely the masterpiece at Sanssouci Palace. You’ll have to travel a bit outside the capital city to visit this palace and garden, situated in the nearby suburb of Potsdam. (This is still easily reached from Berlin using the fabulous public transportation system. Just hop aboard tram number 7!)

Sanssouci is the French word for “without worries.” Frederick meant this place to be a refuge and sanctuary from the rigors and responsibilities of governance. The result is a not-to-be-missed tourist attraction that features terraced gardens, wonderful fountains, and numerous fantastic “follies.” A folly is the architectural term for an extravagant garden decoration.

At Sanssouci, you’ll see a Turkish mosque and minaret, a Chinese tea garden, a few obelisks, Roman baths and temples.

You may find yourself believing you’ve stepped into a carefree fantasy world filled with these amazing follies, an abundance of fruit trees and hedge-lined walkways. If so, then Frederick’s greatest legacy — creating a worry-free garden that transports you to a different world — has been accomplished. ;-)

—Marcus

During his life, Luther spent much time researching, translating and moving about while trying to avoid the wrath of the Catholic Church. You can easily find Martin Luther-themed tours online that will take you to some of these most historic and significant places.

Begin your journey here with us today as we discover the highlights of the Martin Luther Trail. :-)

Eisleben, 1483

We begin in the Saxon-Anhalt city of Eisleben, which is Luther’s birthplace, as well as the site of his death in 1546. You can visit the reformer’s childhood home and learn about what life was like in those old times. Or, for those who prefer a more macabre tour, take a look at where he drew his final breath and where his death mask is on display.

While in Eisleben, you can also view the churches connected to Luther. Peter and Paul Church was the site of his baptism and Andreas Church was where he delivered his last sermon. And finally, snap a picture of the Lutherdenkmal (Luther Monument) in Old Town.

Erfurt, 1501

Our next stop brings us to Erfurt in Thuringia. Much of Luther’s religious beginnings can be traced to this city. Erfurt is where he entered an Augustinian monastery and also where he became an ordained priest at the famed Cathedral in 1507.

Wittenberg, 1512

If you can only visit one Lutheran city during your time here, then Wittenberg should be at the top of the list. The town is officially named Lutherstadt Wittenberg because of its strong ties with Luther. This is the birthplace of the Reformation, where Luther posted his 95 Theses on the door of the Church, as you know.

When you’ve finished your tour of the Castle Church and its famous door, you can check out the Luther Museum and take your picture with one of the several statues of Luther.

Augsburg, 1518

Augsburg is important in the life of Luther because it is where he was confronted by the Cardinal who demanded that he submit to the Catholic Pope and recant his new theories. Luther’s famous refusal set the stage for his life as a religious outlaw.

Worms, 1521

Luther further refuted the will of the Catholic Church here during the Imperial Diet of Worms. He spoke those immortal words, “Here I stand, I can do no other.” After this, he was officially proclaimed a heretic and an outlaw. His immediate arrest and/or assassination was ordered. It became a crime to offer him any food, shelter or other assistance.

Wartburg Castle, 1522

Wartburg Castle defied the Catholic Church by providing sanctuary for Luther for about one year. He spent his time in solitude, translating the Bible into German for the first time, and living under the assumed identity of “Knight George.”

The castle still showcases its Luther Room with its large hole behind the stove. This is, according to legend, where Luther threw an ink pot at the devil.

Veste Coburg, 1530

Luther remained here under the protection of Elector John the Steadfast while his emissary Melanchthon attended the Diet of Augsburg. The document he brought with him, known as the Augsburg Confession, was denied by the Catholic diet, but has become the statement of faith for Lutheran Christians all over the world.

—Marcus

Aachen Cathedral

This ancient place was patronized by none other than Charlemagne himself, the first Holy Roman Emperor. The highlights of the Aachen Cathedral include relics that Charlemagne gathered, including the cloak of the Virgin Mary and the swaddling clothes of a baby Jesus Christ, among others. Pilgrims have flocked here for centuries to view these artifacts, which can still be found within.

Augsburg Cathedral

The Augsburg Cathedral is the High Cathedral of the Virgin Mary and can be dated back to the year 823 A.D.! From its soaring spires to the depths of its underground crypts, this is one destination you won’t want to miss.

