Thanks for all the comments about "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles." I know it's not actually a Nazi thing, but it's still controversial and connected in the popular mind with Nazism. Regardless of the historical reality or the legal situation, singing it while performing the Nazi salute is still very insensitive.
Yes, it is not illegal and not from the third Reich. But they missused it and today, only right wing people use the "it is not a Nazi thing" Argument to sing it. Now you can Wonder, why they want to sing "Deutschland Deutschland über alles" so bad
I caught a couple of French tourists, both young men who should have known better, climbing on the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, so I shouted "Shame" at them, and they behaved as if I was the one in the wrong! There was a guard working there who'd also told them off. Just unbelievable. You wouldn't expect foreign tourists to rampage over gravestones in a French cemetery, would you?
@The German Diaspora which German Soul? The Bavarian? The lower saxon? The frisian? I'm pretty sure, the "German Soul" for me is Something very different to what you have in mind.
@The German Diaspora - Sorry, not sorry. Jemand der in der Deutschen Diaspora lebt, sollte Abstand davon nehmen repräsentativ über die deutsche Volksseele fabulieren zu wollen. Setzen. Sechs.
950 euro fine for making coffee in one country, 100 euro fine in another for operating a motor vehicle in a way that could result in the death of several people... makes you wonder, doesn't it?
in summer Venice is so crowded that you almost won't fall when you lift both feet from the ground and instead will be transported (shoved along) by all the people, and Rialtobridge is one of the most crowded and most famous landmarks. Thus "making coffee" at such a place probably was at least "inconveniencing" or even endangering hundreds of people (directly or by causing a panic). What would anybody expect to happen when blocking (pedestrian) traffic in such a dangerous way, maybe by starting a bbq on a campfire on Times Square in the USA? Btw: the 100€ probably was for that kind of driving on an unlimited and relatively empty road, which only created a rather subjective danger. there is a list with fixed fines for "measurable" traffic violations in germany and those fines are much higher and include additional penalties when driving too fast above a given speed limit and/or causing personal endangerment, coercion, etc of other drivers (that can result in penalty law being applied instead of only traffic fines)
@@Anson_AKB Thank you for your explanation of the "making-coffee"-fine in Venice. In this way it sounds reasonable to me. I was just under the way to think: The Italians simply hate German coffee...
The 100 euro fine is only if you are driving normal. If you don't, and operate a mobile or something you are liable to also get an Strafanzeige (you will be investigated for a legal offence) for a "Gefährlicher Eingriff in den Straßenverkehr" (dangerous actions while operating in the road system). And you really do not want that.
Apparently the tourists broke “the rules of public decorum and respect”. "The public decorum laws were introduced after residents complained about the bad behaviour of tourists at the Unesco world heritage site, including picnicking, diving into canals, washing in fountains or walking around bare-chested or in bikinis." I suppose sitting under a bridge and brewing coffee breaks the rules.
Excellent video by the way! While this video focuses on what not to do when visiting Germany, Americans should understand that: 1. Germany is a sovereign country. Their own constitution (The Basic Law) and their own laws including their criminal code, which is different than ours in America. 2. As an American, once you leave the borders of the United States the rights and freedoms we cherish as part of the First Amendment do not apply. Our American Constitution including our Bill of Rights stops at the US border. 3. While visiting Germany you are subject to German law - NOT American law. As an American, when you visit Germany you are their house guest and are expected to abide by their laws. 4. If the worst happens and you are arrested by German police, the United States Embassy can only do much but one thing is certain: The United States Embassy cannot get you out of jail. The fact that you have an American passport does not give you any kind of special status in Germany (or any other foreign country for that matter).
If you are not able to play by our Rules, stay the Fuck at Home. We have no Need for People who think just because they deny Genocide ever happend on their Territory, they are somehow send from God.
The funny thing about the law in germany is: it's similiar in MOST, but not all regards to US law. Afterall: the US had a say in what laws got written after 1945. It really shouldn't be hard to follow german law as a tourist from the US, plenty of US citizens visit germany every day without much of a problem. Oh, and all of this holds true for germans visiting the US as well => abide by US law, or suffer the consequences.
You do need a staggering amount of misbehaviour to even be noticed by German police though, let alone be arrested. They are generally nice, unlike their US version.
I read a German and an italian article about it, they say basically the same thing: Venice has made new rules that prohibit this kind of 'disrespectful' behavior. So it's not a fire safety thing, it's really just that the Venetians don't want people picnicking in their historic city. "Venice deserves better." It's way too harsh, if you ask me. 50€ would have hurt them just as much.
Not two weeks ago I had to hold myself back not to slap a korean tourist group for shooting pictures of themselves while showing the nazi salute inside the Documentation Center of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg. Instead, I asked them whether they know where they were and what this place represents. I told them that this is a crime in Germany. Not sure if they realized what I said...
@@solidstate9451 even there it WILL get you kicked out of the meeting an possible out of the party as well. In any party, there is no place for criminals, even if you think, they are nazis, they at least know the law and how to keep them selves clean.
2:35 This especially goes for German tourists traveling abroad, lol. I found that my fellow countrymen and -women are among the first to complain if something is not as they are used to at home. About the speed limit: THANK YOU! Sometimes I feel like everybody thinks "oh, no speed limit in Germany, hu-hu, cool". But they forget that there are other people on the road as well. Your speed shouldn't be so high that you cannot safely drive your vehicle. I rarely feel the need to go faster than 140-150km/h on the Autobahn. Besides, I think the top speed for my car is around 180km/h, so it's not like I could even go that much faster.
There's also the problem, that most tourists are not used to that kind of speed and are not used to handle a car under those circumstances. At 180 km/h the lines feel really narrow.
@@Fischplays Not true, though. My driving instructor told me to watch my speed when I went faster than 130km/h. Also: Going 180km/h in driving school one or two times isn't exactly "learning how to handle a car at such high speeds" anyway.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong but while there isn't a speed limit on an auto bahn, there is a speed recommendation of I think 130 km/h if I remember my theoretical driver lessons correctly. Meaning, you can drive faster than that but if you get into an accident and it can be proved that you drove faster than 130 km/h, you're partially at fault for that accident no matter what.
I've always found Germany a breeze to visit, literally no issues at all, everyone is super friendly, polite and down to earth. As relaxing as going on holiday in the UK, top marks to Germany, every time!
I'll admit that it baffles me that such things have to be pointed out, it should be self-evident that when you visit another country, you'd want to represent your own in the best possible manner.
The nazi salute is illegal in germany! Some people say "today you are not allowed to say anything!" Well, depends on what you say, some things are forbidden since 1945!
The fine is actually for the driver operating any handheld device with the motor running. While not usual, it's not unheard of for police to give fines to people checking their phone while parked with the motor running.
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils". If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes...
above all, the meaning of "characters in German" has to be discussed. When I watch American films, I always see signs like "LEFT LANE MUST TURN LEFT" or "NO PARKING AT ANY TIME". You will not find such signs in German language. Germany uses signs with symbols or internationally recognized signs such as a white arrow pointing left on a blue background (means only turning left) or a red X on a blue background (means no parking). These signs are much quicker to understand when looking at the sign, and even an illiterate person can easily learn the meaning.
Several countries around the world have found widely accepted ways to pay without cash and could be tempted to complain about the lack of a nationwide cashless payment system in Germany. The Netherlands would be nearest one to Germany.
Why is it illegal to make a campfire on times square? :-) the bridge is 22 meters wide (75 feet) including two rows of shops, and probably used by every single tourist at least twice. With 20 million tourists per year, do the math how crowded it is and how much it blocks the bridge and endangers people when someone starts making coffee on open fire.
@@Anson_AKB They weren't on the bridge. They were in front of the bridge on steps right next to the water. I've seen pictures now. They were pretty much the only people on this particular spot. They didn't make a camp fire but had a small gas cooker, but OK technically it's open fire, pretty much like a lighter for cigarettes and those aren't banned. After seeing the pics, I think I have a better idea of why they were kicked out of there. They looked like alternative/hippy-ish people on a camping trip... and these steps are part of the scenic view. They just looked bad for ever person who wanted to take a photo of the bridge.
@@thulyblu5486 in the meantime i also watched some more videos about venice and saw pictures with big signs (starting in may 2019) announcing a "200€ fine for sitting on bridges and walls to drink and eat". thus they should have been warned that there are fines, it is disrespectful and rude anyway, and when adding the fire, 950€ and a ban is not hard to understand. Venice is no public camp site ...
It's basically illegal to go to Venice, not sure why people keep going there at all. I've never heard someone come back from Venice saying they enjoyed the experience.
@@gorkyd7912 i was there quite a few times in some different decades and the first times it was really enjoyable. but i have to agree: every year there were more and more tourists, and in addition to access by the "few" trains and cars there are more and more cruise ships (when i was there the last time maybe 15 years ago, it was only a few small ones per week, now it is several monsters per day), and thus it becomes less and less enjoyable to go to the main tourist attractions. but it might still be possible to go to venice and enjoy it when you go "off-season" and/or by only having a short look at the outside of the main attractions and instead go to some remote parts of the town or to some of the nearby islands.
This could be applied to all countries. Just inform your if visiting a place, that maybe help. And ask if you want to take a photo. e.g. in japan is making photos not allowed in some places.
