Neuschwanstein Castle

I am going to finish out my blogs with a little information on something that held my interest throughout my studies on Germany: Neuschwanstein Castle.

Seven weeks after the death of King Ludwig II in 1886, Neuschwanstein was opened to the public. The shy king had built the castle in order to withdraw from public life – now vast numbers of people came to view his private refuge. 

Today, Neuschwanstein is one of the most popular of all the palaces and castles in Europe. Every year 1.3 million people visit "the castle of the fairy-tale king". In the summer around 6,000 visitors a day stream through rooms that were intended for a single inhabitant. 

Sleeping Beauty Castle

While Neuschwanstein's look is that of a medieval castle, it was equipped inside with state of the art technology at that time. For example, on every floor of the castle there were toilets with automatic flushing system, as well as an air heating system for the whole castle. Water was supplied by a nearby spring situated at only 200 meters above the castle.

Neuschwanstein

The palace has appeared prominently in several movies and was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle! See a resemblance??

Animals, Anyone?

If you're anything like me, you enjoy going to the zoo! Well, we aren't alone. More than three million visitors come to the Berlin zoo each year to enjoy a day out looking  at the animals.

In Berlin, a city that's hardly short of spectacular attractions, the zoo is a firm favorite with visitors.  The locals are very fond of their zoo and its inhabitants, too. Berlin Zoo is the oldest zoological garden in Germany, and the ninth-oldest in the world. It boasts an unrivalled range of species, and offers remarkable experiences, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a remarkable world of animal noises, smells and colours.

The zoo's buildings and outdoor areas provide a journey back in time through the last 160 years of zoological architecture, ranging from the historical menagerie and buildings in exotic styles to state-of-the-art animal enclosures.

There is so much to discover: on the three floors of the art nouveau aquarium, for example, you can take an expedition to the Great Barrier Reef with its tropical reef sharks or see the crocodiles of the Amazon jungle. Besides its more typical 'stars', the zoo usually has some new arrivals every few days, so there are bound to be some cute baby animals to admire somewhere.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle!

Germans are among the most avid recyclers. According to a BBC survey, Germany had the third highest recycling rate (48% of waste recycled), only just surpassed by its Swiss and Austrian neighbors. That sure puts our recycling attempts to shame (but hey, who is counting?!).

The country has been very successful in its fight against growing garbage heaps. But the whole subject of recycling can be a daunting issue for any newcomer to the country. The good news is that there are some easy guidelines to follow. Soon you will be able to handle the line of garbage bins at your front door like a recycling pro. 

Germany produces 30 million tons of garbage annually. The Green Dot system has been one of the most successful recycling initiatives, which has literally put packaging on a diet. The crux is that manufacturers and retailers have to pay for a "Green Dot" on products: the more packaging there is, the higher the fee. This clever system has led to less paper, thinner glass and less metal being used, thus creating less garbage to be recycled. The net result: a drastic decline of about one million tons less garbage than normal every year.

Germans are all about sorting their trash. It's not just as simple as one trash can and one recycling can like the ones we use here in the states. Germans use green, blue, yellow, brown and gray bins, all designated to a different type of recyclable material. Detailed, right?  

These are only a few reasons why Germany is number one in the recycling race. However, hopefully it will be enough insight for you to adapt to while visiting this incredibly conserving country!

Good Ole' Currywurst

Doesn't the sound of sausage with curry ketchup just excite your taste buds? (Yuck!) If so, you may be visiting some Currywurst joints on your visit to Germany. Currywurst is one of the most popular fast food dishes in Germany- they love it!

Currywurst is a quickly-made dish of German origin consisting of steamed pork sausage cut into slices and seasoned with warm curry ketchup, regularly consisting of ketchup or tomato paste blended with generous amounts of curry powder, or a ready-made ketchup-based sauce seasoned with curry and other spices.

The invention of currywurst is attributed to Herta Heuwer in Berlin in 1949 after she obtained ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and curry powder from British soldiers. She mixed these ingredients with other spices and poured it over grilled pork sausage. Heuwer started selling the cheap but filling snack at a street stand in the Charlottenburg district of Berlin where it became popular with construction workers rebuilding the devastated city. She patented her sauce, called Chillup, in 1951. At its height the stand was selling 10,000 servings per week. She later opened a small restaurant which operated until 1974.

