Kelsey's Travel Blog!
I travel not to escape life, but to be sure that life will not escape me! Come join me!
Beliebte deutsche Zeugnisse
German Beer/Weg-Bier
Cafe Food/Imbiss Culture
Drunk/Late Night Food
Public Transportation
The German Language & Bluntness
There are a number of things that I admire about the Germans and a number of things that, although they may be small, I would love to bring them back to the US with me. Whether it is curry-wurst and Kebob drunk food or the German’s sense of efficiency with regards to public transportation, there is something deep inside me that makes me love this country more than any other country in the world. People have never really understood why I feel the way I do, and although my love for Germany is difficult to put into words, here are a few things about this great country that I, and hopefully everyone else who is fortunate enough to come here, love.
If I asked anyone what the first thing was that came to mind when I said Germany, nearly 99% would probably say “Beer!”. If you love beer even half as much as I do, Germany is the place for you. They have perfected the art of beer making. Famous festivals, such as Oktoborfest, embody and perpetuate all of the German stereo types. Although sometimes German beer can be served warm, this is not a room temperature Keystone or Natural. The flavors are all there, and it wouldn’t matter if the beer had just come from the fridge, or if it had been kept out in room temperature.
To add to the greatness that is German beer, there are no open-container laws, meaning that you can take that German beer and drink it wherever you please. There are a few exceptions to the rule, like on public transportation, but regardless, you won’t be stopped by the police for enjoying your beer and taking a stroll. The German word for this? "Weg-Bier," which is synonymous with "Road Beer"
If you can let go of your late night Chinese food and jimmy johns subs, the late night and drunk food in Germany is unlike anything in the States. Think late night Gyros, otherwise known as Kebobs, that are even more disgustingly incredible than any late night pizza option. Served by the local Turkish families, this late night treat can be customized with an assortment of different kinds of sauerkraut and sauces. Every city does it differently, so you will have to try a few before you find your favorite. Mine? The Kebob from Berlin for sure!
They do still have some great pizza here, but this is the proper kind: thin crust, uncut, with local ingredients. You don’t need to go to Italy to get a world class pizza. Further south, Currywurst is a common occurrence. Created for American soldiers during World War One to be a substitute for hotdogs, these cut up wursts covered in curry-ketchup and curry powder, and Pommes (French fries) with Mayo, are absolutely perfect after a night on the Reeperbahn or in the Schanze, and not to mention dirt cheap.
Although it has a bad reputation, I cannot help but LOVE the German Language. Obviously, I am a bit biased, but I was also never exposed to German before I started learning it, so to me, it’s one of the most beautiful languages in the world. The most thrilling part about my experience in Hamburg was learning to feel in another language. I know that sounds strange, but having the appropriate emotional response while watching a romance flourish in a movie, or being able to express your sadness when you have to leave someone you care about behind really gives a whole new dimension to the language that I never had before.
More than just the language, I can’t help but appreciate the German bluntness. Germans are known for saying exactly what they are thinking. In the beginning, I was really taken aback. In the US, politeness is highly valued, even if it means being two-faced. In Germany, on the other hand, values genuine conversation. If you are asked “How are you?” Germans tend to actually want to know how you are, how the family is, etc. This straight-forward mentality has not only improved my German, since they automatically correct it even if they understand the general concept of my sentence, but it’s also made me put value on questions like “How are you?”, and “How is your day going?”
For someone who has grown to like the idea of not owning a car, living in a city and relying on public transportation, Germany is a dream come true. If you want to be in a place with top quality public transportation including efficiency and over reach at relatively cheap prices, Germany is the place for you. Everything from the underground subway systems, to the cross country trains, everything is nearly always on time, clean, and reasonably priced. I have not once yet been to a large city in Germany that doesn’t have incredible public trans.
Hamburg’s public transportation system, also known as HVV, has both above and below ground trains called S-Bahns (above) and U-bahns (below). As a student, I received a free semester pass that was valid the entire time I was there, but even a month pass all the way out to where I lived (zone 4) was only 75 Euros. Everything was timed perfectly, so even when I needed to transfer, my train would arrive, I would get off, and hop on the next one right across the platform. All of the public transportation also runs 24 hours, through the night, on Friday and Saturday nights. It’s a university student’s dream!
I have lost count of the number of times I have walked into an American Starbucks and been disappointed that I was not back in Germany. The Germans, and most of Europe for that matter, know how to do café food. Those horribly unhealthy and sugary pastries are replaced with freshly made and filling sandwiches. They also have a number of other options like baguettes with melted cheese and salami, freshly made croissants, etc. The prices usually range from 2-3 Euros each, and a normal medium coffee (which is actually the size a medium coffee should be) is only 1.10 Euro. So not only is it all better and healthier, but cheaper as well. Even worse yet? Even American brands, like Starbucks, actually has real food. We know they can get it, so why don’t we have it back in the states? Come on, Starbucks, your killing me!
Just as food trucks and street food is popular in major cities like New York and Philly, Imbisses are common in Germany. These are stationary, unlike food trucks, but they serve traditional German fast food such as currywurst and french-fries. You can take that, along with your beer, and go sit in the square of the main government building to enjoy the weather and people watch. It’s a million times better than McDonalds, yet just as cheap! Perfect for students and businessmen alike.