Donnatella

I visited America twice and love it very much. America is very beautiful.

pumkin

Check it out? Gee Tony, ya think? Hmm, the most powerful nation on earth, yeah you actually might want to 'check it out.' <BR> <BR> This would actually be a great way to clear up the many misperceptions Europeans seem to have about the place, like we're all rich.

me

How about: <BR> <BR>To be able to have diner without paying for drinking water. <BR> <BR>or <BR> <BR>To see what a clean bathroom looks like.

missy

Thank you Donnatella. <BR> <BR>To the earlier poster, the Statue of Libery is no big deal. What is SYMBOLIZES is but honestly if wouldnt be on my top 10 list of what to see in the US.

Book Chick

To get to the other side?

Haim

I Find Most Americans Are Very Hospitable, Educated, Cultured And Well-Traveled. I Enjoy Working And Living Here. And Yes, My Family And I Will One Day Have To Return To Europe. But, It Is Due To My Company Headquarters Being There. Unless I Decide To Switch Companies, And Then We Will Stay In America Forever.

Vicki

Sheila, <BR>This is a genuine question...have you ever been to America and if so what parts and what did you think? I quite often read the advice you give to people about Scotland and I was just curious if you'd ever been to the US.

Sheila

I've been once to California. I enjoyed it very much; and, to my shame, much more than I expected to. My expectations, born of books, TV and movies, I guess,were not high. <BR> <BR>Places I would like to visit include New England,the Carolinas, Arizona/Nevada, Oregon and Washington, and, courtesy of a visitor earlier this year, the western lakes. <BR> <BR>My husband visits often, and is not a fan, which is why, so far, I've never been back. Fodors has made me reappraise that and I will certainly try to do something there soon. <BR> <BR>So much world, so little time (sighs)

Capo

*LOL* Bravo, Book Chick!

nancy

BookChick, <BR>thanks for your calming and rational reply <BR>to a thread which has potential for <BR>Getting Out of Hand ! <BR> <BR>Sheila, <BR>where has your husband been,and was it for business? <BR>Just curious. <BR> <BR>If you do America, come to Vermont /Maine. <BR>We as a "people" are not as gregarious in nature, or as loquacious (sp?) <BR>as some cultures abroad. <BR>But we have our own charms <BR> and much which appeals. <BR> <BR>If you ever make it here, please give us all a heads up, so we can roll out the welcome mat or the red carpet. <BR>Which would you prefer ? <BR> <BR>Florence, you also! <BR>

Book Chick

Thank you, Capo & Nancy. Amazing, in that's is absolutely stunning in its simplicity, no? <BR> <BR>;} <BR> <BR>BC <BR> <BR>

Chenisse & Tom

I am planning on going to the States to see your Grand Canyon, Napa and Sonoma wineries, Las Vegas, and eat the best lobsters in Maine. And I hope our friends also take us to New York City.

Sjoerd

Why would I want to visit the USA again? To re-visit New York City and San Francisco, which are in my top-20 of great cities. And to visit the National Parks of the Western half of the US.

Sheila

Thanks Nancy, that's very nice of you. <BR> <BR>My husband is there on business. Mostly in Texas, but he's also been to Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and California all for work (I guess that makes the business easy to work out!). <BR> <BR>And, in danger of starting the namecalling agin, you can certainly see where the stereotypes come from when you deal in the oil industry. <BR> <BR>Next month we have the bi-annual oil show in Aberdeen, when the city is full of (mostly) Texans proving that they sure know how to party. On the other hand one of the gentlest men I ever met was a driller from Iowa. <BR> <BR>Stereotypes are just that- we're all products of our upbringings.

anon

Just married an American last year and altho I was resistant to moving over to the US, I really love it here now and wouldn't mind making it a permanent home. It helps that my husband's a pilot and I get to go home to Singapore twice a year and travel alot in between. I know not to generalise too much, but I appreciate the Americans for not rushing/jumping a queue (ie, a line) like in France and China; I appreciate the friendly service at the fast food joints and in the malls, unlike the rather surly, bag your own to go meal at the KFC's in Gatwick London airport. Clean toilets are great too. But I wish your food in general would be better, or that the foreign cuisine served here aren't so Americanised as to be unrecognisable and not worth eating and getting fat for.