Interesting facts about Currywurst

• By tradition, every candidate for Bürgermeister (mayor) of Berlin is photographed at a currywurst stand.
• The 1993 novel Die Entdeckung der Currywurst ("The Discovery of the Currywurst") by Uwe Timm was made into a 2008 film of the same name.
• The Deutsches Currywurst Museum opened in Berlin on August 15, 2009, commemorating the 60th anniversary of its creation. Curator Martin Loewer said "No other national German dish inspires so much history and has so many well-known fans"
• The currywurst is also regularly featured in school books and nursery books.

Dig in!

Smarter Than They Look

Have you ever wondered about the reasons behind how smart many part of the world are compared to the United States? Well I sure have. Germany is indeed included in one of those smarter parts of the world and I'm here to give you a little insight into why. 

The responsibility for the German education system lies primarily with the states while the federal government plays only a minor role. Optional Kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years of age, after which school attendance is required, in most cases for 11 to 12 years. The system varies throughout Germany because each state  decides its own educational policies.

German secondary education includes five-that's right, FIVE- types of school. The Gymnasium is designed to prepare pupils for university education and finishes with the final examination Abitur, after grade 12 or 13. The Realschule has a broader range of emphasis for intermediate pupils and finishes with the final examination Mittlere Reife, after grade 10; the Hauptschule prepares pupils for vocational education and finishes with the final examination Hauptschulabschluss, after grade 9 or 10 and the Realschulabschluss after grade 10. There are two types of grade 10: one is the higher level called type 10b and the lower level is called type 10a; only the higher level type 10b can lead to the Realschule and this finishes with the final examination Mittlere Reife after grade 10b.

Most German children only attend school in the morning. There are usually no provision for serving lunch. The amount of extracurricular activities is determined individually by each school and varies greatly.

Many of Germany's hundred or so institutions of higher learning charge little or no tuition by international comparison (how nice would THAT be??) Students usually must prove through examinations that they are qualified. Also, in order to enter university, students are, as a rule, required to have passed the Abitur examination.

To conclude, here is an interesting fact: Germany's universities are recognized internationally; in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) for 2008, six of the top 100 universities in the world are in Germany, and 18 of the top 200. Crazy, right?!

The "Romantic Road

   So since we discussed this "Romantic Road" this past week, I thought I'd do a little research on it, considering I had never heard of it before. To be honest, I was a little confused about what this road entailed. With that being said, maybe this post will offer some insight on those who were confused, too!

   The Romantic Road is the term for a theme route coined by travel agents in the 1950s to describe the 261 miles of highway in southern Germany, between Würzburg and Füssen. In medieval times, it used to be a trade route, connecting the center of Germany with the South. Today this region is thought by many international travelers to possess "quintessentially" German scenery and culture, specifically in towns and cities. The route is also known for passing a lot of castles, such as Burg Harburg and the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. You can find unspoiled nature, picturesque towns with city walls, towers, and half-timbered houses, hidden monasteries, medieval castles, and romantic hotels!

The Romantic Road is marked with brown signs along the road, like this one which is given in both German and Japanese!

Bits of Information About the Romantic Road You'll Want to Know

• The Romantic Road is the most popular German scenic drive and can get very crowded in summer - maybe a better time to visit is fall, winter, or spring.
• Starting Point: Würzburg, 75 miles southeast of Frankfurt

• End Point: Füssen (Castle Neuschwanstein), 82 miles southwest of Munich
  
• Getting There: Fly to Frankfurt International Airport
  
• Getting Around: The best way to enjoy the Romantic Road is by car, and you can get a rental car at the Frankfurt Airport. Take the Autobahn to Würzburg, the starting point of the Romantic Road, and from there just follow the signposts for your route.
  
• You can also book pre-arranged packages and tour the Romantic Road on a bus.
  
• The Romantic Road is part of the list Top 10 Things to Do in Bavaria.
  
  

Map of the Romantic Road and the towns you'll visit!

Cars, Cars, Cars!