Berliner Dom

The Berlin Cathedral was built for the Prussian Royal family. It was intended to be the Protestant version of the Roman Catholic St. Peter’s Basilica. Although heavily damaged during the war, it was reconstructed to its present condition in the 1970s.

Cologne Cathedral

The Gothic Cologne Cathedral was built in 1248 and not completed until over six-hundred years later, in 1880. This is a local joke, as renovations are still underway and residents joke that the end of the world will arrive before it is ever completed. Nevertheless, this UNESCO World Heritage Site (once the world’s tallest building) has plenty to see. A true highlight is the Shrine of the Three Magi, which is said to contain relics from these ancient pilgrims.

Erfurt Cathedral

This 14th century Gothic cathedral (with Romanesque towers that date back to 742) is where Martin Luther was ordained as a priest. Erfurt’s highlights include its stucco altar with a depiction of the Madonna and saints, as well as its superb stained glass window designs.

Hildesheim Cathedral

The Hildesheim Cathedral is a medieval masterpiece, allegedly constructed on the divine will of the Virgin Mary through Charlemagne’s son, Ludwig the Pious. Bernward’s Door, a set of beautifully decorated bronze doors, is one of the amazing treasures on display.

Magdeburg Cathedral

Magdeburg Cathedral’s official name is the Cathedral of Saints Catherine and Maurice. It is the resting place of Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great and took over 300 years to construct.

Mainz Cathedral

Saint Martin’s Cathedral, or Mainz Cathedral, was constructed in 975 and is considered one of the finest examples of the Romanesque in Germany. This is where Frederick Barbarossa took up the call of Crusade, as Pope Gregory VIII proclaimed.

Münster Cathedral

This Münster sight is a 13th century Gothic and Romanesque-style cathedral. On the exterior of St. Paul’s, there is an astronomical clock with hand-painted zodiac signs. There’s a performance each day at noon as the clock plays a Glockenspiel song.

Like so many other ancient architectural marvels in Germany, it sustained heavy damage during the Second World War. It has since been restored, but the destruction is still documented in pictures found inside the Cathedral.

Worms Cathedral

This spectacular cathedral is known by many names: Worms Cathedral, Kaiserdom or Dom St. Peter, to name just a few. In its thousand year history, it has been a strong presence in the town with its soaring towers and spires. There are many highlights housed within these ancient walls. Be sure not to miss the Baroque altar created by Balthasar Neumann, the dark and spooky crypt or the Chapel of Saint Nicholas.

—Marcus

BMW

Visit the BMW factory in the city of Regensburg, which is in the Upper Palatinate. About 10,000 people work at this plant where they have produced 3 million of some of the finest series of BMW, since 1986, like the Series 1, 3, M3 and even some specialized cars for police use.

There’s a two-hour tour for visitors and car-enthusiasts to see the inner workings of the BMW plant. The tour will take you along the assembly lines, as you watch the different pieces of the car be melded by the robots on the conveyor belts.

And, if this isn’t enough BMW action for you, then be sure to visit the official BMW Museum in Munich. The building is shaped like a huge bowl and features interesting facts about the past, present and future of this famous machine.

Mercedes-Benz

The Mercedes-Benz factory can be found near Stuttgart, in the lesser-known town of Sindelfingen. The plant offers a two-hour tour of its facilities where you can see the making of a Mercedes with a front-row view. There’s more robots and assembly lines here, building incredible machines at an unbelievable rate of speed.

This factory has a reputation as one of the world’s most reliable auto plants. Whereas most factories report 118 errors per 100 cars, Mercedes-Benz in Sindelfingen had just 33 errors.

Like BMW, there is also a museum dedicated to everything Mercedes. The Mercedes museum in Stuttgart houses some of the world’s oldest cars, including (naturally!) the first-ever Mercedes. Race cars, limousines and sports cars from throughout the 20th century are all on display here.

