Tips on coming to Germany

I've learned a lot about Germany since I've been here. Knowing some of it ahead of time would have made the beginning easier. Here are some of the things I've learned:

1) Restrooms at the autohofs and at some tourist locations can cost up to one Euro. They are always clean, always. The sooner you get over the cost, the better your time will be. There are roadside pit stops that don't charge, but after the first couple of times, we only used them in serious child emergencies. Usually there is pee on the floors and no soap or paper towels. The €1 is worth it, believe me.

2) Gas is expensive. If you're driving anywhere, I would figure ~2 times what one would pay in the U.S. to fill up your tank.

3) The best months to visit would be July and August if you like it hot, or September and October if you like it cooler. Most of the other months can be pretty rainy.

4) McDonald's is very expensive. But their fries and nuggets are delicious! And they have different sandwiches than we're used to, so it might be worth a visit if you're already a McDonald's fan to begin with.

5) If you're using the trains and the buses, there's a good chance you might mess up. Even if you don't mess up, the train or the bus schedule might be diverted, and you will have to go with it. I recommend that you have realistic expectations about how long it takes to travel from one place to another. It isn't always easy, but be patient with yourself and the transportation, and you'll get there eventually.

6) If you go anywhere near a festival, visit it. The festivals are fun and culturally interesting. Try a bratwurst mit brotchen, because that's what the Germans do. Also, the fries (called pommes, sounds like pom-es) are great.