Germany's Secrets Revealed

I finally met friend-of-the-blog and echt Berliner, Anton, last night. Sadly, in my excitement about picking his brain for all things German, I neglected to get a picture of us.

Although I still have half a million questions for him, I did manage to ask the other half million last night. Here are just a few of his answers.

Leash laws: yes, they do have them in Berlin, but they may vary by breed and location. So, for instance, maybe in the park one doesn't need a leash (that means joggers, children, and small dogs, betreten auf eigene Gefahr!), but on the street big, dangerous dogs need a leash and a muzzle.

Das Christkind: yes, Baby Jesus does bring presents to Bavarian kids. It is unclear how he delivers them. I picture a rocket-powered manger.

Tipping the waiter: you're supposed to round up to the nearest dollar when you pay, even when the waiter corrects your pronunciation when you order, as happened to Halley last night.

Closing time: Germany is now a "liberal" shopping paradise compared to recent years, when all shops were required to close at 6 pm and remain closed the entire weekend.

And here's some bonus information I gleaned last night from another echt German, Martin. The Netherlands are to Germany as Kentucky is to Indiana, Arkansas is to Texas, and West Virginia is to the whole U.S.

It was a pleasure to meet you, Anton. Have a safe trip back to Canada, eh?