Germany

Trying to get a New Apartment? Yeah Right.

Things I can tell you about moving to Germany and renting an apartment – now that I’ve done it… a comparison. Warning – complaint ahead – mostly due to cultural differences that maybe someone can clear up for why this is…..

*** First some background – in the USA, you only need to give 1 month of notice before moving, at most two. When you get your deposit back – they give it back within the month after you move – at most 3 months if you are getting it back. If not, they must provide you a letter for why they are keeping it. In Most states, the renter does not need to repaint, recarpet, or do any improvements to the apartment (in fact if you paint a different color wall – they will fine you!). There are no wires allowed to hang from the celings or anywhere else. Likewise, in the bathroom – a working toilet, bathing facilities and sink must be provided and in the kitchen, there must be a stove, refrigerator, and working sink. This is an “unfurnished apartment”. ***

In Germany….

a) You have to give 3 months notice before you move out. This has to be given by the 3rd or the 5th of the month before you move. This means if you hate the place, you’re stuck there for at least 3 months.

b) Unfurnished apartments have no lights (open wires from the celings), no kitchen (not even a sink, refrigerator, or stove), and the bathroom doesn’t have to have facilities for bathing – a sink and toilet are the only thing necessary.

c) You have to repaint the flat before you move – and maybe replace the carpets. At your own expense. The owner/landlord doesn’t expect that there is normal wear and tear on the place – or that they should have to do anything but collect your rent, do some paperwork, and just profit.

d) Don’t plan on getting your deposit back the month you move out either. Landlords here can hold your deposit – after you’ve moved – for 6 months to a 1 year after you’ve moved out.

e) If you do plan to move out – and find a new place – plan on 3 months rent (as a deposit) and your first month’s rent being how much you pay just to get in. In the case of a 600 Eur a month apartment, you have to come up with 2400 eur – just to move in…. that doesn’t count moving expenses (like renting a truck), repainting/ recarpeting the old apartment, or anything like that.

Ok folks, you’ve been warned. Welcome to Germany, you’ve found a flat, don’t ever move.

Share

Anti Facism Demonstration by Communists?

Where to start… to try and make this clear – now that I understand what was going on and why I got strange looks – let me see ….
Teltow. It’s a small town – 1 street maybe 1000 people – if that. It’s tiny – and located between Berlin and Potsdam. It’s a bedroom community – where nothing really happens – even on the weekend – past 10 pm. Everything is closed after 6pm on most nights, and it’s just dead – you rarely see anyone on the streets.
That being said, May 17, as I rode my bike home from work, I saw this huge massive police force out – blocking the one main street. We’re talking completely closed off to vehicles – with police police police – in green vests, and a few in riot gear.
Line of Police
I thought there must have been a huge bad accident or something – because people go racing up and down the street all the time. Thing is that they were letting pedestrians and bikers through – so as I rode up the street (thinking to rubberneck and maybe snap a few pictures) I discovered the street was just closed – for seemingly no reason – and there was just a huge police force, and really no people. I was like what the heck? Weird.
Line of Police 2
Anyhow, I went home, sat out a 20 minute rain shower and started walking the dog, smartly taking the camera with me. As I rounded the corner, I start hearing people shouting chants and angry things in German – and realize it must be some kind of a protest march that these guys were covering for. So, I head up to the main street to see what’s going on. (After all, March 17 – to me – is any one of a possible 3 holidays – it is the Norwegian Independence day, Equality for gays/lesbians and against homophobia, and the global freedom of information day.)
So, I get down there and start taking pictures of the protest – as follows:
Anti-Facism March
Day 69: Anti-Facism March (1)
Anti-Facism March (2)
Anti-Facism March (3)
Now here’s the thing – the whole time I’m taking pictures, I’m reading the signs and they read “anti-facism” and stuff. (Oh – and I’m getting funny looks – really funny looks from the police who are appearing ready to come at me at any second – to which I keep saying “tourist tourist”) Anyhow, the protest signs – they appear to be being put on by the communist party of Potsdam, Babelsburg and Brandenburg.
To say the least – I’m puzzled. Really Puzzled.
Why are the communist party protesting against facism in tiny Teltow? What am I missing here? Shouldn’t they be in Berlin or Potsdam or something?
Well, after I get to work and start asking questions of the Germans I work with, here’s the explanation.
Apparently, there’s a facist /nazi clothing shop in Teltow (No, really – I didn’t know this either) under the name of something or other nordic blah blah. And these folks were protesting it.
As if that weren’t odd enough – the people protesting are not only communist – but are part of a movement of “anti germans” which have a history of riots and mob violence. You can read more about it here:

Anti-German (Modern communist)

So, this would explain the police being out en masse.

