Oh, one more thing. I know it's heresy but I prefer M&M's to Smarties.

We miss easy to shop places like Super Wal-Mart with CHEAP prices. I miss 24 hour places, drive through many things and concerts by my fav bands etc. However, the positives here always outweigh the negatives :) It must be a matter of adjustment and attitude? We've lived in many places (US/Europe) and have enjoyed every moment for where we are.

After living there three years, I got to where I didn't miss much other than free coffee refills.

Now that I've been back in the states for nearly a year, there's a whole lot I miss about Europe!

I wholeheartedly agree with Rudidawg. Many things "European" I miss when I return to the USA.

About the only thing I miss is my PC.

I know that sounds kind of lame but I'm with loved ones when I travel, away from work, and seeing things I've only dreamed of. And honestly, when I'm in Europe, I'm so struck with the sights, sounds, scenery, and people, the PC isn't much to miss.

MvK

Charley- Heinz ketchup is here in Spain, but I don't make anything that I could put on it. At home I put it on burgers but I don't make those here at home, and there are no tater tots in sight. So, Heinz is here, but my culinary habits don't make it a very accessible condiment.

I'm guessing that just because it's labelled Heinz it doesn't have to be exactly the same in every country. When I go to the continent many familiar brands do taste different.

Thinking about when we were in the US now, we had Diet Coke quite alot and it definitely had a different taste. I didn't care for it much, but I suppose it's what you're used to.

Decent road signage when driving in France. Even after several trips with each involving three to four thousand kilometers on the roads I find the general lack of standardization, weird placement of the signs, inconsistent place name abbreviations and general approach to imparting information quickly to be frustrating. Hopefully that catalog-sized book of new EU regulations will get around to this issue.

I also miss having even a semblance of philosophic balance available on the english broadcast cable television stations. As mentioned by previous posters I like to keep up with the news at the end of a day of traveling but the anti-American perspective of CNN and BBC is wearisome.

RogerM wrote " As mentioned by previous posters I like to keep up with the news at the end of a day of traveling but the anti-American perspective of CNN and BBC is wearisome. "

I think this is merely a reflextion of your political viewpoint. I used to think CNN was far too "pro USA" , until I discovered Fox. This is not intended as critisism, and I am not judging your politics, just reflecting that there is probably no such thing as absolute truth, and "bias" is in the eye of the beholder.

I apologize in advance as I'm about to take this off-topic. But so many people, myself included, have mentioned missing iced tea in Europe. The thing is, it's getting more and more difficult to get good, brewed iced tea here! So many places use instant or bottled. It's gotten to the point where I'm thrilled every time I order iced tea and get the real thing!

"...a reflection of your political bias...probably no such thing as absolute truth...". Egad, you mean all the comments here are nothing more than personal opinions? Interesting that you felt it necessary to comment on my comment.

"coffee to go on every street corner"

You're in France or Italy and you miss Ameican coffee, served in a nasty plastic mug? Why, for heavens sakes? Where do you want your coffee to "go" with you anyway? You're on vacation - the idea is to relax over a real coffee (served in real cups) in a cafe, surely?

I don't like ice in my water. In fact I don't even like water - it dilutes the whiskey.

RogerM, so is your post a comment on my comment of your comment :-) ?

If I have offended then I apologise - I did not mean "political bias" to be derogatory - I think everybody has a political bias one way or the other.

Your origninal posting gave the impression that the BBC and CNN were anti American - as a fact not an opinion.

Oh Neil, yes, yes and yes! I hate coffee in a plastic or styrofoam cup. And when I have my coffee when I am not in my home I want to sit at a cafe, especially at an outdoor table and have a cermaic/china cup or mug of good coffee and relax, chat and people watch and soak up the atmosphere. One of the activities I especially enjoy in Italy..well that or having wine or a Compari. Not to long now till SF is it?? Take care.

Wal-Mart is the Devil!

Nothing!! It is what I miss in Europe when I'm back home. That list is endless.

lol, rcasper73! I resolve not to go . . . until I need a belt for the vacuum cleaner. Then I sell out and head for the big blue box.

I refuse to check myself out, though. In a few years they will be so self service that we'll all get postcards telling us what time to come for our shelf-stocking or cleaning shift.