Volkswagen

This other world-famous car company has two factories that can be visited on your tour to Germany. And both are certain to leave you not only better-informed but also impressed. Volkswagen has one of its factories, the Autostadt, in Wolfsburg. This auto plant is the largest of its kind in the whole world (according to VW)! With 23,000 employees, 75 km (46 mi) of road, 4,000 cars produced a day and well over 1,000 robots, their claims seem to be well-founded. Volkswagen says that the entire country of Monaco could fit within its borders.

In addition to size, it also boasts some excellent amenities, including a large butcher shop that reputedly produces over one million currywurst every year. You can take a 50-minute tour via panorama train to learn more.

Not to be outdone by the behemoth Autostadt, Dresden’s Transparent Factory is equally impressive but in an entirely different way. The Transparent Factory aims to be elegant and beautiful as the plant where the VW Phaeton is produced. With glass walls and a location right next to the Botanical Gardens, the Transparent Factory combines aesthetics with quality vehicles.

Both this factory and the Autostadt were designed by the same architect, Dr. Gunter Henn.

Porsche

Porsche’s web site offers virtual tours of its manufacturing plants on its Web site. You can visit the real factory in Leipzig as well but you must make an advanced booking in order to go.

If you don’t have the foresight to make a reservation, you can still get the fast-paced experience with a visit to the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. There are over eighty different interesting cars on display here, including the world’s first hybrid car produced in 1900. You can catch a glimpse of the Porsche production line here with a visit to the museum’s workshop.

Audi

Head to the city of Ingolstadt to visit the headquarters of Audi. This Audi plant has the distinction of being their biggest facility, as well as the corporate HQ.

The tours here are given in German as well as English and are about two hours long. You’ll get a great idea of the behind the scenes workings of a car manufacturing plant and you can choose which part of the plant you’d like to tour. Decide among the body shop, paint shop or the production line when you book your tour.

—Marcus

Unfortunately, unlike the Romantic Road, the Shoe-makers road, or Deutsche Schuhstraße as it’s called in German, didn’t catch on. It launched with great fanfare in 1977, but the marketing blitz soon fizzled, leaving it abandoned and deleted from the guidebooks.

Rather than being a cause of sorrow, this presents a special opportunity for modern day visitors.

Now I know you are running all over the country this month trying to catch all of the wonderful fall festivals going on — and that will certainly wear out your shoes. What better souvenir than a custom-made pair of shoes ordered in off the old shoe-making road?

You see, even though the marketing geniuses walked away from promoting the shoe-makers route, the shopkeepers and craftsmen are still in existence. All you need to do to get a pair of shoes that will fit in a way you’ll never forget is drop by one of their stores.

Officially, the shoe-making route goes through the entire Südwestpfalz, starting in Waldfischbach-Burgalben and ending in the Hauenstein area. Some of the towns on the way include Clausen, Leimen, Merzalben, Rodalben, Pirmasens, Lemberg, Eppenbrunn, Fischbach, Rumbach, Erlenbach, and Lug. Most are tiny craft towns and villages of only a few hundred or a few thousand people located on highways B10 and B70.

The bulk of the currently operating shoemakers are in Pirmasens, which has its own Schuhstraße dedicated to shoe shops. You can easily find the shoe-maker you want here with a little researching.

It does help to speak some German, but at the end of the day, a foot is a foot and these people are in the business of making shoes to fit toes from any culture.

Whether you wander into Pirmasens or another town on the route, you will find shopkeepers more than ready to tailor something to fit or sell you something handcrafted and beautiful to wear home as a treasured souvenir that last longer than one from anywhere else in the world.

—Marcus

Most people will be looking at Southern Germany right now, with the big Canstatter Wasen in Stuttgart and the opening of Oktoberfest in Munich (as mentioned in the G-ZINE). However, if you are looking to visit Germany this month, you may want to include Frankfurt am Main on your itinerary.

Frankfurt has quite a business reputation — we Germans sometimes refer to it as Bank-furt or even die heimliche Haupstadt, our secret capital. Yet underneath that fine patina of high commerce, there is much more to than meets the eye.

One element that makes Frankfurt very inviting is that it is not actually very big. Only about 660,000 people live here, which allows Frankfurt to maintain a small town feel that surprises many visitors. For all its fancy skyscrapers — we call the skyline here Mainhattan, naturally — there is a tight-knit community under all that steel and glass.

