walking tree travel
germany
travel information
CURRENCY: The euro (€). Approximately €0.88 to the dollar.
CURRENCY: The euro (€). Approximately €0.88 to the dollar.
VOLTAGE: 230V, 50Hz; Plugs C and E (two round pins). You
will need a plug adapter and possibly a voltage converter in
order to use U.S. appliances.
INTERNET: Internet cafes are available and most coffee
shops in major towns and cities have wireless internet if you
so choose to connect with your own device.
TELEPHONE: Prepaid phone cards and public phones are
ubiquitous. A card can easily be purchased and used to make
local and international calls while traveling. The calling code
for Germany is +49.
ATM, CASH AND CREDIT CARDS: Germany offers many
ATMs with the ability to withdraw US dollars or euros. Credit
cards are easy to use in cities but it’s recommended that you
do carry a small amount of Euros in cash. Remember, if you
plan to use a credit card while abroad, be sure to alert your
provider so that your account will not be blocked due to
suspicious activity.
LAUNDRY: Laundry facilities will be available in all cities.
Travelers will be responsible for any additional costs.
LUGGAGE: A large backpack/duffel/roller bag for most
of your clothes, and a backpack for day trips and other
materials is suggested. We will be on the move a lot and
you are responsible for carrying all your own luggage, so it’s
advisable to pack as light as possible. A backpack or smaller
day-pack for day trips is a must.
VISA CONCERNS: Germany does not require American
citizens to have a visa for stays of less than 90 days. A
passport is required and should have 6 months of remaining
validity.
CUISINE: German food usually sticks to its roots and a typical
dish will consist of meat with some form of potatoes and
gravy, accompanied by vegetables or salad. Modern German
cuisine has been influenced by other European countries
such as Italy and France to become lighter.
general
information
Capital
Berlin
Location
51’00”N, 9’00”E,
Central-Western
Europe,
bordering the
North Sea,
Denmark, the
Baltic Sea,
Poland, Czech
Republic, Austria,
Switzerland,
France,
Luxembourg,
Belgium, and the
Netherlands
National
Language
German
Population
80,996,685
Size (area)
137,847 square
miles
(slightly smaller
than Montana)
Economy
The German
economy - the
fifth largest
economy in the
world and largest
in Europe - is a
leading exporter
of machinery,
vehicles,
chemicals, and
household
equipment and
benefits from
a highly skilled
labor force.
Structure
Federal republic;
divided into 16
states
General Climate
Temperate
and marine;
cool, cloudy,
wet winters
and summers;
occasional warm
mountain (foehn)
wind
suggested reading
• The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
• Night by Elie Wiesel
• The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer
• Stasiland: Stories from Behind the Berlin Wall by Anna
Funder
fiction reading
•
•
•
•
•
Schindler’s List by Thomas Keneally
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
fun facts
• Germans are the second largest beer
consumers in the world. The biggest
Beer Festival in the world is of course the
Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavaria, where the
size of the beer glass is not 500ml but a
whole liter!
• There are over 150 castles in Germany and
over 400 zoos (the most in the world).
• Ulm Cathedral is the tallest in the world, at
161.53 m (530 ft).
• Germany has the largest population in the
EU, and the German language has the most
native speakers in Europe – it was once
the lingua franca of central, eastern and
northern Europe.
• Germans are among the most avid
recyclers. According to a BBC survey.
Germany had the third highest recycling
rate (48% of waste recycled).
germany
Berlin
feature films
•
•
•
•
•
Bourne Supremacy (2004)
Valkyrie (2008)
Cabaret (1972)
Unknown (2011)
Hannibal Rising (2007)
•
•
•
•
•
The Lives of Others (2006)
The Good German (2006)
Good Bye Lenin (2003)
The Human Centipede (2009)
Conspiracy (2001)
documentary films
•
•
•
•
•
•
Anne Frank Remembered (1995)
Berlin (mini-series) (2009)
The Last Days (1998)
The Long Way Home (1997)
Olympia (1938)
Blind Spot. Hitler’s Secretary (2002)
websites
News: Deutsche Welle: www.dw.de/top-stories/germany/s-1432
The New York Times: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/
germany/index.html
Current Events: Spiegel Online: www.spiegel.de/international/
The Telegraph: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/
Environmental Issues: World News Report: http://world.einnews.com/news/germany-environment
Gender Issues: WikiGender: www.wikigender.org/index.php/Gender_Equality_in_Germany
Health Issues: World Health Organization: www.who.int/countries/deu/en/
CDC: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/germany
www.walkingtree.org
FRANCE
TRAVEL INFORMATION
CURRENCY: Euro
VOLTAGE: 220 V/50 Hz
INTERNET: In towns and cities, internet cafes are often available, and free
Wi-Fi can be accessed in a range of public places if you ask for the password.