Also from Michael – the translation of that banner in the last picture is “do you know your neighobor? They could be a nazi!”

I’m feeling a little dumb now – a) because I didn’t understand there was a Nazi shop in town, b) because I stood at the protest (ok me and about 2 other people) going what the heck? while taking pictures and c) I’m sure to someone, it looked like I supported the anti-facism (which I do) AND the communists with a history of riots and violence (which I don’t).
Amusingly – they are pro-USA and anti Germans… go figure.
Live, Learn, and well, I guess this is one experience that now that I understand how much I’ve been missing – and be amused.
Share

The Trip Home… Where ARE my Bags?!

Note from May 17:
I got home from my trip to Amsterdam, Glasgow and Edinburgh – with not much excitement to tell about. It was a lovely trip. In summary – I’m not sure when I’ll get pictures posted – I’m still working on the ones from Ireland (and that was the end of March!!) what you’re seeing here is a backlog of notes from the trip that I compiled – day by day… that are just now getting posted (but on the dates it happened instead of now…)

If there’s one thing I can say for travelling, it’s that there’s never a dull moment. There’s always something to see, explore, do, and enjoy. And getting lost – well, it’s half the fun.

So, I made it out of Glasgow about 3 in the afternoon (an hour late). I had picked up my heavy roller bag wrong when I tossed it on the conveyer to be checked into the belly of the plane, and my back was not happy (spasms). I figured eh, I’m going to be sitting on a flight for a while, so it’s not going to be a big huge deal.

I arrive in Amsterdam, which has to be the most confusing airport I’ve been in in a while. I had about 30 minutes between flights since the one from Glasgow had left late – and I figured my bags just weren’t going to make it. On the bright side, at least I would be at home – when/if they didn’t.

I wandered around for a bit – and then finally figured out where the heck my flight was supposed to be out of. My back was still bothering me (no more spasms, but now a dull ache had set in) and I was thinking well, I’m halfway home – so that’s good at least – once I’m there, I can take a muscle relaxer and get some sleep.

The plane from Amsterdam left on time, and when I got to Berlin, there was no border patrol (EU flight- remember) and the customs agents appeared to have gone home as well. I waited on my bags, and stood there and waited some more. The plane had been full of Japanese tour groups (2 of them in fact) and they had gotten all their luggage. A woman with a small baby had gotten hers… and then came the “END” sign. That’s the end of everything in the plane. There is no more.

So, my bags didn’t make it – not that I’d expected them to – honestly. But neither had several of the other passengers – who had come from London’s Heathrow (new terminal) too. We all promptly marched down to the lost baggage office, and sure enough, discovered that our bags were still in Amsterdam (or Heathrow for those that were from London.). Luckily for me, I was home – I got a 25 eur KLM voucher, and a promise my bags would be in my hands sometime “tomorrow”.

I guess the bright side (thank God for small favors!) – I didn’t have to lug my heavy bag down the stairs, into the train, up the stairs, onto a bus, off a bus, down more stairs, onto a different train, up the stairs, onto a bus, off a bus, up the cobblestones, up the stairs, and into the apartment. I can only imagine how my back would have screamed at me if I had had to do that. In addition, I was home -which meant I had all my electronics (in my backpack), my keys, and my work badge – as well as everything I could possibly need there – except a toothbrush and my makeup. Not a bad deal. I guess if your bags have to be lost, it’s best on the trip home – than on the trip to the destination….

Oh re the bags – yes, they finally made it – on the 14th, about 11 am. Not too bad. I sent a bunch of packages, went to dinner, and then back to work on the 15th.

And In case your counting – that was 4 cities in 5 days – Berlin, Amsterdam, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Berlin – not half bad for a break I’d say.

Share