Mid-travel thoughts

Here I will post some thoughts and things I would recommend for the different places I've visited until now.

I will also be using the self-invented PHLB (price for half a liter of beer) and PDK (price for a doner kebap), both in Euros, to give an idea of the cost of travelling in these cities. Except accomadation and what not to follow the same scale.

Munich: Though much of what North Americans think of when they think Germany is in fact Bavarian, most of the language stuff (classes, phrase-books, etc.) will of course be High German, which is more similar to what they speak in the north (though absolutley every region, even neighbooring towns have local variations). Thus, the typical salutation "Hallo" will have you looking like either a northerner or a foreigner (obviously depending on your accent). Try "Gruß Gott" (pronounced like "Goose" with a rolled R and got as in "I have got it") or "Servus". "Servus" can also be used to say goodbye, and is again much more local than the High German "Auf wiedersehen" (number of times I heard "Auf wiedersehen" during my two weeks in Munich: 0).

PHLB (obviously this excludes overpriced Oktoberfest, at 5€): 2.50-4€

PDK: 3€

Berlin: This is where the transition to "north german" happens. Thus "auf wiedersehen" is the correct way to say goodbye. Also, whereas they use "Samstag" in the south for Saturday, the north uses "Sonnabend" (literally "Sun(day) evening") which I think could get confusing, if you're example invited somewhere on a Sunday evening ("Sonntag abend").

PHLB: 3-3.50€

PDK: 3€

Hamburg: Much of northern Germany is built on dried out marshes. Don't wonder who farted if it stinks, that's what a marsh smells like.

PHLB: 3.50-4€

PDK: 3.50-4€

Cologne: Though beer connaisseurs know that Kölsch is supposed to typically have at least somewhat of a spicy taste, all of the big breweries have gone the way of their Lagered bretheren and are now almost tasteless. If you want to try a tasty Kölsch, head to Braustelle, Cologne's smallest brewery, who brew an authentic (and delicious) Kölsch on the spot.

PHLB: 4-5€

PDK: 3-4€

Amsterdam: Whereas Germans typically will speak quite good English, they never seem to enjoy speaking it (maybe the grudge that Anglo-saxons overtook Germans in importance through England and the USA), just about anyone under 40 in Amsterdam will basically speak almost perfect English, and will be happy to speak it as well. I believe this comes from the fact that, being such a small country, they have always been very open-minded and international, since a big part of their wealth comes from imports and exports.

PHLB: 5-6€

PDK: 5€

Sion: Switzerland is expensive. A big thanks to everyone who hosted me there, Michel, Marie-Rose and Gregoire, as well as Emilie and Gabriel for taking me out to see so much while I was there.

PHLB: 6-7€

PDK: 7€

Vienna: I would say that this is where the transition from Western to Eastern Europe becomes apparent. Though still using the Euro, everything is a bit cheaper than in neighboring Germany.

PHLB: 2-3€

PDK: 3.5€

Bratislava: As Slovakia joined the Euro less than a year ago, everything is quite cheap there still (expect prices to go up). I would say that the city really surprised me, I wasn't expecting as much as it had to offer. I would definatley recommend it for anyone looking to have fun on the cheap, or to relax, since most of the important sights can be seen and visited in a day or two, leaving lots of time off. Also, it is small enough that walking is a very convenient way of moving around.

PHLB: 1.10-2.10€

PDK: Unknown (as eating at a sit-down restaurant is so cheap).

Prague: The Czech Republic still uses the Czech crown, which means that everything is extremely cheap. It feels and looks similar East Berlin, though the city is much smaller, so walking still remains a very good means of transportation, and also from what I've heard, the public transport can be somewhat confusing. Although drinking in the street is accepted, it isn't practiced much, mainly because street vendors typical sell beer the same price or more than a bar.

PHLB: 0.80-1.25€

PDK: 3€