Question

[rikae311]

Why is it, in Western NY (where there is a foot of snow at the moment and the temperature hovers around 25F/-4C), when one mentions going to Germany in January, people say "ooooh.... it's going to be co-ooo-ooold! Bundle up!"
If it stays the way it is now there, I won't even need a coat.

Comments

[estelyn_strider]

Oh yes you will - a raincoat!

Seriously, I think most Americans think Bavaria and the Alpine region is all there is to Germany - silly people! ;p

[runesf]

really? I thought it was because they connected Germany with Berlin and in general the northern regions such as the old Prussia and not places to the south such as Bavaria where it gets quite warm.

[estelyn_strider]

Though Bavaria is south, it's not necessarily warmer: after all, the higher altitudes/proximity of the Alps means that it's colder in the winter for sure, and even the greatest distance from north to south within Germany doesn't make that much of a temperature difference.

I suppose (hopefully!) Berlin is now more present in people's awareness, and perhaps they'll realize that this is a modern country after all - no one in their right mind wears a dirndl or lederhosen in this area! Don't you think the old stereotypes are still alive in the minds of tourists? I wonder if constant reruns of "Hogan's Heroes" don't keep them going...

Of course, they do make great cars here - and that's about all most Americans know about today's Germany! :rolleyes:

[rikae311]

What - no lederhosen?! ;)

It goes both ways. Just the other day, Christian expressed surprise when I mentioned that cowboy hats were only availiable in costume shops here! :D