Wandering down the Zeil, one of Frankfurt’s main shopping avenues, you will find that you can be warmly greeted just as though you were in a smaller town. Sit out in the square in front of the Römer, and you might think you’d slipped back into a medieval village.

You can get even more of a feel for the historic side of Frankfurt riding on the Ebbelwei Express. It’s an old tram car and a bit kitschy, but the rides are cheap at 6 euros and the tickets include a salt biscuit snack and some of the region’s famous Apfelwein or apple juice if you like (hence its name Ebbelwei, Frankfurt’s slang for Apfelwein).

To properly end a day out in Frankfurt, you have to go out for a decent meal. It’s a good thing locals like to work hard all day, or they’d never burn off the calories from the more than 3,000 Frankfurt restaurants. Executive Travel Magazine’s July issue named Gargantua as one of the best restaurants in the country, which of course you will have to test for yourself!

September is also a time of year when the weather in Frankfurt is very good. Why fight the crowds elsewhere?

Come to an easily explored and historically inviting destination of Germany this month to experience Frankfurt’s softer side for yourself.

—Marcus

In Germany, a good daycare spot, known as Kitaplatz, is a prized item. The government subsidizes the cost of daycare for children over three, but this is coordinated through our child services and visitors won’t have the Gutschein. This is the document that tells how much childcare subsidy you have and how much from your own pocket must be paid (it’s a sliding scale based on income).

However, even with the right papers, most formal places have different holiday hours, and they don’t always accommodate older children or teens. This means to find someone to mind the children for a few days, or even a few hours, can be a stressful project. This is true if you are resident of Germany, but it is doubly true if you are just visiting. Who can you turn to for a bit of babysitting?

Locals often have a Tagesmutter, or child minder. These are loosely licensed caregivers who may have completed a course or two in First Aid or child care. A good Tagesmutter is fiercely prized, but if you have local friends they might share with you while you are on holiday.

You can also ask around for babysitters, which is the same word in English and German. If you don’t have a local friend’s recommendation, most towns have Babysitter-Agenturen in the phonebook. Your hotel may also have a recommended provider if you ask at the front desk, who will come to the hotel to watch your children or grandchildren.

However you find them, babysitting and Tagesmutter services are not always so cheap! Plan to pay at least 10 euros an hour, with more due in big cities, for infants, for multiple children, for last minute jobs, and for overnight work.

My friends point out that tipping is not required, but if you want to use the babysitter or Tagesmutter again it is a good idea to slip them a few extra euros to ensure they are not “busy” when you call. This way, when you come out to meet me while you are in Germany, you will be sure to have someone to watch your kids! ;-)

—Marcus

Germany’s underground dining scene is growing. In fact, worldwide, pop up restaurants, supper clubs, and invitation only private dining events are becoming more and more popular. Locals and travelers alike enjoy a bit of novelty and of course, really good food.

In the spirit of keeping you all informed, I’d like to share a few more of the secret supper clubs I’ve found operating around Germany:

• In Düsseldorf, there is Sunday’s Dinner Party. It is hosted from 7 – 10 pm on the first Sunday of each month, in a restored 19th century farmhouse. The suggested contribution is 20 euros, and you need to confirm your reservation 48 hours in advance.
• In Berlin, the Loteria Supper Club held its first dinner in February 2010. They are now holding weekly dinners, with a limit of 12 guests per table, near Boxhagener Platz. Of course, they launched with a feature in the iHeartBerlin dining pages, so they are not so terribly secret, but the food is reported as very tasty! Suggested donation for dinner is 50 euros.
• Also in Berlin, in the Friedrichshain area, is the Palisaden Supper Club. The dinners there are held once a month in the middle of the month, and you reserve through email. Suggested dinner price is 25 euro, and they have been operating since February of 2009, so a bit more organized than some.
• For less formal events and pop up restaurants in Germany, you can check the listings at Tafel Zeit (German), which operates mainly in Berlin, Cologne, and Hamburg.

There are also a number of Germans with Ghetto Gourmet sites, leveraging the American started underground dining community format, meaning that those willing to do a bit of research will be sure to uncover a great meal and a truly memorable experience.

