Hello all,

I was wondering: what are some words (or images) that come to mind when you think of a particular country or city in Europe that you have visited? I am interested to see what word/adjective/object/image people associate with various countries, as I have not travelled much but hope to in the future. I think the responses might help me make decisions down the road...what sticks out in your mind?

So I will start with the countries I have been to, and hopefully others will follow. When I think of these places, I think of:

Italy: Stylish people, romantic aura, sunshine filled fields.
London: The guards at Buckingham, those red double-decker buses.
Ireland: Multicolored sheep, road signs with a million signs pointing in each direction
Amsterdam: Canals, bicycles and red lights (I didn't know there would actually be red lights in the red light district)

Anyone else??

Provence: Roman ruins, lavender fields, wild herbs on the Garrigue, campaniles, chapels, Ochre, hanging geraniums, olive trees, colorful pottery, santons, pastis, oh how I can go on!

Paris, beautiful buidings, spacious parks, lovely ladies, cosy cafes, gorgeous light.

Fodors, Threads that start as valid exchange rate questions and fall into political debates where people fire personal insults at each other.

Switzerland: tall mountains, snowcaps reflected in the lakes (I have not visited, just dreaming about going... and doing searches)