Italian here. About the Berliners in Venice, they were fined and expelled because of mainly two reasons: 1) The Municipality of Venice passed in 2018 a local law that punishes every behaviour that is seen contrary to public decorum: this was done to stop people (mainly German and American tourists) that just treat the Canals and landmarks as if those were their personal toilet, by throwing pic-nic residues in the water or leaving them everywhere else but in trash bins. That explains the 900€ fine. 2) The banishment (well, not really... more like a "temporary expulsion" for 3 years) is because they aggravated their position by resisting the local police and attemping to throw an officer into the water. Non c'è di che :)
Italy has problems and they’re not capable of managing those problems. They rather try to punish tourists for not even offensive behavior just because they didn’t study Italian law before they did certain actions. I mean the story of the man with the hammock in Barcola who was fined 300 Euros because hammocks were not allowed on the beach? (To be precise, adding any „structure“ to trees is forbidden, now I didn’t know a hammock was a structure) Or the Spanish guy who dressed up as an ancient Roman soldier and got fined 500 Euros because it is forbidden to dress up in ancient clothes to prevent people getting money from tourists? Italy shows ridiculous behavior regarding tourist fines, just because they can’t get their system to work properly. I mean look at Pompeji, the archeologists there say that the tourist masses endanger the structures there. But what is the local government doing against it? Nothing. They could easily limit the number of visitors and make it mandatory to register before you come there, but they simply don’t care.
Oh, yeah, I am pretty sure that you know about what other people have to do just to behave right and nice you are entitled to judge about what fine is correct. And what for. They will love you all around the globe, because people always are fond of those guy who know the right way for everyone. Sorry, can't stay longer listening to your wisdom, have to vomit.
@@sisuguillam5109 And Barcola is in Italy (although I was confused at first too as the difference between "Barcola" and "Barcelona" is similar between "Austria" and "Australia").
1:00 I think it’s probably because in the allied countries (at least in my part of England) it’s seen as a a funny thing to joke about, but I wouldn’t do it in Germany because there are cultural differences.
First of all, Germans do that too there. And secondly, it was intended by the creator to be used as a lively place. Taking selfies is totally within the intended uses. So no, this rule does not apply.
It's funny what you said about clothing. The first time I visited Germany I brought my family, and one of my daughters, who was 12 at the time asked a question that included the phrase, "...if they know that we're tourists." I said, "Sweetie, there's no 'if' about it. They'll know that we're tourists as soon as we step off the plane!" She asked why and I proceeded to tell her it's because we would be dressed entirely differently, we will act differently, I'll probably be wearing a shirt that has the name of a band, like Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division, etc., or any number of a dozen other things that will make us stand out. I finished with, "Believe me, they'll know!" LOL
Tourists do not only recognize ma by their clothes. I'm always careful when I cycle past Checkpoint Charly, because there are almost regular tourists who just look at their city maps, walking on the street. If you had met me with your joy division t shirt, I would have thought: oh, a tourist with a good taste in music.
In some regions of Bavaria or Austria a Dirndl or Tracht might be found even in everyday life and outside of tourism. In my school it was not so uncommon for (mostly) girls. But there are lots of details about style and colours which will probably stand out with foreigners.
Re possesing drugs when coming from the Netherlands. Every time I've used the train to cross from Venlo in NL to Kaldenkirchen in D (and on the Mönchengladbach) there was the Bundesgrenzschutz checking for drugs. I presume the other crossing are checked too.
I took various buses and trains from the Netherlands to Germany and once on the RE13 were there any checks, all others (RE18, RE19, 929, 1 Venlo, C11, RB64, ICE, Flixbus and by car) - no checks.
A very important thing you missed which probably is mostly interesting for americans is: You are not allowed to Film or make photos of people without their permission. Most people don't care if you take photos with them on it if the main focus is something else like the Dom in cologne but if someone comes up to you and tells you to delete the photos if they are on them you should do it.
This is a common misconception, and it's not true. It is true that if somebody is the main focus of your photo and you publish it they can get a court order forcing you to take it down. But no, you are not obliged to delete any photo just because somebody tells you to, even if they are visible in the photo.
not complaining about your host country applies to ever tourist wherever you go also a different point no jaywalking unless you want to get the stink eye from everyone or I've heard of people getting yelled to for doing so and you could also get a fine
Yes, don't give anyone in the European host country helpful advice to improve their tourism services because they have massive disdain for anyone non-European and will sooner spit in your face than treat it seriously. Instead, simply never return there and tell all your friends / family that you don't recommend going there.
I never saw so many people stare at shoes as when I was in Munich during a humid heat wave and wore a blue blazer; white pants; and white bucks to the opera!
The biggest way I made a butt of myself in Munich was when I stood on the wrong side of the escalator without realising it. Here in my country (Slovenia) we mostly stand on the left and walk on the right, so one lady got really upset with me. It took me about five seconds of braining really hard to come up with my (terrible) German to utter an apology and explain that I am a tourist and wasn't thinking and that it is my fault. x) Luckily no fines for that, but I did feel terrible for the rest of the day.
Depends, of course. I think he mentioned that in another video, where he was talking about US / German cloth differences that fashion was different. Also behavior, lack of language skills, etc. Also: backpacks and taking pictures of everything.
no idea why UA-cam decided I need to see this old video again today.. but I think the part about recreational herbs can be removed now, should you decide to update this video at some point ;-)
Not entirely. If you're not officially resident in Germany, you can't legally get hold of "recreational herbs"; and you're still not allowed to import it, sell it, or give it to anyone else.
@@rewboss .. right, all that crap that requires membership in these weird clubs our politicians have invented. But at least possession and (in most places) consumption is now allowed..
I love how everything you said literally applies everywhere, those are rules to go by when visiting anywhere, please be reasonable when touristing around!
Can someone explain to me why they were fined for brewing coffee? Honestly, I’m not Italian and I don’t drink coffee so I don’t know what’s going on here, but it seems like an incredibly stupid thing to prohibit.
Because it's against the local laws. If everyone sat down for a picnic on the steps and got out their gas stove to make coffee, it would cause chaos in such a busy area.
Fine Video again. I always love to listen. I am looking forward to all suggestions that wil be made to what not to do in Germany. 😄 Oh, I know one: Dont crush your PET bottles! 👿☠️ ... otherwise you wont get the deposit back 😜
That's a myth. There's no rule to return an uncrushed PET bottle. It's only unrecognizable for the recycling machine, which crashes the bottle by itself.
@@thomasseidel2381 there are two types of bottles (glass as well as PET and other plastic): oneway and multiuse ("Einweg" and "Mehrweg"). and since crushed "multiuse bottles" can't be used again, you'll have problems to return them for the full deposit. also for the oneway bottles you might have problems returning them when eg the label is no longer readable or properly attached since that is used to determine which type of bottle it is, and whether the store is obligated to accept those specific bottles: there is a specific logo for bottles which can be returned in any other ("off-brand") store too.
I always complain about how the stuff in Germany works better than in the USA, how their standard of education is higher, how they actually have working public transport, etc. :)
And now, a humorous version of this video for German tourists about how to not behave as German tourists in any foreign country would be greatly appreciated. Possibly even once in German, once in English (although it might sound condescending in German, so better do it in English only).
The main problem I have going from the West of England to Germany is not just that the sun is rising earlier, it's that Germans get up and go to bed so early, that they are "living in" the timezone for Iran. So I have jetlag, despite only officially moving by one 1 hour.
...also: wearing hats in a restaurant while eating. Generally considered as very bad manners and rude. Not only in Germany, but in most of continental Europe.
Be careful getting into a heated exchange and then throwing an insult. Insult (Beleidigung) is punishable by prison up to one year or by fine. If the insult is committed in public or by assault, the penalty is prison up to two years or a fine.
The sad truth is that in a few areas in Germany there can be applause for acting like a Nazi. These are the areas where, as an African person, it is better not to go for a walk alone. This is the exception, but unfortunately it also exists in certain areas in Germany. Fortunately, the corona deniers also live there, so the problem could be resolved biologically on its own.
As a German Personally I wouldn't mind if tourists complained about no AC or not being able to pay in Cash. It's just something they aren't used to yet and I guess complaining is just part of processing the culture shock. I wouldn't feel annoyed or insulted if a tourist did that.
Nur 100 € für Handy am Ohr bei Tempo 180 auf der Autobahn? Viel zu günstig!! Das ist vielleicht in einem Ort angebracht, da fährt man normalerweise aber auch nur 50. Da fällt mir ein: Ein Video über Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen und die Strafe für Überschreitungen im Vergleich Deutschland - Großbritannien wäre mal interessant!
Don't go into super markets and argue with the cashiers about paying by credit cards. The longer you express your surprise the more you make a fool out of yourself. You could pay via MAESTRO direct debit cards aka EC and that's it.
@@ZenoDovahkiin Unfortunately, a lot of people here are deeply in debt (both for structural and personal reasons) and use cards as personal loans, which is incredibly poor financial sense and a major national problem, but there are other reasons to want to pay by credit card. There's a certain stigma attached to paying cash (who are you if you don't have a credit card?); there's the convenience of simply sticking your card into a reader instead of rummaging for cash and waiting for change (and wallets here don't have coin pockets, so you always lose loose change); and, last but not least, if you play it right, paying by card can actually *save* you money. If you have a no-fee card with cashback, which are quite common, and you pay off each bill before it comes due, you effectively get a 2-3% discount on everything you buy. Card companies offer these incentives to attract customers who will then never use them (because they don't/can't pay off the bills), but they still apply if you *do* use them.
@@ZenoDovahkiin For the past three months I've been getting 5% back by using one of my cards at the grocery store. If you pay it off every month you don't have to pay interest either. That's what I always do. Another card I have pays 2% back at all times at the grocery store.
And there is only one occasion when everyone wears lederhosen and dirndl, no matter what country they come from: The Oktoberfest in Munich. And even there, it's a relatively young tradition. Twenty years ago, young people would rather have died than dress in something so old-fashioned.
