5 Strange Things About Germany

1.       Access to Medicine

People regularly cross the tracks (left) despite the fact that the 300kmph ICE passes through here many times a day. Yet you can’t buy paracetamol.

Germany is a nation known for its no speed limit autobahns, where the German citizens happily zoom up and down at 100+ miles an hour, all day every day, while moaning about our motorways like we’re the mental ones. Yet you can’t buy paracetamol in the supermarket because of the government’s fears that you might top yourself. When I was in a pharmacy and I asked for the medicine. The sale assistant showed me an aisle full of herbs and honey. I stated “No the REAL medicine” she looked at me intensely as if she was checking that my eyes were functioning properly. “This is the REAL medicine” and she walked off shaking her head. To get paracetamol you have to go to the Apotheke and describe your symptoms to see if you are deemed fit (or unfit as the case is) for the product. It’s only open during school hours and even then it is 5€ a box. I had my mum to send it over; it was substantially cheaper and more convenient.

2.       Girls school wear

Girls in Dirndls show more individuality than the average German girl day to day!

As Germany is situated between France and Italy home to two of the biggest fashion capitals of the world, it baffles me how German girls only have the one look. As in Germany there is no such thing as a school uniform, day in day out girls all across Germany squeeze into their skinny jeans, hike into their converse and slap a T-shirt on top. In school we were dying to express ourselves and from a fashion forward place like Britain I really find it hard to comprehend their lack of desire to spread individuality (she types in her sweatpants). Their banal fashion could possibly be down to the fact that the only cheap, fashionable young girls clothes shop they have in Germany is H&M, but even they, I believe, sell dresses, skirts and all manner of items of clothing. Come on ladies mix it up a bit. READ MORE>>

Blast from the Past: Munich Oktoberfest

Coming somewhere in almost every drunkards bucket list is the world famous Munich Oktoberfest and yes ladies and gentleman for the famous fests 200th birthday I was there in very inappropriate faux German attire.

Not willing to spend 100€s in dirndls we opted for the fancy dress ones with COLD consequences.

Unfortunately the lengths of our dirndls (dresses) did not correspond with the freezing weather outside but we powered through regardless. We were camping because all the hostels were full and anyway they were around 100€ a night so instead we paid 15€ a night to freeze to death in a tent (not that we slept). 

Our tent was COLD

The first night only having three days at the fest we headed straight out READ MORE>>

Blast from the Past: Finnish SitSit

The man ran down the aisle carrying a chainsaw ..... he came closer and closer and then........ he slipped.....

But more on that later. You know how I say I always wish I had blogged about Germany .... no maybe not but I do say that and I thought

Hey why don't I do that now!


My brain is still swimming with all the cool blogtacular information and seeing as I'm not going anywhere (for the next 30 odd days) I thought I would start off with one of my faves. Not only was this one of my favourite memories of 2011 but also my favourite city and country that's right you guessed it (or didn't based on how well you know me) ........

It's Helsinki baby!!


But George I hear you cry, how can you like Helsinki it's soooo cold. Why yes it is children look ...

This photo was taken in March, it was -10c snowing everyday but that didn't stop Finland from being KICK-ASS!  READ MORE>>

Looking Back and Moving Forward: My 2011 and the year ahead!

Before I post my top 5 tips for Morocco I thought I would reflect a little ...

2011 was an interesting year for me I've lived in 3 countries (4 if you count England and Wales as separate countries) visited 10 different countries (5 new) and truly caught the travel bug. So here is how my year went.

January - Italy, Spain, The Netherlands
I started the year off the year with NYE in Cardiff then instead of flying home I went straight to my friends in Brescia and visited Venice (which I didn't like). Brescia however charmed the pants off me and quickly became my favourite city. After going back to Germany I also had a long weekend with my friends in Barcelona (which I was also not a huge fan of) and finished January off with an excellent weekend visiting a friend in Amsterdam!

February - Hamburg and Munich
For once I spent the whole month in the same country but that doesn't mean I didn't travel. We started off the month with a trip to Hamburg and it's famous Reeperbahn and I also met up with loads of 1st, 2nd and 3rd year student from my Uni for a fun filled weekend in Munich.

READ MORE>>