—Marcus

Now we have a volcanic ash cloud over Europe, and the majority of its airspace is closed.

If you are stranded in Germany due to volcanic ash, don’t despair. While I would love for you to stay in my beautiful country, I understand you want to go home.

Here are some of the other ways to get around Germany and Europe when the airports are closed:

• Take An Airplane — I agree, this may sound very strange… they say the airspace is closed, so how in the world can one travel through Europe using an airplane? The thing is that most people are unaware of the fact that airspace below 6,000 meters is still open! (Note: The normal air traffic takes place at an altitude of between 6,000 and 11,000 meters.) So, contact your air carrier and ask them if they provide (or know of another carrier that provides) flights below the 6,000 meter mark (ex., Cessna flights). Or ask around small-sized airports and airfields for these type of flights.
• Take A Train — The German Rail System is one of the most efficient and advanced networks on the planet. Trains run to and from all of the major airports and cities, so book a Deutsche Bahn rail ticket for local and international travel. Remember, airports in Portugal and Spain are still open!
• Take A Bus — Though our train system is more famous, German bus lines are also very good and give you many options for getting around the country and even Europe. The Berlin Linien Bus company is one of the most well known, and I also offer an online bus tour booking service which covers convenient coach tours through Europe. As I mentioned just above, in just one or two days you could be in Spain or Portugal and then get back home from there since their airports are still open!
• Rent A Car — I told you just last week how easy it is to rent a car in Germany. The German airports are closed, but the German highways remain open!
• Take A Taxi — With more than 50,000 taxis in Germany, you should be able to find one at the nearest taxi stand, at the airport, or near any transit hub. If none are at the stand, ask to use the taxi phone (Taxirufsäule) or call the city’s taxi hotline, Taxi-Zentrale, which is in every phone directory. Fares over 50 km can be negotiated, and international travel is allowed but likely will be expensive — plan to pay at least 1 euro/km. You can also use this table of taxi fares by city as a guide (German).
• Share A Ride — In Germany, we have several Carpool services, which pairs travelers with others looking to share the cost of travel. It may be a bit adventurous, especially for those with no German skills (although, many drivers do speak English), but why be stuck when you can make a new friend and get moving?

Either way, I wish all of my readers stuck around Germany the very best as you try to get home. In the meantime, you can book a hotel room (special prices included) and watch the visual map of the ash cloud online or read the latest airport closing updates.

Good Luck!

—Marcus

Renting a car in Germany has a reputation for being challenging. I don’t know if this is the language barrier at work or if something else is contributing to this reputation, but I want to correct it now. To rent a car in Germany is actually easy as pie, and driving in Germany is definitely an adventure!

First, you will need to make a reservation. There are many different companies that offer rental services in Germany, including international firms like Hertz, Avis, Sixt, and Enterprise. Just as in other countries, you can reserve a car by phone or online and the best cars go to those with the earliest reservations.

Generally, if you do not have a German license, you will need an international driver’s license to rent your car. There are very few exceptions to this rule, and some companies also require that you be more than 25 years of age. Do your research and you will be able to navigate these humps easily.

Once you have checked the policies, simply make your reservation directly with the company. You can also go through your favorite travel service, but direct bookings often get your the best deal and eliminate the possibility of mis-communication between the booking agent and the rental company.

Check out the sizes of the cars available, and be sure to decide for automatic or manual transmissions. Many German cars are manual cars with diesel engines. If you haven’t driven a manual transmission before, please don’t use my beloved streets as a training ground! Traffic is tough enough without stalled tourists ;-)

All joking aside, do a bit of extra reading when you book to be sure you are getting a car that will be comfortable for you to drive. Then you will be free to sit back and enjoy the view as you tour Germany in high-speed, and you will be able to have happy memories of car rentals in Germany.

—Marcus

First, you will want to book early for your summer travel. According to industry reports for the initial quarter of 2010, travel bookings to Germany have already exceeded their 2009 levels. This means to ensure you have a train seat or a hotel room in August you should make reservations NOW.

Second, you will want to be mindful of specials. Cruises, for example, have been dropping in price over the last few years, and German River Cruises are in line with the trend. It is becoming more and more affordable to do a Rhine Valley cruise, and this year the falling euro and the cruise ships specials make a German cruise a great value.

