Meetup in Germany

[66ee344a2503bRocketMan]

Hey everyone.  I'm travelling to Germany for business next week and it's my first time ever in Germany so I thought it would be a good opportunity to hang out with members of the community living there.  Obviously tied up during the day but evenings would be a possibility for grabbing a drink.  I'll be in the Cologne/Aachen general area so if you're around there and want to hang for a couple of hours one day next week, give me a PM 

[66ee344a252ccMarvin]

Aw, that sucks. I'm in Munich now and that's a fair bit away unfortunately. :-/

[66ee344a2542dvoodoo47]

I'm also a bit too far away. also not much of a partyboy.

[66ee344a25571fox]

Maybe someone should flash the Kolya-signal?

[66ee344a2566bvoodoo47]

oh yeah, @Kolya is the party type iirc.

[66ee344a25778RocketMan]

Aw, that sucks. I'm in Munich now and that's a fair bit away unfortunately. :-/

I have a Volvo SC60 stick and I hear the Autobahn has no speed limit 

[66ee344a25a14fox]

I have a Volvo SC60 stick and I hear the Autobahn has no speed limit 

Don't get your car guy-hopes up too much for that... There are so many stretches with all kinds of speed limits. Either that, construction sites, heavy traffic, truck drivers blocking all lanes, Klimakleber... something will slow you down more likely than not. If you really want to go fast, you better plan the time and route ahead.

[66ee344a25b09RocketMan]

People glue themselves to the highway?  Hmm... I might have to downshift for that.

[66ee344a25c25fox]

Right now they prefer to glue themselves to the runways of airports, since summer holidays started. Too bad that you couldn't visit Germany earlier, since much that was once nice, is perceptibly in decline these days.

Edit:
Oh well... last night in France they fire bombed and sabotaged the railroad infrastructure at multiple points. In Germany that would have been pointless since nothing is working anymore anyway.

[66ee344a25e98RocketMan]

In Germany that would have been pointless since nothing is working anymore anyway.

You sure we're not talking about Canada?

[66ee344a26261JDoran]

I might perhaps have liked to have gone (I'm not very sociable, I have very bad social anxiety, but this would no doubt be a very small meet-up, just a few harcore (and generally reasonable) fans of System Shock 2, so I might manage), but my health is not great now, so I don't travel.

Oh well... last night in France they fire bombed and sabotaged the railroad infrastructure at multiple points. In Germany that would have been pointless since nothing is working anymore anyway.

I recently watched a video about Germany's current state (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1ZZ-Yni8Fg) and it really surprised me. Firstly, because I'd always heard that Germany was doing very well and was well run, and secondly because the scientist who made this video makes Germany sound even worse than England (where I was born and still live), and trust me, England is in a miserable state nowadays. I'm 53, and I have seen Britain go so far downhill in so many ways. The Britons of two or three decades ago wouldn't believe how things would be in 2024.

And I have precisely zero hope or belief that Britain will start to get better.

[66ee344a26377RocketMan]

If distance or trepidation to leave home is the main concern, I don't mind driving a bit, so long as it's not like 7 hours or something.  Just wanted to re-assure anyone who might be on the fence about that.

[66ee344a264ccfox]

@JDoran: Although it's mainly human stupidity and corruption that are causing it, maybe there's some truth to the Strauss–Howe generational theory.

@RocketMan: Sorry for getting so offtopic there. Still enough there to enjoy, so don't let me kill the mood for you.

[66ee344a265ccRocketMan]

The streets here are pretty lively at night for a Monday.  I could get used to this... although with time being limited it's more of a tease.

[66ee344a26816Olfred]

Unfortunately I'm in Hamburg right now for work. Otherwise I could have skipped over to you.
If you happen to pass through hamburg we could meet up in the evening.

[66ee344a2696dtiphares4]

and i am in bremen, othwerwise could have made a system shock party - in dark cellar with funky music..  & chips, vodka, champagne & soda    :3

[66ee344a26a55RocketMan]

Well at least I know where all you guys are now.  Next time!

[66ee344a26b27fox]

What are your impressions of Germany, so far?

[66ee344a26c90RocketMan]

Seems a lot like Canada actually except with culture, more women outside and see-thru clothing.  Driving is mostly like Canada too but dumber because of the erratically changing speed limits, tiny traffic lights way up in the sky where you can't see them, traps everywhere and other oddities that makes it hard to figure out what's going on.  Food is good but not as easy as some other countries for someone with a basic pallet like mine.  I liked schnizel, bratwurst and goulash.  Beer was definitely good and plenty of variety.  Everybody spoke English.  Dudes from work were cool to hang out with at night.

I can't form a really good opinion from 1 small area and 1 week of duration but I guess it felt rather familiar and I could see more pros than cons and wouldn't mind living there as an alternative to Canada.

[66ee344a275a2fox]

Thanks! Although it's relatively small, the diffferent areas of Germany can indeed feel and look surprisingly different in many regards. You are of course right, that a final opinion cannot be formed at this point but it's always interesting to hear first impressions. I haven't been to Canada yet but media always makes it sound way more central/western european than the US - unsurprisingly, given the French influence.

[66ee344a276e0RocketMan]

True, that has undoubtedly contributed to the current landscape but the French influence is fairly localized to Quebec and even they don't try to emulate their Parisian ancestors.  They've formed a new culture.  I've always felt that the rest of the English-speaking population is simply more moderate and relaxed than the US and may explain why we split from them in the first place after settling North America.  That might be why Canada appears to have more in common with Europe than the US.