<p>H just came home today and has been given a travel itinerary for the next couple of months at work, which will include a trip to Germany late January/early February.</p>
<p>I’ve been to several countries in western Europe, but never Germany. He would start out in Ludwigshafen for a couple of days, then spend a few days more in a couple of other cities (he can’t remember the names at the moment, but knows they’re about an hour plane ride from Frankfurt). I know that Ludwigshafen is a very industrial area, but I’ve also yet to find a place in Europe, that if you’re staying at a nice hotel, doesn’t have some sort of day-sight seeing trips set up that are usually pretty interesting. I’ve traveled with him before to Europe when he’s been to conferences and do not have any problem spending the day sight seeing by myself on arranged tours. </p>
<p>But it will be winter, and I’m wondering what it might be like to be there at that time of the year, other than cold, but I can be cold at home in Chicago, too, and not see Germany. The benefit of going with him is that I get to see Germany and nice hotels are paid for, so there’s no additional cost for accommodations.</p>
<p>Would love some to hear some pros and cons from people. I can handle cold… we just spent three and a half hours outside at the Bears/Packers game on Sunday and I was fine.</p>
<p>If you travel to Stuttgart go to the Porsche factory tour and museum as well as the Mercedes Museum and tour.
Plan as soon as possible for an English speaking tour spot.</p>
<p>A few years back I went to see my D in the Czech Republic in March with a side trip to Salzburg. Given the crowds in Europe at other times of the year, I thought it was ideal. Hearty food, lots of walking in cities to burn it off, beautiful buildings. Some things might be closed, but walking uncrowded cities is a pleasure, compared to the crowded heat of summer. Do some research on the museums in a city in advance. With the multilingual headphones you can get in museums, language should not be a problem, tour or not. If in a less than interesting city figure out how to take a train to someplace worth seeing nearby. </p>
<p>I’m of the philosophy that I can handle just about anything with a long down coat and wool scarf. If you could sit through that game, you’ll be fine. </p>
<p>As with anyplace in high latitudes, there are very different winters. When D was in the Czech republic, they had a great deal of snow. This winter, maybe they’re like us, still brown going into the New Year.</p>
<p>We stayed over in Fussen to visit Neuschwanstein castle. Love our stay, our hotelier, the castle. Our stay was in Bavaria.
I am so jealous of your trip!
Once, while pausing at a posted train schedule, some German guy asked if we needed help reading it. We didn’t, but how nice- not just willing to help if we asked, but to come to us to ask if we needed help.
We took 2 small side trips, one to Reutte and one to Strasbourg, just so we could say we’ve been to Osterreich and France.
I wouldn’t expect winters there any worse than Chicago winters.</p>
<p>If you scoot over to France, I highly recommend Strausborg (sp?) - just on the other side of the Black Forest into France. You could hop a train to Cologne/Koln and just outside the station is the stunningly gorgeous Koln Cathedral. </p>
<p>Your timing is good for avoiding crowds, but do pack a silk long sleeve undershirt or a Cuddledud because there is a dampness over there in the winter and it makes the temp feel about 10 degrees colder than it is. Have fun!</p>
<p>Ludwigshafen isn’t far from Heidelberg, which is a lovely city. If you are comfortable hopping the train, I would recommend Wűrzburg, which has beautiful baroque buildings, or Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is a medieval walled city on the “Romantic Road.” Feel free to PM me when you get the names of the other cities.</p>
<p>I second Kajon’s recommendation for silk long underwear for the damp cold. There is a reason that Germans drink hot mulled wine (Glűhwein) during the winter :).</p>
<p>In Germany, January 6 is celebrated as “Three Kings Day” or “Dreikönigstag.” This commemorates the visit of the 3 Magi after the Nativity. In Swabia & Bavaria, children dress up as the 3 kings & go from house to house singing carols & carrying a star on a stick. (They are also called "star singers.) They then write a blessing in chalk over the mantel of the door, which will read “20+C+M+B+12” for the year 2012. The + signs represent crosses & the C+M+B stands for the Latin phrase *“Christus mansionem benedicat”<a href=“May%20Christ%20bless%20this%20house”>/i</a> and also the names of the 3 kings: Caspar, Melchior & Balthazar. Look for this inscription over the doors in late Jan/early Feb.</p>
<p>Teri, I went to Germany with my H at the end of November and really liked the fact that there were NO crowds anywhere! We even managed to eat dinner at the top of Fernsehturm twice without any reservations. Of course, the weather was cold and miserably rainy, but it was cold and miserably rainy in my neck of the woods, too. So far, I do not see any cons. Enjoy the trip. :)</p>
<p>If you can handle Chicago in December, you can handle Germany in February.</p>
<p>I traveled in northern/eastern Europe in January. Cold. Gets dark early and light late. But certainly don’t regret the experience and would do it again in a heart beat.</p>
<p>The trip is not a done deal, yet. He and I are both still gathering information on whether or not it will work with me tagging along. But once he has his end of the information, I’d like to have mine, so I can decide if I want to go or not. </p>
<p>I appreciate all the information that is forthcoming, though! Will let you know when we find out, which hopefully will be later this week.</p>
<p>I was there in January 2 years ago. I recommend to visit Karslrule castle.
The weather is cold but manageable. The train schedules are not always accurate because of snow. Sometimes the delay is more than 30 minutes. You can drive but I dare not. Many roads in the cities have only one lane. Luckily I went with people who know to drive. You can take taxi but it’s expensive. Breakfast is included in hotels. I don’t think you can easily find places to eat breakfast outside of the hotel. Beer is cheaper than soda in restaurants. Beer is $2.5 per glass. Soda is $5 per glass. People don’t serve ice in the drinks unless you ask.</p>
<p>I spent five years in Germany - winter is cold, but generally not as bitter as Chicago. The snow tended to hang around and get dirty less quickly and they groomed all the trails in the parks for cross country skiing. If you can get out of the big cities and see some smaller towns. In Bavaria, for example, some of the best (ie most ridiculously ornate) baroque churches were a little off the beaten path. </p>
<p>I always thought driving was pretty easy, except on highways you have to stay out of the left lane accept for passing or you are libel to make someone in a Porsche who wants to go 250 kph cross. If they flash their lights at you - move! (Scotland is the place I let others drive!)</p>
<p>I’ve got better advice for southern Germany - so let me know if you will be there.</p>
<p>Also German food really is very good, not as heavy as the American versions. Best salads hands down, and if you like fish it’s nearly always a good choice.</p>
<p>While relatives lived in Germany, I used to visit almost every January, a good time of year to escape the post-holidays boredom at home. It was colder in central Germany than northern, also more snow. Daylight is short, but most towns/cities have lots of walkable areas, always places to duck into…from bakery to bakery if nothing else. I was outside most of the day, running small errands, exploring, and I do not do cold well generally, but I was fine. I have no one to visit there now, and I wish I did!</p>