Today, Germany is a country of contrasts having become one of the newest “Old Countries” in Europe. Berlin, the park studded capital, is once again central Europe’s most sophisticated metropolis with a thriving nightlife, famous landmarks, world-class museums, romantic restaurants and reconstructed old town houses. While many of the Eastern states of this beautiful country are being rebuilt and readied for the new millennium, the little towns and villages with their feasts, oom-pah bands and beer gardens are firmly rooted in the traditions of the past. Visitors love flamboyant Munich, Bavaria with its captivating mountain inns, and the Black Forest with its extraordinary spas. They have no trouble traveling from area to area as the rail system is one of the best in Europe.

COUNTRY INFORMATION Area: 357,021 square kilometers/137,851 square miles Population: 82,057,000 inhabitants Capital City: Berlin Currency: Euro Languages: German Time Zones: GMT +1 in winter; GMT +2 in summer Country Phone Code: 49 Electricity: 220 volts, European 2 round pins ENTRY REQUIREMENTS Country Member of the European Union A valid passport is required. Main Western Europe passport holders only require an identity card. Some other countries imply a visa, contact a consulate to know if you need one. Under the Schengen agreement, there are no more customs controls for travellers going to Germany if they come from another country member of the European Union, whatever their nationality. Weather   J F M A M J J A S O N D C° -0.4 0.6 4 8.4 13.5 16.7 17.9 17.2 13.5 9.3 4.6 1.2 F° 31 33 39 47 56 62 64 63 56 49 40 34 Meeting Venues in Germany

USEFUL INFORMATION National Public Holidays: New Year’s Day (Jan. 1st); Epiphany (Jan. 6th); Good Friday (Mar. 29th); Easter Monday (Apr.1st); Labor Day (May 1st); Ascension Thursday (May 9th); Pentecost (May 19th & 20th); Corpus Christi (May 30th); Assumption (Aug. 15th); Day of German Unity (Oct. 3rd); All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1st); Christmas (Dec. 25th & 26th). Tipping:In restaurants and hotels a 10% service charge is included in the bill. An additional tip means you are particularly pleased with the service. Banks Opening Hours:Monday-Friday from 8.30 am to 1 pm and from 2.30 pm to 4 pm Thursday till 5.30 pm Health: No vaccination is necessary. Domestic Airlines: Lufthansa