Geesh! ...Ouch! .. that is a lot of money?! Fire risk? Did they use river water? Lol! ..and, did the poor Gypsy Bridge German tourists get a kind warning first? Was it to save money from too high cofee costs at tourist trap cafes? They had their own eco green coffee beans? Irish coffee with whiskey? ..we are left with so many questions about Italy now, as a desirable place to visit now, or avoid. 935 Euros? No first kind warning? Was there signs forbidding it so, they knew ev3n? Kid hitchhiking teens sleeping under bridge, or, old couple seeking shelter from hot wave sun? 950€ even?! .. Banishment? Sounds so medieval. Banished! Lol!
warnings? ... i was there several times decades ago and many tourists are bahaving annoyingly. in the meantime i watched some more newer videos about venice and saw pictures with big signs (starting in may 2019) announcing a "200€ fine for sitting on bridges and walls to drink and eat". thus they should have been warned that there are fines, it is disrespectful and rude anyway, and when adding the fire, 950€ and a ban is not hard to understand. btw: "kids or old couple seeking shelter under a bridge", LOL ... Venice is a small historic town with 50k inhabitants and 20 million tourists per year, roughly only 2 kilometers across, and is no public camp site, "roads" are either narrow pedestrian walkways or mostly narrow waterways, and venetian bridges are narrow pedestrian bridges over those waterways, try sleeping there in dirty water :-) there is free tap water, and cafes/bars/restaurants a bit "offside" the most busy areas have a cup of coffee and seats for only 1.50€, no need to brew your own coffee on the road or in front of the most scenic views, if you could spend tens of € to travel to that town and pay a dayly tax of 3€ in the first place. and about the ban: also in germany, eg when people get drunk and/or misbehave in parks or in other public places (eg where alcolhol is not allowed, in front of train stations forbidden by the owner of the train station, or in a city center forbidden by local regulations), police will order them to leave and they get a "Platzverweis" (ban) for that location ...
If tourists would start to brew coffee under the Brandenburg Gate or near the Cologne Cathedral I'm pretty sure that German authorities would step in in a fraction of a second. No Venice specialty 😉.
@@rewboss if (big IF) there are local laws in effect (big signs in venice since may 2019) that announce fines of 200€ for "sitting on bridges and walls to eat and drink", a fine of 950€ for doing just that, combined with brewing the coffee in the first place, i would think that such hefty fines would also be possible in germany. and if you misbehave (eg get drunk) in some places in germany where drinking in the public is not allowed (yes, there are such places, eg in front of some train stations, prohibited by the DB who owns the place, or in town centers, prohibited by local regulations after too many people "swarmed" that location), police would hand you a "Platzverweis", which is effectively a ban from that area. around any place in Berlin or Köln, that would be only limited to a small or even tiny part of the town (Berlin has a diameter of up to 50km), but since the entire city of Venice is a very small town only (roughly 1km radius around the Rialto bridge) and has a different geography (few main walkways through the city, most central just across that bridge; btw: you even have to pay an entry fee to enter the city as a tourist), that ban results in a ban from the entire city.
Yeah, they'd tell them to pack up and leave. It's called "Platzverweis". They most likely wouldn't be fined though, especially not at such a ridiculous amount.
Brandenburg Gate and Cologne Cathedral have wide open spaces around them, sitting down and having a break would probably not be a problem. The island of Venice is the only place I can think of where they have so many tourists and so little space that they feel obliged to do something draconian. Just go to the mainland part, Mestre, f you want to have a picnic.
@@glumbosch9254 It's not "Germans won't care", it's a rule that should be observed in every single place of worship around the world. It's called respect, and that's universal. Maybe some people in every country don't care, but it doesn't mean people should do it.
If I ever go there I am not going to overly concern myself about what I wear in Germany. They all wear khaki with those stereotypical archeologist-professor/safari helmets here in South Africa or they dress like Indiana Jones. I’m sure that is the best attire for the Cape Wine Route or shopping at Pick n’ Pay and Spar.
1:25 wrong. possession of cannabis is legal and how much exactly depends on the bundesland you are in: from 6g in Bavaria(Bayern) & Baden-Württemberg up to 16g in Berlin. furthermore: you can order cannabis online and get it shipped to you via DHL (my friends do it all the time). I personally don't like cannabis and i personally don't smoke it but even i have a few grams of it in my apartement just in case friends visit me and they wanna smoke (so its basically for them). So yea.. Cannabis in germany is pretty much legal, the only thing thats illegal is selling / buying it without paying any taxes or involving minors. I have seen Cannabis being advertised in germany even directed towards children from the american clothing company "Levi's" which i found really odd. i get that cannabis is legal but why do we suddenly start to even advertise it to children? hello? thats not good imo.
This is a common myth. Possession of cannabis is technically illegal except for medicinal purposes, but the state prosecutor usually drops the charges for small amounts -- what is considered a "small amount" varies from state to state (those are the figures you mention). However, there is no guarantee: if you have been convicted of drug offences before, for example, or if the state prosecutor thinks that prosecuting you is in the public interest, you could still find yourself in court. And if the police find even the smallest amount of weed on you, they will press charges -- they have to, it's the law. The most likely outcome for you will be a letter from the state prosecutor saying they are not proceeding with the prosecution, but that doesn't make what you did legal. As for Levi's "advertising cannabis", are you sure? I believe Levi's have found a way of making denim out of hemp, which is made from the cannabis plant but has no psychoactive effects -- it's not a narcotic, so there's nothing illegal or even dangerous about it.
> „you can order cannabis online and get it shipped to you via DHL“ Sorry, but that is nonsence.May be you find a dumb dealer selling it online, he or she will not do it for a long time before being caught. You might find „cocaine taxis“ in some big cities, but never think it is legal. When you get caught, you will be punished for sure.
CBD Canabis without THC is legal if you buy it in shops. If the police pick you up you have to verify where you bought it. Canabis with THC is illegal without a recipe from your Doctor for medical use.
The cash thing is insane though. Everywhere else in Europe and around the world you can get by with contactless payment, but over in Germany cash is King, which is expensive since you have to use an ATM and pay fees out the wazoo.
well, what I hear is worse than what I know. Today, I was shopping in Aldi/Penny/Lidl, getting french fries at McDonald's, buying some books in a bookstore and sending a registered letter from a post office. The only place where I used coins was the parking ticket machine. Even there, a sign offered a "Handy payment" (which means payment via cell phone). I didn't like to download another app for this so I preferred using coins. It's true that a number of Germans prefer to pay cash in order to prevent being monitored which they call Datenschutz or Datensparsamkeit (data protection through avoidance of traces). So, neither the wife nor the law enforcement agencies are able to find out, in front of what kind of bookstore I parked and bought a book, for example.
That is not true. You can pay with your debit-card almost everywhere, maybe except for a bottle of beer at the Späti/Kiosk/Büdchen. Credit cards are often not accepted due to the fees for AMEX and VISA which reduce the small profit margines at ALDI or Lidl.
@@frankderessener4477 I can remember visiting Dresden and other small towns in Germany like Berlin back in September 2019 and having to withdraw cash everywhere be it at the restaurant or at the supermarket. Sure there was the odd convenience store or transit agency that would accept it but its nowhere near as common as elsewhere in the world. As for AMEX/Visa/Mastercard/Debit fees yeah it sucks but what's the alternative? There is a shoe-leather cost associated with having to locate an ATM, withdraw cash and manage all that. Everywhere else in the world has simply relied on tacking on an extra 1% across the board to their prices to deal with this. And frankly, I don't mind paying 1% more for the convenience, especially if I earn frequent flyer points along the way that rebate most of that cost.
@@galdavonalgerri2101 the other thing that irks me is having to pay 1 or 2 euros to use the restroom and in many cases that is cash only. Almost makes you want to hop the barrier! 😡
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils". If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes... Also be aware, it's totally possible to visit an American Fastfood "Restaurant" (Caling chip shop Restaurants allways triggers me) and not be able to order in American. These kind of jobs don't attract employees with degrees oven basic interrests in the English language. I know that, as I did work there!
I am amazed that anyone needs to be told this, so I am trying to work out who it is directed at. Americans are the obvious country, but they are known for not travelling much. So if not Americans, then which countries citizens break these common sense rules, British, Australians, Dutch...?
The Netherlands are a small country neighbouring Germany. The Dutch are overwhelmingly decent people and know how to behave, a lot of them have German at school and if you're close enough to the border a lot of folks will even be good at it. I would honestly say that Germans going to the Netherlands are a more worrying prospect because the bar of being respectful as a guest is higher with how hospitable the Dutch are. Also, while they of course have their own culture, they are reasonably compatible with the Germans, you'll meet a lot of them in Lower Saxony, a bunch of them live here, and there's basically never any problems with them, generally.
„Deutschland, Deutschland über alles“ has nothing to do with Nazis. The term came from a time when Germany was just a young and new union, when they left all the duchies and little kingdoms behind to form a single country. And then it was necessary to say that Germany as a whole nation is more important than regional interests. „Deutschland über alles“ means „Germany before everything else“ not that Germany would be better than everything else.
Yes, you're right. The poet, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, was exiled to Heligoland by the Prussian state for encouraging the unification of the German lands, at that time a patchwork of Kingdoms, Duchies, Principalities etc. Hoffmann in exile (so he said) could think of nothing else but Germany "Deutschland über alles" ("Germany above all"). It most certainly does not mean Germany as "Top Dog" or being on top of the pile of states". Gramatically "über alles" ("above all") (accusative). If it meant "on top" it would be "über Allen" (dative).
The expression comes from BEFORE Germany was unified and expressed the wish, above all others, that Germany unify as one nation. His wish only became reality three years before his death. The text was written in 1841, years even before the constitution of the Paulskirche parliament and the 1848 revolutions. A unified Germany was a long way off.
