In this video, go hiking with me and my dog as I describe the differences between hiking in Germany versus USA. Bonus: a bunny encounter in the woods during our hike. Enjoy the Video! #hikingingermany #hikinggermany #germany
Пікірлер: 359
@travelingexpats18 күн бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@valerievankerckhove93252 жыл бұрын
I currently live in Belgium and I've gone hiking with a group near the Belgium-Germany border. The only thing marking the border is a big ol' rock. A farmer in Belgium caused a fuss earlier this year because he moved the 'rock that was in the way' and didn't realize he moved the Belgium-France border as a result.
@fuxxifuchs73702 жыл бұрын
lol thats really funny heh
@hovawartfreunde45992 жыл бұрын
🤣
@MaxSeidel12 жыл бұрын
As a german I must admit that we, as a people, historically, didn´t really care too much about that border. Sorry!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
That's hilarious! I can see us doing something like that.
@witty2u2 жыл бұрын
🤣🤣🤣... Too funny.
@moonman84502 жыл бұрын
I like how you can see just a bit of landscape and as a German you just KNOW it’s in Germany
@MrBrock-kp5te2 жыл бұрын
I was thinking how English it looked!
@samsh-p89072 жыл бұрын
No, I would disagree. I found very similar landscapes all over beautiful Europe.
@MsPandachen2 жыл бұрын
Nature and Windräder 😂
@johaquila2 жыл бұрын
The point is that if you live in Europe, you can see the subtle differences between the typical cultural landscapes of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK etc. It's a lot of little things such as different approaches that farmers have to the weeds growing next to their fields; whether there are small patches of wood (making the ecosystem richer and preventing erosion), how they are oriented, which trees grow there and to what extent they are left alone; typical surface types and maintenance status of field roads, whether they are shared between farmers, and to what extent they follow or cross landscape features. And of course the architecture and arrangement of the houses you see in the background. Some of these things can be radically different just across the border.
@moonman84502 жыл бұрын
@@johaquila exactly and most of it you notice unconsciously
@rabokel2 жыл бұрын
Once my wife and i hiked from Cologne to Rostock and I was quite surprised to find that you could walk that far without having to cross big streets or walk through towns. One of the best holidays of my life. We did have maps , a compass and were following the signs of trails which you can find everywhere.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like an amazing adventure!
@thomaskingschillerlein78432 жыл бұрын
@@lederp42 30 km a day that will be 20 days meaning roundabout three weeks
@geddon4362 жыл бұрын
@@thomaskingschillerlein7843 I like the idea of walking, but that is too much for me.
@trueamnisias2 жыл бұрын
A lot of the 'trails' go back to the pre-industrial dirt-road network for people on foot, horseback, carts and carriages which developed over many centuries, conecting hamlet, villages, farms and castles. With the invention of the car some of them were tarmacked, but many where left for acriculture and leisure, and some were eventually 'upgraded' into dedicated 'Weitwandwege' e.g. long-distance hiking trails crossing borders and countries. The U.S. is much less densly populated and had much less 'pre-industrial' time to establish this kind of road system. The focus has been on trains, cars and planes.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Great points. Thanks.
@stephanteuscher65832 жыл бұрын
You can even walk from Germany to north-west Spain ("Jakobsweg"). However, my favorite is the Black Forest, especially the trails named "Westweg", "Mittelweg" and "Ostweg" which cross the Black Forest from north to south. It's about 150 km. During the warm season you will always find rooms in nice hotels in the villages you pass. You can even plan ahead so you don't have to carry your backpack but the hotel's staff will bring it to your next hotel.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Great information! Thanks. I hope to hike in the Black Forest soon.
@Bonsai612 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats so by living close to the french border but not in Black Forest you're post to live in the area of the Pfälzer Wald which is also a very nice place for hiking. The place where I live is close to the northern part of the Eifel. There is an old rail track which is called Vennbahnweg. It starts at the main train station in the centre of Aachen and ends somewhere in Luxemburg. All in all about 130 km. This trail is open ony for hiking and bike riding. The rail tracks were removed and converted. Very interesting to go the hole track by bicycle in 2 or 3 days. We were planing to do so already last year but the pandemic ruined it. Here is a video from an other american who joint a trip through the Eifel with some germans: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qbCKaLtolZyxnn0.html I love all these areas much more than any town side. Nothing else than you and the nature arround you.
@viquiben49192 жыл бұрын
You should try Jakobsweg too, it's loaded by History and it's truly an amazing experience. It ends in Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain.
@phoebeel2 жыл бұрын
Danke!!!
@constructioneerful2 жыл бұрын
Hiked the Black Forest for two months last year. Through autumn. Just stunning!
@MariusRenn2 жыл бұрын
What I really miss since moving to the USA in terms of hiking are the beer-gardens at the top of mountains. :-) It's like the reward for doing all the hiking, and you can count on one being there in Germany.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
I love running into a random hut/cafe in the middle of the forest...such a great surprise and wonderful reward/treat!
@kinngrimm2 жыл бұрын
@@CalmoOmlac jedem das seine, aber am Ende einer Wanderung mit Freunden, dann zusammen in eine gemütliche Kneipe oder Biergarten und noch ein Bierchen oder Radler zischen, vielleicht einen Braten oder ne Brotzeit dazu. Besser geht nicht!
@kinngrimm2 жыл бұрын
@@CalmoOmlac "jedem das seine"
@NMT19952 жыл бұрын
@@CalmoOmlac du bist so einzigartig
@Marvininini2 жыл бұрын
Ha! Our Canadian flatmate was a huge fan of those. He said they'd be goldmines in northern America if it was legal to run them there :)
@LaureninGermany2 жыл бұрын
I really appreciate how easy it is to walk safely through beautiful countryside here, with well maintained trails and paths. And always so much beauty and surprises, too! My dogs also appreciate the freedom to sniff where they want and enjoy the freedom. I can’t walk at the moment due to a stress fracture, so I enjoyed your walk vicariously!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Lauren - thanks for watching and for commenting. I hope you make a speedy recovery and are back on the trails soon.
@charlesbeaudelair83312 жыл бұрын
You got some great shots of the landscape! Reminds me of how beautiful Germany is.
@LaureninGermany2 жыл бұрын
It really is so beautiful here.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and for commenting. It really is beautiful.
@wordsmithgmxch2 жыл бұрын
In the States, the culture is "NO TRESPASSING -- Survivors will be prosecuted!" Here in Switzerland, there are trails EVERYWHERE, country and city. In the canton of Zurich, for example, the most urban canton, and far from the largest, there are over 20,000 km of paths with signs indicating destinations, walking time, and transport / accommodation / refreshment options.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Switzerland is a a hiker and skiers paradise! We love it there but it's a bit expensive so we don't visit as often as we would like.
