Yep, it's pretty hard not to notice. I just got back from Dublin yesterday and am still in shell shock with how expensive everything was there. I never did understand how the exchange rate works, but, for a real practical example, yesterday morning I withdrew 60 euro in Ireland and this shows in my bank debits this morning as almost $73. I loved Dublin but it's going to have to be a lot less expensive before I am able to return and not worry about every meal, tour trip and hotel rate being a major expense.

And now...a soon-to-be rising dollar?

June 3, 2003: "Bush Said to Affirm Commitment to a Stronger Dollar Overseas"

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/03/in...al/03ECON.html

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, June 2. President Bush gave renewed assurances today that the United States had not deserted its strong-dollar policy, prompting expectations that the dollar may soon gain against the euro.

July 11, 2003: "Europe Holds Steady on Key Rate"

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/07/11/bu...ss/11EURO.html

FRANKFURT, July 10 ? The European Central Bank left its benchmark interest rate unchanged today, raising the possibility that the bank will not tinker with monetary policy until the man designated as its next president, Jean-Claude Trichet, takes the helm this fall.

The departing president, Wim Duisenberg, said a further cut in rates was not needed now as "monetary policy has made a significant contribution to improving the conditions for a recovery."

He expressed relief that the euro's rise against the dollar had slowed.

Actually, the Euro has dropped from about $1.20 to $1.13.

Please don't forget that the lower the dollar is against the Euro the cheaper it is for foreign investors to buy stocks and interests in American firms..and those people love the current situation...sometimes supply and demand, when allowed to work freely, are not pleasing but it depends on who you talk to.