Third, you should be aware that you will be facing stiff competition from locals. Germans took 86.6 million domestic trips in 2009, which was up 2% from 2008 and is expected to go up again in 2010. Yes, we love to travel and we love our own country, so expect festivals, trails, and scenic spots to be well populated with natives as you travel.

Fourth, you will want to be mindful of the most popular travel destinations. If you want to avoid crowds, stay away from Bavaria and Lower Saxony, Germany’s most visited areas. You will be able to find more space for reflection and perhaps more open hotel rooms in other regions.

Finally, be sure to check low cost airfares. Discount air travel has been rising in Germany, and now accounts for nearly 40% of all travel. With a robust market, there are multiple carriers serving the German market, and by shopping carefully you can really snatch up some cheap flights.

Happy travels! :-)

—Marcus

Combining speed, elegance, and the latest innovations from German engineering geniuses, driving a German car is a real pleasure.

You can take that pleasure to the next level by making a trip to one of the test tracks in Germany. For those who love speed, the Porsche test track is a must-visit destination. The company builds nearly 200 cars each year for premium racing events, and their test track is where the rubber meets the road–literally!

Located in Leipzig, the test track event package includes a tour of the factory grounds and the chance to take the latest models out for a spin with a professional co-pilot. The on-road track is FIA certified, and there is an off-road track experience available as well, complete with hills, canals, and mud pits.

Currently, the event package features the Cayenne, Boxster, Cayman, 911, 911 Turbo or Panamera models for test driving on-road, and the Cayenne for driving the off-road track. The Panamera isn’t available in the North American market, so if you’re interested you have to come and see it in its native environment.

The co-pilots come from the BMW Driver Training facilities in Munich, so you are in good hands for coaching as you take the wheel.

Pushing the top speeds, doing spins, and shalom racing are all encouraged. You can even do skid pad slides and re-enact driving stunts seen in popular commercials.

The overall cost of the experience is less that you might imagine for hours on a top track and coaching from world class drivers. Four hours with some of the best cars in the world will cost between €650 and €940 (approximately between US$910 and US$1,316), with expansion packages available and group events also on offer.

It will certainly be a one-in-a-lifetime experience — don’t you think? :-)

—Marcus

You’ll get the best exchange rates on your travels when paying with your plastic card(s). However, if you’ve got some cash to exchange I always recommend doing this at the airport as I found the most reasonable exchange rates there (rather than at a local bank).

However, do check out the various exchange desks available at the airport and do NOT stop your journey at the very first!

Short ‘n sweet, here’s my experience from last weekend, on which we exchanged R$ 370 (three-hundred seventy Brazilian Reais) into euros:

Currency Exchange Counter #1 (I don’t recall their name): € 97
Course: 3.81

Currency Exchange Counter #2 — Reise-Bank: € 117
Course: 3.16

Currency Exchange Counter #3 — Euro Change: € 130
Course: 2.85

See? Noticeable differences! The third desk gave us 33 euros more than the first one.

So make sure you ask at least three. They’re usually pretty close to each other, by the way. ;-)

—Marcus

As an example of this in action, you need look no further than the way solar power is used to solve transportation issues in Germany. It goes far beyond simply installing solar powered roadside lights and road signs. Instead, we Germans use solar power to run some of our largest and most notable ferries.

In Hamburg, for example, the solar powered shuttle has been operating since 2000. It can move up to 120 people across the river at speeds of up to 15 km/hr. The sleek needle shape is 42 meters long, and has a pontoon style layout with bench seating.

Many people compare it to the famous Serpentine shuttle in Hyde Park, completely unaware that the 14.5 meter British ferry is a miniature of the Hamburg model constructed by Christoph Behling!

Further south, a catamaran style solar shuttle operates on Lake Constance. With a spiraled translucent top, you can enjoy the beautiful shorelines of the lake as you make your transfers between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Although the shuttle holds up to 60 people, with the clear sides you will feel as though you are floating alone on the water, and be able to get some stunning photographs.