@elephantcastle5110 Жыл бұрын
German living in Switzerland here. Pick two villages at random and 99% of the time there will be a spectacular hiking trail from A to B. Idk but I think I'd feel so alienated if I couldn't access the land in between.
@Lokfuehrer19822 жыл бұрын
Nice video. Just in case you didn't know: be careful with your dog. Every forest in Germany has a local ranger that keeps the deer and wild boars in reasonable numbers and if they encounter your dog alone and chasing after deer (especially in spring when they have babies) they are allowed to shoot the dog (it happens more frequently than people realize). If the dog doesn't chase then it is absolutely no issue having him running free.... The ranger will typically give you a warning first.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for letting us know. Our dog is getting old and pretty much stays on the trail by our side unless she feels extra energetic which is getting less and less.
@Lokfuehrer19822 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats 👍👍🥰
@LMvdB022 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats Also: watch out with wild boar and the dog they can be quite aggressive especially in spring. I think you'll be fine if she's calm, stays near you and on the path though.
@ForeverNeverwhere12 жыл бұрын
@@LMvdB02 I live in rural France, we take these tracks for granted, as we do history, I live on an ancient Roman road, 800 year old church next door, Roman villa ruin in the woods a hundred meters away, the village itself can trace its history back 4000 years. but yeah, avoid wild boar, they can be aggressive, but they have been getting smaller due to cross breeding with wild pigs. If you see one, find a big stick, start making massive amounts of noise shouting, they usually run off, but dogs are prone to chasing them, if they have young, they will turn and fight, and win, every time.
@herbertlandschmid30122 жыл бұрын
@@ForeverNeverwhere1 Wait wild boars returned to france as early as 2000 years after obelix ate them all?
@IntyMichael2 жыл бұрын
When I visited The US, rural Oregon to be more specific, I stayed in a small village which was alongside a small creek. I wanted to go to its riverbank, but that was impossible because everyone had their properties right to the water. In Germany you normally have a path alongside a creek or river so everyone can enjoy it.
@peterlustig3292 жыл бұрын
This happens in Germany too though, Potsdam and some Bavarian lakes come to mind. All it takes is enough rich people blackmailing city council or grandfathered in property rights.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and sharing your experience in Oregon.
@MrFusselig2 жыл бұрын
Yes, it's possible to hike everywhere. For example, you have the "Nordsüdtrail", which you could use to hike from the most nothern point of Germany to the most southern point in one go. A lot of those trails are also quite old, you have medieval "Hohlwege", or even paths from roman time, used not only for centuries, but for millenia.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
So many amazing trails but not enough time to explore them. Maybe when we're retired we'll cross more off of our list.
@roesi19852 жыл бұрын
Fun fact: In Germany, there exists the tradition of "being on a journey", which means that young members of a trade hike through Germany and the adjacent countries for at least two years and a day after finishing their apprenticeship - and the only way of transport that's allowed is on foot or by hitchhiking. They are not allowed to own a car or use public transport.
@davidwright71932 жыл бұрын
That used to exist in the English speaking world as well. A craftsman between apprenticeship and mastership (being able to train their own apprentices) is a journeyman. The idea is that at that time they should travel and work for several different masters to develop their own work and experience before beginning to pass on their skills.
@florianstock3762 жыл бұрын
In german this is called "auf der Waltz sein" (maybe you know Australians inoffical anthem "Waltzing Mathilda" - the word comes from right this). Usually they wear a tradional outfit and are easy recognizable, when you see one of them.
@janrie73302 жыл бұрын
You calling German paths a trail network is really weird to me. To me (a native German) they are just paths that have always been there, they aren't organized in any way, and they are everywhere. When I go hiking I just walk, and I often spontaneously pick my paths, and sometimes I go off the path to take a shortcut. That's how I grew up. I'd really like to go hiking in the US some day, I get the impression that there's much more true "wilderness" there. But this video kinda made me realize that you have to be a lot more "organized" about it in the US.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
The small paths near here all seem to be interconnected which make it quite fun and interesting to explore. In the USA, we have small country paths but there are no signs to connect them to other trails. The small paths just end and you have to turn around. The national parks in the USA have awesome trail networks and very organized but you have to drive there and pay to get into the park.
@gonzogorgonzola91532 жыл бұрын
The only thing which bothers me is that there is so little wilderness (virtually none) remaining in Germany. Well, we have wolves, plenty of them, but they also prosper in rural areas. Didn't realize that hiking trails in the U.S. are limited to certain areas. Thank you very much for your contribution! Cheers from Berlin!
@Miristzuheiss2 жыл бұрын
@@CalmoOmlac in NRW Population mit über 350 Wölfen 🤷
@leoe.50462 жыл бұрын
@@CalmoOmlac Wir haben wieder ein paar Wölfe, aber wie es immer ist, gibt es Interessenkonflikte, vermute ich. WWF möchte Wölfe schützen, deswegen geben sie an, dass die Wölfe sehr bedroht sind. Die Viehzüchter wollen, dass die Wölfe geschossen werden und sagen, es gibt viel mehr
@dasten1232 жыл бұрын
This is one of the things everyone takes for granted when you grew up here
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We're amazed and thankful regularly when we walk our dog.
@lyleelkins55262 жыл бұрын
Hiking in Germany - fabulous! I hiked the Rennsteig. One of the best things I've done in my life.
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
Sounds like a great hike. Thanks for watching!
@marty977752 жыл бұрын
Hey Lee, youseem to be new in germany so here a couple of infos the Rabbit was definitiv not a wild one, in Germany the wild ones are Hares. Genetically different, can tell by the longer ears on the hare and the fur isnt different coloured. Those apple trees arent freebies, they belong to someone, and if you get caught " stealing" you could be scoulded and even charged. The apples are usually picked late in the season for cider. It might be wise to respect other ppls private trees, and mabey ask beforehand. The dogs without leash in wooded areas and open fields are frowned upon by the hunters that maintain their specific hunting grounds. The rule is you can only release the dog if you definitly can keep him under control, even if a deer ( or rabbit) hops in front of his nose. Hunters are allowed to shoot dogs that are not leashed and on the loose in their hunting revier, and there have been hunters known to enjoy shooting dogs for fun ....just fyi
@berndkrueger26012 жыл бұрын
Well said. The dogs on leash guidance turns into a rule during parenting season for hare and roe deer, i.e. from like May through end of July. Makes sense, because the parents wouldńt accept their fawn any more once it was in contact with a dog (assuming it survived the encounter). Just keep her near by you and dońt let her hunt wild - in her own interest, since wild boar can be quite a threat to a non trained dog. Btw: the vast majority of hunters don`t shoot dogs, but rather try to get in contact with the owner asking them to control them better. But certainly there is **holes everywhere, even among hunters ;-)
@grinnylein2 жыл бұрын
@@berndkrueger2601 A wild boar is a threat to any dog ever. Hunting dogs are not trained to go after them, because it is hell of expensive to train a hunting dog. Even when it was common to hunt them with dogs, ages ago they hunted in packs, like 2kg of dog after 1kg of boar. So you can imagine how many dog there were when hunting 70-150 or even 200 kg boars
@berndkrueger26012 жыл бұрын
@ Ka Ja: thanks for your reply. I am a hunter in Germany for more than 30 years now, I trained my dogs for wild boar hunting, and there are no 200kg boars in Germany (and I have harvested some big ones already). So pretty much all wrong in your answer. But never mind…
@gaiaorigin95692 жыл бұрын
Concerning the rabbit: Yes, this one looks like it belongs to someone. Still, we do have hares (really large, rather rare, usually alone) and plenty of wild rabbits (small, fluffy, quite common, usually found in larger groups) here in Germany.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and commenting. I will definitely be careful. Around our area almost everyone lets their dogs off the line in the forest. My neighbors all tell me we can pick the fruit, so I don’t know, but again I will confirm. Thanks.