(Alert: a network called “FreeWiFi” is not, in fact, free – you must be a
subscriber of Free, the telecoms company, to access it.)
TELEPHONE: Payphones and prepaid phone cards can be found in most
cities, as can cheap cell phones for temporary use. If your phone is unlocked,
it is also easy to buy a French SIM card if you want your phone to work locally.
ATM, CASH, AND CREDIT CARDS: International ATMs are widely available
in most cities, and most major credit cards will also be accepted. However,
European credit cards have a microchip embedded in them that American
cards do not have, and while swiping your card is still possible in most places
(restaurants, grocery stores, etc.), things like the metro ticket machines cannot
accept cards without the chip.
LAUNDRY: Laundry facilities are widely available in cities. Participants are
responsible for any costs associated with doing laundry.
LUGGAGE: Either a travel backpack or roller suitcase should do just fine. We will
be on the move a lot and you are responsible for carrying all of your luggage, so
please pack as light as possible, and bring a backpack for day-trips.
VISA CONCERNS: Your passport will suffice if you are a U.S. citizen,
or a citizen of one of the countries not listed on this page: http://www.
consulfrance-chicago.org/spip.php?article657. However, if you are a citizen of
one of the countries listed, then you will need to apply for a tourist visa.
CUISINE: French cuisine is world-famous, and includes such elegant and
intimidating dishes as escargot (snails), magret de canard (duck), and boudin
noir (blood sausage). Cuisine varies by region, from sauerkraut and potatoes
in the east to large amounts of flavorful vegetables and seafood in the
south. It can be hard to be a vegetarian or a vegan in France, since cheese is
ubiquitous and many dishes involve meat, but options do exist.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Capital:
Paris
Location:
Western Europe, with
departments and territories
all around the world
National languages:
French
Population:
65,436,552
Size:
260,558 sq mi
Economy:
A mixed economy
characterized by strong
private sector and a powerful
public sector. Finance and
agriculture play important
roles in making France the
world’s fifth-largest economy.
Structure:
A semi-presidential
constitutional republic, made
up of 101 departments (5 of
which are overseas).
General climate:
Overall, the French climate
is temperate, with the north
suffering long, cold winters
and mild summers. The
south, on the other hand,
experiences relatively mild
winters and hot, sunny
summers.
FRANCE
SUGGESTED READING
Nonfiction Reading
A Year in Provence
by Peter Mayle
Villa Air-Bel: World War II,
Escape, and a House in
Marseille
by Rosemary Sullivan
France
Memoirs of Madame de La
Tour du Pin
Fiction Reading
A Place of Greater Safety
by Hilary Mantel
The Little Prince
by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Abundance: A Novel of
Marie Antoinette
by Sena Jeter Naslund
Chocolat
by Joanne Harris
FUN FACTS
Suite Française
s &RANCEISTHEWORLDSNUMBERONETOURISTDESTINATIONAHEAD
of the USA and China.
Websites
by Irène Némirovsky
s &RANCEPRODUCESOVERTYPESOFCHEESE
s &RENCHAUTHORSHAVEWONMORE.OBEL0RIZESFOR,ITERATURE
than any other country in the world.
s 4WENTYPERCENTOF&RANCESPOPULATIONLIVESIN0ARISWHOSE
nickname – The City of Lights – actually refers to the
intellectuals who tend to congregate there, rather than to
large amounts of lights.
s 4HEREARELAWSREGULATINGALLKINDSOFTINYDETAILSTHATARE
considered integral to French culture – for example, all
baguettes must be between 21.5 inches and 26.5 inches long.
News:
Le Monde
www.lemonde.fr/
Liberation (left-leaning)
www.liberation.fr/
Le Figaro (right-wing)
www.lefigaro.fr/
Current Events:
Direct Matin
www.directmatin.fr/
Environmental Issues:
Actu-Environement
www.actu-environnement.com/
Gender Issues:
Feature Films
Documentary Films
La règle du jeu (1939)
Impressionism: Revenge of
the Nice
Les enfants du paradis (1945)
The 400 Blows (1959)
La Haîne (1995)
The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie
Poulain (2001)
Marie Antoinette: The Last
Queen of France (2006)
Skyliners (2011)
Filthy Cities: Revolutionary
Paris (Episode 2) (2011)
Santé
www.e-sante.fr/
Genre, sexualité & société
http://gss.revues.org/
Health Issues:
Travelers’ Health
wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/
destinations/traveler/none/france
Haute Autorité de Santé
www.has-sante.fr/portail/jcms/
fc_124958 8/en/accueil-2012
SPAIN
TRAVEL INFORMATION
CURRENCY: Euro (€) = Approximately 1.33 US Dollars in one Euro
VOLTAGE: 230V 50Hz (two pin round plugs). This is a very common
and cheap adapter than can be bought before you leave. Most items
should not need a transformer, but before plugging your devices in
make sure they can handle 100-240 volts.
