Again, I relate so much to what all of you say.

Ciga, the packaging of the most simple item - beautiful!

Yes the church bells.

We do have some outdoor cafes, that look out on parking lots or a mundane street here. Not at century old buildings

And of course, being on vacation, getting away from the day to day chores, sigh, that is paradise.

And the food. No matter how good a restaurant is here there is something about the restaurants (or in the homes also) that is extra special in most cases.

Soooo everyone, time to make the airline reservations and get out our passports!!!! Cin, cin

Sigh. The London tube. The Liverpool skyline from the Mersey ferry. British accents giving me the news on morning TV. Pop music on the local radio. The Evening Standard. The feeling that I know my way around, because I do. And being in the moment, every moment, the whole trip. When I travel, I don't concern myself much with life at home. I just absorb each minute as it comes, and sift it all out later on.

My 14 yr old son misses the made to order Nutella and banana crepes sprinkled with powdered sugar or topped with whipped cream. Even now, 3 1/2 months after coming home from France he is making himself a Nutella crepe for breakfast each morning. Of course they are the premade ones from Target but he isn't complaining.

I miss seeing old, old towns and cities. I love visiting places that have been around for hundreds upon hundreds of years and to think of all the people who have come before me. Here in Indiana we celebrate cabins that have been around for 125 years but in France I stayed in a chateau that was begun in 987AD.

I live in the midwest and I hear at least 3-4 different church bells and while I am enjoying this, I sit outside at a fabulous cafe whilst eating crepes, not as good as Paris.......but close..
I too love to soak up the local culture, enjoy food, custom, scenery, history, etc...
I miss the smells, cannot put my finger on it. well maybw the diesel fumes in London, Shish kebobs in Greece, Mimosa trees in Austria, ....

I miss London. The museums, the galleries, the pubs, the theatre. Walking along the Thames. The architecture, wandering the neighborhoods. Going to Covent Garden, or walking along Piccadilly. Walking throught the Royal Parks. The history, the culture, my friends.

I am SO glad I will be there next week! To be followed by side trips to Holland and Denmark.

I miss the beer, esp Krohnenberg (sp?) I have not been able to find it here in the states. I miss London so much, the tube, the accents, the music in the clubs and British MTV! I wonder if I got satellite TV if I could tune into British MTV? I miss the leisurely afternoons in the cafes as well.

I miss the excitement of being able to see the ruins of a castle or old building on the top of every hill. Also, the narrow streets--ours are just so darn wide! My 3.5 year old misses bell towers terribly.

I miss hmm... heightened senses. Listening to church bells peel, looking at neverending fields of poppies, being extra in love with husband walking hand in hand next to the Seine, listening to music and watching dances not native to my country, drinking kir royales before dinner (it's not the same at home), looking at things you've dreamed about and only seen in books and above all, the feeling of freedom.

This post made me laugh as I feel the same each time I return 'home' to the US:
I miss: reasonable food pices, unhurried meals in restaurants, really stunning museums, outspoken but friendly residents, speaking English almost all the time, no long lines for shopping or administative business, being able to drive everywhere.

I think we all just miss free time, no responsibilities and no work ;)

chigalechante--you can't get Suze everywhere in Europe either. Your cheese palate must be much more sensitive then mine--I have never been able to discern any difference in taste between a top grade cheese pasturized cheese made in the USA and the same variety of unpastureized cheese made in France. I'm not referring to Kraft cheeses.

Now beers, there I can discern differences. And while some particular local beer made in some small town in some isolated area of Europe might not be available in every liquor store in North Dakota, that doesn't mean that there aren't excellent beers available in the USA. And don't get me started on wines.

I miss:
All those handsome men in Paris
Poilane bread
Sitting in the valley with a glass of wine, looking up at Les Baux

I miss being able to walk or take public transport everywhere..I miss coffee shops - where you can gets a coffee and a hot scone..

miss the cafes in Italy to get a brioche and cappucino in the morning..
did i mention walking ...

I miss the pub action in London.
I miss my friends there.

I was doing the opposite...spending time in the U.S. (3 weeks in Florida, 2 in Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley), away from "home" in Brussels.

First, I have to comment on the food issue. I don't know where everyone here lives, but I ate GREAT food in Philadelphia and the Lehigh Valley!!! Terrific meals at places like Jake's in Manayunk, The Edge, Blue and Apollo Grill in Bethlehem. The Allentown Farmer's market for its PA Dutch produce, poultry and baked goods. Wegman's supermarkets for a variety of goodies, like great bread, organic apple cider, etc.

So anyway, now that I'm back home, what do I miss about the US? Being with friends I've known most of my life, I miss that most of all, and seeing their children. Also, the beauty of the fall foliage in southeastern PA. The volunteer spirit and neighborliness of American communities, both large and small. The convenience of doing things in the U.S.--customer service is just better in the U.S. especially if you have to return something! The low prices and constant sales (I bought shoes, books, Bumble+Bumble hair products, a whole BUNCH of clothes at Chico's, new luggage, DVDs,...needless to say, every inch of my 2 suitcases were crammed on the return trip). Seeing the Daily Show every day at normal hours instead of once a week at 1:30 am.

Missing all these things doesn't make me want to leave Europe. But I continue to appreciate all the good things, material and spiritual, in the U.S.

Once in a while I wake up in the morning with just a glimmer of the night's dreams, some conglomeration of my travels- an island, a street market, or winding my way through city streets. In typical dream shorthand, it gives me that old feeling and I wake with a longing to be somewhere, exploring. I love immersing myself in someplace. I long to see Prague, by the way, good for you.

BTilke, I get B&B products at reduced prices in Filene's basment. So-if you have friends here who visit you, they can stack up for you.

<b>Cole -</b>

I found Kronenbourg 1664 in Phoenix at AJ's Fine Foods (an upscale supermarket). Perhaps there's a similar outlet where you live.

Welcome back, Robespierre ~

I love 1664! Thanks for the tip, the last one I had was at the Rodin sculpture garden cafe. Now you've reminded me I meant to look for it here at home. Welcome back Robespierre...

I miss the taste of ripe tomatoes, grapes in Italy, fresh figs in Turkey and cherries and strawberries in France.
And let's not even talk about the fresh pastries, please.