Germans love Germany :
The majority of tourists we have seen during our time in Germany have been Germans. They obviously enjoy their country and it certainly helps keep their country more financially stable.

Accommodation Standard is Very Good and Consistent:
We have stayed in many 3 and 4 star places and each time we could be confident we would get a great bed and bedding (once you get used to how they make up beds and pillows), and the bathroom / shower arrangement was up to date and good. Hardly ever were we provided with tea and coffee in our room, but the majority of places include breakfast in the tariff. There are no fridges in the rooms either. Every place we have stayed has been very clean. The average price we paid per night was approximately €75.

It is Very Safe to a Travel in Germany:
We have felt very safe in Germany and have never been frightened about being pick pocketed or having our rooms rummaged. We were told by Franz (when we had lunch with him in Oberneufnach) that the main reason Germany is so safe is that 98% of crimes are solved. So criminals know they are unlikely to get away with it. There were also very few people begging on footpaths etc. ( except for in Trier).

Smoking is a Favourite Past-Time:
Similar to other European countries, Germans love to smoke, and many people roll their own. If they roll their own, they usually use a filter tip. Smokes are very cheap over here ~ €6/pack of 26. There are cigarette dispensing machines located at different places in suburban streets. See the photo of one of these.

Bike Riding and Walking:
Germans enjoy the outdoors and the country caters very well for bike riding and walking. (Perhaps this counters all the smoking!)

Laundromats:
There are no such thing! We could not find them anyway.

Drinking Age:
16 for wine and 18 for stronger, but we saw much younger people drinking and tasting the wines. We met a 13 year old girl in Cochem with her parents who was trying all the wine.

Trains:
German trains are simple and totally reliable. We have been delayed only once and we think that the driver died somewhere en route to his job. (and that was in Luxembourg)

Wine:
Thin whites and soapy reds. The German tastes are so different to Australian where big reds and complex whites abound. A good Mosel Riesling, though, is a thing of beauty and wonder.

Drinking starts very early, particularly if you are on a cruise along the Mosel. But, the German women can make a glass of wine last them 2 hours. I need to learn that trick.

Cost of Living:
If you don’t have to eat out and can live in an apartment then the cost of living is very cheap. Extremely good beer for less than .50c per .5l can. Wine in the supermarket for less than $5. Unbelievable. If you don’t like pork or pork products you are a bit stuck but the German pork is bloody beautiful. Milk is cheap. Don’t try to buy coconut cream or curry though.

People:
The German people are the most accommodating people we have encountered in Europe so far. They are always so willing to help even if their advice sometimes sounds like a threat.

Alternate Energy:
A huge proportion of German homes, farms and businesses have their rooves covered in solar panels. They have been installed very well and look not too bad. Add to this the fields of both wind generators and solar panels and Germany is well placed to get rid of their nuclear power stations. (They certainly looked better than the ones we saw in Greece last year where there were also lots of solar panels).

Fighter Jets:
There must be a NATO airfield somewhere near Trier (not that we could see it on a map), but we saw so many fighter planes and huge army transport carriers while we were here. It reminded us of Greece.

Would we come back or recommend you come???
DEFINITELY!