It's funny that his words are sung to Haydn's music for Francis II's Kaiserhymne, which he took with him to Austria after he wound up the Holy Roman Empire.
I was driving to Austria from my home in the Netherlands and got stopped by one of those German incognito police BMW's. They didn't state any reason and wanted to look through my car, which they briefly did, not finding anything obviously. 100% sure they thought I could have cannabis but it really makes me rather annoyed. Is it even legal to stop someone because they are young and have a Dutch liscense plate? I don't think that warrants a search.
It doesn't, but they have the right to stop random vehicles for checks, and searches if they have a reason to suspect something (as mentioned in the video, by the way).
They´ve got to fullfill a certain quote. Sad truth. I was controlled in my hometowne 5 times in eight weeks because I used a car often used by terrorists and drug traffickers. I got so annoyed about that the last time I insisted on a hair, urine and blood test to be sure and did offer them to have a look on my internet accounts. Since then, 14 years later, I wasn´t stopped once.
@@martinc.720 Sure, "if they have a reason to suspect something" but apart from me being young and Dutch, which I don't think are proper reasons, there wasn't anything they told me when I asked and they let me go right after.
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank Wow, that's a lot. Let's hope these quotas are filled by now, I'll be driving through Germany a lot in the next month for holidays..
@@Clear_Ski3s Again... watch the video :) And everyone knows police will make up excuses to stop people. All I did in my first reply was answer your question "is it legal".. because you are young, no. Is it legal to stop a random vehicle? Totally. Then they have to "find" a reason. If you can't prove what they are doing...
Now, even at the 'right' place to wear tracht, tourists are even more easy to spot. There are not only the very small differences seperating vilages and regions, which tourists are not aware of makign them wear well .. lets say unusual combinations, but even more so there's quality. A good pair of Lederhosn costs easy more than 1000 Euro - without any accessories or remarkable design added. Similar for a Dirndl. Used ones aren't cheap either. The 'things' tourists usually buy to dress up are cheap Asian made rip offs, easy to spot across a street. And never ever wear one of these 'funny' cloth made Lederhosn look alikes. They are neither funny nor appropriate - they are simply an insult to every local seeing you.
When you make jokes about our darkest times in history you have to be very careful indeed. You cannot do jokes that make Hitler look good. However, what you can do is make jokes that denounce Hitler.
You forgot the most important one: "DON´T MENTION THE WAR!". Goddamnit, I thought Fawlty Towers was a mandatory view in the past! ;-) Also, you should warn people about the "outlaw corridor"..... :-D
You can absolutely complain about not being able to pay by card, its about time this country gets itself out of the middle ages. At least i have noticed that they seem to finally catch up bit by bit and was able to pay by card for a beer in the middle of Berlin last week (BRLO).
read Is good: because I’ve been living here for 5 years now. Overall its an awesome country and city, but as a part of my Einbürgerung I had to find minor things to complain about.
I like my cash, I Pay everything cash, let it be an Döner, an coffee or an used car. I like to say: "Nur Bares ist Wahres" When I go somewhere I usualy have my EC and Creditcard with my, but also enough money to not get into trouble. The only things I pay by card are tickets (monthly), gas and sometimes groceries, when I don´t have enough money in my pocket. In my opinion, cash is the way to go, you open your purse and you know exactly how much money you have left, better than any ATM or crazy online-banking app, because it works, even, when your battery is low.
The "no 3rd Reich jokes" one is hard for me because I make jokes about everyone's history, including mine. Luckily my friend down under doesn't mind "convict" as a term of endearment. I wish this was more of a thing globally, because it allows you to showcase how much you know about someone's background. All I get is people telling me to eat something. Or the Dracula thing.
It's not that you can't joke about Nazis. It depends on what the joke is. This advice is mainly aimed at people who think it's a good idea to mess around at holocaust memorials and stuff. Basically, don't act like you're Logan Paul in Japan.
Hint: if a local gives you a hard time, just accuse him of being a racist - other Germans will believe you without asking any questions and you will be the good guy.
Don't use public transportation as city sightseeing tours, e.g. the ferrys as a harbour tour here in Hamburg. They are there for the citizens, we hate tourists which occupy the city while we want to go to work.
3:50 That fine is way to low in my opinion... You endanger so many people... its like going to the USA, buying a gun and shooting it in the mall next door, just to see what happens... In the end you ruin the fun for everyone. Eco fascists use your behaviour to advocate for general speed limits etc. Really shitty
A: then you should brush up on your history. B: The song is called "lied der Deutschen" which would be translated with "song of the german people" rather than "german anthem".
after the war, we kept the song as anthem with the additional instruction to sing only the third verse, but afaik, nowadays (since 1990) ONLY the third verse is the entire official anthem. it still is not illegal to sing the first two verses, but although they had nothing to do with nazis when they were written, the original meaning of the first verse got partially lost and its misuse by nazis can't be ignored. thus since the war, that verse HAS SOMETHING to do with the nazis and everybody should be aware that an uncommented recitation of it will get very bad (and only rarely possibly wrong) associations with what someone wants to express by doing so. btw: i find the second verse quite funny, just fitting the saying "Wein, Weib und Gesang", maybe to be used on Mallorca ? :-)
"If you visit a church, be respectful. It's not just a tourist attraction, it is a place of worship and prayer" Wait. You say to be respectful, but your reasoning seems to indicate that respect is not warranted. Weird.
If you think that the appropriate reaction to people engaging in traditional acts you don't understand or agree with is disdain and disrespect, that is of course your own business. But you then forfeit your own right to respect.
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils". If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes...
Thanks for all the comments about "Deutschland, Deutschland über alles." I know it's not actually a Nazi thing, but it's still controversial and connected in the popular mind with Nazism. Regardless of the historical reality or the legal situation, singing it while performing the Nazi salute is still very insensitive.
For me it is. "Normal" people don't sing or mention it.
Yes, it is not illegal and not from the third Reich. But they missused it and today, only right wing people use the "it is not a Nazi thing" Argument to sing it.
Now you can Wonder, why they want to sing "Deutschland Deutschland über alles" so bad
I caught a couple of French tourists, both young men who should have known better, climbing on the Holocaust memorial in Berlin, so I shouted "Shame" at them, and they behaved as if I was the one in the wrong! There was a guard working there who'd also told them off. Just unbelievable. You wouldn't expect foreign tourists to rampage over gravestones in a French cemetery, would you?
@The German Diaspora which German Soul? The Bavarian? The lower saxon? The frisian?
I'm pretty sure, the "German Soul" for me is Something very different to what you have in mind.
@The German Diaspora - Sorry, not sorry. Jemand der in der Deutschen Diaspora lebt, sollte Abstand davon nehmen repräsentativ über die deutsche Volksseele fabulieren zu wollen. Setzen. Sechs.
Simple rule: It is always legit to complain about the trains and the DB. Always. And there will be reason for it. For sure.
that´s the best way to blend in
So true. ^_^
Not only is it perfectly acceptable, it is basically required to so
If you're not complaining about DB, you should check your ID (passport). You might not be german after all. *lol*
This week, we even complained about the DB arriving early. :)
I feel like 75% of these are aimed at Americans and apply to most of Europe and not just Germany
950 euro fine for making coffee in one country, 100 euro fine in another for operating a motor vehicle in a way that could result in the death of several people... makes you wonder, doesn't it?
in summer Venice is so crowded that you almost won't fall when you lift both feet from the ground and instead will be transported (shoved along) by all the people, and Rialtobridge is one of the most crowded and most famous landmarks. Thus "making coffee" at such a place probably was at least "inconveniencing" or even endangering hundreds of people (directly or by causing a panic). What would anybody expect to happen when blocking (pedestrian) traffic in such a dangerous way, maybe by starting a bbq on a campfire on Times Square in the USA?
Btw: the 100€ probably was for that kind of driving on an unlimited and relatively empty road, which only created a rather subjective danger. there is a list with fixed fines for "measurable" traffic violations in germany and those fines are much higher and include additional penalties when driving too fast above a given speed limit and/or causing personal endangerment, coercion, etc of other drivers (that can result in penalty law being applied instead of only traffic fines)
@@Anson_AKB Thank you for your explanation of the "making-coffee"-fine in Venice. In this way it sounds reasonable to me. I was just under the way to think: The Italians simply hate German coffee...
Dan, is that you?
The 100 euro fine is only if you are driving normal. If you don't, and operate a mobile or something you are liable to also get an Strafanzeige (you will be investigated for a legal offence) for a "Gefährlicher Eingriff in den Straßenverkehr" (dangerous actions while operating in the road system). And you really do not want that.
Question: Why were two German tourists brewing coffee next to a bridge in Venice?
follow up question: Why is that illegal?
Just leaving a comment because I really would like to know too
No Idea but how to boil water for the coffee on a bridge? - Open fire? - and maybe it is a 600 years old wooden bridge?
DSP16569 hobo stove
You guys ever heard of Google?
Apparently the tourists broke “the rules of public decorum and respect”.
"The public decorum laws were introduced after residents complained about the bad behaviour of tourists at the Unesco world heritage site, including picnicking, diving into canals, washing in fountains or walking around bare-chested or in bikinis."
I suppose sitting under a bridge and brewing coffee breaks the rules.
Excellent video by the way! While this video focuses on what not to do when visiting Germany, Americans should understand that:
1. Germany is a sovereign country. Their own constitution (The Basic Law) and their own laws including their criminal code, which is different than ours in America.
2. As an American, once you leave the borders of the United States the rights and freedoms we cherish as part of the First Amendment do not apply. Our American Constitution including our Bill of Rights stops at the US border.
3. While visiting Germany you are subject to German law - NOT American law. As an American, when you visit Germany you are their house guest and are expected to abide by their laws.
