We have been getting reports from our friends in Munich that this year’s Oktoberfest is going smoothly. It’s great how so many people are on vacation in Munich this time of year! Wish I was there. Speaking of vacation, If you have any vacation stories, we would love to print them here! They could be about basically any element of your journey! Send us your best,  your worst, your strange and unusual! Send us any kind of media, video, audio, etc. Tell us a story about how awesome German radio is this time of year, or how the only channel you got in your hotel was in French.

Here’s a list of 10 topics you could write about!
1. The Flight
2. The Car Rental
3. The Hotel
4. The Locals
5. The Food
6. Recreation
7. Museums
8. Interesting Events
9. Poems About Travel
10. Kids Reactions to Travel

Whatever you have, send it to hans@autoeurope.com for screening. Obviously there are some stories that I won’t be able to post, but hopefully we can work something out with some creative editing.

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When talking about ways in which we enjoy sharing culture, what comes to mind? Many people would say the use of universal interests, like food and music are one of the most important ways to do it. I agree with this, but today I stumbled across some rather interesting information.

If you’ve ever watched The Office on NBC, you may be aware that the show is actually a remake of the critically acclaimed BBC series of the same name. Created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, The Office was first broadcast in the UK in 2001. The original show consists only of two seasons and a Christmas Special, totaling 12 episodes. The shows success has made it possible for different versions of it to be produced. The American version is quite a bit different than the original, but with an open mind, you may end up appreciating it more for it’s subtlety.

While you’re at it, check out these other versions if you’re interested:
Le Bureau – France
Stromberg – Germany
La Job – French-Canada
La Ofis – Chile

The Office Season 6 premieres Thursday, September 17th on NBC.

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In honor of the day (09/09/09), here’s a list of my top 9 favorite rock acts to come out of the UK (in no particular order). The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin get a free pass on this one, because really, it just wouldn’t be fair to take up these coveted spots.

Queen – Watch any live performance and try to tell me Freddie Mercury was not the most talented male rock vocalist ever. It doesn’t hurt that the band’s guitarist is a genius- literally. In October 2007 Brian May completed his Ph.D. thesis in astrophysics.

The Who – Come on, how could they not be on this list? The Who not only rocked (and still rock) harder than any band out there, but smashed gear and blew up drums with more efficiency than most small armies.

The Kinks – Recently, I discovered the great album We Are The Village Green. If you haven’t heard it, you should go get it right now.

Pink Floyd – Ever heard Piper at the Gates of Dawn, Meddle, Darkside of the Moon, Wish You Were Here or The Wall? Don’t tell anyone if the answer is no! Run to the nearest music collection of anyone that isn’t you and listen to any/all these albums.

The Clash – London Calling is one of the best albums ever recorded, and it’s a great way to get turned on to the sweet mix of reggae, punk, ska that is the politically charged rock band, The Clash.

David Bowie – From Ziggy Stardust to Aladdin Sane- whatever you want to call him, there’s no denying his presence, humor and genius. Who doesn’t love the Labyrinth?

Elvis Costello – Aside from being a smart, talented songwriter, few people know he produced some of the Pogues’ best albums.

Elton John – We forgive him for all his Disney soundtracks, because Goodbye Yellow Brick Road is so good.

Radiohead – Having grown up in the 90’s, I am obligated to include them on this list, and to own a copy of OK Computer.

Okay, I know I probably left off your favorite band, so let’s hear it. Who did I not put on this list that deserved it? Who should I have left off? When you travel to London, or anywhere else in the UK for that matter, what bands do you hope to see live?

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Did you know that there are close to 1,300 breweries in Germany? That’s more than in any other country except the United States which has 1,500. Keep in mind that there’s only 80 million people in Germany, as opposed to the 300 million in the US! To say Beer is popular in Germany would be an understatement. It’s no secret that most Americans aren’t really beerducated to the extent of the average German, so here’s a short list of the styles of beers you can expect to run into on your next vacation in Germany.

Altbier- Meaning old style beer, breweries in Cologne and Dusseldorf have a rivalry on who brews the better version of this dark amber, hoppy beer.

Kölsch- Less bitter than Pils, this local beer can only legally be brewed in the Cologne region.

Weizen/Weißbier- When beer is brewed with a large portion of wheat, it produces a cloudy delight known as wheat beer. This style is replicated in the US frequently. The term Hefeweizen refers to wheat beer in an unfiltered form.

Pilsener- This pale lager with a light body is extremely popular, and makes up of 75% of all beer brewed in Germany. If you like Beck’s or Warsteiner, this is for you.

Bock- This heavy amber lager generally has more alcohol than other lager, with 6.5-7% ABV.

Märzen- During Oktoberfest, this beer is the one most served. It comes in a variety of light, medium and heavy lagers.

