Europe at a glance series: Central
Dec 14 '99
A review about Europe? Well, as a born European I would think it would just be as if someone writes one single review about Chicago, the desert South West, NYC, Arizona, Disney World Florida and Mexico City. The differences are so unimaginable huge, the places so packed with impressions, very own ways of life, tradition and mentalities that you can hardly scratch a place in one single review.
Still, I am going to do it. There was the father of our neighbor visiting, who asked me: “I am going to have vacation in Europe, what would you recommend, I got 6 weeks time.” So we got maps and books and my experience from my leisure and business traveling and put a package together. Oh boy, that was great fun! Going back to the places (at least in your mind) you have enjoyed always makes you feel like doing the trip again. I was smiling all evening long after this experience!
So, for all folks that have not the foggiest clue about what to expect when flying over there and want to have some basic instructions and ideas on some places to go, here is my BASIC review on Europe. If you need some more detailed information, check out the Internet links at the end of every section or some other fine reviews at epinions.com or some of my detailed travel features such as Alsace, France / Black Forest, Germany or Basel, Switzerland.
But I will break down these reviews in regional parts. That gives a better access and focus.
Since I have not seen every place and plan to do so, I will add-on this review
Central Europe
Germany:
Lots to see, still huge and interesting differences between the West and the East. Everything there: sea, flat lands in the North, wonderful midsize mountains (see my review on Black Forest), Alps in the South, big cities and nice old villages. Huge differences between the regions even in dialects. Arts, history and high tech, everything in one place!
Climate compared to US regions: between Boston and NYC
People: State-of-the-art, flexible, tolerant, and open-minded. More traditional in the South. Easterners and Westerners still struggle accepting each other as too many ugly things happened during take-over from 1989. English is never a problem in Germany and the German’s like the Americans quite a bit as they felt protected by them whit the Army forces and helped after the last war.
Must-sees: Berlin – the new capital (http://www.berlin.de, click at English content). One of Europe’s busiest and actives places. Unfortunately they removed the wall completely in 89 but there are museums and funds to follow track of the recent history. Excellent nightlife there, no closing hours for pubs and bars ever!
Leipzig (see my other review), the revolution city from 89. Lots of arts as it is the music capital of Europe as the birth and work place for Bach, Wagner, Schumann, Goethe (wrote his Faustus in a cellar-bar “Auerbach’s Keller” – go there!!!, Schiller and many others. High Tech trade fair area, huge railway station that has recently been revamped into a state-of-the-art entertainment-shopping center.
Frankfurt, service center of Germany with lots of banks and big companies, nice city setup.
Black Forest, good skiing there and handicrafts. Excellent landscape, very good food and wine (try dry white Gutedel from Markgraeflerland – outstanding!
Castles from all eras, everywhere in the South, ask your travel agent or check on the web.
Most recommended activities: Meeting people, city life, skiing, city tours, hiking (!), history and educational tours, nightlife.
Specialties: Food in the South (pretty heavy but very good), beer!!!! – There’s only one country in the world that makes better beer, that’s Czech’s Republic. The German’s are pretty good in everything, not so many really outstanding things (except of the beer). If you like sausages, you have to go to Saxony or Thuringia in the SouthEast, best sausages in the world, really!!! Try to find a private butcher in the countryside.
Carnival in Cologne, but even better in the SouthWest – great sound and mood of the people there. If you have a chance to travel by train (go along the river Rhein, wonderful landscape), try to catch one of their very new and futuristic ICE trains. You will never enter a pain again!
Budget Info: Plan about $200 a day/person
Web sites: General: http://www.germany-tourism.de/ (Excellent travel guide); History: http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/subject/hd/fak7/hist/c1/de/ (excellent research work from university of Heidelberg)
Switzerland/Austria:
Well, you have probably your dreams about the Alps. And you know hat: it is all true! No second place like it on the planet!!!!! Besides, very, very, very old towns and cities, mixed with modern technology and city setup (Zurich, Vienna, Basel – see my other review). Catch a train or a bike to enjoy riding through this astonishing landscapes. If you travel by car: never take the tunnels under the Alps. Always try to stay on top, preferably at sunset or rise. It will burn the pictures into your brain!
Climate compared to US regions: NYC, higher in the mountains just like in the Rocky’s
People: Modern and cosmopolitan in the cities, very traditional in the villages and towns. Especially in the mountains. No problem with English, French or Italian (Switzerland).
Must-sees: Zurich, Genf: beautiful landscapes and extremely well protected very old buildings and inner cities. State-of-the-art infrastructure.
Basel (see my other review), try to catch it late winter when Fastnacht, the Swiss Carnival, is going on. Vienna: arts and history big time! Cafes!!! Try their Linzer Torte and other bakery stuff, delicious! Vorarlberg in Austria (near Swiss border), great view at huge lakes (Bodensee) and excellent hiking in the mountains (not as high as the Alps and wonderful nature observations possible).
Most recommended activities: Skiing, city tours, boating at the mountain lakes (only Canada is better!), para-gliding, biking, and hiking.
Specialties: Chocolate (Switzerland) and cheese. Even better in Switzerland: cheese or meat fondue and Raclette. Roesti with Liver is a great dish too. Surprising are the white wines from North Switzerland. Excellent dry and fruity, great character. Austrian sweet stuff and bakery is a fine address too.
Budget Info: Plan about $200 a day/person
Web sites: General: http://goswitzerland.about.com/travel/goswitzerland/?REDIR_404=yes& (Perfect, gives everything); http://www.geocities.com/Athens/1446/ (Complete guide for all three countries)
Please see my other reviews about this series (marked in the review title).
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