4. If the worst happens and you are arrested by German police, the United States Embassy can only do much but one thing is certain: The United States Embassy cannot get you out of jail. The fact that you have an American passport does not give you any kind of special status in Germany (or any other foreign country for that matter).
also the other important one (nr. 2.).....whiiiich sucks out loud for me right now, in Hungary, lol.
BuT mA FrEeDoM!1
If you are not able to play by our Rules, stay the Fuck at Home. We have no Need for People who think just because they deny Genocide ever happend on their Territory, they are somehow send from God.
The funny thing about the law in germany is: it's similiar in MOST, but not all regards to US law. Afterall: the US had a say in what laws got written after 1945.
It really shouldn't be hard to follow german law as a tourist from the US, plenty of US citizens visit germany every day without much of a problem.
Oh, and all of this holds true for germans visiting the US as well => abide by US law, or suffer the consequences.
You do need a staggering amount of misbehaviour to even be noticed by German police though, let alone be arrested. They are generally nice, unlike their US version.
Two Germans brewing coffee next to a bridge sounds like a lead-in for a joke! LOL Give us a punch-line!
Italians forcing them to pay €900 is a sufficient punchline...
I read a German and an italian article about it, they say basically the same thing:
Venice has made new rules that prohibit this kind of 'disrespectful' behavior.
So it's not a fire safety thing, it's really just that the Venetians don't want people picnicking in their historic city.
"Venice deserves better."
It's way too harsh, if you ask me. 50€ would have hurt them just as much.
...and then they invaded poland
Not two weeks ago I had to hold myself back not to slap a korean tourist group for shooting pictures of themselves while showing the nazi salute inside the Documentation Center of the Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg. Instead, I asked them whether they know where they were and what this place represents. I told them that this is a crime in Germany. Not sure if they realized what I said...
The Nazi salut is only common at AfD-Meetings...
@@solidstate9451 bullshit
@@solidstate9451 even there it WILL get you kicked out of the meeting an possible out of the party as well. In any party, there is no place for criminals, even if you think, they are nazis, they at least know the law and how to keep them selves clean.
@@FabiaLp oh, really? Ask Höcke about this.
Wow. But look at different videos from Asia, they also use the Hakenkreuz regularly. Just stupid
"...and don't be a jerk." - Not just for travelers - good advice while at home, too.
03:30 Here in the Netherlands we get more ice than drink, I actually prefer drinks with a little ice instead of ice with a little soda.
2:35 This especially goes for German tourists traveling abroad, lol. I found that my fellow countrymen and -women are among the first to complain if something is not as they are used to at home.
About the speed limit: THANK YOU! Sometimes I feel like everybody thinks "oh, no speed limit in Germany, hu-hu, cool". But they forget that there are other people on the road as well. Your speed shouldn't be so high that you cannot safely drive your vehicle. I rarely feel the need to go faster than 140-150km/h on the Autobahn. Besides, I think the top speed for my car is around 180km/h, so it's not like I could even go that much faster.
hence the phrase often heard, "bei uns is Alles besser"
There's also the problem, that most tourists are not used to that kind of speed and are not used to handle a car under those circumstances. At 180 km/h the lines feel really narrow.
The thing is that in Germany you already learn to handle ~180km/h in driving school high way lessons :D
@@Fischplays Not true, though. My driving instructor told me to watch my speed when I went faster than 130km/h.
Also: Going 180km/h in driving school one or two times isn't exactly "learning how to handle a car at such high speeds" anyway.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong but while there isn't a speed limit on an auto bahn, there is a speed recommendation of I think 130 km/h if I remember my theoretical driver lessons correctly. Meaning, you can drive faster than that but if you get into an accident and it can be proved that you drove faster than 130 km/h, you're partially at fault for that accident no matter what.
I've always found Germany a breeze to visit, literally no issues at all, everyone is super friendly, polite and down to earth. As relaxing as going on holiday in the UK, top marks to Germany, every time!
I'll admit that it baffles me that such things have to be pointed out, it should be self-evident that when you visit another country, you'd want to represent your own in the best possible manner.
What difference a single letter can make: "You should be fine(d)" ;)
I think that was on purpose in the end - black British humour.
The nazi salute is illegal in germany!
Some people say "today you are not allowed to say anything!" Well, depends on what you say, some things are forbidden since 1945!
Well... At the moment, you seem to not even be allowed to say there are two biological genders so this is not just a Nazi thing.
The fine is actually for the driver operating any handheld device with the motor running. While not usual, it's not unheard of for police to give fines to people checking their phone while parked with the motor running.
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils".
If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes...
above all, the meaning of "characters in German" has to be discussed.
When I watch American films, I always see signs like "LEFT LANE MUST TURN LEFT" or "NO PARKING AT ANY TIME". You will not find such signs in German language. Germany uses signs with symbols or internationally recognized signs such as a white arrow pointing left on a blue background (means only turning left) or a red X on a blue background (means no parking). These signs are much quicker to understand when looking at the sign, and even an illiterate person can easily learn the meaning.
@@galdavonalgerri2101 It's kinda necessary because you want people who come over from Francs, Poland, Denmark, etc to understand the signs as well.
Several countries around the world have found widely accepted ways to pay without cash and could be tempted to complain about the lack of a nationwide cashless payment system in Germany. The Netherlands would be nearest one to Germany.
Now I'm curious: Why is it illegal to brew coffee at the foot of that bridge in Venice?
Why is it illegal to make a campfire on times square? :-)
the bridge is 22 meters wide (75 feet) including two rows of shops, and probably used by every single tourist at least twice. With 20 million tourists per year, do the math how crowded it is and how much it blocks the bridge and endangers people when someone starts making coffee on open fire.
@@Anson_AKB They weren't on the bridge. They were in front of the bridge on steps right next to the water. I've seen pictures now. They were pretty much the only people on this particular spot. They didn't make a camp fire but had a small gas cooker, but OK technically it's open fire, pretty much like a lighter for cigarettes and those aren't banned. After seeing the pics, I think I have a better idea of why they were kicked out of there. They looked like alternative/hippy-ish people on a camping trip... and these steps are part of the scenic view. They just looked bad for ever person who wanted to take a photo of the bridge.
@@thulyblu5486 in the meantime i also watched some more videos about venice and saw pictures with big signs (starting in may 2019) announcing a "200€ fine for sitting on bridges and walls to drink and eat". thus they should have been warned that there are fines, it is disrespectful and rude anyway, and when adding the fire, 950€ and a ban is not hard to understand. Venice is no public camp site ...
It's basically illegal to go to Venice, not sure why people keep going there at all. I've never heard someone come back from Venice saying they enjoyed the experience.
@@gorkyd7912 i was there quite a few times in some different decades and the first times it was really enjoyable. but i have to agree: every year there were more and more tourists, and in addition to access by the "few" trains and cars there are more and more cruise ships (when i was there the last time maybe 15 years ago, it was only a few small ones per week, now it is several monsters per day), and thus it becomes less and less enjoyable to go to the main tourist attractions. but it might still be possible to go to venice and enjoy it when you go "off-season" and/or by only having a short look at the outside of the main attractions and instead go to some remote parts of the town or to some of the nearby islands.
My most pleasant experiences in Germany revolve around drinking beer in public and attending Fests! Wonderful music, food, and beer!
Did you have Spanferkel? Best way to eat pork.
This could be applied to all countries. Just inform your if visiting a place, that maybe help. And ask if you want to take a photo. e.g. in japan is making photos not allowed in some places.
Anyone taking a hand off the wheel at 200 kph is a case for an MPU in my mind. And I've driven at that speed.
You are a very smart and educated person. thank you.
Italian here.
About the Berliners in Venice, they were fined and expelled because of mainly two reasons:
1) The Municipality of Venice passed in 2018 a local law that punishes every behaviour that is seen contrary to public decorum: this was done to stop people (mainly German and American tourists) that just treat the Canals and landmarks as if those were their personal toilet, by throwing pic-nic residues in the water or leaving them everywhere else but in trash bins. That explains the 900€ fine.
2) The banishment (well, not really... more like a "temporary expulsion" for 3 years) is because they aggravated their position by resisting the local police and attemping to throw an officer into the water.
Non c'è di che :)
Italy has problems and they’re not capable of managing those problems. They rather try to punish tourists for not even offensive behavior just because they didn’t study Italian law before they did certain actions.
I mean the story of the man with the hammock in Barcola who was fined 300 Euros because hammocks were not allowed on the beach? (To be precise, adding any „structure“ to trees is forbidden, now I didn’t know a hammock was a structure)
Or the Spanish guy who dressed up as an ancient Roman soldier and got fined 500 Euros because it is forbidden to dress up in ancient clothes to prevent people getting money from tourists?
Italy shows ridiculous behavior regarding tourist fines, just because they can’t get their system to work properly. I mean look at Pompeji, the archeologists there say that the tourist masses endanger the structures there. But what is the local government doing against it? Nothing. They could easily limit the number of visitors and make it mandatory to register before you come there, but they simply don’t care.
Oh, yeah, I am pretty sure that you know about what other people have to do just to behave right and nice you are entitled to judge about what fine is correct. And what for. They will love you all around the globe, because people always are fond of those guy who know the right way for everyone. Sorry, can't stay longer listening to your wisdom, have to vomit.
Barcelona is in Spain.
@@sisuguillam5109 And Barcola is in Italy (although I was confused at first too as the difference between "Barcola" and "Barcelona" is similar between "Austria" and "Australia").
First try to live here, then we will see
1:00 I think it’s probably because in the allied countries (at least in my part of England) it’s seen as a a funny thing to joke about, but I wouldn’t do it in Germany because there are cultural differences.
is there ever an excuse to be a jerk anyway?
Nope, Never!
