SWEET OLD GERMANY travel guide, pt. II
Stay safe
[…] Bigger cities also have their share of beggars and punks but police are watching them very closely. The German social system offers sufficient coverage, so that the unemployed - unless they refuse to work - at least do not have to starve. Keep this in mind when you consider giving them money.
[…] The penalty for any kind of neo-Nazism is a prison sentence of up to five years or a fine (the maximum is €21,600). Foreigners are not exempted from this law and it will be very strictly enforced.
Police:
The German Police (Polizei) is usually professional and helpful but tends to be rather strict. When dealing with officers it’s usually best to remain calm and courteous and to avoid getting into confrontations. […]
Sex:
Since the 1960s Germany has become a liberal country concerning sexuality. […] Sex among teenagers is considered a normal part of growing up. […] Generally speaking, sex among persons at or above age 16 is considered unproblematic regardless of the age difference. Teenagers are allowed to have sex within their age group.
Get around
German transportation runs with German efficiency, and getting around the country is a snap — although you’ll need to pay top price for top speed. […]
Using the Autobahn:
WARNING: German drivers tend to drive faster and more aggressively than you might be used to, especially on the parts of the highway system without a speed limit, which is taken literally.
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SWEET OLD GERMANY travel guide, pt. I
Respect
Culture:
[…] Germans highly value honesty, straight talking, being able to cope with criticism and generally not wasting other people’s time. […]
Punctuality:
Punctuality is seen not as a courtesy but as precondition for future relations. […]
Behaving in public:
Germany, especially urban Germany, is a rather tolerant society, and your common sense should be sufficient to keep yourself out of trouble. […]
The Nazi Era:
[…] Humour, even made innocently, is absolutely the wrong way of approaching the matter. Worse, what might sound funny abroad may earn you jailtime in Germany. […]
Photography:
In Germany it is, in principle, illegal to film or photograph a person in public without consent. […]
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