Hi everyone<BR>I'm doing some research on what images come to mind when visitors from abroad think of England. What expectations do you have before you arrive?<BR>Thanks in advance for your contributions.

When I think of England I always picture the Dicken's character, Bob Cratchit, carrying his son, Tiny Tim, through the the lamp-lit, damp streets of London. There is a light snow falling and the glow of the street lamps is reflected in the worn, shiny material of Bob's top hat. A chimney sweep with a face filthy of grime yelling, "Me mum's gonta skin me alive if I don't come 'ome wi' out two far'ings."

I always envision Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth from Pride & Prejudice walking down a lovely country lane...and Pemberley, of course. Lancelot and Arthur, Churchill, the Cliffs, Big Ben, My Fair Lady...all are part of my England images.<BR>Judy

Free associate...<BR><BR>England, England, English...<BR><BR>English Patient... the English Patient...<BR><BR>Juliette Binoche!<BR><BR>Give me another country and let me see what comes to my mind!<BR><BR<BR>

When I think of England, I think of "Think of England" ala Queen Victoria.

An innocent query but it will flush a lot of trolls from under the rickery-rackety bridge, I'm afraid!

+<BR> -- Royal Family<BR> -- "stiff" upper lip<BR> -- all those wonderful actors (Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud ...)<BR> -- Upstairs Downstairs<BR> -- Tower of London<BR> --

I have literally thousands of images to call upon. But the VERY first that came to mind was sitting on the lawn in a beautiful garden, drinking Pimms, eating cucumber sandwiches, scones/strawberry/preserves and clotted cream.

People that have no sense of style. Teeth that are in horrible condition.<BR>That's the first thing that comes to mind.

Many images come to mind but the FIRST was 221B Baker Street and Sherlock Holmes' London.<BR>Second thing that came to mind were "The Beatles"<BR>Third thing was the beautiful countryside.

Cross dressing homosexual men.<BR>Bird-faced pale women with bad breath.<BR>Green teeth everywhere.

Don't say I didn't warn you. There'll be lots more Larrys and Ernestos I'm afraid until their mommies tell them it's time for bed.

Biggest-So what? I like reading the funny posts...it would be extremely boring reading without the off-the-wall and sometimes in your face posters.

Don't say I didn't warn you. There'll be lots more Larrys and Ernestos I'm afraid until their mommies tell them it's time for bed.

"How are you luv?" from chain smoking bosomy women wearing too much makeup in too-tight leopard print capri pants. Nearly every B&B has one.

Chain smoking boosomy women, hmmmmmmm.

* Lovely children, ugly adults<BR>* Rickety public transportation<BR>* Mysterious pipes running down the outside of homes<BR>* Cold, cold, cold bedrooms<BR>* Tepid beer served in dank pubs<BR>* Conversation is still a lively art<BR>* Kindly people giving obscure directions<BR>* Cold toast served on little racks<BR>* Walks in the rain after lunch<BR>* Deserted churches<BR>* Doubledecker red buses<BR>* Tiny towns with funny names<BR>* The smell of coal fires<BR>* Looking right before stepping into streets

Oh, I almost forgot--MARMITE!!

Al, those pipes collect rainwater!!!

England:<BR>fine misty rain walking through Hyde Park<BR>the Queens Guards exercising their horses<BR>the waitress at a pub calling me love and pouring my tea<BR>Baps and curry<BR>The West End<BR>pigeons in Trafalgar Sq<BR>the sound of the birds chirpping in Kew Gardens<BR>the smell of woodsmoke while waiting for a train in Richmond<BR>the kindness of everyone I met<BR> all the men seemed tall<BR> all the men seemed like gentlemen<BR> all the women seemed stylish and blonde<BR>Aaahhh to be in England~