Quoted: I am toying with the idea of taking a week off sometime this spring and going to Germany. Specifically Bavaria. Some things I want to do are go to a beer garden. Listen to traditional music, visit a medieval castle or two. See the countryside. You know relax and hang out. I was born in Germany (my dad was in the air force) we moved back when I was 5 months old.
So I am looking for ideas of things to see. Can anyone recommend a good guidebook? How much German do I need to know?
thanks
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When I was there in 1987 (as a teenager), I found that most people under 40 speak passable English. Those few who don't (I met one in the village of Sasbachwalden in the Black Forest) are usually willing to help if you know a few words and are polite. But you don't need to scream at them.
Lessee...Bavaria (gotta look on some maps)...Munich.
I hear there's good beer there, so the Biergarten is covered. That should do the "traditional music" part, too - though a LOT of classical music is German (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart was Austrian, etc. etc. etc.).
Neuschwanstein will cover the medieval castle, and I'm sure there are others in the guidebooks.
You'll be pretty close to the Austrian border, so that opens some things up. And if you're close to Austria, you're close to Switzerland and northern Italy.
I'd suggest buying several guidebooks. For what a European vacation costs, a few dollars for guidebooks is nothing.
The most important phrase you MUST know in Germany:
Ein Bier, bitte.
Pronounced: I'n [long "i") beer, bittuh.
Means: One beer, please.
Other important phrases:
W.C. Herren, bitte.
Pronounced: Vay say hair-un, bittuh. (Danke, fike.)
Means: Where is the Men's Room?
Nicht sprechen nie Deutsch.
Pronounced: nick'd sprecken nee Doych.
Means: I don't speak German.
Sprechen sie Englisch?
Pronounced: Sprecken zee English?
Means: (IBT Samuel L. Jackson) Do you speak English?
Danke (schoen).
Pronounced: Donkuh (shane). (Well, sort of.)
Means: Thank you (very much).
Bitte (schoen):
Pronounced: Bittuh (shane). (Sort of.)
Means: Please and Thank You (very much).
My hovercraft is full of eels.