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Rates:

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Weekends: Friday from 8:00 pm to Monday 7:00am and holidays

International
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All incoming calls, regardless of where they originate, are free.
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Service Life:

The service life of the O2 card is one year. If the credit is not used in the 2 months, it is lost. By adding talk time, the credit is extended the full year. Every time you add talk time, the service life is extended one year from the date of recharge.

Coverage:

Cellular coverage in Germany is excellent, far exceeding typical cellular coverage in the US.

Suzy’s Journal of the Christmas Markets Germany

by: Suzy Davis

I arrive with our my Adventures For Singles (www.adventuresforsingles.com) group in Munich and our guide makes it clear this is Bavaria. Bavarians favor autonomy from Germany and even have their own language. I’ve been here many times but looking through sober eyes now, I find it more vibrant, clean and sophisticated. We spend 2 days with Nancy, an excellent guide who has already emailed me to remain in touch. I have a mini-group of just 26 so this is like a vacation for me. It’s a first time abroad for some and I love to learn from them as they notice things with child-like enthusiasm that I don’t. This is the hi-tech land of engineering. We pass a 9 story Mercedes dealership with new cars stacked to the shape of an Advent tree. We also see the BMW factory. I wish I could work here with 7 weeks vacation per year, 340 different work schedules to choose from, a gym, spa and its many other benefits. We stop for hot apple strudel and visit the well known sites. Here is the 100’ Christmas tree with 2500 candles. Our welcome dinner at Haufbrauhous is a delight with yodeling, alp horns and sausages of everything-wurst. The group toasts their steins of natural beer made only of barley, water and hops.

It’s time to move on to the enchanting storybook villages. This is a magical time to visit. No country celebrates Christmas with more passion than Germany. As we head to the alps, the morning sky looks like a pale bruise. Soon a blizzard engulfs our coach but we have an experienced driver named Eno who we fell in love with by trips end in 7 days.

We arrive at Neuschwanstein and ride by horse and carriage up to the famous castle. (This is the one Disney fashioned its own after.) I’ve seen more castles than I can count around the world but this medieval knight’s fortress with gothic spires is spectacular. Built in 1869, it looks brand spanking new with decorated rooms intact. The 388 steps inside are well worth the climb. There’s hardly anyone here whereas summer can draw 5,000 tourists each day. In winter, this fairytale castle becomes dreamlike surreal. That’s why I enjoy traveling off season.

Pity poor Mad King Ludwig II who designed this worlds largest, most extravagant, expensive and opulent castle for himself. It’s a sad story of the 6’ king who lived here only 4 months. The people loved him as much as the German Tourist Board does today. His family however, did not. They sought to declare Ludwig insane and hired a team of psychiatrists to prove such. Although he was prone to depression and insomnia, no doctor could find him mentally unfit. After short rule, his body was found in the lake and the family stated it was suicide. But the body of his psychiatrist was also found so most agree it was murder, particularly since an autopsy was refused. Later it was determined that Ludwig was gay, so the “fairytale king” was truly a fairy.

We stopped in charming Oberammergau, famous for its Passion Plays every 10 years. The wood houses are painted with fairytales: Hansel & Gretel, Red Riding Hood, etc. We then toured Nuremburg with an astute guide who brought the city to life before our eyes from 15th century to its destruction in WWII. Some went off to the Toy Museum or Torture Museum while I set out to explore the world’s largest Xmas market.

With giant lit trees, double carousals, horses with bells, over 400 stalls of food and crafts, this is a s festive as it gets! I graze my way through on white chocolate bananas, fruit breads, glazed grapes, dipped pretzels, pink marzipan pigs, licorice angles and all types of roasting sugar coated nuts. Shaped gingerbreads are omnipresent and the aroma of warm sweet Gluh-wine fragrances the air. I’m on a sugar high and head for the crafts. Shopping is a blood sport here through narrow lanes but MasterCard is my armor and I find all my toy treasures. There are giant nutcrackers representing every occupation, unique mangers and 29 trillion ornaments. At dusk the illumination begins. I pause for a dinner of 6 bratwursts, Bavarian cheese and a pyramid of sauerkraut to last me to 2012.

In Rodenthal we toured the Goebel/Hummel Factory. I anticipated boredom yet became fascinated to learn how precious each piece is. From 1871 to today, 700 artists create these tiny non-useful figurines. They are paid per piece and if a mistake is made, it must be broken. The highest paid artists are the delicate “face painters.” I met one woman who has spent 12 years just painting eyebrows, another on lips and a man who has worked 10 years blushing cheeks! The eye strain must be like threading sewing needles for a lifetime and it takes 3 years apprenticeship to graduate to this level. Initially our guide assumed we were a collectors club when in reality we can barely afford a 2’’ baby Jesus.

Later in East Germany we visited Lauenstein Confiserie, a chocolate/praline factory that was so busy with the season, they hardly notice us. I tasted from the chocolate fountain nearly having a cocoa orgasm and confirm again that America can never produce this product as purely or satisfying as Europe.

