[Shinrei]

Question to the Europeans:

In your respective country/town, what would be the reactions to an American tourist?

I haven't been to Europe in several years, and not since the Iraq war BS.

Let's assume the tourist is young, intelligent and really really good looking, like me.

[Gothos]

Silencer, on 03 April 2010 - 07:15 AM, said:

Frookenhauer, on 02 April 2010 - 11:00 PM, said:

5. It's a toss up between England France and Germany as to who is the hardest in Europe, plenty of battles no real winners, but Germany did in fact lose...Twice...Three if you include the world cup. kick the shit out of France numerous times and was subsequently defeated only by a combination of English and Americans, with some Russians thrown in on the second major occassion the motherfucking soviets with a tiny bit of american and british backing and equipment.

fixd

This post has been edited by Gothos: 03 April 2010 - 11:49 AM

[chill]

Shinrei, on 03 April 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

Question to the Europeans:

In your respective country/town, what would be the reactions to an American tourist?

I haven't been to Europe in several years, and not since the Iraq war BS.

Let's assume the tourist is young, intelligent and really really good looking, like me.

I for one would be glad to hear some proper english. I really don't mind if a tourists asks me for directions, but most of the time I can't be bothered to explain the city's topography using body language.

[Tapper]

Shinrei, on 03 April 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

Question to the Europeans:

In your respective country/town, what would be the reactions to an American tourist?

I haven't been to Europe in several years, and not since the Iraq war BS.

Let's assume the tourist is young, intelligent and really really good looking, like me.

They'd point you to the nearest coffeeshop, even if you ask for the Royal burial monument .

We'd generally be friendly and a tad bit too confident in our english speaking skills. However, we'd not keep you from the pitfalls of crap commercial pottery/Amsterdam t-shirts/ plastic windmills and bad restaurants, since the people being friendly and too confident in their english speaking skills are the people exploiting said commercial crap.

Go beyond the trodden paths and we'd be friendly and happy to keep you away from the pitfalls of commercial crap, too.

This post has been edited by Tapper: 03 April 2010 - 01:05 PM

[Morgoth]

Shinrei, on 03 April 2010 - 11:04 AM, said:

Question to the Europeans:

In your respective country/town, what would be the reactions to an American tourist?

I haven't been to Europe in several years, and not since the Iraq war BS.

Let's assume the tourist is young, intelligent and really really good looking, like me.

American's are generally well treated here. The anti american sentiment tied to the war in Iraq has long since faded back to it's regular levels of mild contempt

[Cause]

Frookenhauer, on 02 April 2010 - 11:00 PM, said:

5. It's a toss up between England France and Germany as to who is the hardest in Europe, plenty of battles no real winners, but Germany did in fact lose...Twice...Three if you include the world cup.

The french? I cant see it. Their miitary history is not very impressive.

[Gothos]

I think you're forgetting Charlemagne, and Napoleon, and the Knights Templar.

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Technically France didn't even exist in Charlemagne's time and Napoleon wasn't even French, he was from Corsica

BtE, because bashing the French is always good.

This post has been edited by Bauchelain the Evil: 03 April 2010 - 04:39 PM

[Gothos]

yeah, and Elizabeth I was welsh, and queen Victoria was german. so?

[Powder]

I have found this very helpful and quite hilarious too. Please feel free to write down country specific facts as they are quite welcome and enlightening as well!

-Powder

Edit:
Most striking fact so far: The English DO not consider themselves Euro's wtf?
Most Hilarious so far: Slovakia and Slovenia are different places, show me a map or I don't believe you!
Edited Edit
So what you all are telling me is that Europe trades royalty like the US trades players on sports teams?

This post has been edited by Powder: 03 April 2010 - 04:40 PM

[Aristai]

Bauchelain the Evil, on 03 April 2010 - 04:24 PM, said:

Technically France didn't even exist in Charlemagne's time and Napoleon wasn't even French, he was from Corsica

BtE, because bashing the French is always good.

I noticed when you pointed out Napoleon being from Corsica, that you didn't exactly claim him as Italian either

[Bauchelain the Evil]

Well seeing how by the time Napoleon was born Corsica had already passed to France, Napoleon can't be called an Italian. But really, I think that still now Corsica is culturally more akin to Italy than to France.

This post has been edited by Bauchelain the Evil: 03 April 2010 - 05:09 PM

[Aristai]

Bauchelain the Evil, on 03 April 2010 - 05:08 PM, said:

Well seeing how by the time Napoleon was born Corsica had already passed to France, Napoleon can't be called an Italian. But really, I think that still now Corsica is culturally more akin to Italy than to France.

And this is exactly the kind of information Americans need know before they dare step foot in Europe!

[Jusentantaka]

Ooooh, here's a thing that I've had bothering me (slightly) for about twenty years now: Tips & gratuity. Over here we have this nice flat 15 % rule and excess is always welcome, yet it seems to me each country in europe has its own special rule. So what are they in your corners? And should a tourist exceed them or just go with the regular local amounts?

This post has been edited by Jusentantaka: 03 April 2010 - 05:51 PM

[Gothos]

Here it's most commonly 10%, and only in restaurants with service and on food deliveries. You'll find that tipping isn't widely spread over here, we prefer to pay people real wages.

