I've been to Germany, Czech Republic, and Hungary - and loved it!!
I would say that the average citizen of each of these countries is in better shape than the average U.S. citizen because the transport system involves a lot of daily walking and/or bicycle riding for most people. I do remember seeing a really overweight guy in Germany who hopped in his car immediately. He was sort of an exception.
The overall population of people in Munich and environs walks a lot, both in the city and also on walking paths that border the fields in rural areas. People are pretty fashion-conscious because they're not cocooned in their cars.
They're in better shape than most Americans because of daily cardio that's a part of getting to/from work and shopping related to less car driving. They walk fast. too! Imagine a town square with a cathedral...and then imagine several hundred people in business/street clothes walking fast in all directions - that's the whirl of downtown Munich! Gas is only, like, the equivalent of 10 dollars a gallon over there LOL.
I didn't lift there or visit gyms - I was doing just cardio then. I did see a few gyms but a lot of people get their exercise just in daily life. The people are conscious of weight and appearance.
The scenery isn't usually quite as dramatic as in, say, Colorado or even some mountains in the eastern U.S. - but the active lifestyle and how the people utilized resources like buses, subways, bikes, walking paths etc. was really interesting.
Beware - the Euro is really really strong vs. the dollar now - much more so than when I traveled back in early '05. Northern Europe is nice but rather expensive just for meals, lodging etc. You might need to stay in youth hostels in Germany and Czech Republic but be able to afford a hotel in Bulgaria....
The Europeans like to travel in August, so accomodations might be cowded/expensive then.
You can buy cheap tickets to Turkey, etc. from Germany.
The train fares in Hungary were a lot lower than in, say, Germany.
When I went in 2005, I'd barely even heard of AAS, but I doubt you'd find such a thing in Germany or northern Europe because things are quite regulated there. However, I'm sure it's there on the black market. Some of the former East European countries are cheaper for travel and somewhat less regulated. Maybe you would have luck at an APOTHEK or pharmacy in Greece or Romania or Bulgaria???
Enjoy traveling!
P.S. I did see quite a few Polizei in Germany but they were often there because of local political demonstrations or just around crowded train stations. In Germany the lights go out at 11 pm and it's dead until 8 am or so, but in Hungary or Poland or whatever, there's a little more nightlife. And, the beer is great and if ya don't bother anybody the cops won't bother U - people/cops seemed pretty tolerant! :-)
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by Strategus
and last time I was in munich I was out till 6 o clock in the morning. you went to the wrong places 
j/k
