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Different countries, different customs. Since we drink no alcohol it seems wasteful of money to pay for water that is already coming out of the tap. Fortunately we rarely frequent high end establishments so our water bottles will have to do.
5 years agoThanks for doing the research. Nerdy info is always welcome but usually there is not enough time to do the research while on a tour.
5 years agoWell, you got German service at its best twice that day as it seems ... Sadly, it is very uncommon to serve free tap water. It is also considered severely rude to bring your own drink in a restaurant, but it is accepted (at least in the lesser distinguished ones), though probably not really approved of, to not order any drinks at all - I sometimes do this and drink before I enter the restaurant.
5 years agoSome slightly nerdy information on the cleaner topic:
After some research, I came to the conclusion that the German garbage collectors dressed in grey until the 1970's and then changed to orange for higher visibility. Indeed there is a EU legislation (first implemented in 1989) requiring them and other occupational groups working 'outdoors' among many others (even 'highest possible comfort'!) to wear high visibility clothes, but the exact color/shape is not given - though I don't think I've ever seen a collector not dressed in orange in Germany in the past 20 years.
Regarding costume requirements:
It is quite a fun to guess which country a tourist is from based on what she/he is wearing (an admittedly somewhat stereotypical tip for a German 'outdoor adventurer': zip-off trousers +/or Jack Wolfskin jacket) - hit rate can be quite high ;-)
Our first really long ride was a more or less cross Canada. It was super and we might like to do it, or bits of it, again. But Europe is cycling fun on steroids compared to that first time out.
5 years agoYup, me too. Though I hope to ride across Canada some day...
5 years agoAnd that is exactly why we keep coming back to Europe to ride our bikes.
5 years agoWe really like the work clothes here. Much more functional and attractive than what is worn at home. If it is an EU directive, it is one we approve of.
5 years agoThe nice thing is that you don't have to ride your bike on the same roads (like in most of BC)!
5 years agoOccupational health and safety requirements -probably an EU directive!
Mike
Hi Rachael and Tricia, being here in the early spring has its own challenges. The towns are much quieter since the tourists have not arrived. Especially, though, the weather is unpredictable. So far we have had no rain but the mornings are cold and it takes awhile to warm up.
5 years agoIt’s pretty quiet where we are also and it is suppose to be a warmer climate but we’re having a cold snap and cold winds. We haven’t biked along the Danube since 1999 and it’s great reading about it. We plan to bike in Germany and Austria next year in early fall. Hope it doesn’t get to cold and wet for you!
5 years agoWow, that was one creative Konditor!
5 years agoHealthy eating! Especially all that jam!
5 years ago
Ah, Passau. We’ve been there twice now. Both times, I brained myself on the same low beam of the same hotel: https://www.cycleblaze.com/journals/prague1996/passau/. I’m a slow learner; if we ever return, I’ll likely do it again.
5 years ago