Heidelberg 1.0

Hello readers!

I've been in Heidelberg for over a week now so I feel I should actually start blogging again! Especially since some friends back home were afraid I was going to be eaten by cannabalistic Germans. Anyway, :

Heidelberg is such an amazing place. It's right beside the river and the Altstadt (Old City) is full of cobbled stones and old buildings. Although this may not appeal to most students don't fret. There are tons of bars and pubs with incredibly cheap alcohol and probably some of the best beer I've tasted in my life. Heaven.

So a few observations I've made so far about Germany since I've moved here:

1)  It doesnt matter how many times you ask for it whether in German or English, you will always get Sparkling water instead of still water. And apparently drinking tap water is taboo. Even though I'm not exactly filling my water bottle out of the toilet, its still better not to mention drinking tap water. Otherwise cue the disgusted looks.

2) Drinking alcohol on public transport whatever time of day is completely acceptable. Cracking open beers on the bus was a bit daunting for my Croydon upbringing, normally used to just downing it before getting in to any mode of transport so this was a novelty to me. Also having a  60 year old woman downing what I can only assume was straight whisky at 11am was a bit of an eye opener but no one batted an eyelid. Whereas my tap water confession made me a pariah on the 31 bus.

3) Everyone here rides bikes. I mean everyone. And no there isnt a specific cycle lane or cycle free zones, they just go anywhere and everywhere and if youre walking in the way, well to them, you are just collateral damage. Or Roadkill.

4) Germans aren't as efficient as we make them out to be. Yes you could practically set your clock by the public transport but in reality, even though bureaucracy and paperwork are their "Gott in Himmel", I've had to struggle to get most things organised here. Getting a phone was hectic. Opening a bank account was worse and even 10 days in, I'm still waiting to here back from my "Hausmeister", the Cavendish Warden to you from Notts Uni for my apartment block. He says "I'll be round in an hour". 4 hours later he says that he will arrange another appointment with me....and I'm still waiting.

5) Although my friends may have joked about how I'll fit in great because I look slightly Aryan, I was not prepared for how many people, Germans and Brits alike mistake me for a German. Not that I have anything against Germans or looking like one but the fact that I look German and my German skills are a bit rusty gives off the impression that I am German, but just a moron.

6) Being drunk does improve your foreign language skills. Trust me I've had lots of practice this week.

7) If you are a vegetarian, don't even bother living in Germany. They have whole aisles dedicated to meat and some pretty questionable ones at that. Meat is their life.

And whilst on the topic of German meats: German jokes are the Wurst.

I apologise for the standard of that joke but I couldn't resist. Well I hope you enjoy this and I'll keep updating you on whats going on in Deutschland.  Also thanks for people who actually read this! I apparently have a lot of Russian readers who are being routed here from a Russian porn site. Sorry lads.

Andy C