Germany:
Germany has its share of social and economic problems, but it's still a pretty together place. For example, in 1999, the government decided to actually shut down all nuclear plants. This is unprecedented, and a testament to the fact that so many Germans have a real love of nature and are concerned about environmental degradation.
From the northern farming country to the southern Alps, there's a lot to see in Germany. The towns and cities also have some excellent, well-preserved architecture. The Romantic Road, in particular, abounds in amazing old buildings, though at the peak of tourist season it can seem like Disneyland.
Hitchhiking in Germany has always been unbeatable. Waiting for a ride at the ramps onto the autobahn is like waiting for a bus; you'll always get a ride, and if it's in a good car, you'll get to experience speed with no limit. Trains, planes and buses are all efficient ways to get around, if you have the money. Germany, because of its elevated living standard, is expensive. If you hitchhike, eat food from the grocery store and either camp or stay in hostels, you can have a budget vacation in Germany.
The German people, while they may seem a bit humourless at first, are actually very warm and friendly once you break the ice. They are well educated, speak perfect English, and are culturally and politically sophisticated. And most of them are not neo-Nazis. Unfortunately, this group of miscreants tends to grab headlines, but the average German is open-minded and liberal.
On November 9, 1999, the Germans celebrated the 10th anniversary of the fall of the infamous Berlin Wall. Although there is now a larger gap between rich and poor in the eastern part of Germany, most people concede that things are better than they were prior to the fall of communism.
This page last updated November 9, 1999.