These are just a few of the green innovations in use in Germany as solutions to the pollution many public transportation systems cause. Thus, when you explore Germany using public transport, you get the satisfaction of supporting some of the world’s most cutting-edge installations of solar power. :-)

—Marcus

While other countries might have just one or two of these sites, Germany has 33 (!) stunning world heritage sites, with new sites being added regularly.

As you look into the year ahead and your travels in Germany, why not plan to visit some of the 33 locations listed below? I’ve included all of them with the date they became a recognized site, as it’s an excellent New Year’s Resolution to try and see each one! ;-)

1. Aachen Cathedral in Aachen — 1978
2. Speyer Cathedral in Speyer — 1981
3. Würzburg Residence in Würzburg, with the Court Gardens and Residence Square — 1981
4. Pilgrimage Church of Wies in Steingaden — 1983
5. Castles of Augustusburg and Falkenlust in Brühl — 1984
6. St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Michael’s Church at Hildesheim — 1985
7. Roman monuments, Cathedral of St Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier, Germany’s oldest city — 1986
8. Hanseatic City of Lübeck — 1987
9. Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (including Schloß Sanssouci) — 1990, 1992, 1999
10. Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch (in the Bergstraße district — 1991
11. Mines of Rammelsberg and Historic Town of Goslar — 1992
12. Town of Bamberg — 1993
13. Maulbronn Monastery Complex — 1993
14. Collegiate Church, Castle and Old Town of Quedlinburg — 1994
15. Ironworks in Völklingen — 1994
16. Messel Pit Fossil site — 1995
17. Bauhaus and its sites in Weimar and Dessau — 1996
18. Cologne Cathedral — 1996
19. Luther Memorials in Eisleben and Wittenberg — 1996
20. Classical Weimar — 1998
21. Museum Island (Museumsinsel), Berlin — 1999
22. Wartburg Castle overlooking Eisenach — 1999
23. Garden Kingdom of Dessau-Wörlitz — 2000
24. Monastic Island of Reichenau — 2000
25. Zeche Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen — 2001
26. Historic Centers of Stralsund and Wismar — 2002
27. Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Rhine Gorge — 2002
28. Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace of Bremen — 2004
29. Muskauer Park in Weißwasser on both sides of the Neisse River — 2004
30. Frontiers of the Roman Empire: Upper German & Rhaetian Limes — 2005
31. Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof — 2006
32. Modernist Housing Estates in Berlin — 2008
33. Wadden Sea in Schleswig-Holstein — 2009

Now the decision of which ones to pick…

—Marcus

Understanding how to recycle in Germany is something locals have learned over time. We separate our trash instinctively and enthusiastically.

There are even reports of German soldiers in Afghanistan habitually separating their waste, despite the lack of a formal system.

It’s simply the German way. ;-)

How The German Recycling System Works

For newcomers, recycling in Germany takes a bit of getting used to!

To begin, unlike many other developed nations, Germany doesn’t have one single recycling bin. Typically, there are at least four bins. Each color manages a different kind of waste, and the bins are supplemented by other collection programs for glass, batteries, and miscellaneous goods.

Brown Bins

Brown bins are for biological waste. This includes kitchen scraps and garden clippings. Other items that go in the brown bin are coffee filters, tea bags (without the paper tag), feathers, sawdust, and hair.

Blue Bins

Blue bins are for paper and cardboard. In some ways, this is the easiest one! All of your papers, boxes, tea tags, and magazines go here, although you should remember to flatten boxes first and to throw in dry paper only.

Yellow Bins

Yellow bins are for plastics and metals — often also represented by the Der grüne Punkt sign (a round circle with two arrows pointing to each other). Plastic wrap, food cans, yogurt cups, shopping bags, and soap bottles go here.

They do ask that you rinse items before putting them into this bin (remember my “enthusiastically” note in the first paragraph? ;-).

Gray Bins

Gray bins are for household waste a.k.a. Restmüll. Light bulbs (the old models), diapers, tissues, cigarette butts, and photographs are some of the things that go here. Also these items are burned when collected.

Glass and Batteries

Glass bottles and batteries are recycled publicly. You will see large bins for glass recycling in most public places. It is separated by color, always.

Batteries are collected at supermarkets and shopping malls.