@aphextwin57122 жыл бұрын
In general, unless zoning law explicitly says otherwise, private property has to be open to the public. Fences are of course allowed in residential or industrial areas, also in certain recreational areas like ‘allotments’ (Schrebergärten), golf courses, etc.. They are also allowed for raising livestock but there are limits in which areas you can put up fences for that purpose and/or what kind of fences. But while being open to the public, the latter must not damage any property including crops which sort of confines people to existing paths and access roads around fields (or meadows with tall grass). To protect nature and wildlife, in some areas (and/or seasons) visitors might be restricted to existing paths. As to why there are so many paths and ‘roads’ that enable the easy crossing of private (agricultural) property, that has a number of reasons. Fairly fragmented land ownership requiring many access roads to get to each individual plot as well as sometimes ancient travel routes with a right-of-way. In mountainous areas, ancient and newer (access) routes got augmented by hiking enthusiasts as well as tourist offices.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thankful for so many options to explore out in nature in Germany!
@drahthaar42 жыл бұрын
"private property has to be open to the public" ..... how is it private then? ....... People over there should be grateful for being "allowed" to do certain things on the land that they paid money for and they pay annual taxes on.
@henningbartels62452 жыл бұрын
@@drahthaar4 "private" in this case means that the plot of land is owned by a private person versus land and forest owned by the state, federal state, city or community. For example in most federal states you are allowed by state law to enter wooland for recreational purposes or e.g. mushroom hunting. One exception is the state of Schleswig-Holstein: here the free access only applies to the later category of forest owned by the state, federal state, city or community.
@drahthaar42 жыл бұрын
@@henningbartels6245 I get it. "Private" in this case (exemption Schleswig-Holstein) does not mean private. Normally "private" means that you have control over what you own. .... I own 140 acres. If somebody wants to enjoy it, they better ask for permission ahead of time. People can still enjoy nature ; we have plenty of publik land all over.
@henningbartels62452 жыл бұрын
@@drahthaar4 I don't quite get your point. You don't live in Germany, do you?! I only own 90 acres of farmable land and 3 acres of forest. The yields or rental income is mine. Nevertheless everbody can enter my stretches of land unless he or she doesn't make any damage. In the forest they even can pick berries or mushrooms for their own use or smaller pieces of wood which can be carried by one hand. That's the law in Germany and has been for a long time. I guess, that's the difference between the U.S. and Germany or Europe. In the States private property has a far higher status. Here we often have a very long tradition of rights of way and things like Allmende (land own by all villagers together).
@robertdunlap25942 жыл бұрын
Another shock maybe the right to free roam goes that far that you are allowed to cross private property, or you are not punished (no additional charges ) if you break out of prison. Because it inhibits your freedom of movement and it is a basic human instinct to roam. It also ties into german work-life balance with the sunday being a day of rest (ruhetag) , that's when most people will go out and hike with family etc.
@gaiaorigin95692 жыл бұрын
Yes, you are allowed to cross private property - but this only applies to private areas of the forest or fields. You can't just walk through someone's backyard without their permission. However, you won't be shot here for doing so 😄
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Great information! Thanks for watching.
@suze60832 жыл бұрын
Yeah “walking” in Germany is definitely different, however the kind of paths you were walking on were simply “Landwirtschaftliche Wege” (for agricultural purposes) or “Waldwege” (forest paths)-not the classic hiking trail we think of when we are talking “hiking” in the US. There are actual “proper” hiking trails in the backpacking sense of hiking or day hikes as well, but the ones you walked on are not exactly the ones. Sure, you could most likely walk from your house through whole Europe that way:) but it’s not what an American would consider “let’s go hiking and enjoy some amazing wilderness”, because that’s exactly the difference. There is basically no wilderness left in Germany, not the kind you would find in the US and that motivates people to actually pack their backpacks and set out for a hike. I’m not saying there isn’t at all. There are 16 National Parks in Germany but they only make up for 0.6% of Germany’s terrestrial area…excluding marine and land nature preserves, which are not exactly considered hiking destinations and camping is a complete no no. Now you take Germany’s areal size and compare it to the US and 0.6% worth of National Parks is basically nothing…So, there are limited options is what I’m trying to say, I suppose. In other words, if Germans set out from their home f.ex. they would walk from one village to the next, one town to the next, passing agricultural areas, forests aso but one would never really feel like being off the beaten path, since there would be a house or a road pretty close by. Not what I consider a hiking experience, but it definitely gives a ton of nice nature walk opportunities. And you actually have to have your dog on a leash…most ppl just don’t do it in the woods but you actually are supposed to:)
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for watching and thanks for the comment and information. I would agree that this isn't exactly a true wilderness experience. What I like about it though is how easy it is to go for a walk and "feel" like you are in nature, at least for a bit. I've hiked and camped in many of the most famous National Parks of North America and they are truly spectacular, but they require a real investment of time, money and sometimes patience to deal with the crowds. A nice afternoon walk through the forest is completely impossible for many people in the United States, even those who live in rural areas.
@patrixdan26612 жыл бұрын
Hello, I agree with @Suze. Most of the unpaved paths are used or were used for economic purposes. There are not so many single Trails compared to the US. Even the maintenance seems better in US looking especially at the ones dedicated to mountain biking. I personally would love to have the possibilities here in Germany that mountain-bikers in the US have. Enjoy!
@henningbartels62452 жыл бұрын
@@patrixdan2661 ... and because many of the unpaved paths were for economic purposes of land use, they were not build for touristic purposes - meaning they are lacking resting points, picknick tables, trash cans, designated view points and such ... and sometimes could end in a dead end. In more touristy areas of Germany there are designated hicking trails: they are marked with geometrical signs and sign post with directions and distances displayed.
