smueller, excellent!!
#2 made me chuckle and #3 made me laugh out loud. :-))

Suzannah, who are you upset at? I don't see the trashing of American tourists as somehow unamerican, as Uncle Sam seems to. I just haven't seen a lot of the behavior this thread makes fun of, and I'm calling bull s*** on it, because I think it's by and large a myth, or at least random enough to just be representative of diversity.

Though I thought some of the comments on this thread amusing - IN REALITY - according to a poll of travel bureaus in 17 countries throughout the world researched by Expedia and published by BBC on July 19m 2002 Americans were the 2nd most welcome tourist. Guess who were the most welcomed - the Germans! The least welcomed of all tourists were the Brits, then the Irish, then Israelis. The Brits did particularly poorly in attempting to speak the local language while Americans, Germans and French received kudos "news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2137729.stm". Isn't it amazing how we let our personal bias, and national stereotypes creep into our thought processes even though they are not based on fact!

StCirq, is that a French cleaning product? Or perhaps maquillage?

smueller, very good.
I have never seen those Americans either but even if I did, so what?
Are we all supposed to dress the same? Manners count first;not style or what you have.
Let's travel, and let's have fun
enough Buffoonery.

Marilyn, I can only assume it is a cross between a baboon and a floor polisher - which would explain why they are so loud, I suppose.

Charlie B.

The popularity of tourists in any given country that I have been to or worked in, is directly related to first, how much money they throw around and second, their manners.

smueller.

I beg to differ. The tourists described to some degree DO EXIST. I think all of us at one time or another have made our fair share of travel faux pas. BY the away I LOVED your Top Travel Tips. Let's hope those little poodles don't go on strike!

Uncle Sam
You are a pissy little fella.
I personally have learned from my past traveling mistakes and now enjoy laughing about it. And by the way, if they weren't mistakes executed by yours truely, then I witnessed them first hand. Not during one quick trip of course, but over the course the years. What is the harm?

I confess to a faux pas...while in Italy this past July, although I knew very well the difference between Euros and Dollars, every now and then, I caught myself talking to my friend about an item costing so many dollars. She kept correcting me and reminding me. Now, let me say that it's not that I don't know the difference or that I was being an ugly American, but simply a habit of using the word dollar. Also, in my defense, I never made that mistake while talking to merchants...or at least I sure hope I didn't...if I did, well....I just added to their list of American stories! :)

However, one lady in a store asked where I was from and when I told her, she remarked with a smile that she had been seeing a lot of Americans lately...and she seemed happy it. I have a feeling that many shop owners don't really care if we call it the Euro or the dollar or the potato...as long as we give them plenty of it. :)

And I don't blame them, it's their livelihood!

lyb, I spent 10 days in Orvieto in July, and I was amazed at how empty it was. This is my 3rd July so I have something to compare. I think the tourist industry must be hurting badly, perhaps not in the major cities, but certainly in the smaller ones which are perhaps a bit less visited anyway.
[Sorry for the digression...]

Digress away! This thread has a chance to hit the Big 100 post level. I would like thank all of my Fodors friends and I would especially like to acknowledge the contributions of buffons everywhere. I broke out the fois gras and a bottle of Villa Bel-Air Graves when we passed 70. It's really all so touching!

I would like to as 3 Foreign Travel Tips for visiting a museum: 1) Bring your camera so you can get many shots of yourself or your traveling companion standing next to a masterpiece (you don't even have to have a clue of what the art work is, if it's in the museum it's good so you will need a souvenir shot of it.) try to use a flash so your photos really shines - the rules of using flash photography in the museum, really just apply to the "other people" 2) Another photo op is any type of sculpture, climb right up on it so you can really show people you were there! "Winged Victory" at the Lourve is especially handy for this type of photo. (Don't laugh, I saw this go on in 2001, as we admired this beautiful piece several tourist climbed up on base of the sculpture and their friends started clicking away . . .it was disgusting) and 3) when waiting in line for ANYTHING, be sure to start pushing the second a door or gate is opened, there isn't enough room in the museum (or spots in the coat check) for everyone so you really need to shove forward to make sure you get in.

I mean "foie gras". (90!) :)

Awww, Flyboy, I thought you were making a French pun. Kinda like "fat times".

Flyboy,

I would like a glass of McVino. Oops wrong thread. BY the way why didn't you join the party at "You are cordially invited"?

After shamelessly lurking it, I slipped away while the night was relatively young with someone who would have surprised you...

Just to keep the thread moving toward 100.

Topping.

Always wear clothes made out of replicas of the U.S. Flag. The French just love with the red, white, and blue. ((b))

I think the "Pompous Ass Club" has been rejuvenated...............

Never forget to mention that an AMERICAN won the Tour de France for the 5th time !


(BWT, congratulations ;-))

Remind the Germans that, if not for America, they would all be speaking Russian.