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Each year the company Mercer ranks the quality of life of over 200 cities around the world. Factors used to determine the rankings are based on many things. Necessities like infrastructure, law enforcement, health care, and schools systems are looked at closely, as are recreational activities, which include access to theaters, sports activities, parks, and shops. are also ranked. Even local climate is ranked. This is a lot of criteria, so the mean city of the report is New York.

This year, European cities dominate the list, taking 8 of the top 10 places. Vienna, Austria took the number one rank from Zurich, which held the position last year. The highest ranked American city was Honolulu, at number 29. Canadian cities did better placing three in the top 20. The lowest ranking city on the list was Baghdad.If you want to learn a little more about how these cities were ranked, check out the Mercer website.

20. Stockholm, Sweden
19. Luxembourg, Luxembourg
18. Melbourne, Australia
16. Berlin, Germany
16. Ottawa, Canada
15. Toronto, Canada
14. Brussels, Belgium
13. Amsterdam, The Netherlands
12. Wellington, New Zealand
11. Copenhagen, Denmark
10. Sydney, Australia
9. Bern, Switzerland
8. Frankfurt, Germany
7. Munich, Germany
6. Düsseldorf, Germany
4. Auckland, New Zealand
4. Vancouver, Canada
3. Geneva, Switzerland
2. Zürich, Switzerland
1. Vienna, Austria

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One of the most famous roads in the world, the Autobahn is known for its high speed limits or rather (in some parts) lack thereof. Many people have described driving the Autobahn as liberating and free, and I am not one to argue. While I’ve only had the pleasure of cruising on this famous German highway a couple of times, I remember specificially what music made the voyage memorable. Here are my top 10 Autobahn albums you may want to bring with you for your next car rental in Germany.

1. Mozart- Don Giovanni
This famous opera is enough to give you chills on it’s own.
2. Mozart- Symphony No. 40 in G minor
3. Beethoven- Symphony #9 in C Minor
One of his most famous works, a must have for Bavarian driving.
4. Queen- A Night at the Opera
This epic rock album is great for driving. “I’m in Love with My Car” is all too fitting.
5. Otis Redding- Live in Europe
If this album doesn’t put you in a good mood, I don’t know what will.
6. The Clash- London Calling
The energy is constant for this classic. Makes for good night driving.
7. David Bowie- The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
Somehow it fits perfectly. Don’t ask me why, I have no idea. It just does.
8. Talking Heads- True Stories
The humor of this album combined with delicious melodies makes for memorable miles.
9. Stevie Wonder- Talking Book
This high energy album from one of the worlds best musicians sounds great through the speakers of a Mercedes.
10. Pink Floyd- Wish You Were Here
You probably thought I was going to put “The Wall.” Nope.

There you have it. Just my personal experience with what made driving a rental car in Germany more memorable. I’m sure there’s much more that could be added to this list. Have a suggestion? Think I missed the mark? Maybe your own top 10? Feel free to leave a comment!

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Many people enjoy visiting European Castles. Standing everywhere, these once powerful strongholds pepper the countryside of nearly every European country. Castles represent a time in history that is often romanticized in books and cinema. Many have been renovated and made into museums which are clean, well lit and free of disease, a far cry from the way things once were. Castles can offer a hands on experience and historical insight. Here is a list of my top five favorite castles in Europe.

Karlstien Castle is a famous castle easily accessible by a car rental in Prague, located just north of the city. Having been built in 1348, it has undergone several renovations over the past 700 years and is now open for guided tours.

The Alhambra located in Granada, Spain is one of Spain’s largest tourist attractions. The majestic beauty of this large castle attracts millions each year and is stunningly beautiful.
It was built by Muslim kings in the 1300’s, however was taken by Christian forces in 1492. This massive structure is filled with intricate art work, relaxing fountains, and large stables. The Alhambra can be reached easily with a rental car in Granada and is a must see for anyone in the region.

Hohensalzburg Castle in Salzburg, Austria is a large fortress that dates back over 900 years. It only came under attack once, and that was during the 14th century. During World War I it was used as a military prison, but now is visited by people every year who wish to see this well preserved piece of history. There is a cable car that will take you from the valley below or you can walk up and pay less for admission.

Chateau de Blois located in France’s Loire Valley has been the residence of French kings. Joan of Arc also received a blessing here from the Archbishop of Reims before fighting the English in 1429. Since 1841, it has been a historic monument and is open and available to the public. People who want to learn more about French History will enjoy this castle tour.  If you have a car rental in Blois, you will want to find parking near the castle in the morning as it gets very busy during the day.

Of course you can’t mention castles in Europe without talking about Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany. One of the most scenic castles in the world, this marvelous creation was commissioned to be built by Ludwig the Second of Bavaria in 1868. After his death in 1886, the castle was completed by the state, and is now open to the public, although no photos are allowed inside the castle. Despite that fact, it still remains one of the most photographed castles in the world! Neuschwanstein castle is truly a must see on your next Bavarian vacation and it is easily accessible with a rental car in Munich.

(Above:Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany)
Do you have a favorite castle in Europe? Leave a comment!

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