moonbaby

I am not saying that Europeans do not work hard. Nor am I saying they do not have chain stores (or indoor plumbing). Ee gads.
I will grant you that the last time I was in all of these places (except Italy) was prior to the Euro.
Still, I think it's pretty common knowledge that Europe is advanced compared to USA in many of these areas.
I wonder... perhaps they do not NEED as many recycling bins? Just a thought.

hetismij2

I have never seen recycling bins in hotels in the US either for that matter. Recycling is subject to EU law and all waste must be sorted and where possible recycled. The laws are going to get stricter again next year. I have 4 bins for recycling, plus I have to take glass to a bottle bank and sort it by colour, all used clothing , bedding etc also goes to a clothing bank, soft drink bottle and beer bottles have a deposit on them so they are re-used. At my local tip I have sort everything according to type and place it in the appropriate container.
There are spot checks done on our bins and fines issued for wrongly sorted rubbish.
Hotels collect the rubbish from hotel rooms and have it sorted by a company, knowing that many people will not sort rubbish in their room.


Now back to the OP.
I agree that you could be disappointed in European cities - noisy, crowded, full of chain stores, supermarkets and fast food joints.
Get out of the cities into smaller towns and yo will find more what you are looking for, just as you can in the US.
Maybe somewhere like Ludlow in Shropshire, would appeal for part of your trip.

You really need to decide which country appeals the most to you both. Having agreed on a country you can research more, here and elsewhere to find places which appeal and maybe meet your requirements as far as local foods etc.

suze

<<to witness the fact that some of the rest of the world REALLY cares about green living.>>

That is one difference in Europe, they don't necessarily call things "green" or "organic" or whatever, it's just fresh food (or meat or poultry) at the open air farmers market. Just naturally natural.

Now if this poster really wants her tour to center on recycling efforts in Europe, I guess that's a different question.

kerouac

Since Paris is the most visited city in the world, I recommend going somewhere else.

BigRuss

<<My greatest interest is that my husband has the chance to see that there are places in the world where people value art and culture>>

Unlike Boston, NYC, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, LA, San Francisco and even smaller enclaves like Santa Fe . . .

<<where food is not just made to stuff your face [and] to taste food that is not ALWAYS made of the cheapest ingredients>>

Unlike the Southern, Cajun, Creole, Southwestern, Californian, Floribbean, Tex-Mex, Soul Food, Hawaiian, Midwestern, Yankee, Puerto Rican, or various Fusion cuisine practitioners in the US, who obviously cook crap in a pot.

<<where life is savored and family is valued>>

Unlike the US, where we hate our kids

<<where people work to live and not live to work>>

. . . and then lack the financial means to travel.

<<I want him to see cities where not everything is owned by monolithic companies>>

Because there are no large businesses in Europe . . .

<<where supermarkets are less frequent than "mom & pop" stores>>

and economies of scale are irrelevant because people just like to pay more for middling quality . . .

<<to witness the fact that some of the rest of the world REALLY cares about green living.>>

or had it implemented by fiat - cost, inconvenience and waste of resources be dam*ed.

<<Also, I'd like him to see some natural beauty.>>

Yeah, there's none in the US - Alaska doesn't exist, the Texas Hill Country is a dump, the whole of the Four Corners states is a flat arid wasteland, the Blue Ridge Highway is a coarse desert and the coasts of New England, the Gulf, and the Pacific states are only flotsam interspersed with sand . . .

Moonbaby paints a disgusting caricature of the US and a simplistic take on Europe. But perhaps the freedom that Americans value would be of use in affording Mr. Moonbaby the opportunity to review and decide what interests him and what he'd like to see.

Fra_Diavolo

"It's not on any chart/ You must find it with your heart/ Never-Never Land . . . "

suze

Moonbaby, My best advice is perhaps an attitude adjustment. There are many wonderful things about the lifestyle in Europe. But there are many wonderful things about life in the US as well. Rather than focusing so much on the negatives, just go with an open mind and see what there is to experience.

elberko

Since YOU have traveled, why not show him YOUR favorites?

~Liz

Sassafrass

Provence, where many people shop at the weekly open markets. I never cook on trips, but finally did on a recent trip where we rented an apartment in Arles and bought the best fruits, breads, etc. at the big street market. I finally "get" the big interest by Americans in the markets in Provence!

TDudette

My first overseas trip was to London in 1969. It was somewhat easier to adjust since folks spoke the same language (mostly LOL!). So much to see that's different from U.S. Things are more homogenized now but it's still a reasonable place to start.

Hub and I fell in love with Italy and returned several times. So much variety. Southern France as well.

What are your husband's interests? That might spur some great ideas from here.

Leely2

I think Sicily meets a lot of your requirements, though it is considerably less polished for tourists than other parts of Italy. It's more rough-and-tumble than romantic, and it may appear less "green" than other places (example: was in Poland and the Czech Republic this summer and lots of trash cans designated for recycling, etc.). But you can't beat the food!!!

I also love the provinces I've visited in France. Very relaxing.

colduphere

I got to TD before anyone mentioned considering his interests (unless I missed something). He has no interests?

colduphere

Sorry BigRuss did too.

LSky

MmePerdu has got it right.

Besides all of what you mentioned; when you close your eyes and think of Europe, what do you think of besides food?

Also, why does your husband or why do you perceive that your husband views the world this way?

If he really does see the world this way, I don't like to tell you this but he's not going to change just because you take him to Europe.

Do you cook?

Lots of people go to Europe and find a Pizza Hut. Certainly in a prettier old world setting but Pizza Hut or McDonald's just the same.

colduphere

Geez Goldens said it too. Can't watch baseball and post.

LSky

I didn't mean to sound snarky moonbaby but there are plenty of people in the US who eat good food and take our time eating it.

Go with your husband to Europe and don't be upset if he likes eating street food while looking at great architecture.

emily71

I think the McDonalds must be the most popular places in all of Spain.

That said, where does your husband want to travel. He must have ideas of what to see. Has he studied a language or studied literature in college? I went to England and Spain because I was an Anglophile and because I took Spanish in high school and college and my teachers always said not to miss the Alhambra and the Prado museums-which I saw.

Every country has both your requirements-and the opposite. Chain stores are everywhere in Europe-so are fast food restaurants. There is no Utopia in Europe-same stuff different day. But the little differences are what makes travel worth wild.

Underhill

Don't go to any of your listed countries; go to Great Britain. For a first trip that give you the advantage of using your own language.

sparkchaser

Many years ago I was talking to a friend of mine (she was Indian by descent but born & raised in England) and I mentioned how I'd love to go to London, find a cozy pub and "hang out with the locals singing drinking songs". her reply was "when you do that I want to be there so I can see the look of disappointment on your face when the reality is nothing like your expectations". And you know what? When I eventually did make it to London, it was nothing like I had pictured.

I want to be there to see moonbaby's expression when her expectations are replaced by reality.

MissPrism

I think that moonbaby has actually travelled. It's Mr. M. who hasn't.
I think that self catering is a good idea. We stayed in a flat near the Arsenale in Venice a couple of years ago. We shopped in the little local supermarket and bought freshly baked bread, meat etc. from small neighbourhood shops in small squares that we normally wouldn't have penetrated into. We were there for a fortnight and people started to recognise and greet us.
BTW, we and our neighbours hung our rubbish on hooks in the courtyard in supermarket shopping bags. There were stickers to mark the bags with recyclable stuff in them.
Another, BTW, I know at least four cosy pubs in London, but so far have not taken part in drinking songs.