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Originally Posted by Winnie
Just joined up today, so thought I'd stick my first message here! I've just come back from Frankfurt, where at first I wasn't impressed at all by the German people I met - until I acted as I should - as a guest in another country!
I was in Frankfurt on business and only for ten days, but got to know the City fairly well in that time, courtesy of the wonderful Tram system! What a way to get around the City - even if a little expensive.
We're British and live in Southampton at present, though we do spend a bit of time away traveling, through business. I home-school my son too right now, but of course have to find out about all that kind of stuff in Germany - whether it is allowed etc..
We are learning German (my son is coming on in leaps and bounds of course - I am a little slower and have to find the time!)
Our future seems to point to Germany for many reasons, though I am not sure where in Germany we will settle yet. I'd be open to suggestions by "old-timers" in Germany! Some have suggested that nearer the French border is very favourable - I don't think that we could afford to live around Frankfurt anyway!
We like to be rural, though perhaps not too far from facilities. Just some place where there would be a Junior school and stuff and a bus/tram/train ride to get weekly shopping and browse.
I'm sure that you'll help me out here, and forgive mistakes I make - I am totally open to suggestions and correction and hope to learn a great deal here before my next trip in the new year.
I've been on to a couple of Property websites including immoscout of course - and found a few properties that would be highly agreeable. I understand also (and I stand to be corrected) that I can buy a property & have it put into my son's name even though he is only ten years old - at least this is what a lawyer told me.
So, here's to learning a lot from you good people and nice to be here.
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Good morning,
You say you live in Southampton presently. My advice would be to take advantage of the flights into Hannover, hire a care and go drive about in the Harz mountains (approx 1 hour and you are in the middle of them) (autobahn congestion here can cause problems and delays however) in the west Goslar would make a superb base to look around from and further East a lovely (less specatacular than Goslar) little market town call Wernigerode would make a good relaxing break. It can all be done on a very limited budget and the worst thing that can happen to you is you've had a fun holiday.
The Dresden/Leipzig/Potsdam triangle is a wonderful area - exceptionally cheap, never too far from international communications you can live rurally but still be in a large city in half an hour. It is for these reasons I chose Dresden area over anywhere else I have visited as the ideal retirement (summer) spot - I run away for a few weeks every winter.
If you're looking for a small town take a look at Goerlitz on the Polish border - stunning and a big enough town to fill most requirements with Dresden, Berlin, Leipzig, Prague and Krakow still being close enough to conveniently drive/train to for a weekend.
From Moselle valley to the French border is reasonably cheap still and a lovely area. The best weather as you would expect is to the south and Lake Constance/Bodensee is about as idyllic as it gets - the prices there reflect this however.
Good luck - I doubt you'll be disappointed no matter where you choose in Germany.