In just a couple of days I am beginning to understand the differences between these two sections of Europe (and believe me - they are very different!) Now that I've come through Nice and started through Italy, I am looking back to Germany as being so "together." You can time trains to the minute, people are quieter and walk a little faster, vendors and random guys on the street are WAY less in-your-face, you can count on clean bathrooms and correct change, and things in general seem more regulated.

The downsides of Northern Europe include the weather, higher prices, and of course you don't feel as "away from it all" because things are much more modern.

The appeal of Southern Europe is immediate as you come around the bend of the Cote D'azure on the train, see kids diving off of rocks in seemingly the middle of nowhere, and start winding through Italy's beautiful hill towns. It's interesting though, because there is definitely an immediate shift where you see less regulation, organization, wi-fi, and cleanliness. It's like you just can't have it all, so you have to decide which sort of culture you prefer.