Sperrmüll

In Germany, we also have Sperrmüll, which refers to miscellaneous items. Typically, Sperrmüll days will be announced as a time when municipal trucks will come around for all of the other things you want to have thrown away, like broken furniture, old lamps, or sofas. You place it on the curb outside of your house.

Sounds like it is heading for the landfill, right? Wrong! Second-hand goods dealers, junk collectors, and enterprising locals often collect the Sperrmüll long before anyone from the city arrives to get it. No sense letting something that can be used again be thrown away by your neighbors! ;-)

—Marcus

While traveling may be full of little stresses, like worrying what would happen to you if you got sick, this is not something to fear in this country. Here, you don’t have to worry about being trapped in some sub-standard hospital. You are going to get high-quality care from well-trained professionals.

If you live in Germany, you are part of the Statutory Health Insurance, German: gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, which is part of the Social Security a.k.a. Sozialversicherung. You can learn more about it on the Healthcare in Germany page.

Yet if you are a traveler, you are not part of the system. This concerns some, but don’t fret. Even as a guest you can still access excellent treatment during your stay, with a minimum of fuss.

The key is that you will need to pay out of pocket for the care. You can then be reimbursed by your home healthcare provider system. This is a general rule, so you may want to investigate with your health care provider to be sure of the details.

This cash-for-care system means that for a sudden case of the flu, small cuts, chipped teeth and so on you can simply go to the appropriate doctor or hospital and get care. Germany has more practicing specialists per thousand people than any other country in the world, so lines are short. You will not need to wait for weeks to see a doctor — same day or next day will be available.

If you are staying at a hotel they can help you get an appointment. They may also link you with the Ärztlicher Hausbesuchsdienst, or Physician’s House Call Service, which is run in many communities as a regular service. In this case, you will receive a personal visit at your hotel from the doctor.

Alternatively, it may be called Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst. In most cases, however, you would simply ask for the Notarzt, the emergency doctor.

Many pharmacies will also give you recommendations for physicians. In fact, pharmacies can be an excellent first stop as most have very knowledgeable staff. As the over-the-counter cures vary country to country, you may find they have a good treatment for your sickness on hand.

In all German cities — down to the small villages — will you find a Apotheke that is available for you 24/7. Although the lights may be off, if the Apotheke is one with Bereitschaftsdienst you can ring the boss out of bed if need be. Else, look at the plate outside to see which nearby pharmacy does have this 24/7 service that night.

For more severe illness, keep in mind that Germany is a world leading in medical innovation. Heart treatments, brain and nerve surgeries and even cancer treatments attract millions of medical tourists each year. Again, specialists are available quickly to treat even very complex ailments.

Emergency care is also very good and amazingly fast. Emergency Medical Services are a mandated task for municipal governments and strictly regulated for quality and efficiency. Nationwide, the network is strong enough that you can have a staffed medical helicopter at the accident scene within 15 minutes no matter where you are in Germany.

Thus, even as a tourist or visitor to Germany you can have all the benefits of the advanced German medical science. With services like the Ärztlicher Hausbesuchsdienst, you may even receive more personalized care than you would at home!

—Marcus

The street art works appear in parks, on the sides of buildings and near train stations. Many are full-color masterpieces. Some are even done by legends with museum exhibits. But you’ve always had to be a local to know how to find them.

Now there is a new iPhone application designed to take you straight to the best street art and graffiti in Berlin. It’s completely free thanks to a sponsorship from Adidas. You simply download it onto your iPhone and put on a pair of comfortable walking shoes.

The link for the site to get the application is http://www.urbanartguide.de/. Click on the “English” link in the top right corner if reading German is not your cup of tea.

The download bar is obvious, but there is also a lot of other good content to be found. For example, the artist profiles are also worth reading. Click around there and learn about the personalities behind the paintings.

On the ground, you’ll find that the application is completely interactive. You can rate the art and upload new images if you discover them. You can also browse the Gallery to see a museum of your favorites.

Other useful features are the “Tour Guides,” which are pre-planned tours, and “Find artworks nearby” which gives you the closest sights. For every image on your iPhone, you can click to get background and reference data.

It’s quite a fun tool to play with in the hotel, on the ground, or back home with your friends. :-)

—Marcus