I like to see things that are different from home.

In the UK, I like to visit supermarkets and the vast array of charity shops.

On the Continent, I like the way that historic districts incorporate modern life. One sees an infinite variety of "old" buildings, yet they have modern shopfronts that are attractive rather than twee. I write "old" in quotation marks because some cities that look old in Europe are not, owing to rebuilding after earthquakes or war. But they have generally been rebuilt on a human scale and not generally given over to cars.

I love the way they manage garbage in Paris and Rome. I wish Boston's mayor could go and learn from it. It would solve much of the city's ratt problem, but of course he can't go because he might enjoy the trip.

I also like eating different foods in a different way at a different pace than at home, and I am a huge lover of art, if not always of museums. I think the Orsay Museum is awful, the the art is so good that you have to put up with the building.

Don't get me started!

As a very young child I would spend hours in the backyard with my dad listening to his stories about where his family came from (Mexico) and also hear about WWII history, the many countries and languages. So, I always knew I wanted to travel and see in person all tees old buildings and Cinderella castles. But then came the British invasion and my tween throbbing heart said London or bust. My first trip over I found the Marquee Club on Wardour Street--where the Stones played--my personal mecca. Since then I have traveled to many places (viva Espana), but London remains número uno and I will greet her again in November w/my husband for the ATP final at The O. I am truly so sorry to miss the GTG and my Niners. I'll just have to settle for Rafa!!

Because I must.....

Listening to stories grandparents told about Sweden and Wales and later hearing stories about "the old country" (Germany) from my in-laws made me want to explore Europe. I felt we needed to visit European villages where our families lived to learn something about our heritage first-hand. And DH agreed.

After the first whirl-wind trip, it was impossible to stay home. Europe called. And as Peg said, the longing to see the world grows stronger as the years go by.

It's the unexpected moments that we remember with delight: walking into a church in an out-of-the-way village and seeing a gorgeous altar piece, watching a young mother teaching her child to ride a two-wheeler in a city park, interacting with a shop keeper when there's no common language for oral communication, hearing the cow bells as the Swiss herd is brought down the mountain, sitting at an outdoor café watching the world go by....

Like Andrew, we enjoy spending time in the winter months reliving trips through our pictures and making plans for our next trip across the pond.

For its museums and architecture... beautiful works of art :)

“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves and we travel, next, to find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and learn more about the world than our newspapers will accommodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ignorance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence, to become young fools again- to slow time down and get taken in, and fall in love once more.” - PICO IYER

"I cannot rest from travel; I will drink life to the lees." - ALFRED, LORD TENNYSON, Ulysses

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. - ST. AUGUSTINE

“Don’t tell me how educated you are, tell me how much you traveled.” – MOHAMMED

I don't go anywhere to interact with "the locals." In fact, that seems condescending to me>

Actually now come to think of it it always has to me as well - especially in books where Brits go live in Provence or Tuscany and continually outwit the dumb locals - often cunningly manipulating them - anyway portrayed as local yokels!

Pal - you obviously don't read the books written by the self same locals about how they have out-witted those idiots ros-bifs!

<i>WHAT ARE THE MAIN REASONS YOU TRAVEL IN EUROPE?</i>

Three reasons:

1. I am doing extensive field research on the relationship between American tourists and front-line workers in the hospitality industry.

2. The women.

3. I have a very good lead on the whereabouts of Göring's gold and when the time is right and I have the proper equipment and the correct paperwork all on file, I will be rich.

2. The women.>

By Europe and this statement I assume you are not including Britain?

By Europe and this statement I assume you are not including Britain?>>

most unfair and unwarranted, Pal.

I'm sure that the women of Britain who have been lucky enough to meet you in the flesh, so to speak, speak equally highly of you.

most unfair and unwarranted, Pal.>

I agree and hang my head for saying a stereotype that I find not true - I apologize to all British women, sincerely for a cheap unwarranted crack!

apology accepted, Pal, on behalf of all British women.

As a long-time student of history, I love "walking in the footsteps" of historic people I had only read about before. I also enjoy seeing how others live their lives with somewhat different attitudes than us Americans, yet still manage to get by ;) And lastly, I enjoy being "semi-unplugged" during my travels ; it gives me a chance to recharge. Yes, you can recharge anywhere, but why not do it in Europe ?