The best of all towns was Rothenberg, population 2300 where our Hotel Prince was located right inside the fortified walls of Old Town. Our guided walk here instantly awakened all my 5 senses and made me want to linger for days. We tend to go over the top each year with our flashy decorations. Among the half timbered homes here on cobbled streets, it is quieter and softer. One is taken back to the Middle Ages with the pewter ornaments hand crafted and evergreens lit with candles. Afterwards, our guide Claudia invites us all into her home. I go to buy a “snowball” for which this town is renowned. They are piled high like colored softballs in the windows. For over 300 years, these pastries were frugally made from scraps of fresh pie dough. Dipped in chocolate, berries or cinnamon butter, they melt in your mouth. As the sun shines, I remove my coat to a balmy 50º. How I wished it would snow.

We end our tour in the Student Prince town of Heidelberg with entrance to the famous castle and its 55,000 gallon wooden wine barrel. That night I reflect on a great trip, my last one for 2005. I write this journal so my wonderful little group will remember it all. With pride, I’ll always remember them; on time, patient, no complaints, generous tippers, polite to locals and friendly with each other. Perfect travelers I wish I could clone.

After hugging Eno goodbye, we exited with so many shopping bags that he now thinks he needs a trailer in tow of his coach. This December, it was joyous to be transported back in time. It certainly brought me in touch with my inner elf. What a gift!

Schindler's Way

by: George Lunt

There is more than one way to actively fight tyranny. The obvious way is to stage a massive demonstration, where the protestors are subjected to being maced, beaten, shot and hauled off to jail by government police. If the demonstrators go against a well established tyrannical government, it may take years of well organized protests, and the heartache and pain associated with them, to achieve the desired objective.

Another, more subtle approach, was made famous by Steven Spielberg's academy award winning movie "Schindler's List." The movie details how a German industrialist, Oskar Schindler, was able to save over a thousand Jews from being sent to death camps during World War II.

Before World War II, Krakow, Poland's Jewish population numbered over 50,000. After Germany invaded Poland, Jews were herded into crowded ghettos, and faced all forms of abuse from the German occupation force. Jewish property and businesses were appropriated by the SS and sold to Nazi party members.

Schindler came to Poland in 1939 believing he could make a lot of money as a war profiteer. He quickly became friends with the local Gestapo leaders. He would supply them with money, women, and liquor. His connections helped him acquire a factory using Jewish labor. This factory produced enamel goods and munitions to supply the German front.

At first he seemed like a typical German industrialist, only concerned about profit and not really worried about the means used to get it. But Schindler's actions proved to be very different. As more and more Jews began to be sent to death camps, Schindler began hiring more of them for his factory. He hired unskilled workers and falsely reported they had essential factory skills. He paid off the Nazis so they would allow certain people to work at his factory. He got some rich Jews to invest money in his factory in order to work there and be spared the holocaust. Schindler later used this money for everyone's benefit.

In March of 1943, the Germans closed the Krakow ghetto. Jews were moved a Plaszow concentration camp just outside the city. Schindler's Jews still continued to work at his factory. He even convinced the Germans to build a special sub-camp for his workers. By the summer of 1944, Plaszow was ordered closed and the Jews moved to Auschwitz to be liquidated. Schindler, through pleading and bribery of High German officials convinced the Germans to relocate his factory to a new site in Czechoslovakia. This is when he made the famous "Schindler's list" of everyone that would be allowed to move to his new factory. He took a thousand Jews from Plaszow to Czechoslovakia. Other workers were added to his list of employees now and then for variety of reasons. During this time, Schindler spent all his money to protect his Jews and to pretend that his factory was essential to the German war effort. By May, 1945 the Russians liberated his factory. Schindler and his wife, fled to Argentina and took up farming. In 1958 he returned to Germany where he died in poverty in 1974.

Schindler is honored for the creative way that he manipulated the Germans for years and saved over a thousand lives in the process. Have you ever thought of how many people Schindler would have saved if he "stood up" directly against German oppression? My guess would be that he would have been shot instantly or would have wound up in a gas chamber at Auschwitz. His actions prove that it is not always prudent to "stand up" and "speak out" when fighting an overwhelmingly powerful enemy.

In these times, where corporate aliens have gained tremendous power over our lives, it makes more sense to use creative techniques, as Oskar Schindler did, to combat their oppression. Here are some examples of how Schindler's techniques may be used in today's world.

Corporate aliens are controlling most of today's work environments. As a result, employees are being tracked, listened to, or watched. Everyone is constantly told to be more productive, even though, productivity profits only upper management. Productivity and quality meetings are commonplace. All corporate jobs have common harassment factors. To stand up for your rights in these environments will only get you fired. Instead, using Schindler's techniques can be very helpful in maintaining your mental well being. Pretend it's a joy to come to work every day. Build a strong friendship with your supervisor. Wine, dine and make him or her happy. Keep your resume up to date and use it to get a higher paying position when the opportunity presents itself. Make maximum use of your sick days and personal days. Find subtle ways of shifting the blame for any work related problems back to management. Don't think of working as the equivalent to being in a concentration camp. Do anything within reason to secretly make your life less frustrating. Be creative.

