heathrow is the closest airport to my house and i'm also 'unimpressed' with it....as are most other britons.

personally i don't care if a tourist 'disses' our airports or our toilets (i do the same). we can take it. you don't need to tiptoe around and act like everything is so precious. just be yourself. really, we can deal with it.

"personally i don't care if a tourist 'disses' our airports or our toilets (i do the same). we can take it. you don't need to tiptoe around and act like everything is so precious. just be yourself. really, we can deal with it."

Good for you- soooo you don't like the fact that I LOVED my trip to Europe? You think I'm faking it? No- I'm not faking it. I love being in places different from what I'm used to.

No, I didn't enjoy the lines at Heathrow...did I say I did? I certainly didn't like the lady behind me who was making an annoying experience even more annoying by her loud comments. Sorry but there are some 500 other people here who are in the same position as you so suck it up lady! THATS what I was thinking. I wasn't standing there thinking "oh I love Heathrow...I wish I could stand in line forever"

If you knew me- you would know that I'm the last person to tiptoe around anyone. LOL- I loved my experiences in Europe & I just didn't let the annoying things get in the way of my enjoyment. SOrry if that offends you

My DH and I were on the Westminster Abbey tour, when a fellow American (and I use the term loosely) actually lit a cigarette! The verger who was conducting the tour politely asked him to go outside and dispose of the offending item in an ashcan, but the jerk just looked the man in the face, dropped the butt on the floor and ground it out with his shoe. The verger pulled a tissue from his pocket, picked the butt up and disposed of it without a word. I spoke to the verger once the tour was finished and told him not to judge us all (Americans) by the actions of one idiot. I love his response: "Don't worry, ma'am, idiocy is universal. It crosses all national barriers." God bless that man.

"Don't worry, ma'am, idiocy is universal. It crosses all national barriers."


So true, so true.

I actually feel much better about being an American, now that I've seen how the rest of the world behaves.

As I keep telling my kids, judge everyone as an individual not a nationality, just like you would like others to judge you.

Peace.

gruezi

Preaching to the choir here.

<i>...don't act like you are in a 3rd world country if you aren't in one</i> because one should act differently in a third world country?

I never noticed that comment before Michael, but I laughed when I saw you highlight it just now.

The poster came back to explain to people who &quot;didn't get&quot; it how things should work. Except if you're going to use an example, you too should &quot;get it&quot;. For what limited experience I have in traveling to 3rd world countries, the average expectation and habit of politeness has been well in excess of what I've seen in Europe. Please, let's try not to use unfounded stereotypes to make points when combating ignorance, ok?

&quot;Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude.&quot;

My husband and I have traveled the world, and on many an occasion, particularly in Europe, we have seen the best behavior coming from Americans. On the very long, hot line to the Acropolis, one woman began screaming complaints (in French), and a man (speaking a language I did not recognize) stepped out of line to pee on the fence right where we were standing! The Americans, many of whom were New Yorkers, were polite and patient. We found this in most places we have been. People are people all over the world. Some are rude and some are well behaved. It's time to stop the &quot;ugly American&quot; prejudice once and for all!

badsneakers wrote: &quot;It's time to stop the &quot;ugly American&quot; prejudice once and for all!&quot;

I agree, but you won't achieve it by suggesting that Americans are better-behaved than people of other nationalities.

The large majority of visitors are well-behaved. Some are not. Some of those who are not happen to be American. Others happen to be French, German, Israeli, Japanese, Spanish, even Irish (I'm recalling some of my more recent annoying experiences).

If I am put upon by bad behaviour, I don't make a judgement of a whole nation. I make a judgement of the individuals who behave badly.

Padraig, I totally agree with you. Thank you for adding to my comments. As I wrote, people are people all over the world. Some are well behaved and some are not.

chopinplayer---there is a verse from the Course in Miracles which says: &quot; In my defenselessness my safety lies&quot;. I totally understand what you were trying to relate and agree that there are bores in all nationalities and each of us should attempt to put our best foot (mouth) forward when traveling anywhere in the world--including in our own home countries. You said nothing inappropriate, imho.

Judy