@henningbartels62452 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats I slightly disagree with @Suze. Your dog is required to be put on a leash if you enter public green spaces in a city - like parks, promenades, playgrounds.... In the countryside it is not so clear, but .... there are one or two things to pay attention: if your dog is required to be on the leash is regulated by the law of the federal state you are in. In some federal states in Germany it is all year round - in other a certain time of the year has to be considered - called "Brut- und Setzzeit" (lit. breeding and birth time) of birds and game. This "Brut- und Setzzeit" can be defined by the federal state or the community, but is usually between the beginning of April and end of June. In this time a lot of the wild animals get their offspring and are very sensitive. If bothered by a "curious" dog ground breeding birds will leave the nest and often won't return to the eggs. Other animals like roe deer, if chased by a dog, can have miscarriges or leave the new born offspring behind, which eventually has to die of thirst and hunger. Therefore keeping the dog on a leash is requiered, sometimes even controlled and infringements could and up in a fine. In nature reserves like "Naturschutzgebiete" dogs should be on the leash all year around, because these areas are created in order to protect very rare and endangered species. A "Naturschutzgebiet" is usually marked by a sign post. When running the dog freely on a meadow, you should clean after it, if it leaves some poop. Some German farmers have real problems with there cattle or horses getting infections from to many dog poop on their land.
@tnit75542 жыл бұрын
@henning bartels. 👍
@Jay-in-the-USA2 жыл бұрын
Wow this landscape is sooo beautiful....definitely gives you a new perspective. Loved the video 🤩
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! We do love living in Germany but also miss family in the states.
@gromotion9332 жыл бұрын
Yes hiking is definitly different here...but I love it! Sometimes we also do overnight hikes...but sleeping in the woods is a bit of a grey area...one night without a big camp is more or less aloude...but not in a Naturschutzgebiet/Nationalpark...fire is definitly forbidden. And by the way...dogs must be on the leash from 1April till 15 of Juli to protect wildlife on the ground... A lot of Germans don't know that either..or don't want to know it... When it comes to the freedom of their dogs...many dogowners dont give rats ass about little baby hares or the eggs of highly protected birds and other wildlife. Hunter are aloud to shoot your dog if he is stroling around in the woods... But most hunter don't like to shoot them because they have dogs on their own... And they dont want their houses burned down by a mob of dog lovers for protecting wildlife!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Good to know. Thanks.
@Lofwyr292 жыл бұрын
That's definitely not true. Camping in the wild is forbidden in almost all "Bundesländer". It may be tolerated if you stick to "Schutzhütten". The only state where it is allowed is Brandenburg to my knowledge.
@florianmeier31862 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats As long as it stays just one, two meters away it will be tolerated in most cases except in special protected areas, but letting the dog run around in the bushes is definitly not OK and indeed can lead to a fine or in worst case a dead dog.
@Maddisch2 жыл бұрын
@@Lofwyr29 It depends how you camp. If I remember correctly, you are not allowed to camp with your "roof" being anchored solidly (i.e. tents). Which means you can still sleep on the ground or in a hammock. However, these rules are different from state to state and I am also not sure if I remember correctly.
@Lofwyr292 жыл бұрын
@@Maddisch that's a misconception if you refer to "biwakieren". Technically you can sleep on the floor without any tarp or tent, that's Not forbidden. But other laws restrict this right. You have to Stick to the pathways and are usually forbidden from entering the forest at night. I'm Not saying you can't do it. It's just illegal 99% of the Times. As i said if you Stick to Schutzhütten along trails you'll be fine.
@snoodlebug18002 жыл бұрын
House rabbits get abandoned so often:( I hope the sweet rabbit is safe…
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
So sad that people do that.
@friedemi61132 жыл бұрын
How very nice of you, to mention this. I, as a German, know many people who don't even realize how great this is!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We are so thankful to live in such a beautiful country!
@erdmuthehoppe72482 жыл бұрын
Did you leave the bunny? 😳 Surely it is dead by now. A housebunny in the woods in this cold weather --- no chance to survive.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Tried to catch the bunny but not successful. It ran off deeper into the woods. :(
@romeojulya82702 жыл бұрын
It looked sooo familiar, then you said close to France . I ve grown up there living in South Africa now. 😊
@moni76492 жыл бұрын
Maybe if you want from your place to Berlin you are looking for Europäische Fernwanderwege. There you can hike nearly endless. The longest goes from the Nordkapp until the south of Italy 8000km.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Sounds like a great adventure. Thanks.
@henningbartels62452 жыл бұрын
Well, but those "Fernwanderwege" are often very popular among hikers, e.g. the hiking trail from Munich to Venice can be fairly busy at times. In this case it is worth checking out the trail next or parallel to the Fernwanderweg.
@garybutler16722 жыл бұрын
I had the same culture shock when moving to France from the US. When I moved to Helsinki it was cranked up to 11. Now I live 10 minutes from downtown, but my apartment building is surrounded by forest on 3 sides and I can basically hike less than 3 km through forested parks without crossing a street to an old growth forest that's mostly unbroken for the entire length of the country.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
It’s fantastic! Thanks for watching and sharing your experience!
@garryferrington8112 жыл бұрын
You can find plenty of places to hike in the US if you're just willing to drive 150 miles to get there.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
So many amazing and gorgeous places to hike all over the USA. We fell in love with the national parks in Utah last summer. Unbelievably beautiful!
@martinahackstock19172 жыл бұрын
This trails are originally for the farmers to get to their land. And because their land is very scattered they need many small roads. But the good thing is, we are allowed to use them!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
I'm thankful for the trails and so is my dog!
@christiankastorf14272 жыл бұрын
At least you can walk or cycle there. They may be blocked for motorized vehicles. You will see that as the usual round sign with its red rim and the car symbol in the middle tells you so plus the addidtional words "except for agricultural vehicles". Those tiny roads are financed by landowners' cooperative institutions mostly, the "Wege- und Zweckverband".
@rebeccaalbrecht7712 жыл бұрын
I'm an American now living in the Netherlands. It's the same here, lots and lots of walking trails. It's just incredible!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We haven't hiked in the Netherlands but it's a beautiful country we would like to explore more of.
@ceeceecarter65732 жыл бұрын
I love the video and the soft background music. I need to move back to Germany. The tranquility and scenery is unmatched
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Germany is definitely slower paced which we love.
@LetsMakeADayOfIt2 жыл бұрын
Great video :) Thanks for sharing!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@ravanpee13252 жыл бұрын
Also the forests are all private proberty in some way which is in the ownership of private people, municpals, corporations or states. But it's open to the public for everyone by law with exceptions e.g. army training grounds etc. In the US it would be tresspassing aka "get of my ground" with a shotgun :D
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
True...a lot more private property areas in the U.S. which makes me even more thankful to live in Germany.
