Travel Guru, Frommer, Visits Germany, Switzerland

[AnnInLa]

http://www.frommers.com/blog/2008/04/what-ive-learned-about-germany-and.html

Apr 8, 2008
What I've learned about Germany and Switzerland in my river boating (and quick trip to Lucerne) over the past 10 days
I haven't been to either Germany or Switzerland for the last five-or-so years. And it was instructive to see the obvious changes that such a lengthy absence would make apparent.

First and foremost, both nations have become multi-ethnic in composition to an extent that would not have been imaginable years ago. Nearly a full 10% of the German population is now foreign-born; and this becomes obvious as you stroll the streets of German cities. Yet, although certain nativist political parties have sprung up in both Germany and Switzerland, I saw no clear evidence of any major anti-immigrant feelings of the Lou Dobbs/Michael Savage/Rush Limbaugh variety.

Instead, I saw clear evidence of a major move towards highly-sophisticated new political advocacy. The Green parties of both Germany and Switzerland are rather powerful, and their posters and appeals for votes are everywhere. Even more surprising is evidence of an emerging Women's Party in Switzerland -- a feminist movement that has taken political form and whose vote-for-us posters were everywhere on the streets of Lucerne. Will wonders never cease!

It is clear, as well, that after considerable worry in Germany about the state of their economy -- concerns that caused the recent defeat of the Socialists and the election of Angela Merkel -- that the economy of Germany is once again booming. And although Merkel has made small (and almost insignificant) cuts in the welfare payments and guarantees, no one is speaking any longer of any major shift away from the strong safety net enjoyed by every German (free medical care, extraordinary retirement and unemployment benefits). The same, apparently, in Switzerland, whose currency is now so strong that it sells at par to the U.S. dollar. Although the people with whom I've spoken may not be representative of the German and Swiss society (these were mainly English speakers), they all seemed somewhat smug about how well their country is doing. Germany, in particular, is now the largest country in Europe (with over 80 million people) and certainly the most influential, ousting Britain from that position.

When a speaker at a lecture I attended sought to talk about a "typical" German family (husband, wife, and two children), he cited as their average earnings: € 40,000 a year. That, dear friends, is the equivalent of $63,000 (at $1.57 to the Euro), which compares with the median family income in the United States of $43,000. We are no longer the richest nation in the world.

As for the quality of life here, it is impressive. In Lucerne, where I now am, electric signs at the bus stops tell you exactly when your bus will arrive. And when you board the bus, an electric sign tells you when you will arrive at your stop. Public facilities, including the trains, are modern, comfortable and well-maintained. Sensitive attention is paid to the environment. In hotel corridors, hotel rooms, and even public bathrooms, the lights are out when no one is there, and the lights go on only when a person enters.

more at: http://www.frommers.com/blog/2008/04/what-ive-learned-about-germany-and.html

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[intheflow]

2. Gotta K&R this.

In the hopes that the US will learn this kind of tolerance and environmental stewardship before our country has undergone 2000 years of history.

[AlCzervik]

3. want to hear something funny? I went to europe in march 22nd and when we landed in Heath row

for one it was snowing "Wtf, are you fucking kidding me?" and 2, the driver that picked us up was from Poland, nice young guy and of course we talked to him and he told us he would like to come to America but he cannot get a visa, there has been a moratorium on visa's for people from poland and a few other countries. "Why?" "Well i guess some pols go to america and decide to stay so they don't want us visiting for awhile"

Can you believe that, like how many polish people come over here every year and stay, maybe 1% of the total immigrants for the year?

the only anti immigrant thing i heard while in England, Scotland and Prague was that since the EU came into being many people are leaving their home countires and moving to London and listening to Sky news talk about "the immigrant problem" was exactly like hearing Lou Dobbs, it was surreal.

[AnnInLa]

6. I had to listen to Sky News in London too, and

it was terrible, just like listening to Fox. I wonder why it was the only news channel that the hotel carried? Other friends in other hotels said the same thing...only news channel offered was Sky. Ugh.

[AlCzervik]

7. thankfully we also had the BBC but for just amusement and a bit of torture

i put on sky and wow did i hit it at a good time--"The immigrants are coming here and picking vegetables for 4 pounds an hour, Britons just won't do these jobs!!" I swear it was like the same script, just a different continent.

[femrap]

4. K and R

So glad I saw this....a Women's Party in Switzerland...wow. I know it took years before they got the vote!

It has been decades since I was in either country but I remember Switzerland as so clean....the shop owners would wash the sidewalks in front of their stores with SOAP and water in the morning. I loved Geneva...Lucerne as well. I liked the French side of Switzerland better than the German.

Maybe I should look up my family in Germany!

[Johnny V.]

5. there are in fact rising tides of anti-immigration feelings in Suisse, if the person read the

Economist they'd know that.

regarding the environment: the average European's views on the Environment would literally be considered radical by half the US population. (I'll let you guess which approx. half) They are so much more aware of the environment than the average US citizen it's rediculous. Been that way for generations. No matter how high gas rises they have well-thought public transportation to take them anywhere within their country or continent. We of course dont' have that so when gas rises we're screwed.