Weekend in Germany
A weekend trip to Germany to visit our relatives who had become Ukrainian refugees after the 2022 invasion. Germany, my 62nd country, took on a different meaning this time - less tourism, more family.
Germany has taken in over a million Ukrainian refugees since February 2022, the largest such effort since World War II. With 84 million people, it's Europe's most populous country and its economic engine. But seeing it through the eyes of displaced family members gave me a different perspective than any tourist visit could.
What I Experienced
The town where our relatives settled is typical German - orderly, quiet, with excellent infrastructure. The contrast with what they'd left behind was stark. They'd built new routines: German language classes, navigating the bureaucracy, finding work. The famous German efficiency was both helpful (everything works) and challenging (everything has a form).
We walked through the local area, visited a nearby castle, and spent most of our time simply being together. German bakeries became our meeting spots - the bread and pastries here are genuinely excellent, and cafes stay open later than you'd expect.
What struck me most was how well-organized the refugee support system was. Housing, healthcare, education for children - all coordinated. Not perfect, but functional. The locals we met were welcoming, though the language barrier remained a challenge for the older generation.
Practical Notes
- Euro is the currency
- German efficiency is real - trains run on time, shops close on time
- Sunday everything closes - plan accordingly
- English is common in cities, less so in smaller towns
- The bread is amazing - try everything at a local bakery
This wasn't a typical tourist trip, but sometimes the most meaningful travel isn't about seeing sights. It's about seeing family safe.
Photography from Germany is available for purchase with commercial license - ideal for Central European travel marketing or authentic destination content.