Wind, Obst, Wein und Spaß - living in Germany and Austria: the autumn edition

[LinzerTorte]

A thread for all those living in Germany or Austria or anyone who just wants to chat/ask a question about living in or visiting this part of the world - all welcome (particularly as the previous thread has been so quiet recently).

The thread title comes from this song btw - they're not the first four autumnal German words that popped into my head. (It could have been worse; I did briefly consider "Nüsse auf den Teller, Birnen in den Keller".)

hello, sorry it didn't show up in my threads i'm on. my plan was to head to a city - Cologne or Aachen possibly for a few days before christmas (21-24th?) then head out to a house/apartment for a few days away from the city (24th-27th) then head home with another nights stop in a different city as presumably things may have reopened? Is that an insane plan?

In fact it's not even really a plan, it's desperation to escape cooking for everyone AGAIN all over xmas! I want a year off.