I first visited Germany at age eleven. Like many eleven year olds I wasn’t really captivated by continental European culture, gastronomic delicacies or really much at all that was on the ‘must do’ list for a visitor……..
My idea back then of how to spend summer holidays was about being out on my bike or playing with friends……
Furthermore I actually celebrated my birthday on that trip and was more than somewhat non-plussed to be told by numerous elderly couples (on reflection now, they were probably aged about 40) staying in our hotel when finding out my newly acquired age, “Ah you are now elf”. My knowledge of German, even basics such as numbers after 10 was very limited!
Wind the clock on a few decades and I have come to love the place. Indeed I actually work for a German employer now, but based out of home in the UK; I also have one branch of my extended family located there so my involvement and appreciation of the countries and the people is very regular and advanced.
What is best is the simplicity of many things and the approach to leisure.
By simplicity I mean the problem solving applied to every day challenges…..Oktoberfest is an amazing tradition.
As there are only for 4 weeks in October for this event , it needed to be longer …so now it actually starts mid September so it can last long enough!
And not to be outdone…the winter Christmas Markets with amazing things to eat and drink are just the same. Advent starts at the first Sunday in December …but in reality you will find people thronging to these events with these starting in mid November!!
And it’s not just food and drink.. there are very few pieces of German engineering thst have failed to impress me over the years ranging from Bosch power tools, to AEG domestic appliances and of course cars I have had both Audi and BMW and really nothing can surpass these.
Anything Germany cannot do….well really the only thing might be to produce a decent cup of tea!
…..but given time, even that may happen.
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