Yes there is. When you are not aware of certain rules in specific situations.
Just leaving a comment, because I really like you. :)
"Please don't take selfies or do other disrespectful things within the holocaust memorial in Berlin" would be another thing... ;)
First of all, Germans do that too there. And secondly, it was intended by the creator to be used as a lively place. Taking selfies is totally within the intended uses. So no, this rule does not apply.
Germans do all kind of stupid shit, but that doesn't mean that it isn't inappropriate.
@@Tigerbarsch You can also take selfies in a respectful way.
@@faultier1158 No, you can't
@@Tigerbarsch Doing all kind of stupid shit is not limited to German tourists ;-)
It's funny what you said about clothing. The first time I visited Germany I brought my family, and one of my daughters, who was 12 at the time asked a question that included the phrase, "...if they know that we're tourists." I said, "Sweetie, there's no 'if' about it. They'll know that we're tourists as soon as we step off the plane!" She asked why and I proceeded to tell her it's because we would be dressed entirely differently, we will act differently, I'll probably be wearing a shirt that has the name of a band, like Depeche Mode, New Order, Joy Division, etc., or any number of a dozen other things that will make us stand out. I finished with, "Believe me, they'll know!" LOL
Tourists do not only recognize ma by their clothes. I'm always careful when I cycle past Checkpoint Charly, because there are almost regular tourists who just look at their city maps, walking on the street.
If you had met me with your joy division t shirt, I would have thought: oh, a tourist with a good taste in music.
Wearing depeche mode t-Shirts isnt anything that makes you stand out 😅
Venice will use any pretense to extort the tourist, but my suspicion is that there was some kind of open fire or stove involved.
In some regions of Bavaria or Austria a Dirndl or Tracht might be found even in everyday life and outside of tourism. In my school it was not so uncommon for (mostly) girls. But there are lots of details about style and colours which will probably stand out with foreigners.
Re possesing drugs when coming from the Netherlands. Every time I've used the train to cross from Venlo in NL to Kaldenkirchen in D (and on the Mönchengladbach) there was the Bundesgrenzschutz checking for drugs. I presume the other crossing are checked too.
I have my doubts. I've driven to Cologne like 20 times and I have never been stopped.
The BGS doesn't even exist anymore.
I took various buses and trains from the Netherlands to Germany and once on the RE13 were there any checks, all others (RE18, RE19, 929, 1 Venlo, C11, RB64, ICE, Flixbus and by car) - no checks.
A very important thing you missed which probably is mostly interesting for americans is: You are not allowed to Film or make photos of people without their permission. Most people don't care if you take photos with them on it if the main focus is something else like the Dom in cologne but if someone comes up to you and tells you to delete the photos if they are on them you should do it.
This is a common misconception, and it's not true.
It is true that if somebody is the main focus of your photo and you publish it they can get a court order forcing you to take it down. But no, you are not obliged to delete any photo just because somebody tells you to, even if they are visible in the photo.
When you see a moving bicycle, slow down, don't make any sudden moves and avoid eye contact. It will eventually go away on its own.
not complaining about your host country applies to ever tourist wherever you go
also a different point no jaywalking unless you want to get the stink eye from everyone or I've heard of people getting yelled to for doing so and you could also get a fine
Yes, don't give anyone in the European host country helpful advice to improve their tourism services because they have massive disdain for anyone non-European and will sooner spit in your face than treat it seriously. Instead, simply never return there and tell all your friends / family that you don't recommend going there.
For THAT amount you can almost buy a ready made coffee on St Mark's square!
I never saw so many people stare at shoes as when I was in Munich during a humid heat wave and wore a blue blazer; white pants; and white bucks to the opera!
The biggest way I made a butt of myself in Munich was when I stood on the wrong side of the escalator without realising it. Here in my country (Slovenia) we mostly stand on the left and walk on the right, so one lady got really upset with me. It took me about five seconds of braining really hard to come up with my (terrible) German to utter an apology and explain that I am a tourist and wasn't thinking and that it is my fault. x) Luckily no fines for that, but I did feel terrible for the rest of the day.
Why do you state that you won't blend in? Just curious.
Depends, of course. I think he mentioned that in another video, where he was talking about US / German cloth differences that fashion was different.
Also behavior, lack of language skills, etc.
Also: backpacks and taking pictures of everything.
no idea why UA-cam decided I need to see this old video again today.. but I think the part about recreational herbs can be removed now, should you decide to update this video at some point ;-)
Not entirely. If you're not officially resident in Germany, you can't legally get hold of "recreational herbs"; and you're still not allowed to import it, sell it, or give it to anyone else.
@@rewboss .. right, all that crap that requires membership in these weird clubs our politicians have invented. But at least possession and (in most places) consumption is now allowed..
I love how everything you said literally applies everywhere, those are rules to go by when visiting anywhere, please be reasonable when touristing around!
Can someone explain to me why they were fined for brewing coffee? Honestly, I’m not Italian and I don’t drink coffee so I don’t know what’s going on here, but it seems like an incredibly stupid thing to prohibit.
Because it's against the local laws. If everyone sat down for a picnic on the steps and got out their gas stove to make coffee, it would cause chaos in such a busy area.
Fine Video again. I always love to listen.
I am looking forward to all suggestions that wil be made to what not to do in Germany. 😄
Oh, I know one:
Dont crush your PET bottles! 👿☠️
... otherwise you wont get the deposit back 😜
That's a myth. There's no rule to return an uncrushed PET bottle. It's only unrecognizable for the recycling machine, which crashes the bottle by itself.
@@thomasseidel2381 Jojo... 😁
@@thomasseidel2381 there are two types of bottles (glass as well as PET and other plastic): oneway and multiuse ("Einweg" and "Mehrweg"). and since crushed "multiuse bottles" can't be used again, you'll have problems to return them for the full deposit. also for the oneway bottles you might have problems returning them when eg the label is no longer readable or properly attached since that is used to determine which type of bottle it is, and whether the store is obligated to accept those specific bottles: there is a specific logo for bottles which can be returned in any other ("off-brand") store too.
Very good advices!
I always complain about how the stuff in Germany works better than in the USA, how their standard of education is higher, how they actually have working public transport, etc. :)
Well yes and no. Our public transport ... well ... You had luck to not have a problem with DB (Regular German Train Company)
@@tyrooo4742 At least it _exists._
And now, a humorous version of this video for German tourists about how to not behave as German tourists in any foreign country would be greatly appreciated. Possibly even once in German, once in English (although it might sound condescending in German, so better do it in English only).
Guess what's legal now (I think)
Customer service is fine in Germany maybe 50% of the time.But sometimes rather icy,cold, moody, tense.
The main problem I have going from the West of England to Germany is not just that the sun is rising earlier, it's that Germans get up and go to bed so early, that they are "living in" the timezone for Iran. So I have jetlag, despite only officially moving by one 1 hour.
What are common aspects about tourists’ clothing which make us stand out?
Hats and text (especially "University of sth"). Both clearly marks person as american turist to anyone from Europe.
I need a hat with the text, “I an NOT an American Tourist!” 🤠
White. Tennis. Socks. Especially when pulled up about half way to the knees 🤢
...also: wearing hats in a restaurant while eating. Generally considered as very bad manners and rude. Not only in Germany, but in most of continental Europe.
I think that it was that way in the US into, maybe, the 50’s. The change was gradual, and I remember when it was still proper.
"Then you should be fine."
German: "Dann solltest du Geldstrafe sein."
*Kichert auf Deutsch*
Best advice I’ve ever heard from one US citizen to another: “Remember, this is not Disney Land!”.
A place as draconian as Venice in Germany: Siebengebirge
Be careful getting into a heated exchange and then throwing an insult. Insult (Beleidigung) is punishable by prison up to one year or by fine. If the insult is committed in public or by assault, the penalty is prison up to two years or a fine.
"No air-conditioning" - reminds me of a well-known american football player here on UA-cam. XD
After 4 years, this is still valid. Besides, it works in every country. "Don't break the law, don't be a jerk."
Depending on the area, doing the Hitler salute may also result in you getting spat at or punched
The sad truth is that in a few areas in Germany there can be applause for acting like a Nazi.
These are the areas where, as an African person, it is better not to go for a walk alone. This is the exception, but unfortunately it also exists in certain areas in Germany. Fortunately, the corona deniers also live there, so the problem could be resolved biologically on its own.
And the Police will happily believe the "He was doing the Hitler salute and then walked into something" Excuse.
Getting fined €950 for brewing coffee sounds like a scheme to make money for the local council.
As a German Personally I wouldn't mind if tourists complained about no AC or not being able to pay in Cash. It's just something they aren't used to yet and I guess complaining is just part of processing the culture shock. I wouldn't feel annoyed or insulted if a tourist did that.
Nur 100 € für Handy am Ohr bei Tempo 180 auf der Autobahn? Viel zu günstig!! Das ist vielleicht in einem Ort angebracht, da fährt man normalerweise aber auch nur 50.
Da fällt mir ein: Ein Video über Geschwindigkeitsbegrenzungen und die Strafe für Überschreitungen im Vergleich Deutschland - Großbritannien wäre mal interessant!
Don't go into super markets and argue with the cashiers about paying by credit cards. The longer you express your surprise the more you make a fool out of yourself. You could pay via MAESTRO direct debit cards aka EC and that's it.
Honestly Americans thinking it's normal to pay interest on your groceries is absolutely baffling.
@@ZenoDovahkiin Unfortunately, a lot of people here are deeply in debt (both for structural and personal reasons) and use cards as personal loans, which is incredibly poor financial sense and a major national problem, but there are other reasons to want to pay by credit card.
