So, I'm going to Germany on Tuesday.

[Solid Snake]

This will be my first time in Europe. I'm traveling to Switzerland, staying in Zurich for a day, then spending some time in the Alps. Will spend a day in Salzburg, Austria, but the majority of the trip will be spent in Munich and in surrounding Bavaria.

...Has anyone been to Germany before in winter? Does anyone here live in Germany? Anyone got any tips for anything to do while I'm there? Is there are a remotely decent nightlife? How many people there actually speak English? As I know virtually no German, will I have difficulty making my way around town? Are American tourists at an advantage or a disadvantage when it comes to picking up German women? Are there hotspots I should research or is it more a matter of blind luck? Will everything really shut down on me during the Christmas festivities? Are there any sights in Zurich, Munich or Salzburg that I absolutely must see? Can I actually plug in my electrical equipment out there? (I read there was some issue with European and American electronics not quite matching up? I presume that means I couldn't purchase a videogame in Europe and expect it to work on an American DS?)

...Oh, man. So many questions. So many questions. I've been living in the land of Law over the past few weeks and I've only just now come to the realization that Germany is so close at hand. I'm excited, but really rather nervous...I don't travel outside the country much. I'm pretty sure all the research and all the advice I could possibly garner won't fully prepare me for this, but it's worth trying.