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Germany
| November 4th, 2015 at 1:32:49 PM permalink | |
| Ayecarumba Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 89 Posts: 1744 | Are seats on trains in Germany pre-assigned, like on most airlines? Or is it first come first served, like the monorail at Disney properties? Is public smoking allowed? if so, are there a lot of smokers in the restaurants, trains, and casinos? |
| November 4th, 2015 at 3:12:39 PM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
The only long-distance train I took was between Frankfurt (oder) and Berlin, which was only about 90 miles. The seats were first come first serve, and there were plenty of them. Speaking of the Disneyland Monorail, now you need to stay at the Disneyland Hotel to use it. At the time I worked for Disneyland, in 1985, the hotel was privately owned. However, the Monorail platform at the hotel was considered part of Disneyland so we sweepers had a take a ride on the Monorail on a regular basis to sweep it.
Public smoking is generally not allowed in Germany. However, I did see people smoking at a bar at the Casino Bad Homburg near Frankfurt. My cousin's wife seemed perplexed why it was allowed as she thought smoking was banned in all public places in Germany. Maybe the casino was somehow considered a private club or something. At the two casinos in Berlin there were places were smokers could stand that were basically under a big ventilator. Of course, I would defer to Canyonero if he has a different answer. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| November 4th, 2015 at 7:48:14 PM permalink | |
| Fleastiff Member since: Oct 27, 2012 Threads: 62 Posts: 7831 | I understand that the official state residency for visiting Heads of State in either East or West Germany became the home of a rock and roll band that started as buskers in Italy after leaving Pennsylvania for rural Spain. |
| November 5th, 2015 at 1:23:56 AM permalink | |
| Canyonero Member since: Oct 31, 2015 Threads: 10 Posts: 83 |
It is possible to make a seat reservation for 5 Euros. And I recommend that. You got lucky catching a train with plenty of seats left. You may noticed reservations displayed above some of the seats.
You got it exactly right. The casinos are indeed somehow considered private. |
| November 5th, 2015 at 2:31:35 AM permalink | |
| Pacomartin Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 1068 Posts: 12569 |
About 30 years ago their was a group of German women that I met who all smoked. At the time they said that everybody smoked in Germany and that while in America the smokers were all crammed into some dirty alleyway, in Germany they said it was just the opposite. The nonsmokers were given a little corner to stand in, while everything else was smoking. I guess things have changed. |
| November 5th, 2015 at 3:27:34 AM permalink | |
| AZDuffman Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 135 Posts: 18213 |
From most of what I have heard, smoking was always more popular in Europe than the USA. Middle East and Asia as well. Given the cultures as I have seen them it is hard to explain but makes sense. The President is a fink. |
| November 5th, 2015 at 5:57:01 AM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |  I was told that the buildings you see behind me are above Hitler's former bunker. It was destroyed after the war. The location is just across the street from the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, which is a short walk from the Brandenburg Gate. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| November 5th, 2015 at 9:50:43 AM permalink | |
| Ayecarumba Member since: Oct 24, 2012 Threads: 89 Posts: 1744 |
Are there any plaques or even museums that document Hitler's life? I seem to recall that the display of swatstikas is illegal. Have they also tried to erase Hitler from history? If you were going to build a bunker Wizard, where would you put it? I don't think the center of town would be my first choice. Was Berlin surrounded by ramparts during the war? |
| November 5th, 2015 at 11:21:42 AM permalink | |
| Wizard Administrator Member since: Oct 23, 2012 Threads: 239 Posts: 6095 |
That is true about the display of swastika. It is also illegal to say "Heil Hitler." I understand it was illegal not do say that during his reign. I'm sure there are exceptions to the swastika for artistic and historical purposes. They were stamped all over historical documents my aunt has from that time. I'm quite sure you would see no plaques or statues of Hitler anywhere, except maybe in the context of documenting every chancellor of Germany. When I was there I saw a lot of signs for a comedy about Hitler titled Er ist wieder da, which translates to "Look whose back." 
Hitler may have been a bit overconfident in his military to protect him in Berlin. I'd build a bunker in some hidden remote location, like in Terminator 3. Doesn't the POTUS have one in Nebraska somewhere, as based on where Bush went immediately after 9/11. Knowledge is Good -- Emil Faber |
| November 5th, 2015 at 1:26:57 PM permalink | |
| Canyonero Member since: Oct 31, 2015 Threads: 10 Posts: 83 |
Yes, you can use the swastika for educational or scientific purposes. Art is a bit of a grey area, depending on intent. You musn't use the swastika in a context that might be interpreted as glorifing the Nazi regime. The swastika had to be removed in many videogames to make them legal to sell in Germany. The rules seem more lax these days. Education on the Nazi regime is mandatory in all our secondary schools, and they seem to be doing a decent job. But won't find anything remembering Hitler anywhere in public. As it should be imho. I haven't seen the movie, it supposeldy is very good. It has some Borat like mockumentary parts. The fake Hitler talks to people on the street and gets them to say a lot of Nazi, nationalist and racist BS. |