A special place in my heart

Germany holds a special place in my heart. It is one of the few places I've been to multiple times at multiple stages of my life, before I spoke German and after I spoke German. Berlin is one of my favorite cities and I can see myself living there as much as I have lived in Boston. I love the German castles, cities, beer gardens, and efficient trains. You should go if: You want history, from Roman ruins to the Berlin Wall You love Christmas markets, beer halls and fairy-tale castles You like well-run public transport Must-visit places: Berlin: The Brandenburg Gate, the Wall Memorial, and Museum Island and the Zoo if you have kids! Munich and Bavaria: Beer halls, Neuschwanstein Castle and the Alps The Rhine Valley: Castles and vineyards between Koblenz and Bingen Black Forest: Hiking, cuckoo clocks and cake Hamburg and Cologne: The harbor and the cathedral Must-try foods: Bratwurst and currywurst Pretzels with Obatzda cheese spread Schnitzel and spätzle Black Forest cake and Stollen at Christmas Fun facts: Germany has well over a thousand breweries. Parts of the Autobahn have no general speed limit. Christmas markets began in Germany in the late Middle Ages. Logistics: Best time: May to October; December for markets Currency: Euro; carry cash, since some places do not take cards Getting around: Deutsche Bahn trains and the Deutschlandticket for regional travel Tipping: Round up or add about 5 to 10 percent Good to know: Shops close on Sundays Must-learn phrases: Most Germans speak English, so you won't have any trouble finding your way around, but it is still nice to learn the basics! Hello: Hallo / Guten Tag Please: Bitte Thank you: Danke Excuse me: Entschuldigung The check, please: Die Rechnung, bitte Cheers!: Prost!