Germany

Germany...No visitor will remain untouched by this country's complex past and the way it affects the nation today. Germany today is exciting and interesting, as two completely different states, separated for over 40 years, grow together again. A great deal is being accomplished and everyone wants Germany to maintain its strong economic role, despite its new size. For the tourist, among the joys of a trip to Germany is an evening at the Berlin Philharmonic or Munich's National Theatre, which offer some of the best orchestral sounds and operatic productions to be heard and seen anywhere in the world. Sausage, sauerkraut, beer, coffee and enormous cakes come to mind as typical German fare... and yes, sausages come in hundreds of varieties, cabbage is consumed frequently as are large quantities of potatoes. Since November 1989, the two halves of the city of Berlin have slowly and painfully attempted to fuse. Berlin is just as fascinating to the visitor today as is ever was in the midst of the Cold War, but Berlin still remains a compelling city and prepares to regain its former status as the capital of a reunited Germany. Munich, Germany's third largest city offers exuberant atmosphere and vitality and is one of the great cultural centres of Europe. Its range of museums is unrivalled in the country. Germany's second largest city and major port, Hamburg, has a great merchant seafaring tradition dating from Hanseatic days. With probably the best opera in Germany, Hamburg is a spacious and civilised city that delights the visitor. Dusseldorf is the showcase in which the country's wealth is displayed. The skyline is dominated by monuments of modern commerce such as the Thyssen skyscraper, but don't forget Dusseldorf's parks, gardens and landscaped pedestrian areas which make it possible to stroll for hours across this city without ever crossing a road. One of Germany's great metropolitan cities, Cologne is a centre of culture, arts and learning as well as industry and commerce. The people of Cologne seem smaller and swarthier than the German norm, their desire to have a good time reaching its peak during Karneval. Europe's tallest office building rises from the centre of Frankfurt, home of the mighty Bundesbank. It is Germany's financial capital, yet the image of a dull, money making city can not be farther from the truth: there is a great deal for the tourist to see, including some of Germany's best museums. Dresden used to be one of the loveliest cities of central Europe, but never quite recovered from the great air raid of 1945 when 60% of the city was destroyed. Nevertheless, much of the cultural heritage remains, providing plenty of worthwhile sights and famous works of art. Leipzig is today Saxony's largest city, a major industrial, shopping, and cultural and administrative centre. Mostly traffic-free, Leipzig offers the visitor fine old squares, gardens, courtyard and shopping arcades.