Consider American companies like Google, Yahoo, and MSN in China. Could they really be trying to secretly help the government opposition? Are they really using Schindler's tactics? If they are, for these tactics to be effective, they can't publicize them. Does turning in a few dissidents mean they've become China's pawn or are they really protecting thousands by turning in a few? Do we know enough to judge? Even if the companies themselves wholeheartedly collaborate with the government, could not employees of these companies use their company resources to secretly support the enemy? When we protest the actions of these companies, remember that if they did not establish their presence in China, using any subtle techniques to support the cause of freedom would not be possible.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about the US income tax being unconstitutional. Some people have gone to great lengths to interpret the constitution and prove that the income tax is against the law. Be that as it may, the government runs the country, and its interpretation of the constitution, in spite of what it really says, is that income tax is legal and failure to comply can result in fines and imprisonment. Some of the people that have stood up for their constitutional rights are currently serving time in federal prison. Why not use the Schindler approach? The government makes it easy to legally reduce taxes, with tax loopholes designed to help corporate America. Learn to use these tax loopholes effectively. There might even be instances where you can obtain an "under the table" income so that the IRS doesn't know about it. If you look at how governments use tax money, you know that the amount of taxes they get from the common man is totally unfair. But, standing up to them will only result in more problems. Being creative can get much better results. Why go to prison?

As time goes on many "democratic" governments are demanding more and more individual rights. History has shown that when governments go too far, revolution results. Using corporate alien techniques, populations are being conditioned to worry more about the "World Series" or "Super Bowl" than their individual rights. Under these circumstances a revolution may never come, no matter how abusive the government gets. And if a revolution does come, the new government would usually be more oppressive than the one just overthrown. For an individual living in these times, the only way to obtain any kind of justice is to use Schindler's techniques to secretly achieve his or her goals in the midst of government interference.

German Castles -- 4 of the most incredible ones – Part I

by: Marcus Hochstadt

We have a long history here in Germany and very medieval castles also. Tens of thousands of tourists come to Germany day in and day out just to see and feel the "charisma" of our German castles.

I will explain you 4 of my favourites and a little bit of their history. If you plan to travel to Germany, you might like to know them and to feel its charisma too. ;-) These 4 castles are located in South Germany, so you do not have to travel hundreds of kilometres/miles to see each of them. By the way, most of our German castles are located in South Germany.

1. Heidelberg

The first one I describe to you is the Heidelberg castle. It is really big and has a secret stairway to walk up to it. Very few people know that way, most of the people go up by the "hill train". I mean, you can do that too, but imagine how incredible it is, when you walk up the more than 300 stairs (each stair has its number on it!) and see all the old houses around you, WOW!

Heidelberg itself has a strong history too and you see that on all the houses and the extremely expensive residential areas. Very famous people live in Heidelberg, such as Steffi Graf and famous Scientists. You should also walk through the, and now I'll give you a insider secret, "Philosophenweg" (Way of Philosophs). You may ask the people out there where exactly this way is, but however when you walk up that way, you have an really awesome, and I mean really awesome view to the Heidelberg castle and Heidelberg itself and its river (Neckar).

2. Schwetzingen

Not far away from Heidelberg (approx. 10km) is a small town called Schwetzingen (yes, I live in this town and I love it!). The special thing here is, that this town has just 22,500 residents, but also a huge castle! When you visit German castles you will realize, that some of them not so big, but beautiful too. The castle of Schwetzingen is not just beautiful, it's awesome and huge! The city itself spends all of the entrance fees (only 2,50 EUR per day) into this incredible castle, and you see that at each corner stone, plant and bloom.

The Schwetzingen castle is almost as big as the city itself! :-)

Its history goes back to Baroque, Rococo and Classicism. It's still apparent today that the irregular complex of the Schwetzingen castle in essence dates back to a medieval castle altered in the Renaissance period.

At the end of your castle visit you absolutely must go to one of the irresistible cafés and restaurants in front of the castle - at the "Schlossplatz" (castle place). There are seven (and much deeper in and around the city) of them and you will find people of all ages there, and you easily come in contact with them. They are really communicative. Most of the young people are able to speak English. More about this amazing town you'll find on my site: http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/schwetzingen.html.

My site isn't perfect yet, but it grows day after day and I work really hard on it to give you the highest valuable free insider tips for your travel to Germany.

I hope you enjoyed the first part of my special report of 2 awesome German castles. Watch out for the second part with the other 2. I will post it shortly.

Also for further insider tips go to my website. I finished the creation of my monthly free special report. In this report I will describe the rest of our TOP 40 German castles and its histories. You can subscribe to it at http://www.smart-travel-germany.com/smart-travelogy-germ.html.

I appreciate you!

Marcus Hochstadt

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