burqagirl, again these are just cultural differences. Many Americans, myself included, have a hard time drinking espresso because its simply too strong. Does that make our version of coffee wrong? I don't think so.

As far as condiments are concerned, not all American food is loaded with condiments, and not all Americans prefer condiments on their food. That's a pretty rash generalization. (Although I do admit that I probably put bbq sauce on more things than I should!)

Tracy

My experience has been ice is much more commonly served in drinks in England now than it was sventeen years ago (on that visit buying a Coke got you a unchilled can off the shelf with no ice). Maybe on the more recent visit the accent when ordering a coke was all that was needed to get ice but my observation was ice was commonly served (at least in London). Ice was also pretty universal, in my experience, in Italy and Spain, at least if one ordered a soft drink (Coke) and was offered often with just plain old water (bottled or otherwise).
I will observe a tendency during winter in London to severely overheat room temperatures. In a February stay in a Marriott in London I nearly baked three shades redder despite repeated complaints about the excessive heat (they did send up a fan). It was a strange feeling to have the outside air temperature at or near freezing and try to sleep uncovered and drenched in sweat in a "four" star hotel. I assume the Brits just like everything hot.

Except toast.

OK, then it's a cultural trait that Americans like their food and drink diluted, weakened, watered down, denatured, etc.

Wound a little too tight? I make an observation and some get defensive. how original, second time today. I'm not the one whose holiday is ruined because of the absence of ice cubes in my drinks.

>>> I'm not the one whose holiday is ruined because of the absence of ice cubes in my drinks. <<<

A bit over-dramatic? How does one get from a preference for ice with their sodas to "holiday is ruined"?

Whoever that traveler/ Fodorite might be, remind me not to travel with them! :-)

I believe you are lumping all Americans together. How about Mexican/Americans and their spice, Indian/Americans with theirs, Tibetan/Americans, etc.

Two days ago I was standing in line behind an (obviously) american couple in Munich at Elisenhof shopping centre.
"Where's the ice"
"Ice?"
"Ice cubes, you know"
"Hmmm"
"Ice cubes"
"Yes, I know what you mean..."
"Ice cubes!"
"Don't have them"
"You know where we could get some?"
"No, not really, don't have them here, you want them???"
"Thanks"

I loved it :D

>>I'm not the one whose holiday is ruined because of the absence of ice cubes in my drinks.<<

oh, wow! your holiday is ruined because of no ice in your drinks??? I really think you shouldn't venture past your front door if it's that easy to ruin your holiday!

All together now, DRAMA QUEEN!!!

Piggybacking on SeaUrchin -

And Southerners with their spice - Crisco/lard = fried foods

Please note - I am a Southerner and was raised with "if it ain't fried, it ain't done"

(Only somewhat kidding)

The question was answered--European history is longer than U.S. history and they have a longer period of cultural influence WITHOUT the invention of mechanical refridgeration. Additionally, many Germans and Austrians will tell you that they were raised to think certain beverages "taste best" when warm or "natural."

As for one of the posts above about the French "not requiring AC" or ice, EXCUSE ME, but wasn't it just a few summers ago that all of those elderly French people DIED due to a heatwave??? I am a southern transplant to Chicago and was likewise stunned to find out that hundreds of elderly and poor die here too in the summer due to lack of AC. Not only are there a lot of old buildings not wired for AC, but we still hear that, "It never used to get too hot for too long here, so we never got AC." Welcome to global warming people! Times change--get AC and help the elderly with fans and ICE! The French are not somehow better than the rest of us because they do not "require AC." They are behind the times and need to update the ventilation in old residences so that their rising elderly population don't die due to heat exhaustion.

>they were raised to think
It hurts in your throat when the stuff is too cold!! It's a fact, not thinking...

Excuse an English lady joining in your very entertaining thread!

My mother's generation would offer a cup of tea on a hot day 'to cool you down'.

Somewhere I have an old recipe book giving hints on how to make perfect breakfast toast which ends with the injunction - 'place in the toast rack until cold'!

Over here we call wash cloths 'face flannels' - presumably because they were originally made of flannel.I think it would be very unusual to find one provided in a hotel here or anywhere else in Europe.

We love drinks cold from the 'fridge but hate having ice in anything other than perhaps a gin & tonic. I never think of making ice. Holiday reps will advise people arriving in hotter countries such as Greece, not to have too much ice in order to avoid stomach upsets; not sure of the medical provenance of that advice though.

Ice is more readily available here in the UK nowadays and most shops have some drinks stored in refrigerators for instant consumption.I remember being indignant on my first visit to McDonalds when my cup was half filled with ice thus (in my opinion) cheating me out of my full quota of coke!

I have greatly enjoyed reading this thread. Seeing ourselves as others see us is always fascinating.

Incidentally, having lunch in Harrods last week (treat for Granddaughter) we requested a jug of tap water. It duly arrived - with two ice cubes. We are getting there!!!

Oh, throw a washrag over it (made out of towels that were partly threadbare).

Funny, Barbara p! I think the "not to have too much ice in order to avoid stomach upsets" is due to concerns from ice made from questionable water. Doesn't do any good if it's a fountain drink made by syrup mixed with local (bad) water.

And regarding "drink diluted, weakened, watered down, denatured, etc?"

WE don't give the ice time to melt so there's no problem with diluting. That's why we expect free refills! :-)

I'm checking room temperature: 1.35am, 87F, 40% humidity, good night everybody :D

Perhaps we must await the next Ice Age.

Sorry, this comment was irresistable.

<I assume the Brits just like everything hot.>

Yes, especially sex, darling.

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

-Robert Frost

I did not intend to get involved in religious warfare. I was making a joke.

We spent 10 days in London and Paris in May and we struggled to get ice for our drinks. We were not looking to get ice for already cold drinks but lukewarm water.

I drink cold water and almost nothing else. At home and at the office I have water coolers and do not use ice. In London and Paris, we found that we were served lukewarm water with meals so we asked for ice. What we usually received was a small glass with 2 or 3 small ice cubes.

On the Eurostar, we asked for 2 cups of ice for lukewarm cokes (there were 4 of us) and we were told we could have only one cup o of ice to share or they would run out of ice.

If they would serve their water/soft drinks cold, we would not be looking for ice! Not a big deal but a curiosity.

Ice, like air conditioning, is one of the modern wonders that has not yet come to benighted Europe.