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With the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and full unification in 1990, Germany's recent history is that of a dynamic, cutting edge, predominantly urban society. Germany's population is the largest in Europe -containing 12 metropolises with greater than 500,000 residents.
Germany is the land of fairy tales, Black Forest, and Bavarian Alps. Medieval villages, ancient walled cities, and dramatic castles are an intrinsic part of the German landscape. Germany's varied terrain ranges from low-lying coastal flats along the North and Baltic seas to a central area of rolling hills and river valleys to the heavily forested mountains and snow-covered Alps in the south. High living standards and plentiful vacation time make outdoor recreational activities abundant. Popular pastimes include hiking, skiing and camping.
Another favorite pastime is beer. Whether it be beer gardens or beer halls, Germany is saturated with spots to enjoy this favorite national beverage. Each region and brewery produces beer with a distinctive taste and body. Germans are fanatical about their beer -the Bavarians have entire festivals devoted to it. And for good reason, German beer is
excellent and relatively cheap.
Berlin, Germany's capital and largest city, is the focus of a massive reunification project and is perhaps the best place to get an accurate reading on the pulse of the nation. Post-Wall Berlin is a vital place, shrugging off its previous desolation with chic boutiques, the Jewish Museum, and the newly sleek Potsdamer Platz. Since the unification, Germany has spent considerable sums to bring the former East Germany up to
Western standards.
The city of Weimar also makes a fine cultural pilgrimage site. It is home to the school of Bauhaus architecture, Goethe, Kandinsky and Klee. In truth, Germany has produced more than her fair share of intellectual and creative geniuses. Just try to imagine classical music without Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Handel, or Wagner. Or conjure up a philosophical
survey that doesn't include Goethe, Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche or Marx. Discuss modern physics without mentioning Einstein is Impossible. Without the achievements of these men, the music, philosophy, and science of the world would be incalculably deprived.
From the cultural offerings of major cities such as Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne to the historical richness of Munster, Osnabruck and the Hanseatic city of Bremen, Germany offers a wide variety and range of experiences. One thing is certain however, that whatever the activity, a plump sausage and a stein of beer is sure to be waiting just around the corner.
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