@christiankastorf14272 жыл бұрын
Not a shotgun, an M 16 more likely.
@brittakriep29382 жыл бұрын
@@christiankastorf1427 : Anything between .22 short and . 50 BMG.
@christiankastorf14272 жыл бұрын
@@brittakriep2938 Or .577 nitro express. What kills an elephant is just good enough for suspicious looking strangers. And what makes people suspicious? Well, the fact that you had to shoot them.
@Dahrenhorst2 жыл бұрын
I'd say, the main difference between hiking in Europe and in the USA is, that hiking is mandatory in Europe, not a past-time. Hiking is the default form of moving around, even within cities, and a bike or the car is only the fallback option when hiking is just not feasible.
@gaiaorigin95692 жыл бұрын
I wouldn't say hiking is mandatory - and I wouldn't consider walking through the city "hiking". Hiking for me is walking through the nature for recreational reasons. Pretty much every household in Germany owns at least one car, and you need it to get from a to b - though public transport like bus or train is a lot more common here than in the US.
@Dahrenhorst2 жыл бұрын
@@gaiaorigin9569 Of course there is a subtle difference between hiking and walking. I only wanted to make a point of a generic difference regarding moving from point A to B between the US and Europe. And, well, only approx 3 of 4 households in Germany own a car - that's not _pretty much every household._ Generally, in Germany car's are only used for every second need to get from a point A to a point B (this has increased somewhat during the pandemic, since people avoided public transport). In most other European countries are significantly less cars and as significantly less occasions a car is used.
@johnsmith-gx2ys2 жыл бұрын
Switzerland also has a very good trail network. Every few hundred meters there is a post with little signs pointing to the destinations you walk to and approximately how long it will take to walk to them. Everytime the path splits into new directions there are signs that clearly mark where each direction leads.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Completely agree with you about the awesome trails of Switzerland! Love it there.
@hschmidt792 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video. For me as a german the question was: What could have shocked that poor guy when hiking here? Had to laugh when I found out. Thanks for that. Glad it was a positive cultural shock.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching the video. I suppose "culture shock" is a bit misleading.
@Harzer-Nedersasse2 жыл бұрын
Joey Kelly: Hike along the old column trail on the former zone border between West Germany and the GDR. 1400 km
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
Thanks for the tip, we will definitely try to go there. Thanks for watching.
@e.4582 жыл бұрын
As far as I know America has several hiking trails through dozens of states, one along the west coast, one along the east coast of the United States, into Canada.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We have been wanting to hike the Pacific Rim trail for a long time so we agree with you that there are some amazing hiking areas in the USA, especially in the national parks but we are amazed how easy it is to be in the forest so close to our house. We've lived in four different towns and we've been able to walk from our house to a forest nearby without driving anywhere.We love that and so does our dog.
@panchomcsporran20832 жыл бұрын
In Scotland we have the right to roam, as long as you don't damage crops or livestock.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We loved visiting Scotland and hope to do some hiking there one day.
@newbeginnings85662 жыл бұрын
I love the walking in Germany too... Very relaxing.. Life is good when it's simple...
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Absolutely! Thanks for watching and commenting.
@Flex22122 жыл бұрын
It's Europe. You could walk to Sicily or Portugal. One thing I like about the US though is that wild camping is usually less of a problem than in most of Europe.
@M4tti872 жыл бұрын
I think the reason for that si that the land in Germany is mostly privately owned while in the USA it is owned by the Government. I woudl like to be able to camp out wild more often as well, but it si what it is :D
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Yes, wild camping is a challenge in Europe. We also miss building a fire at our campsite which was a culture shock when we first started camping in Europe.
@Flex22122 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats True, although in Southern Europe it is very understandable with all the wild fires during dry summers.
@jarls58902 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats Norway got laws that entitles anybody to trek pretty much anywhere - including private land. The basic rule is that you cannot pitch a tent next to somebodies house (so you are a direct nuisance - law says to keep 150 yard distance to populated dwellings) or destroy/trample stuff (keep things as they were when you leave). Special rule when it comes to the coastline; Movement along the coastline must be unimpeded, thus laws prevents people from building directly on the coastline - and if you do have a building/structure there you can freely move across it. Thus there is no such thing as a "private beach" (you may own it, but you cannot keep people from using it). This "allmansright" law also extends to berry picking etc. Pick as much blueberries, mushrooms etc. you want. Even if the patch of land is owned by somebody - as long as it is considered "wilderness" (i.e. not a farmed land or somebodies garden). It is also free to fish the coast/sea as long as it is within "hobby fishing". Freshwater lakes and rivers DO require certain permits.
@fahrdienstleiter27012 жыл бұрын
From own experience, I can say that there is no similar trail system in the mediterranean or in Belgium either. Foresters, farmers, hiking associations and municipalities maintain and keep open trails in DE, AT, CH, DK, SE, NO, FI, LI, EE and LT which otherwise would quickly become overgrown. Contrary to that, Mediterranean countries have a right of citizens to carry arms, which they use to shoot and hunt in the countryside. In those countries sign plates "private hunting" all over the place caution against being shot at. Inconceivable in Germany, where such accidents are the fault of the person that fired the gun. In France and Belgium, land owners, in accordance with Napoleonic law, can claim property of the adjacent land on which is a public trail if they argue that the trail has not been used for many years. Consequently, they do not maintain or cut shrubs or even dump green waste or debris on public trails to justify such claims. In again other countries like Greece, most rural areas are not in a cadastre, and thus locals are discouraged to maintain trails.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching and for commenting. Great information.
@joeyckmans2 жыл бұрын
Frank, in Belgium you have the Grote Route Paden and the Societé des Grands Randonnées who maintain all the GR-routes in Belgium. We also have a system of "wandelknooppunten" points with a number across Flanders to follow as you please. Although it is true that during hunting season in the Walloons you should inform yourself of the hunting day's but for me it has never been a great inconvience, with a map a detour is quickly made.
@fahrdienstleiter27012 жыл бұрын
@@joeyckmans Valid point, I was not aware of the useful work of those associations.
@Fe_lix2 жыл бұрын
@@fahrdienstleiter2701 Sorry but a lot of what you say is false for France also. - Hunters are responsible for their shots and when there is an accident resulting in a non-hunter being hurt or killed (rare) the result is prison for the responsible hunter. - Hunting is only during winter and it's very rare that where they hunt is closed to other people. "Chasse privée" (private hunting) only means that not anyone can hunt here, meaning the land is loaned for hunting to a particular hunting association. Often hunters will also install temporary signs stating "hunt in progress" but they are only for information so you are not surprised / afraid of hearing a gunshots. - Hunting rules target safety and they can't shoot in direction of a trail / road. - I don't see what your Napoleonic law refers to (except that law / civil code of most non-English countries in the world derive of it) and you can't claim property of public land in France. But a lot of the renowned hiking trails (like the GRs), well maintained and documented, pass through a lot of private land in France without it causing any issue. Like in Germany it's very rare for a land owner (not talking about a garden around your house) to gate its land and traditionally there are hiking trails everywhere (sometime not even mapped) because this is what people used before the car to go from house to house or to villages.