Lindsey

A European would want to visit the United States, for the same reason we Americans visit Europe. Reasons may include to visit a place you have only read about in books and magazines or seen in movies and television, or to experience a culture that has similar roots yet is very different. We travel to new places because we like the adventure, we want to grow, we want to experience new things, and we want to ascertain for ourselves the truth about what others have said about a place. <BR> <BR>Visiting North America, you will find it to be a place of diverse people and geography. The continent is an amalgam of cultures from across the world. Montreal is the second largest French speaking city in the world. You can find communities from Pennsylvania to Texas where German is the primary language. New York City is truly one of the great cities of the world. New Orleans and San Francisco seem more European than American. Mexico will expose you to one of the great cultures of its time, with temples to rival anything you have seen in Egypt and Greece. Your reasons to visit are the reasons you travel. Where you visit depends upon what your interests are. If you decide to visit North America, plan according to the length of time you are here. Remember that each of the three major countries individually is as large as Europe. For example, Texas is as large as France, with a comparable ego (Note: Texas is my home). If it were my first trip, I would suggest focusing on either the Northeast or the West Coast. Go to New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. If extra time, throw in Toronto and Montreal. For the West Coast, start in San Diego and drive to San Francisco. Stop in Los Angeles and go to Disneyland. Even with those choices you miss some wonderful experiences. To me, Chicago exemplifies the great American city. The Grand Canyon is awe inspiring. Miami and San Antonio show the changing demographics of the U.S. and the growing influence of hispanic culture. <BR> <BR>Most americans are good hosts. We like guests and somewhere someone you meet will have ties to your homeland, wanting to spend time learning from you. Come visit, you will not be disappointed.

Sheila

Great post, Lindsey. Positive, upbeat and not one jot arrogant. Are you sure you're from Texas (just kidding <BR> <BR>There are some total numpties on this forum who could learn alot from your approach. After some of the stuff posted here in the last couple of weeks, thank you for making me feel better about all of you.

Manchester Native

Sheila, we Texan's forgive you for not being perfect. It is not your fault that you were not born in our Great State. (Oooopps, just kidding.....not!) And we think YOU ARE THE TOTAL NUMPTY QUEEN. Stay in the UK. The States are too good for you!

Steve Mueller

<BR>There are always exceptions, but as a general rule it seems that Europeans visit the US for different reasons than Americans visit Europe. Many Europeans travel to the US for the natural beauty. Many Americans travel to Europe for the history. <BR> <BR>When I visit national parks in the western US, I am almost always impressed by the number of European (and Japanese) tourists that I encounter. It is difficult to think of a single nation that has such a wide variety of accessible natural beauty. The Rockies are reminiscent of the Alps, southern Utah and northern Arizona of parts of the Middle East, Yellowstone of Icelandic hydrothermal areas, the Alaskan coast of the Norwegian fjords, Florida beaches of Mediterranean beaches, etc. <BR> <BR>If I am representative, what many Americans love about Europe is the history, which to a large extent is our history (at least up until the late fifteenth century). Three-quarters of my ancestry is European, and when I visit there, I feel like I am exploring a remote part of my past.

Vicki

Sheila, <BR>I'm glad you enjoyed your visit. I have been to Scotland once and loved it but we only had a few days. I would love to go back for a longer visit and see all of the things that we either rushed past or missed all together. All of the places you mentioned wanting to see are great and all very different from each other. I live in the West in a small town in Idaho that is on the main road between the closest international airport (Salt Lake) and the West entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We get a lot of tourist traffic through here. It's a great place to visit. If you ever decide to come this way be sure to let us know in advance. It would be fun to meet you.