Even though they have one of the best public transport systems in the world, a lot of Germans own a car. They love cars - just think of famous brands such as BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and the Autobahn where you can drive at 300 km per hour!

This goes especially for German men. Listen, in the pub, to men discussing how they take their cars for repair; an engine fault, a broken windscreen wiper is described with as deep concern as the broken ankle of a daughter. Women swap the telephone numbers of doctors and cosmeticians. Men – German men – discuss the merits of their mechanics. Only the very best are trusted with their cars. If a German man had the choice he would be buried with his Audi.

The Volkswagens, the Porsches, the Mercedes, the Audis, the BMW's- all German made. It is hard for Germans to fathom downsizing these precious cars to their environmentally-friendly brother and sister cars. How ever would Germans measure their masculinity? Despite the fact that cars have become a national identity for Germany, the damage they are doing to the environment is becoming an issue. One that most Germans are content with ignoring, as long as they get to drive their cars.

So when packing for your trip to Germany, leave your bike at home if you wish to fit in!

Oktoberfest!

I really couldn't go any farther without discussing one of the attractions for which Germany is known for most: Oktoberfest.

The Oktoberfest in Munich is the largest Volksfest (a German term meaning a combination of a festival and a carnival) in the world with over 6 million visitors annually. Despite the name, the Oktoberfest starts at the end of September until the first weekend in October. An important part of Bavarian culture, the festival has been held since 1810. Visitors enjoy a wide variety of rides and traditional fare such as Hendl (chicken, usually roasted!), Schweinebraten (German-style roasted pork!), Würstl (sausage!), Knödel (large, round, poached or boiled potato or bread dumplings, made without yeast!) and large quantities of German beer. Gotta have beer at Oktoberfest, yes?

Oktoberfest lasts 16 days, each day resembling one big, drunk party. Many other cities have Oktoberfest celebrations, as well, but are just mere attempts at the German original!

Come experience this world-famous festival that attracts millions of tourists and natives alike each year (if you dare)!

Easter in Germany

Since Easter is quickly approaching, I thought it was appropriate to do a little post about this holiday. In Germany, of course.

The celebration of Easter in Germany is probably one of the most important events of the year. Many of the customs associated with its celebration are actually originally from this country, such as the use of decorated eggs and the Easter bunny.

A few weeks before Easter Sunday in Germany, you can also see in many towns an Easter Market, called Ostermarkt in German, where they sell decorated Easter eggs, chocolate eggs and bunnies, spring ornaments and more Easter crafts. Germans love to decorate their house and garden with Easter decoration. But be careful about chocolate Easter eggs in Germany: many contain alcohol and are not suitable for young kids!

Interestingly enough, many of these Easter decorations come directly from the pagan Frühlingfest's (a spring party) symbols of fertility such as the egg and the rabbits that became the Ostereier (Easter eggs) and the Osterhasen (Easter bunnies). It is the Germans who brought these customs with them when they immigrated to North America. Other German Easter traditions include Easter trees and the Easter fountain, an old tradition designed to celebrate the importance of water as a life giver and its belief that the water that has been blessed on Easter Sunday has special powers.

Frohe Ostern! (Happy Easter!)

Germany: Some Facts

Officially called the Federal Republic of Germany, Germany consists of 16 states, 3 of which are city-states (Hamburg, Berlin, and Bremen). Before we get any farther into the many things Germany has to offer, here are a few basic facts that will get you antiquated with this central European county.

1. Germany exports more goods than any other country in the world.
2. Germany has a low fertility rate. Each woman has, on average, 1.41 children.
3. Christianity is the largest religion in Germany. 64% of the population identify themselves as Christians.
4. German universities charge anywhere from 50-500 euros per semester.
5. The German government is committed to lowering carbon emissions by using renewable energy and supporting sustainable development.
6. Germany shares borders with Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland.
7. Germany is Europe's largest economy.
8. The Euro is Germany's is the national currency, but it was previously called the German Mark.
9. Traditionally, the schools in Germany end at lunch time. Therefore children are free to utilize the rest of the day in extra curricular activities and sports.
10. Germany is the birthplace of the automobile.

Hopefully, this post has given you a brief background of the type of country Germany is and the unique type of environment it has to offer. This is only the beginning!