wireless in Europe

[Gregg]

I was reading an article this morning about libraries in the States. Many of them now have wireless that's free. I just sent an e-mail to my son suggesting that he might want to check that out. Are there other places "over there" that might have free wireless connections that an isolated American wouldn't think of?

He has gone to an internet cafe that charges 1 euro (is there a symbol for that?) for 20 minutes. His room does not have internet, although he might be able to e-mail from work. It's some sort of Bavarian holiday today (Thursday 5/25) so he starts on Monday. Do they typically only work 4 days a week in Europe? - Germany at least.

His room is another difference between here and there. He has an oven, and "kitchen sink" as well as a bathroom. I think it's similar to a U.S. "efficiency apartment" but without a full kitchenette. It's strange to me that there is an oven, but no refrigerator in his room. There is a common kitchen in the building, with a refrigerator (or two?). I suppose he could buy or rent a "dorm refrigerator" since he didn't pack his.

[kelly]

Try a PM to Spartacus.

[RHPConsult]

What's changing (ever so slowly) is a work week (for retail establishments, especially) that has a lunch hour each day from 12 - 1:30, closed every Wednesday afternoon, by noon on Saturday, and all day Sunday. Major exceptions are in the BIG cities. What's always suprised me is how many (what we would call) resort areas are closed much of the weekend.

Oh yes. 6 weeks annual paid vacations for large segments of the populace.

And of course, increasing discussion about the "social contract" that provides all of this in an increasingly competitive world.

• • • •

Kitchens have always been small . . . as a result most fresh food shopping is done every day.

[Mayo]

I just entered "wireless hotspots Germany" at Google and found a list of 77 wireless hotspots in Germany.

[Gregg]

(Well, he now tells us he does have a small refrigerator in his room.)

That's cool, Mayo. The town he is in is called Schweinfurt. He flew into Frankfurt, but that is at least 90 minutes away. (figured I'd stick to universal units) He is a little closer to Wursburg, where he had to change trains. He said he'd check on libraries.

[Gregg]

Update (really just bumping this to the top)

The first internet cafe my son found in Schweinfurt (Germany) did not have wireless, so he had to use one of their computers. He has now found another one that has wireless, so he will be able to compose messages ahead of time and paste them into an e-mail. But the thing he needs it for the most is to upload photos so we can view them.

He thinks he will be able to use e-mail at work. But, he's still looking for free wireless somewhere; hasn't found a library yet to see if they would have that. So, we're still looking...

[Klaus1]

QUOTE(Gregg @ May 27 2006, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It's some sort of Bavarian holiday today

It's called Ascension Day.

And yes, in Europe 6 weeks annual paid holiday is quite normal.

There is more to life than work (a 4-letter word meaning 'making other people rich').

[Mayo]

The cultural differences your son is experiencing is why some of us love to travel. "Tourists" just go to see the famous sights and mingle with a zillion other tourists... and generally expect things to be the same as back home. Such tourists would do us and the Europeans a favor if they just stayed home in the first place. (Well, there are probably a lot of Europeans who depend on the tourist industry who would disagree with that statement...) The Rick Steves books are excellent primers on how to be a "traveler" instead of a "tourist."

Another example of the difference between the U.S. and our European brethren:  in a couple of books I am reading about finding housing in the Netherlands I discovered that real estate agents in Holland do not show property on weekends or in the evenings on weekdays! A person looking for property must set aside time during normal working hours to work with an agent.

I know that more than a few U.S. real estate agents would LOVE to be able to have a normal work/family life that didn't require being on-call 24/7...

Just another example of the old adage "Americans live to work, Europeans work to live."

[RHPConsult]

If he's looking for a great place to visit first, tell him to get back to Wurzburg. Beautiful river city, charming Altestadt. Begin with a visit to the dazzling Residential Palace. Breathtaking combinations of painting and sculpture, especially in the grand staircase and the Court Chapel.

Wurzburg is the beginning of The Romantic Road, which passes south, connmecting some wonderfully preserved medieval towns enroute to Fussen, near "Mad" Ludwig's Castle Neueschwanstein (think "Tinkerbell" )

The most renowned are probably . . .

1. Rothenburg ob der Tauber
2. Dinkelsbuhl
3. Nordlingen, and
4. Augburg (not at all incidentally "founded" by the Romans over 2000 year ago!
   [•]Fussen

I would guess that all have interesting web sites now . . . not like the olden days (20+ years ago).One would hope he/you might find some sites  that want to "illuminate" their towns, rather than just rent hotel rooms!  

"Baroque" will never seem to have the same meaning to him after such a journey. Good thing is that an autobahn parallels the more rural road so he could select  separate segments to view on different weekends.

There wil be no quiz on Tuesday, boys and girls.

[Gregg]

Klaus, ok... what is that day commerating?

Mayo, yes, he is living the culture. Very concious of that - using formal German when he was taught the familiar, not probing people about their activities outside of work as we are wont to do here in the States, etc.

Dick, I'll give him  the heads up on Wursburg. I think he visited the "castle" you mentioned on his first trip to Germany in junior high. He's been learning the language since 'kindergarten'. You might even be able to find info online about Milwaukee's famous German Immersion School (MGIS).

[Klaus1]

Assention Day commemorates, would you believe, The Assention.

Wurtzburg has a marvellous medieval city wall you can walk on top of with great views of the old city. Don't miss it!

[Mayo]

Will your son have an opportunity to travel outside Germany?

[Gregg]

QUOTE(Klaus1 @ May 28 2006, 02:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Assention Day commemorates, would you believe, The Assention.

I guess your initial spelling of it threw me.

QUOTE(Mayo @ May 28 2006, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will your son have an opportunity to travel outside Germany?

He will have weekends. Before going, he had big plans to travel all over Europe. Reality has set in, and now I find myself in the position of encouraging him to do at least some traveling to other countries. The goal of the internship is not to save money, it's to relish the experience.

[Klaus1]

QUOTE(Gregg @ May 29 2006, 02:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I guess your initial spelling of it threw me.

Fair enough! I am still trying to find the 'edit' function here, so I can correct typos!  

[Gregg]

Edit is in a group of buttons at the bottom of your post, on the right hand side. (Perhaps the left hand side in England. ) Then you'll see Quote + and Reply To.

There are two Edit options when you click the Edit button:
Full Edit and Quick Edit

Full Edit is what you were used to before the board software switch. Quick Edit is similar to Fast Reply, in that you Edit the post right there rather than on a refreshed screen.