@trunkx73122 жыл бұрын
around my city, direktly in the meltingpott "Ruhrgebiet", are 500 km of trails, so nice
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
I believe it. Trails are everywhere here. It is fantastic.
@berzerk1450 Жыл бұрын
Schönen Gruß aus dem Bayerischen Wald, Ostbayern! Gibt nichts Schöneres als einfach aus dem Haus zu gehen und schon ist man auf einem markierten Wanderweg im Wald.
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
Ja, das stimmt! Danke fürs zuschauen!
@HotelPapa1002 жыл бұрын
That's what frustrated me no end in the US. Back roads just are not connected. Getting around is possible only on the road network built for cars. Many of the back roads are private property too. And that's not talking about the open country yet, where at least in the German speaking part of Europe and Scandinavia you have a basic right to pass through.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Completely get what you're saying. So many paths dead end and you have to turn around.
@southerngaltazz19692 жыл бұрын
I love this Lee ❤ thank you for sharing. I have subscribed!
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Dena - thank you so much for watching, commenting and subscribing. I hope the videos get better as we figure out what we are doing.
@southerngaltazz19692 жыл бұрын
They will get better Lee. Can't wait to see more !
@c4l9772 жыл бұрын
I love that I can walk out my door and be on a trail within five to ten minutes. Plus just walking through my village is a treat.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We like walking through our village during our walks too. There's always something going on and we run into people we know so it's a social outing as well.
@e.4582 жыл бұрын
Many of these "Wanderwege" can be traced back to pilgrimage paths from the "olden times". Some people in the Comments have already mentioned the Jakobsweg that leads to the monastery of Santiago de Compostella, one of the more important destinations for pilgrims.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Jakobsweg is on our bucket list for when we have time to hike for days/weeks! :)
@e.4582 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats My sister takes a week's vacation every year to hike a portion of it. Every time she takes it up where she left it the year before.
@schonbuchgams2 жыл бұрын
Nice Video Thank You 👍 and a New Abonnent, grüße Michael
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Many thanks! Glad you enjoyed it.
@Rob-ee1im2 жыл бұрын
You can hike throughout whole Europe if you want. It is not only Germany and you can go even further to Asia as well...
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
There are so many trails and hikes we would like to do all over Europe. The possibilities are endless.
@warrenpeterson60652 жыл бұрын
I'm Canadian and I spent many happy hours/days hiking through Switzerland. Like the trails you describe in Germany are also in south in Switzerland. I camped on hillsides between towns. The locals and I had great fun trying to communicate but end of day they gave me far more than I game them.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Switzerland is amazingly beautiful with so many awesome natural beauty. We love hiking and skiing there but it's a bit expensive so we don't go there as often.
@Yora212 жыл бұрын
In Germany, we don't really have trespassing as a legal concept. Privately owned roads, paths, and land that is not currently "in use", as a worked field or a private residence for example, is open to the public as an explicit limitation of property rights. Opening gates, climbing fences, and ignoring signs that restrict passage probably won't fly, but if there's nothing to indicate whether something is public land or private property, it's open to the public if you're on foot or bike.
@EventyrsorenDenmark2 жыл бұрын
Interesting and Beautiful video. Enjoyed this video very Much. Thank you Very Much.
@stefaniesachse80762 жыл бұрын
Der Laubwald sieht so schön aus 😊
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Absolutely! Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
@JonathanMandrake2 жыл бұрын
As a German, I have to say that many of these hiking trails are also accessible to bicycles. Nature reserves arethe big exception, as well as ares which make it physically impossible, i.e. steep mountains with one small path, ladders, steps, ravines and so on. You are even allowed to bring your bike on the train, allowing you to bike one way and return back by train
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We haven't explored on our bikes as much but hopefully in the future we will. Biking and hiking trails are all over the place around here. So amazing!
@barbaramassey37872 жыл бұрын
Boy, I wish the US had hiking trails like that!
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
Me too. Thanks for watching.
@Hhutuber2 жыл бұрын
There are networks of long hiking trails that span all of Europa. You are able to hike from the North Cape in Norway to Sicily or from Portugal to Finland without even hitting a hard border. It's pretty amazing.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We are amazed at the hiking opportunities in Europe. It's awesome!
@stephanweinberger2 жыл бұрын
There is actually a network of trans-european long distance trails, which currently consists of 12 different routes. It goes all the way from the North Cape to Sicily in the south (route E1) and from the western tip of Portugal all the way to Istanbul (E3). Those two longest trails are around 7000km each. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_long-distance_paths
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
That's amazing! Thanks for letting us know.
@ljukherrecker2 жыл бұрын
In Austria hunters are allowed to shoot on dogs who are in the forest without leash. Most dont do it, but one has to be careful. Dont know the situation in Germany.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
I think it’s the same in Germany. Normally they post signs along the trail when they are hunting. My neighbors also warn me when hunters are active.
@dudoklasovity20936 ай бұрын
As a European who had enjoyed the EU constitutional "right to roam free" , now living in California, I suffer immensely as a hiker and a biker. Americans LOVE fences and private lands where no one can set foot. I have been sent dog after, I have been shouted at, I have even been called LAPD on me just for walking! Just the sole fact that someone walks and not drives car here is very suspicious activity that can get you to prison or even shot. One really has to be careful where he sets foot in. Parks and hike trails close at sunset so forget about watching a sunset on a hill and have a beer or wine. That's illegal as well. If you go to National Park, you have to go only to designated camping areas with screaming kids and crowded by people (which thew point to go hiking is to get away from people and enjoy the nature, right? On top of that you have to pay to camp there. In short, this country is nowhere near free as it proclaims to be (the best freedom in the world) What a joke!
@travelingexpats6 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts. I understand that life in the U.S. can be frustrating at times, especially for someone who is accustomed to the freedoms of the E.U., which sometimes can be very different to the freedoms of the U.S. I certainly agree that it can be very difficult to just "walk" around your home or city in the U.S. and I know how strange some people may think you are for not driving an automobile, but try not to be too frustrated. California (and the entire U.S.) does have some of the most beautiful natural areas in the world and normally you can camp away from the designated camping areas, but you may need to apply for a special permit - especially in national and state parks. Of course, often times in these situations you must watch out for bears. I hope this helps. Thanks again for your comment.