[Tapper]

Jusentantaka, on 03 April 2010 - 05:50 PM, said:

Ooooh, here's a thing that I've had bothering me (slightly) for about twenty years now: Tips & gratuity. Over here we have this nice flat 15 % rule and excess is always welcome, yet it seems to me each country in europe has its own special rule. So what are they in your corners? And should a tourist exceed them or just go with the regular local amounts?

Depends on how good the service is. At bars you commonly frequent, staff may refuse a tip since they enjoy having you around. Never tip if service sucks, the staff should shape up. Generally, tips are 5% - 10%, but I sure as hell do not tip every round I order in a bar... they should give me the courtesy of a tab, then. So, when do you tip, aside from bar staff? The hairdresser?

[Jusentantaka]

Tapper, on 03 April 2010 - 07:12 PM, said:

So, when do you tip, aside from bar staff? The hairdresser?

Do you mean the states? We (and by 'we' I mean 'those of us with real jobs and who therefore have more money than college kids') tip waiter & host at a restaurant, with probably a five or ten for a busboy if they're in and out with water, ect. Walk-in and walk-out tip to the doorman at a hotel, some for the front desk manager, tip the maid service weekly at 5 or 10 a day, 10% or whatever the change is for a cabbie, bartenders very well if they know how to make drinks, deliveryman for food, hairstylists, mani/pedicurists, waxing specialists, valets and my personal favorite, a tip for the most threatening-looking acneridden teenager pushing carts at a supermarket, so he hangs out by my car and keeps the fat fucks from tossing carts at my car.

Ok, I probably don't speak for everyone with these guidelines, but they have always done well for me.


and forgot the punchline as it were: yet in europe to varying extents (and sometimes not at all) these gestures have seemed to be looked on strangely.

This post has been edited by Jusentantaka: 03 April 2010 - 07:39 PM

[Gothos]

yeah we don't generally do all of that. it's one of the most commonly mentioned differences between EU and NA.

another thing an american should expect in most of Europe is: forget vast parking lots. Very often you may find parking a large problem. We also don't drive around nearly as much as you guys. Gas is a lot, lot more expensive, too. Expect extensive public transportation networks.
Also, we use metric in continental Europe. Never ask for a "gallon" either. Try to memorize conversion rates before coming here.
We don't seem to travel by air nearly as much as you guys, possibly due to smaller distances between places. Trains are widely popular.
Drinking and intercourse legal ages are lower across the board from any state.

Oh, and there's no supersize in McD.

[Tapper]

Jusentantaka, on 03 April 2010 - 07:35 PM, said:

Tapper, on 03 April 2010 - 07:12 PM, said:

So, when do you tip, aside from bar staff? The hairdresser?

Do you mean the states? We (and by 'we' I mean 'those of us with real jobs and who therefore have more money than college kids') tip waiter & host at a restaurant, with probably a five or ten for a busboy if they're in and out with water, ect. Walk-in and walk-out tip to the doorman at a hotel, some for the front desk manager, tip the maid service weekly at 5 or 10 a day, 10% or whatever the change is for a cabbie, bartenders very well if they know how to make drinks, deliveryman for food, hairstylists, mani/pedicurists, waxing specialists, valets and my personal favorite, a tip for the most threatening-looking acneridden teenager pushing carts at a supermarket, so he hangs out by my car and keeps the fat fucks from tossing carts at my car.

Ok, I probably don't speak for everyone with these guidelines, but they have always done well for me.


and forgot the punchline as it were: yet in europe to varying extents (and sometimes not at all) these gestures have seemed to be looked on strangely.

That was also at fellow Euros, but I think you made your point - I'm about the only person I know who every now and then tips the hairdresser

[Tsundoku]

1. Austria is NOT Australia. A couple of letters makes a very big difference. Get it wrong and you may be in trouble.

2. Scandinavian women are really, REALLY hot.

3. Convert money each time you cross a border where another currency is used. Otherwise you will end up trying to convert 4 different currencies in 1 location at what will invariably be unfavourable rates.

4. Try to book flights and accommodation well in advance, to take advantage of cheap deals. If however, you find yourself doing the last minute thing, I found that you can get some decent deals from hotels after 5pm as they would rather get half price for a room that is occupied than nothing for one that isn't.

5. Following on from the previous point, websites such as lastminute.com and expedia for flights and accommodation don't necessarily have up-to-date info. If you are desperate, deal direct with the vendor, THEN refer to an online deal if you're after a discount. Although that may be pushing it.

6. Apparently those euro rail tickets are the go.

7. You did not win WW1 - you just turned up in time for the celebrations after everyone else had done the work.

8. On the other hand, you DID pretty much win WW2. It started in 1939 however, not 1941.

9. A person can be British, but not English. Learn this distinction well, as offense may be caused.

10. Following on from above, Australians are most definitely NOT either English or the 52nd state of the USA. We would prefer to be called New Zealanders if you simply MUST get it wrong - which you will.

11. Scandinavian women are ridiculously good looking. Just thought I'd remind you.

This post has been edited by Sombra: 03 April 2010 - 09:22 PM