I think Americans make eye-contact with strangers more readily. And many of us are certainly "larger" than the average european, both in weight and height.

This past summer, in Switzerland, an old man and his wife stared at my husband and I throghout our entire outdoor cafe meal. We're both very tall and Germanic (blondes, fair eyes and skin...) looking and were drinking local beer with a Swiss dish. When my husband went to the bathroom, the old man came up to me and said, "We are so happy you are here. We welcome people like you in my Germany too." What did that mean? I smiled and spoke a little German thank you. Later, I thought that he meant something a little different. Anyway, I TRY not to look too touristy just because I don't like fulfilling stereotypes of any kind. I wear long skirts in Spain, the "bowling shoes" or black boots with dark jeans in big citties, and in a nice dress or pants outfit for dinner/theater. There's nothing wrong with looking like a visitor; however, since 9/11, things have changed. Like it or not, Americans are going to be more targeted. The chances may be small, but why not try to blend in a little? What could it hurt?

If terrorists selected predictable targets, they wouldn't be terrorists.

The nightclub bombed in Bali, those were Australians in the main, not Americans. As for 9-11, it's doubtful Al Quaeda took time to examine the passenger list of those planes, still less to examine whether the poor doomed people in either the planes or the towers wore shorts and/or sneakers. (It seems likely that many victims were in business attire at the time.)

Life has always been a risky undertaking, but consider the alternative.

While doing research for a November trip I looked up a website kindly posted by a fellow Fodorite:

http://www.germany-christmas-market.org.uk/index1.htm

This site will provide copious links to pictures of Christmas markets throughout Germany. Please somebody tell me if they can distinguish Germans and Americans in those pictures; ski coats type, sneakers and jeans is all you see. Bottom line is: be aware of your surroundings and have a good time.

Has anyone seen the Dentyne Ice commercial with the gorgeous dark-haired woman on the subway car? The song that is playing during the commercial is by a band called Papas Fritas and it's called "Way You Walk" with the line "I can tell by the way you walk" and that's how I often can tell Americans from Europeans.

IMO, many Americans (myself probably included) have what I can only describe as a "bounce" to their walk. I'd say approximately 90% of the time when I've seen someone walking like this and get close enough to hear them talk, they're Americans.

You can tell a German male tourist from an American male tourist quite easily. The German male's shorts will be much tighter, and his shirt is more likely to be of a man-made fiber and quite shiny with some bizarre pattern. The German male will have either white or black socks with his sandals. Younger German males will frequently have New York Yankee baseball caps in any color but the color of an actual Yankee cap.

Rufus

You forgot the Birkenstocks with the knee high socks.

in Rome last fall I noticed that not everyone was as well-dressed as I had always been told. I wore mid-ankle slacks with a very smart jacket(it was 80+ degrees in Rome)& most well-dressed people were in wool, scarves, overcoats..they had to be perspiring as I soon noticed on the train!! Finally figured they were just rushing the fall fashion season as some do in the US. What about that red hair dye they favor? My friends from the UK & another UK guide I know tell me that the English travel in their oldest clothes and that it embarrasses them. I think I can usualy spot an American because so many are overweight with huge bellies, in their plaid shorts with their fanny packs & they are very loud. Guess we all have our preferences of what appearance we want to put forth.

pws remarks
> I think I can usually spot an American because so many are overweight with huge bellies, in their plaid shorts with their fanny packs & they are very loud. <

Are you sure they weren't German tourists?

I have never seen an American tourist in plaid shorts in my life! I noticed some hefty Brits on my last trip over, perhaps those are the people you are referring too. All that clotted cream don't cha know.

Could even be Belgian! Newest stats report that 50% of Belgians are overweight and 15% are obese and the numbers are rising steadily. Although not common, I have seen Belgians as obese as anyone in the U.S.

I've never seen an american in plaid shorts in Europe, and what if I did?. And Germans can give Americans a run for the flab anyday. I am reassured that some people wear "a very smart jacket" and long pants when its hot outside. Balances out my shorts.

"What's wrong with looking like a tourist, anyway?"

Absolutely nothing!

I can tell who are the European tourists in the NYC subway as easily as Europeans can tell who the American are in the metro or in the tube.

I don't think Americans are the worst dressers, anyway.

In Verona, we were heading into a museum (the one in the castle next to the bridge, close to via roma)...it was a warm day, and in front of us were two germans in shorts, sneakers and NO shirts. They just started walking into the museum, until a guard stopped them. That was a first for me.

They didn't have tickets, either.


Coachboy

were they plaid shorts? What? no Birkenstocks with socks?

Let's face it, most countries are getting fatter...could it be that because there are more people hitting middle age right around NOW? I just hurt myself.

Being German-American - I'm already doomed. ;)

I went over to Beverly Hills the other day for shopping and dinner and I couldn't walk down the street for all the tourists with their cameras, etc. I spotted them because they were wearing shorts and tshirts and tennis shoes, taking photographs, posing in front of the stores and whatever else tourists do.
Inside the restaurant there were the "chic-er" looking tourists, dressed casually but elegantly & w/o cameras.
It was odd but they were all European.

I don't know what opinions can be made of this, but it was interesting since I have been primed by this web site to be aware of such things.