@dieseldjango2 жыл бұрын
I've hiked and walked many trails and country roads in Germany, and have lived places in the U.S.where I had to get I in a car and drive to find a trail to walk or hike, so I kind of get what you're saying. However, the U.S. is a big country and very geographically diverse. Where I live in Colorado I can literally walk out my door and immediately access dozens of miles of trails.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
You're so lucky to have access to great trails near your home. I know that it's possible in the USA but not nearly as common as it is in Germany. CO is beautiful and we definitely want to spend more time hiking there. Thanks for watching the video!
@teemusid2 жыл бұрын
I had to go make sure my rabbit was in the living room, because that sure looked like her.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Glad your bunny is safe at home with you. I still can't believe that people actually abandon rabbits in the forest. That's so sad.
@5stardave2 жыл бұрын
It all depends where in the USA you are talking about. When I was in Pennsylvania I could go out my back door and almost immediately enter a forested area and walk/ hike for days. There are so many places like that. There are trails from Mexico to Canada, from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic & don't forget about Alaska.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
USA is quite large and diverse so there must be many opportunities to hike from your home but it wasn't what we were used to growing up in the midwest. We are shocked at how convenient it is now that we have that option living in Germany.
@solstice56052 жыл бұрын
Just for the record, there is the EU Trail Network wich interconnects the Trails in the EU, so you can walk from Portugal in the West to Bulgaria in the East, just as example, it is also possibel to do it by bike. 60% of the German population are hiking, so it ´s a kind of National sport.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Hiking being a "national sport" is AWESOME!! We see so many Germans hiking no matter where we go.
@Harzer-Nedersasse2 жыл бұрын
Joey Kelly: Das Grüne Band. 1400km entlang der ehem. Grenze zwischen West-und Ostdeutschland ( National Geography)
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and sharing the information about the former border between East and West Germany.
@BozzDMX2 жыл бұрын
i got a Culture Shock too, and i live in Germany xD
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching and sharing your comment!
@billywig86612 жыл бұрын
You really should have caught that rabbit. It definitely was a domestic one, so it’s not equipped to survive in the wilderness for a long time. Unfortunately, that rabbit was most likely abandoned on purpose, since there doesn’t seem to be any house nearby and due to Corona the number of deliberately abandoned pets, especially rabbits, has spiked like never before. Maybe you can go back and try to find it again, but the chances for its survival since your encounter are infinitesimal.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
It's awful that people would deliberately abandon pets in the forest. We tried really hard to catch the rabbit but unfortunately we weren't successful.
@pattyfairytale40242 жыл бұрын
But your dog has to be leashed inthe woods ! It s illeagel for the dog to chase something -- be aware the Förster has the right to shoot him down when he sees him unleashed and hunting !
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
I’ll be more careful on the future. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts.
@scollyb2 жыл бұрын
If someone hasn't pointed it out already you might want to Google European long distance paths. You can walk the length and bredth of Europe on organised paths
@lamebubblesflysohigh2 жыл бұрын
I believe it is like this all over EU.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
From my experience, you are correct. Thanks for watching and sharing your comment.
@jensschroder82142 жыл бұрын
Keep your dog on a leash in the woods. The hunter is allowed to shoot a dog that is running after a hare. Man is responsible for everything the dog does. Insurance that covers damage caused by the dog is available from 4 euros a month. Letting the dog run into the woods without you knowing what he's doing is not allowed. When there is not a hunt or the forests are closed due to storms, everyone is allowed to enter them on the paths. You are also allowed to pick as much mushrooms as you can eat at once. But you have to know which ones are edible at all. Everyone should leave the forest and the field as if they hadn't been there at all. So certainly don't leave any trash or plastic behind. If there is no fence around you can pick a handful of apples. But most certainly the ones that have already fallen. You can cut away unattractive spots with a pocket knife, the rest is good. Many paths are laid out for agriculture and the timber industry and are good for hiking. But certainly not intended for everyone to drive by car there.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the information....appreciate your input.
@hynekzatloukal3902 жыл бұрын
Every European country has such system, you can walk from Portugal to Estonia, if you want :))
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
That’s fantastic! Thanks for watching and sharing your knowledge.
@calissaridling79392 жыл бұрын
Nice vlog!
@stefanmargraf78782 жыл бұрын
On the other hand we are totally overcrowded. Population density almost twice of China. That results in streets everywhere and many many traffic jams.
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
You do have a point. I feel that urban sprawl is managed much better in Germany. Sometimes you can be just 1KM from a busy town or city, but feel as if you are in the middle of nowhere. I haven't experienced that in the U.S. Thanks for watching!
@Sheeshkebab15102 жыл бұрын
I was like: this looks exactly like where I live and go hiking all the time. And then you mentioned that it was close to the french border. maybe Saarland area, I guess?
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
It's very close to the Saarland border and so beautiful here!
@nikleiser58882 жыл бұрын
Why did not you save the bunny ! Its a domesticated bunny and will not survive in the wild.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
I actually tried, but every time I got a little closer it would scamper away.
@carola-lifeinparis2 жыл бұрын
I would say "Wandern" is a planned activity where you put on your Wanderschuhe and have a backpack with drink and food and first aid, and then what you are doing in this video is "Spazierengehen". I wonder if all the Wanderwege are connected but you certainly get far.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We tend to use waling and hiking interchangeably but you're right, we were "walking" with our dog which is definitely "Spazierengehen." :)
@Andi89lectro2 жыл бұрын
I think that rabbit is not a wild one, might be used to humans and is a runaway
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Definitely not wild, but he didn't want me to get too close either.
@johnclements66142 жыл бұрын
It may have myxomatosis.
@witty2u2 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats Yes, when you arent experienced with bunnies, you dont know how to take it. You definitely should not try to quickly catch it, or approach it from behind. You need to talk to it, and you need to gain their trust and your moves need to be very slow, let them sniff your hand, and then take it from the front. Thanks for trying though. You can also call the Police and give the location of the domestic bunny. They will call a shelter who will rescue the poor thing.
@witty2u2 жыл бұрын
@@johnclements6614 This was a healthy, abandoned bunny.😢
@dontrushtohate2 жыл бұрын
You can hike almost anywhere in Germany, it’s a human right, unless you’re unvaccinated of course… then you’ll be concentrating in a camp.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
I don’t think that’s correct, but thanks for watching and commenting.
@bartolo4982 жыл бұрын
Very beautiful and also rather typical for a lot of Germany. A rather small scale mix of fields, forests, orchards within low hills. I think that particular mix is due to the history of the land having been farmed/used on a small scale for two millenia or so. It's man made but in a long slow way and thus has a shire-like coziness, to me at least (I live in a different region, right in the middle of Germany but it looks quite similarly).
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
It's a beautiful area but I have yet to see an "ugly" part of Germany.