There's a certain stigma attached to paying cash (who are you if you don't have a credit card?); there's the convenience of simply sticking your card into a reader instead of rummaging for cash and waiting for change (and wallets here don't have coin pockets, so you always lose loose change); and, last but not least, if you play it right, paying by card can actually *save* you money.
If you have a no-fee card with cashback, which are quite common, and you pay off each bill before it comes due, you effectively get a 2-3% discount on everything you buy. Card companies offer these incentives to attract customers who will then never use them (because they don't/can't pay off the bills), but they still apply if you *do* use them.
@@ZenoDovahkiin For the past three months I've been getting 5% back by using one of my cards at the grocery store. If you pay it off every month you don't have to pay interest either. That's what I always do. Another card I have pays 2% back at all times at the grocery store.
And there is only one occasion when everyone wears lederhosen and dirndl, no matter what country they come from: The Oktoberfest in Munich. And even there, it's a relatively young tradition. Twenty years ago, young people would rather have died than dress in something so old-fashioned.
Geesh! ...Ouch! .. that is a lot of money?! Fire risk? Did they use river water? Lol! ..and, did the poor Gypsy Bridge German tourists get a kind warning first? Was it to save money from too high cofee costs at tourist trap cafes? They had their own eco green coffee beans? Irish coffee with whiskey? ..we are left with so many questions about Italy now, as a desirable place to visit now, or avoid. 935 Euros? No first kind warning? Was there signs forbidding it so, they knew ev3n? Kid hitchhiking teens sleeping under bridge, or, old couple seeking shelter from hot wave sun? 950€ even?! .. Banishment? Sounds so medieval. Banished! Lol!
warnings? ... i was there several times decades ago and many tourists are bahaving annoyingly. in the meantime i watched some more newer videos about venice and saw pictures with big signs (starting in may 2019) announcing a "200€ fine for sitting on bridges and walls to drink and eat". thus they should have been warned that there are fines, it is disrespectful and rude anyway, and when adding the fire, 950€ and a ban is not hard to understand.
btw: "kids or old couple seeking shelter under a bridge", LOL ... Venice is a small historic town with 50k inhabitants and 20 million tourists per year, roughly only 2 kilometers across, and is no public camp site, "roads" are either narrow pedestrian walkways or mostly narrow waterways, and venetian bridges are narrow pedestrian bridges over those waterways, try sleeping there in dirty water :-) there is free tap water, and cafes/bars/restaurants a bit "offside" the most busy areas have a cup of coffee and seats for only 1.50€, no need to brew your own coffee on the road or in front of the most scenic views, if you could spend tens of € to travel to that town and pay a dayly tax of 3€ in the first place.
and about the ban: also in germany, eg when people get drunk and/or misbehave in parks or in other public places (eg where alcolhol is not allowed, in front of train stations forbidden by the owner of the train station, or in a city center forbidden by local regulations), police will order them to leave and they get a "Platzverweis" (ban) for that location ...
How can it even be discussed not to behave accordingly on an UNESCO world heritage site?
Pretty much just show respect and dont break the law. This advice can apply to almost any country.
for the cannabis part: funny side note is: the POSSESION of canabis is against the law however the CONSUMPTION isnt
As if anyone would pay the dealer to also hold the joint…
If tourists would start to brew coffee under the Brandenburg Gate or near the Cologne Cathedral I'm pretty sure that German authorities would step in in a fraction of a second. No Venice specialty 😉.
They probably would, but they wouldn't hand down a €1000 fine and then order the tourists to pack their bags and leave the city.
@@rewboss if (big IF) there are local laws in effect (big signs in venice since may 2019) that announce fines of 200€ for "sitting on bridges and walls to eat and drink", a fine of 950€ for doing just that, combined with brewing the coffee in the first place, i would think that such hefty fines would also be possible in germany.
and if you misbehave (eg get drunk) in some places in germany where drinking in the public is not allowed (yes, there are such places, eg in front of some train stations, prohibited by the DB who owns the place, or in town centers, prohibited by local regulations after too many people "swarmed" that location), police would hand you a "Platzverweis", which is effectively a ban from that area. around any place in Berlin or Köln, that would be only limited to a small or even tiny part of the town (Berlin has a diameter of up to 50km), but since the entire city of Venice is a very small town only (roughly 1km radius around the Rialto bridge) and has a different geography (few main walkways through the city, most central just across that bridge; btw: you even have to pay an entry fee to enter the city as a tourist), that ban results in a ban from the entire city.
Yeah, they'd tell them to pack up and leave. It's called "Platzverweis". They most likely wouldn't be fined though, especially not at such a ridiculous amount.
Brandenburg Gate and Cologne Cathedral have wide open spaces around them, sitting down and having a break would probably not be a problem. The island of Venice is the only place I can think of where they have so many tourists and so little space that they feel obliged to do something draconian. Just go to the mainland part, Mestre, f you want to have a picnic.
Stammtisch!!
Addendum: Don't wear shorts and sleeveless tops when you visit a catholic church. This rule applies to Italy as well.
Germans won't care, but Italiens do.
@@glumbosch9254 It's not "Germans won't care", it's a rule that should be observed in every single place of worship around the world. It's called respect, and that's universal. Maybe some people in every country don't care, but it doesn't mean people should do it.
Respect, sure, but for what? Fairy tale buildings?
Ni Pr You (and I) don’t believe in this, but lots of people do. It’s just being a decent human being, it’s not difficult.
@@glumbosch9254 In the part of Germany where I live people do care. I am an atheist myself but that doesn't mean I have to be disrespectful.
If I ever go there I am not going to overly concern myself about what I wear in Germany. They all wear khaki with those stereotypical archeologist-professor/safari helmets here in South Africa or they dress like Indiana Jones. I’m sure that is the best attire for the Cape Wine Route or shopping at Pick n’ Pay and Spar.
1:25 wrong. possession of cannabis is legal and how much exactly depends on the bundesland you are in: from 6g in Bavaria(Bayern) & Baden-Württemberg up to 16g in Berlin. furthermore: you can order cannabis online and get it shipped to you via DHL (my friends do it all the time). I personally don't like cannabis and i personally don't smoke it but even i have a few grams of it in my apartement just in case friends visit me and they wanna smoke (so its basically for them). So yea.. Cannabis in germany is pretty much legal, the only thing thats illegal is selling / buying it without paying any taxes or involving minors. I have seen Cannabis being advertised in germany even directed towards children from the american clothing company "Levi's" which i found really odd. i get that cannabis is legal but why do we suddenly start to even advertise it to children? hello? thats not good imo.
This is a common myth. Possession of cannabis is technically illegal except for medicinal purposes, but the state prosecutor usually drops the charges for small amounts -- what is considered a "small amount" varies from state to state (those are the figures you mention). However, there is no guarantee: if you have been convicted of drug offences before, for example, or if the state prosecutor thinks that prosecuting you is in the public interest, you could still find yourself in court. And if the police find even the smallest amount of weed on you, they will press charges -- they have to, it's the law. The most likely outcome for you will be a letter from the state prosecutor saying they are not proceeding with the prosecution, but that doesn't make what you did legal.
As for Levi's "advertising cannabis", are you sure? I believe Levi's have found a way of making denim out of hemp, which is made from the cannabis plant but has no psychoactive effects -- it's not a narcotic, so there's nothing illegal or even dangerous about it.
> „you can order cannabis online and get it shipped to you via DHL“
Sorry, but that is nonsence.May be you find a dumb dealer selling it online, he or she will not do it for a long time before being caught. You might find „cocaine taxis“ in some big cities, but never think it is legal. When you get caught, you will be punished for sure.
CBD Canabis without THC is legal if you buy it in shops. If the police pick you up you have to verify where you bought it. Canabis with THC is illegal without a recipe from your Doctor for medical use.
The cash thing is insane though. Everywhere else in Europe and around the world you can get by with contactless payment, but over in Germany cash is King, which is expensive since you have to use an ATM and pay fees out the wazoo.
well, what I hear is worse than what I know.
Today, I was shopping in Aldi/Penny/Lidl, getting french fries at McDonald's, buying some books in a bookstore and sending a registered letter from a post office.
The only place where I used coins was the parking ticket machine. Even there, a sign offered a "Handy payment" (which means payment via cell phone). I didn't like to download another app for this so I preferred using coins.
It's true that a number of Germans prefer to pay cash in order to prevent being monitored which they call Datenschutz or Datensparsamkeit (data protection through avoidance of traces). So, neither the wife nor the law enforcement agencies are able to find out, in front of what kind of bookstore I parked and bought a book, for example.
That is not true. You can pay with your debit-card almost everywhere, maybe except for a bottle of beer at the Späti/Kiosk/Büdchen.
Credit cards are often not accepted due to the fees for AMEX and VISA which reduce the small profit margines at ALDI or Lidl.
@@frankderessener4477 I can remember visiting Dresden and other small towns in Germany like Berlin back in September 2019 and having to withdraw cash everywhere be it at the restaurant or at the supermarket. Sure there was the odd convenience store or transit agency that would accept it but its nowhere near as common as elsewhere in the world. As for AMEX/Visa/Mastercard/Debit fees yeah it sucks but what's the alternative? There is a shoe-leather cost associated with having to locate an ATM, withdraw cash and manage all that. Everywhere else in the world has simply relied on tacking on an extra 1% across the board to their prices to deal with this. And frankly, I don't mind paying 1% more for the convenience, especially if I earn frequent flyer points along the way that rebate most of that cost.
@@galdavonalgerri2101 the other thing that irks me is having to pay 1 or 2 euros to use the restroom and in many cases that is cash only. Almost makes you want to hop the barrier! 😡
@@j2simpso As I said, a debit-card is accepted nearly everywhere. Credit-Cards are not.
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils".
If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes...
