How Germany has changed

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If one reads the News (and please excuse the German Keyboard, it wants to capitalize some of the nouns) as much as I do, one would think Germany has changed so much it wouldn't be recognizable. Stories of overflowing refugee camps, knife-wielding madmen running rampant in the streets and other Headlines made me wonder how different I would find this place after an Eleven year Absence.

When we come to Germany, we are usually based around the cities of Frankfurt, Mainz, Bremen and a very Little town North of Bremen called Garlstedt. We've been in other larger cities in the past, but didn't visit them this time. Like I said, it's been 11 years. We've been here in 1993, 1996 and maybe three other times, I've lost track. I love it here, because it's cool and green, clean and orderly, well-run and efficient, and very safe. All those qualities make my heart sing, so I was bracing for the worst.  

So, after one week, what have I found? Here is my take on Germany in 2017:

• People still smoke a lot. They throw their cigarette Butts in the street.
• There is very Little litter, hardly any. If there were no cigarette Butts, there would be no trash in the streets to speak of, especially compared to where I live in Sacramento, California.
• It is hotter, but it started off so cool that it's still refreshing.
• If there is an obesity epidemic here, I'm not seeing it.
• The buses run on time, as always. If you're late for the bus and you scream and yell and Pound on the doors of the bus as it's pulling away, the bus Driver will not stop. And that's why the buses run on time. You really must get to the stop on time.
• From time to time you see Immigrant women in headscarfs, but I see more in our Sacramento neighborhood.
• There are huge windmills and solar Panels everywhere.
• The German People didn't go anywhere, they are still here. Just with some refugees added in.
• Most everyone still speaks German.

Some other Things that haven't changed:

You'll see some socks with sandals, but less 

than in the past.

All the Buildings are still Standing.

You still don't have to share your covers.

Tomatoes and cucumbers for breakfast are still 

a Thing. 

Beer, still the national drink.

Lots of Little German cars,

but more SUV's too.

The Food is still awesome!

Wait! Is that VEGAN Food? In Germany?

Yes it is, and it is everywhere. And so is the best gluten-free bread I've ever had. Gluten-free bread that doesn't taste like reconstituted cardboard. It is so good, it Toasts up like real normal bread, and Looks to be whole-grain, which I can't confirm because of Course it's all in German.

Soy Curls! In the Drugstore!

Happy German cows who love Soy Curls.

Alles gutes!