Germany (Lonely Planet, 6th Edition) - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [686]
Letters sent within Germany take one to two days for delivery; those addressed to destinations within Europe or to North America take three to five days and those to Australasia five to seven days.
SHOPPING
Germany is a fun place to shop, with a big selection of everyday and unique items. Much of the shopping is done in pedestrianised shopping areas in the city centres rather than in big shopping malls, which are often relegated to the suburbs. Famous shopping strips include the Kurfürstendamm in Berlin, the Königsallee in Düsseldorf, the Hohe Strasse in Cologne; Kaufingerstrasse, Neuhauser Strasse and Maximilianstrasse in Munich and the Zeil in Frankfurt.
There’s really nothing you can’t buy in Germany, but even in the age of globalisation, there are still some treasures you’ll unearth here better than anywhere else.
Regional products include traditional Bavarian outfits, including dirndl dresses, lederhosen and loden jackets. Beer mugs are the classic souvenir, no matter whether made of glass or stoneware, plain or decorated, with or without pewter lids – the choice is endless. Famous food products include marzipan from Lübeck, Lebkuchen (gingerbread) from Nuremberg and Printen (spicy cookies) from Aachen.
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TAXES & REFUNDS
Prices for goods and services include a value-added tax (VAT), called Mehrwertsteuer, which is 19% for regular goods and 7% for food and books. If your permanent residence is outside the European Union, you can have a large portion of the VAT refunded, provided you shop at a store displaying the ‘Tax-Free for Tourists’ sign and obtain a tax-free form for your purchase from the sales clerk. At the airport, show this form, your unused goods and your receipt to a custom official before checking your luggage. The customs official will stamp the form, which you can then take straight to the cash refund office at the airport.
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The Black Forest is the birthplace of German clockmaking, and not only of the cuckoo variety. Precision instruments, such as microscopes and binoculars, are also a speciality. Cutlery is first-rate, with Wüsthof and JA Henckels being leading brands.
Good-quality woodcarvings are widely available in the Alpine regions (Oberammer-gau’s are especially famous, Click here). Fans of the fragile can pick up exquisite china made by Meissen, Villeroy & Boch, Rosenthal, KPM or Porzellanmanufaktur Nymphenburg. The glass artisans in the Bavarian Forest make beautiful vases, bowls and ornaments.
Famous toy brands include stuffed animals by Steiff (the inventor of the teddy bear) and collectible Käthe Kruse dolls. At Christmas markets you’ll discover wonderful ornaments, classic nutcrackers and other decorations.
German wine is another excellent purchase, especially since some of the best bottles are not available outside the country. If you’re into street fashion, head to Berlin, which makes the most Zeitgeist-capturing outfits.
Bargaining almost never occurs, except at flea markets.
SOLO TRAVELLERS
There are no particular problems or difficulties associated with travelling alone in Germany. Germans are generally friendly but rather reserved and not likely to initiate a conversation with strangers. This shouldn’t stop you from approaching them, though, since most will quite happily respond and even be extra helpful once they find out you’re a traveller. And don’t let your lack of German deter you. Young people especially speak at least some English and many are keen to practise it. For more on the subject, check out the website of the nonprofit Connecting: Solo Travel Network (www.cstn.org).
TELEPHONE & FAX
Fax
Faxes can be sent from and received at most hotels, photocopy shops, internet cafes and telephone call shops.
Mobile