@toschmann2 жыл бұрын
You discovered a nice place, my favorit is around lake Spitzingsee.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Where is Lake Spitzingsee near?
@toschmann2 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats Lake Sptizingsee is around 50km south of Munich. I've two hiking videos in my channel.
@ashleytierneyprivat56472 жыл бұрын
Beautiful Video! Picking fruit from trees is considered theft, though ;-)
@lostmoose73522 жыл бұрын
Its called "Mundraub" if you "steal" because you are hungry. No charge by law.
@ashleytierneyprivat56472 жыл бұрын
@@lostmoose7352 That used to be true, but is not anymore.
@lostmoose73522 жыл бұрын
@@ashleytierneyprivat5647 oh wow, just looked it up, youre right, they skipped that already in 1975 ! (This reminds me how damn old I am 🤐🤐🤐)
@ashleytierneyprivat56472 жыл бұрын
@@lostmoose7352 Fun fact: I was born 1987 and still grew up thinking it was legal. ;-)
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the information, good to know. Sometimes I hike with my neighbours who are all "Dorfkinder" and they all ensure me that it is OK to pick an apple or pear from time to time, it seems everyone knows everyone else here. But I will definitely be careful about picking fruit when I am out of this area.
@hurri77202 жыл бұрын
Those right to roam wary a bit, quoting the Wikipedia: " Ancient traces provide evidence of the freedom to roam in many European countries, suggesting such a freedom was once a common norm. Today, the right to roam has survived in perhaps its purest form in Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Here the right has been won through practice over hundreds of years and it is not known when it changed from mere 'common practice' to become a commonly recognised right. " en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
That's super interesting. Thanks for sharing!
@mlem69512 жыл бұрын
I live near a forest with a lake in a small village in Germany and go there almost every day on a 1-2h walk. Since I otherwise only sit at the computer for work, I need that. Hardly people, no loud noises from cars, ect. just nature uu. In my childhood I lived in a place where I used to go on hikes and bike rides with our border collie in the huge fields and forests. And rarely people had their dogs on the leash and there were never problems. I know it in cities, because of cars and everything, but didn't know that is a problem in the USA?
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
The only issue we notice in the USA is that it's usually not possible to go for a walk/hike from your home since most organized trails are reached by car. There are awesome trails in the USA but it's not so easily reached on foot. We love hiking in national parks but we have to drive there and pay an entrance fee.
@mlem69512 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats oh~, that sounds somewhat sad 🙈. But on the other hand, I think there are also some problems with our structures since most of them are created and managed and so some wild life has disappeared as a result xx.
@electoralex97262 жыл бұрын
Dog chasing something in the woods is forbidden.
@travelingexpats4 ай бұрын
Thanks for the information. I’ll be more careful.
@patrickschindler67812 жыл бұрын
I think letting the dog run free in the forest is a bit dangerous. If the dog's hunting instinct breaks out, the hunter can shoot him for poaching.
@travelingexpats10 ай бұрын
You are probably correct. I was very hesitant when I first moved to Germany to let Mocha run free, but the more I wandered with the locals, they all let their dogs go off leash (as long as they are well trained) and they assured me it was OK. Thankfully, we've never had a problem. Maybe its just in my region or village where they do that? Thanks for watching!
@sisez78202 ай бұрын
I think youre fine :) your dogs seems nice and chilled.
@jhwheuer2 жыл бұрын
I live next to a trail that was mentioned when the Romans were here…
@Henglias2 жыл бұрын
Your dog must be leashed in order not to disturb wildlife!
@carlaruckerl48832 жыл бұрын
Makes me value germany more :)
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Germany is an amazing country and we're thankful to be living here!
@ellengran68142 жыл бұрын
In Norway it is a human right to walk in the forests, mountains and by the ocean. However we dont have the right to walk on cropland. I guess Germany might have kind of similar laws.
@stefanfranke56512 жыл бұрын
Yes, that's right, but we are mostly restricted to the footpaths, especially in conservation zones and national parks. Wild camping is also forbidden in most areas. That's quite sensible because we have much more people and if everyone would wander the woods off path there would be much damage. I envy Scandinavia often for the degree of freedom they have, but I'm still thankfull for the vast network of marked trails we have.
@Yora212 жыл бұрын
In German law, the public is free to use "unused land". Fields that are being worked are in active use, so they are excluded from that. But once the field is harvested and unused for the winter, it's open again.
@stefanb65392 жыл бұрын
I think generally the farmers on who's land these trees grow would appreciate you to NOT pick fruits while wandering. There are a number of videos on youtube complaining about quite some economic losses from tourists just helpng themselves to whatever grows in their sights.
@davielawrence37732 жыл бұрын
The exception is a red ribbon around the tree. It's not very popular (yet) but it basically says you're allowed to pick some fruit from this tree.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
@@davielawrence3773 this is interesting....will have to look for this in the future.
@kadindogravitochannel2 жыл бұрын
Hello sir. Very nice subscribe done....
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Thank you!
@ExclusivelyReclusive12 жыл бұрын
Come to Scandinavia and hike. most of us Nordic countries have a law called 'Allemansrätten', The best law ever if you ask me :)
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We haven't hiked in Scandinavia yet but it's on our bucket list!
@ItsNoeI2 жыл бұрын
if you take fruit from the trees no one is actually going to care, just don't do it in People privat Gardens or if they are protected by a fence. Great Video :)
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
We generally follow what our neighbors do since they grew up around here. We learn so much when we walk/hike with them.
@MaximilianGros2 жыл бұрын
Europe actually has a network of long-distance hiking trails. I live directly on the E8 long-distance hiking trail that leads from Ireland to Bulgaria. At some point I'll make this journey riding an electric unicycle. Unfortunately Germany has a big problem with corruption and riding such distance through Germany can put you in jail.
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Wow....that sounds exciting riding an electric unicycle from Ireland to Bulgaria! What a journey that will be.
@MaximilianGros2 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats It is around 7500 km, so with a proper wheel it would be around 50 - 70 charging stops.
@tribledmonster2 жыл бұрын
Your dog seems well behaved but you should be carefull. He can suddenly chase a deer into the forest and get lost
@thephidias2 жыл бұрын
true. but there are no "mufflons" in germany. really. (if there should be some, they have been specifically put there, mostly for hunting. also, real mufflons live in montainous areas. in europe the can be found in corsica, other elba, parts of italy. they are even a bit of a pest on the island of giglio...
@travelingexpats2 жыл бұрын
Not sure how they got here but our neighbors have told us that the big herd of big horn sheep in our area are called mufflons.
@thephidias2 жыл бұрын
@@travelingexpats They are not nsative to the area. Probably imported for hunting "sport". Their natural habitt in Europe is restricted to som islands in the med.