Also be aware, it's totally possible to visit an American Fastfood "Restaurant" (Caling chip shop Restaurants allways triggers me) and not be able to order in American. These kind of jobs don't attract employees with degrees oven basic interrests in the English language. I know that, as I did work there!
I am German and I always complain about paying in cash 😁😄
By now it's legal to carry some amount of cannabis.
"The Autobahn is not a race track"... lol, yeah right
That is not "harsh," but tyranny.
So what you're saying is, I'm /not/ allowed to goose step and Sieg Heil my way down Alexanderpflaz while wearing Lederhosen?
I am amazed that anyone needs to be told this, so I am trying to work out who it is directed at. Americans are the obvious country, but they are known for not travelling much. So if not Americans, then which countries citizens break these common sense rules, British, Australians, Dutch...?
Dumb people exist in every nation
The Netherlands are a small country neighbouring Germany.
The Dutch are overwhelmingly decent people and know how to behave, a lot of them have German at school and if you're close enough to the border a lot of folks will even be good at it.
I would honestly say that Germans going to the Netherlands are a more worrying prospect because the bar of being respectful as a guest is higher with how hospitable the Dutch are.
Also, while they of course have their own culture, they are reasonably compatible with the Germans, you'll meet a lot of them in Lower Saxony, a bunch of them live here, and there's basically never any problems with them, generally.
Don’t mention the war! I mentioned it once but I think I got away with it.
„Deutschland, Deutschland über alles“ has nothing to do with Nazis.
The term came from a time when Germany was just a young and new union, when they left all the duchies and little kingdoms behind to form a single country. And then it was necessary to say that Germany as a whole nation is more important than regional interests. „Deutschland über alles“ means „Germany before everything else“ not that Germany would be better than everything else.
it didnt originally, by now the only people who sing it(95%+) are nazis or are so far right the diffference doesnt matter
It always depends on the context. You won't get away with a swastika tattoo just because it used to be a symbol of peace in Hindu culture.
Yes, you're right. The poet, Hoffmann von Fallersleben, was exiled to Heligoland by the Prussian state for encouraging the unification of the German lands, at that time a patchwork of Kingdoms, Duchies, Principalities etc. Hoffmann in exile (so he said) could think of nothing else but Germany "Deutschland über alles" ("Germany above all"). It most certainly does not mean Germany as "Top Dog" or being on top of the pile of states". Gramatically "über alles" ("above all") (accusative). If it meant "on top" it would be "über Allen" (dative).
The expression comes from BEFORE Germany was unified and expressed the wish, above all others, that Germany unify as one nation. His wish only became reality three years before his death. The text was written in 1841, years even before the constitution of the Paulskirche parliament and the 1848 revolutions. A unified Germany was a long way off.
It's funny that his words are sung to Haydn's music for Francis II's Kaiserhymne, which he took with him to Austria after he wound up the Holy Roman Empire.
You can recognise Americans 100 miles away.
PLEASE complain about paying in cash!
Seems like Venice can't handle its fame. But who knows, maybe the germans were excessively rude to the police or something.
I demand free refills in Germany!
I was driving to Austria from my home in the Netherlands and got stopped by one of those German incognito police BMW's. They didn't state any reason and wanted to look through my car, which they briefly did, not finding anything obviously. 100% sure they thought I could have cannabis but it really makes me rather annoyed. Is it even legal to stop someone because they are young and have a Dutch liscense plate? I don't think that warrants a search.
It doesn't, but they have the right to stop random vehicles for checks, and searches if they have a reason to suspect something (as mentioned in the video, by the way).
They´ve got to fullfill a certain quote. Sad truth. I was controlled in my hometowne 5 times in eight weeks because I used a car often used by terrorists and drug traffickers. I got so annoyed about that the last time I insisted on a hair, urine and blood test to be sure and did offer them to have a look on my internet accounts. Since then, 14 years later, I wasn´t stopped once.
@@martinc.720 Sure, "if they have a reason to suspect something" but apart from me being young and Dutch, which I don't think are proper reasons, there wasn't anything they told me when I asked and they let me go right after.
@@ronin47-ThorstenFrank Wow, that's a lot. Let's hope these quotas are filled by now, I'll be driving through Germany a lot in the next month for holidays..
@@Clear_Ski3s Again... watch the video :) And everyone knows police will make up excuses to stop people. All I did in my first reply was answer your question "is it legal".. because you are young, no. Is it legal to stop a random vehicle? Totally. Then they have to "find" a reason. If you can't prove what they are doing...
Now, even at the 'right' place to wear tracht, tourists are even more easy to spot. There are not only the very small differences seperating vilages and regions, which tourists are not aware of makign them wear well .. lets say unusual combinations, but even more so there's quality. A good pair of Lederhosn costs easy more than 1000 Euro - without any accessories or remarkable design added. Similar for a Dirndl. Used ones aren't cheap either. The 'things' tourists usually buy to dress up are cheap Asian made rip offs, easy to spot across a street.
And never ever wear one of these 'funny' cloth made Lederhosn look alikes. They are neither funny nor appropriate - they are simply an insult to every local seeing you.
I don't feel insulted if a foreigner wears German Tracht. If find it cute.
@@solidstate9451 Really? all that fake Sepplehut and pseudo-Lederhosn made of fabrik and pseudo shirt to wear atop? Not cute in any way.
I find it cute how they are excited and have fun while they believe they look authentical German. I like it when people have fun.
@@solidstate9451 So I assume you as well enjoy some excited guys in blackface having fun?
@@HansFranke : Aha!
When you make jokes about our darkest times in history you have to be very careful indeed. You cannot do jokes that make Hitler look good. However, what you can do is make jokes that denounce Hitler.
You forgot the most important one: "DON´T MENTION THE WAR!". Goddamnit, I thought Fawlty Towers was a mandatory view in the past! ;-)
Also, you should warn people about the "outlaw corridor"..... :-D
You can absolutely complain about not being able to pay by card, its about time this country gets itself out of the middle ages. At least i have noticed that they seem to finally catch up bit by bit and was able to pay by card for a beer in the middle of Berlin last week (BRLO).
Why comlain when you only are there a week
read Is good: because I’ve been living here for 5 years now. Overall its an awesome country and city, but as a part of my Einbürgerung I had to find minor things to complain about.
I mean for Tourist
I like my cash, I Pay everything cash, let it be an Döner, an coffee or an used car. I like to say: "Nur Bares ist Wahres"
When I go somewhere I usualy have my EC and Creditcard with my, but also enough money to not get into trouble. The only things I pay by card are tickets (monthly), gas and sometimes groceries, when I don´t have enough money in my pocket. In my opinion, cash is the way to go, you open your purse and you know exactly how much money you have left, better than any ATM or crazy online-banking app, because it works, even, when your battery is low.
Too much smoking/smokers in Germany.It's unhealthy,disguisting!
The "no 3rd Reich jokes" one is hard for me because I make jokes about everyone's history, including mine. Luckily my friend down under doesn't mind "convict" as a term of endearment. I wish this was more of a thing globally, because it allows you to showcase how much you know about someone's background. All I get is people telling me to eat something. Or the Dracula thing.
It's not that you can't joke about Nazis.
It depends on what the joke is.
This advice is mainly aimed at people who think it's a good idea to mess around at holocaust memorials and stuff. Basically, don't act like you're Logan Paul in Japan.
Hint: if a local gives you a hard time, just accuse him of being a racist - other Germans will believe you without asking any questions and you will be
the good guy.
Don't use public transportation as city sightseeing tours, e.g. the ferrys as a harbour tour here in Hamburg. They are there for the citizens, we hate tourists which occupy the city while we want to go to work.
Ah, the famous open mind and welcoming politeness of the sea-faring merchant cities!
Canabis is not really a problem. Most germans have some kept hidden. The rule is not to avoid canabis but to avoid being detected.
3:50 That fine is way to low in my opinion... You endanger so many people... its like going to the USA, buying a gun and shooting it in the mall next door, just to see what happens...
In the end you ruin the fun for everyone. Eco fascists use your behaviour to advocate for general speed limits etc. Really shitty
It is so silly that weed is illigal. I hope it will change when the greens come to power.
I get the joke
Weed is the colur green
i dont think the full german anthem (deutschland deutschland über alles) has anything to do with nazi as it comes from before hitler.. but oh well..
In the context he mentioned ot it was rather clear, no?
A: then you should brush up on your history. B: The song is called "lied der Deutschen" which would be translated with "song of the german people" rather than "german anthem".
after the war, we kept the song as anthem with the additional instruction to sing only the third verse, but afaik, nowadays (since 1990) ONLY the third verse is the entire official anthem.
it still is not illegal to sing the first two verses, but although they had nothing to do with nazis when they were written, the original meaning of the first verse got partially lost and its misuse by nazis can't be ignored. thus since the war, that verse HAS SOMETHING to do with the nazis and everybody should be aware that an uncommented recitation of it will get very bad (and only rarely possibly wrong) associations with what someone wants to express by doing so.
btw: i find the second verse quite funny, just fitting the saying "Wein, Weib und Gesang", maybe to be used on Mallorca ? :-)
Ww how racist is y'all
They should show the video to refugees in Syria, Afghanistan and North Africa. Not that I would expect that to help, but hope dies last
"If you visit a church, be respectful. It's not just a tourist attraction, it is a place of worship and prayer"
Wait. You say to be respectful, but your reasoning seems to indicate that respect is not warranted. Weird.
If you think that the appropriate reaction to people engaging in traditional acts you don't understand or agree with is disdain and disrespect, that is of course your own business. But you then forfeit your own right to respect.
Don't complain about the "paying in cash, lack of airconditioning, signs beeing in German, lack of free refils".
If that is not aimed at visitors of a specific countries I have to work on my stereotypes...