Germany- Deutschland

Geography• Federal Republic ofGermany BundesrepublikDeutschland• Capital: Berlin.• Germany covers an

area of 357,021 km2 . Population: 81.8 million.

• 7th largest in Europe.• 62th largest in the

world.

Germany is in Western and Central Europe, bordering Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic , Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.

• Biggest rivers: Rhine, Danube and Elbe.

• Highest peak:The Zugspitze at 2,962 meters.

Politics• Germany is a federal, parliamentary, representative

democratic republic.

• Current President: Christian Wulff.

• Current Chancellor(Prime Minister):Angela Merkel

Economy

• The largest national economy in Europe.• The fourth largest by nominal GDP in the world.• The fifth largest by PPP.

CurrencyGermans use Euros just like Greeks.

Pic: Greek people’s money.

Cost of Living

Cost of living in Germany is quite high.• Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant, 7.83 €• Water (0.33l), 2.00 €• Milk 1 liter, 0,70€• Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g), 1.95 €• Cinema, International Release, 9.00 €

• Useful Site:• http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/city_result.jsp?countr

y=Germany&city=Berlin

Language

German is the official and predominant spoken language in Germany. It is one of the three working languages of the European Commission.

Basic Phrases:• Guten Tag! =good morning• Gute Nacht= good night• Guten Abend= good evening• Hallo! Ich bin…= Hello! I am…• Wie gehts?= how are you?• Mir geht es gut= I am fine.• Tschüß= Bye• Ja= yes• Nein= no

Bitte= PleaseIch spreche kein Deutsch= I

don’t speak any GermanIch komme aus Griechenland=

I come from GreeceIch bin Griechisch= I am GreekWer?= Who?Wo?= Where?Was?= What?Danke (schön)= Thank you

(very much)

Religion• Christianity is the largest religion in Germany, with around

51.5 million adherents (62.8 percent).

• 30.0 percent are Catholics and 29.9 percent are Protestants.

• The second largest religion is Islam ( about 4 million).

• Others: Buddhism, Hinduism.

Cuisine• German cuisine varies from region to region.• In all regions, meat is often eaten in sausage form.• Although wine is becoming more popular in many parts of

Germany, the national alcoholic drink is beer. Beer consumption per person is really high.

• German restaurants have become the world's second-most decorated after France.

Famous Dishes• Currywurst: a fried or grilled sausage cut into thick slices and seasoned with spicy ketchup and generous amounts of curry powder.

• Bratwurst: usually composed of veal, pork or beef.

• Kartoffelsalat (potato salad).

• Kohlrouladen: German-style cabbage rolls.

• Sauerbraten: beef pot roast marinated in vinegar, water, spices and seasonings.

• Kartoffelpuffer: potato pancakes

• Königsberger Klopse:a Prussian specialty of meatballs in a white sauce with capers.

• Eisbein: literally ice leg/bone,is the German name for a culinary dish involving the pickled ham hock, usually boiled.

Culture

• Due to its rich cultural history, Germany is often known as “das Land der Dichter und Denker” (the land of poets and thinkers).

Picture: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

• Most famous German writers/poets/thinkers:

Beethoven Schiller Goethe Kant Schopenhauer Einstein Strauss Brecht Marx etc.

Famous Landmarks

• Reichstag, Berlin

• Cologne Cathedral, Cologne

• Heidelberg Castle, Heidelberg

• Alte Pinakothek, Munich

Major EventsMunich's 'Oktoberfest‘: • First Oktoberfest: 1810• Takes place in September• The 'Oktoberfest' is the

largest festival worldwide attracting a multitude of visitors.

• 16 days of intensive partying and drinking.

• Traditional costumes

• Love Parade Berlin• German techno guru Dr.

Motte and 150 of his closer friends started the rave in 1989.

• Now hugely successful: this mobile party attracts en-vogue DJs and an enthusiastic crowd.

Mobile Services Mobile phones in Germany are usually called Handys.

There are four main providers in Germany:• T-Mobil ( www.t-mobile.de)• Vodafone ( www.vodafone.de)• E-Plus ( www.eplus.de): It positions itself as an low-cost provider.• O2 ( www.o2online.de)You can get a local SIM card in Germany once you arrive, or prior to your departure. There are several telecom companies in Germany that offer Pay As You Go plans using scratch cards or "top-up" cards; they are available in many locations.

Berlin• Population: 3.45 million Berlin is

Germany's largest city.• Berlin is located in eastern

Germany, about 70 kilometers (43 mi) west of the border with Poland in an area with marshy terrain, and is surrounded by the federal state of Brandenburg.

• First documented in the 13th century, Berlin was the capital of the Kingdom of Prussia.

• Berlin is a world city of culture, politics, media, and science.

Climate

• Summers are warm with average high temperatures of 22–25 °C and lows of 12–14 °C. Winters are cold with average high temperatures of 4 °C and lows of -2 to 0 °C.

Transport• 2 commercial airports: Tegel International Airport (TXL), which

lies within the city limits.

• Schönefeld International Airport (SXF), which is situated just outside Berlin's south-eastern border in the state of Brandenburg.

Public Transportation• Berlin’s efficient public transportation system is cheap,

straightforward and punctual. Cycling is very popular.• Many different means: S-Bahn, U-Bahn, Tram, Bus, Ferry.• The Berlin tariff area is subdivided into zones A, B and C.

Zone A: Berlin's inner city up to and including the urban rail ringZone B: outside the urban rail ring up to the city boundaryZone C: Greater Berlin (area approx. 15 km around the State of Berlin), including the City of Potsdam.

• http://www.bvg.de/index.php/en/index.html

Berlin’s Sightseeing

• Brandenburg Gate

• The Berlin Wall

• The Victory Column (Siegessäule)

• Berlin Cathedral

Many museums, galleries and performing arts events.

• Museum Island: a district of Berlin where there is a complexion of museums.

• Film Museum

• Jewish Museum

• Deutsches Historisches Museum

• Museum of Technology

Nightlife, food and entertainment!!!• There's no where in the world that can compete with

Berlin when it comes to the sheer diversity of it's nightlife.

• Possibly the only downside to the Berlin nightlife is that it's notoriously difficult to navigate.

• Club Der Visionaere, Am Flutgraben, 12435 BerlinTel: (030) 6951 8942. www.clubdervisionaere.de

• Möbel Olfe, Reichenberger Strasse 117, 10999 BerlinTel: (030) 2327 4690.www.moebel-olfe.de

• Useful Sites: http://www.worldtravelguide.net/berlin/nightlife, http://www.locationsite.de/berlin/bnightlifee.htm

Food• When it comes to food choices are countless in Berlin.

Berlin is home to a diverse gastronomy scene reflecting the immigrant history of the city.

Region Dishes:• Buletten: meatballs• Eierkuchen: pancakes• Pfannkuchen

Videos• Traditional German song:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUmsLy21Qhs

• Berlin Tour:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wq28tbRpfhE

Thank You !!!!!!!!!