INTERNET: Internet is readily available in Spain, whether that is
through a hotel, internet cafe, or local coffee shops. You pay a set fee
for a certain amount of time to access the internet. Most travelers find
internet cafes the most convenient way to do so.
TELEPHONE: Prepaid phone cards and public phones are ubiquitous.
A card can easily be purchased in Spain and then used to make local
and international calls while traveling. The calling code for Spain is
+34.
ATM, CASH, AND CREDIT CARDS: Spain offers many ATMs with the
ability to withdraw US dollars or Euros depending on your need. It’s
recommended that you do carry a small amount of Euros in cash, it is
usually best to withdraw large sums with your debit card. Remember,
if you plan to use a credit card while abroad, be sure to alert your
provider so that your account will not be blocked due to suspicious
activity.
LAUNDRY: Laundry facilities will be available in all cities. Travelers will
be responsible for any additional costs.
LUGGAGE: A large backpack/duffel/roller bag for most of your
clothes, and a backpack for day trips and other materials is suggested.
We will be on the move a lot and you are responsible for carrying all
your own luggage, so it’s advisable to pack as light as possible. A
backpack or smaller day-pack for day trips is a must.
VISA CONCERNS: Spain does not require American citizens to have a
visa for stays of less than 90 days. A passport is required, and should
have 6 months of remaining validity.
CUISINE: Spanish cuisine is varied and heavily influenced by seafood
available from the waters that surround Spain. Common traditional
dishes include potato omelettes, paella, various stews, migas,
sausages, and cheeses.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Capital
Madrid
Location
Southwestern Europe
(40ºN, 3ºW)
National Language
Spanish but other
recognized regional
languages include
Basque, Catalan, Galician
and Occitan
Population
47,265,321
Size (area)
195,364 sq mi
Economy
Focused on energy,
automobile industry,
and tourism. Mining,
manufacturing, and
metalworking, in addition
to service and telecom
sectors are also strong.
Structure
A parliamentary
democracy under a
constitutional monarchy.
One of the most
decentralized countries in
Europe.
Climate
Varies from mild
Mediterranean climate
in the east to semiarid in
the southeast and oceanic
climate in the north
quarter of the country.
SPAIN
SUGGESTED
NONFICTION
The History of Spain by
Peter Pierson
Spain 1469-1714 by Henry
Kamen
Spain
A Social History of Modern
Spain by Adrian Shubert
The Basque History of the
World by Mark Kurlansky
Philip II by Patrick Williams
FUN FACTS
t
There is no tooth fairy in Spain but rather a tooth mouse called
Ratoncito Perez.
t
The two most successful Spanish football (soccer) teams, FC
Barcelona and Real Madrid are also fierce competitors. The
rivalry stems from Franco’s dictatorship; Barcelona represented
an opposition to Franco while Real Madrid was a symbol of
nationalism and was favored by the regime and Franco
t
Madrid enjoys more cloudless days than almost any other city
in Europe.
t
The Madrid subway is the second largest underground system
in Europeand the sixth largest system in the world. It has 141
miles of track and is still growing.
t
Presenting oneself at a party before 12 is early; Spaniards
normally start the night around 12:30-2:00 am.
t
Spain has over 8,000km of beaches.
The Story of Spain: The
Dramatic History of
Europe’s Most Fascinating
Country by Mark Williams
Spain (Eyewitness Travel
Guides) by Nick Inman
Ghosts of Spain: Travels
Through Spain and Its
Silent Past by Giles Tremlett
The Quest for El Cid by R.
A. Fletcher
SPAIN
FICTION READING
Don Quijote by Miguel de Cervantes
The Poetry & Plays of Federico García Lorca
Travels With My Donkey by Tim Moore
South from Granada by Gerald Brenan
Homage to Catalonia by George Orwell
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
FEATURE FILMS
Man of La Mancha (1972)
Todo Sobre Mi Madre
(1999)
Mar Adentro (The Sea
Inside) (2004)
WEBSITES
Tierra y Libertad (2005)
News
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
(2008)
ABC: http://www.abc.es/
Current Events
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Biutiful (2010)
El Pais http://elpais.com/
El Mundo: http://www.elmundo.es/
Environmental Issues
Mongabay http://www.mongabay.com/history/spain/spain-public_
safety_and_environmental_problems.html
Gender Issues
WikiGender: http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/Gender_
Equality_in_Spain
DOCUMENTARY FILMS
Franco, ese Hombre
(Franco, That Man) (1964)
Canciones Para Despues
de una Guerra (Songs for
after a War) (1976)
Health Issues
Flamenco (1995)
World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/countries/esp/en/
Calle 54 (2000)
www.walkingtree.org | [email protected] | P 303.396.5653 | F 720.306.3204 | PO BOX 18636 | Denver, CO 80218 | USA