All my experiences are dated, but I did like both countries as a tourist 35 years ago. I would have to agree that I felt very comfortable in Germany...I had fun in Italy and liked the food...somewhat loose canons...I went briefly across the border into France with an Army friend of mine that wanted to prove a point about the rudeness...they reinforced his comments...I have not been anywhere recently and will accept your perceptions...Germany was very good, very pretty and very receptive...I liked Heidelberg..Kind of like a college town with some history...had the rowing boats on the river, the castle on the hill and the pizza place in the 1600s building. Also did a search on my ancestors and found that some were from in between Heidelberg and Frankfort and some over by the French line. Bunch of others were from England. Most were from Ohio. What is one to do about this dilema. Learn to spell, I suppose.