had never been to Germany before this trip but I always knew I’d like it. I value efficiency very highly and I have heard that Germany is a mecca for the organised. Everything I heard about Germany was true and I love it. Trains run on time, ticket machines are quick and easy to figure out, supermarket cashiers work at the speed of lightening and you can actually grab a quick meal in Germany which is something the rest of Europe haven’t quite grasped yet. Here’s a few observations about Germany.
1. Germans don’t fuck around
It wasn’t unusual to spend at least 45 minutes waiting for a meal in Italy but in Germany, everything happens very quickly. Germans are also quite blunt which I really enjoy. I asked in a shoe store if they had a particular style in my size and the shop assistant said ‘No’. She wasn’t being rude she was just answering my question in the most efficient way possible. I like it.
2. Standard drinks ours are enormous
A standard drink pour in Australia is about 125ml. In Germany it’s 200ml and it’s half the price. I love you Germany.
3. Food portions are also enormous
In Italy, the portion sizes were perfect. You get a delicious handful of food and you can still function as a normal human after a meal. In Germany, there’s much button loosening. It’s not quite as bad as America where you could last for a week on one meal but they certainly do love a hearty dinner here.
4. Double beds in hotels come with 2 single doonas
It’s a weird thing but every hotel and AirBnB we’ve stayed in has had two single bed doonas instead of a double. I can’t say if it’s better or worse it’s just different you know?
5. A lot of shit went down here
Germany has a very complicated and not so flattering history. You’d have to have lived in a bubble to not be aware of it but it’s an important thing to keep in mind. I debated mentioning it but when you visit areas where there are prisoner of war camps it’s very confronting and I didn’t realise just how much it would affect me. As a country, it’s handled very diplomatically and honestly though. Every country has stuff they aren’t proud of and there’s no point in pretending like it didn’t happen and Germany does this very well.
Also they don’t really understand the concept of cold drinks. Most drinks I’ve had here have been room temperature at best. Which is fine but weird because it’s summer. Aussies are pretty fanatical about our frosty cold ones on hot summer days so that’s taken some getting used to.
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Have you ever been to Germany? What did you think?
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