x

Are you black?

andrew

Sue: Actually, my name is Andrew. Not Tom or Anthony. And Sue...I think you're kinda nuts.

Sue

Andrew - My apologies for getting it wrong twice.<BR><BR>My guess from your response is that you recognized that I didn't quite manage to refrain from attacking you for attacking David/Linda. Which I must concede is true. However, your dismissive response does rather illustrate my point to you - when we attack, people stop listening to us, and little is accomplished.

John G

I also of the thinking that the Swiss, especially the German-speaking Swiss, are a very aloof people. But, there is a difference between rudeness and coldness, and I wouldn't ever say the Swiss were rude.<BR><BR>And you must admit, the Swiss are extremely clean.<BR><BR>My mother, Linda, is a world traveler and her least favorite country is Switzerland because she says the people aren't very friendly. She says that the friendliest people are the Turks.<BR><BR>What do others think?

ginger

Have been to CH many times. Found the Swiss to be polite, rather formal, but certainly not unfriendly. In the French-speaking areas, I find they are more friendly if you try to speak French. In German-speaking areas, yes, a little reserved, but I like that. I am not the gushy type either. On each visit, we have been invited to dinner by a local Swiss resident at least once. I've been to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Mexico, Canada and Ireland. I thought most people we met were friendly...if I had to say friendliest, it would be Wales. Never been to Turkey.

Capo

I certainly didn't find any Swiss I encountered to be UNfriendly. And certainly not rude. But, in general, I didn't find them to be as warm and friendly as, say, Italians.

Rene

Capo, your beliefs are exactly a fraction of the writers on this board - no more and no less. Who cares what you think of the President of USA? You are the one that always brings politics up in these threads, and I agree, do you ever sleep or do anything else?

Original Lucy

Hey, Jay, Linda did not write about my trip, it was me the Original Lucy, although not my real name either. But I am not Linda. Thanks for the writing compliment anyway.

Capo

Rene, it's very simple: one can dislike the president of the United States -- as all these Swiss apparently do, according to David & Linda (Yay! Go Swiss!) -- and still like Americans.

Rene

I am talking about you, Capo, you never miss a chance to bash your own president. Stating you would buy drinks for those who agree with you is a disgrace. Don't you have pride of your own country? I have pride of mine, and guess which one it is?

Capo

Rene, perhaps you don't understand the difference between having pride in one's country and having pride in one's president.

anonymous

I have spent a lot of time in Switzerland and would go back for the scenery and the beauty and the gorgeous hotels, etc. but not for the people. They get the award for the most boring. Here's one for you David: My first visit to Suisse was when I was 17 yrs old--- a long, long time ago (1969); my Mother and I went to Suisse to visit some relatives. I, being young and adventurous met a group of nice looking, well-educated kids (18-21 yrs) in Zurich. We hung out and had some fun. One boy liked me a lot and I like him, but while we were making out it some how came out that I was Jewish. It was like a bomb went off. "But, you don't look Jewish", he said. "That's impossible you are so fair", he said. He dressed quickly and took me back to my hotel as fast as he could. The Bauer au Lac, not at all shabby. <BR><BR>Oh, please, the Swiss, do they still count the rolls on the table and charge for ones you've eaten! Even the Swiss I know here in the states are bores. Let it go David. They are not worth it. <BR><BR>Anyway, so many Europeans are like the sort of people you meet in the U.S. who have never left the county they were born and raised in. They are very closed minded and unworldly. I mean how much can you really expect from people who drive buses and cabs or wait tables? But unfortunately, that's mostly what you meet while traveling.

BillyB

We just spent a night in Lugano several weeks ago and had the opposite reaction from the original post. Our experience with taxi drivers, waiters and hotel workers was all very friendly. The train conductor at the station was probably the most helpful we have ever encountered anywhere. You never know...

BillyB

Oops! My Lugano experience was not all roses - I forgot to add that our rental car agent was a real witch. However, if you judged cities based on rental car agents you probably would never leave the house.

curious

I agree with Capo - why on earth would someone equate pride in a president (an ordinary fallible human being after all just like you or me) with pride in your country? I find it rather curious as I’m a very proud Australian & over here making fun of our prime minister is almost a national sport - in fact he's over in your country now & you are more than welccome to keep him there....please! <BR>

Rene

I am not confused in anything, Capo. You have the cowboy mentality and want attention as a rebel. You come into to (a European) town, boast that you don't like your own president and say drinks on the house to all who agree. All the people in the bar take you up on your offer, talk and agree with you, then say you are another foolish American when you leave. <BR>Why do you boast about not agreeing with your president? You must be very young. I am a European and would never openly mock our government with a person from another country. It is pride in my country. You just want attention as a "cowboy rebel".

x

Rene; no, he's not young, he just thinks he still is! Take my advise and let it go and don't get into it with him. He always has to be RIGHT. He's very self-righteous about his "bohemian" beliefs. however,i often like what he has to say on this forum because he is opinionated in a non-abusive way and i appreciate that about him. and btw, i have heard europeans berate their leaders and politicians many times. They set the standard hundreds of years ago for ridicule.

Capo

Thanks, curious. It's very peculiar that someone equates disliking one's president with not having pride in one's country, isn't it? <BR><BR>Or that, if one hears people from another country (e.g Switzerland), saying they don't like one's president (e.g. Bush), equating this with disliking the people in that country (e.g. Americans.) <BR><BR>Oh well, I suppose logic needs to take a vacation just like people once in a while. <BR><BR> <BR><BR>

Rene

My final words: You can dislike your president all you want, I am saying you like the attention of voicing your opinion that you dislike him. <BR>ALso, I am not saying that Europeans do not talk about their government, quite the contrary, but they usually do not degrage their leaders to people of another country. I am talking about mature people, not teenage.<BR>I am leaving for France now, cheerio.

nudder

I'm curious, Capo, is it just Bush, politicians in general, or is a matter of political affiliation?