About the Bathrooms
European bathrooms are SUPER small compared to bathrooms back in the states - it brings a whole new meaning to the term "water closet." Public bathrooms are identified almost universally in every place we've visited as either "WC" or "Toilets." I made the mistake of asking for a bathroom at one point and just got a blank stare in return. The public bathrooms don't have toilet seats - that has made things fun. Also, I'm not a huge fan of paying to use the bathroom - something tells me that this concept will not catch on in the US (at least I really, really hope not).
About the Water
Not to sound like a negative Nelly, but water is another thing I'm not crazy about in Europe. It's probably just because it's different from home, but yuck. Both Sean and I have cut way back on our water intake (not good, I know), but it's really that bad - even the bottled water. Belgium was a nice break because we could drink beer with dinner instead.
About the Architecture
Sean and I have been in Europe for 2 1/2 weeks now and have not stepped foot in a single museum. Terrible, I know. However, I haven't really felt that inclined to do so when every city is one huge museum. The architecture is amazing - almost every single building is decked out with ornate detail or beautiful wrought iron decking. Who needs a museum when the entire city is a beautiful work of art?
About the Dining Experience
I love how tables in restaurants are pushed near each other in such a way that encourages conversation between strangers. I love the concept of eating outside at every given chance (almost every restaurant seems to have an outdoor terrace). I love how the dining experience can take as long or as short as the customer wants, with no rushing to finish a meal, but not being forced to linger either (and having to ask for the check - a great idea that the US should adopt). I love having multiple, small courses and fresh, delicious food that comes straight from the market. I also love how quiet the conversation is at every table, so that a crowded room only seems to have a few people in it. Dining in Europe is truly a unique experience.
About Drinking in Public
While Vegas is a great example as to why public drinking will probably never catch on at home, Europe has a very relaxed policy on drinking. Being able to share a bottle of wine on a long train ride or as part of a picnic in Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower is a real treat.
About Being an American in Europe
I have heard a lot of people say that traveling abroad makes them feel ashamed or embarrassed of being an American. I really don't relate to this - if anything, traveling makes me feel more patriotic than ever. Sure, there are things I like about Europe that I would love to see adopted at home, but there are a lot of things at home that I realize I've taken for granted and now have a new appreciation for (like free public restrooms!). While in the Alsace region, almost every tour we took mentioned what year each town was liberated by the Americans during World War II - how can you not feel proud about that?
About Public Transportation
You know how I mentioned in the above post that there are things in Europe I'd like to see adopted at home? Public transportation is one of those things. It is so nice being able to get around easily without a car and yet not feeling stuck or limited. I'm sure living in places like New York or Chicago provides this same liberty, but that's just in those states - not country-wide.
About the Language Barrier
We haven't had too many issues with language barriers yet. In Italy, everyone was so expressive and friendly that even when English wasn't understood or spoken, words weren't really needed (I really have a soft spot in my heart for Italians). In Lucerne we ran into a few barriers, but not many. Everyone in Belgium seemed to speak English, as well as a range of multiple other languages. We even stopped asking if people spoke English because it was already sort of a given. The only place we really struggled was in the Alsace region. Almost no one spoke English - or at least that they admitted. Even when Sean and I would tell people that we didn't know French, they would keep talking to us like we would magically understand. It was a bit awkward at times, but we managed.
About Asking for Help
I have found the train station information desks in every city to be incredibly unhelpful. It seems those that are paid to help and provide information aren't inclined to do so (the Thalys help desk at Bruxelles Midi was the one exception). That said, random strangers are incredibly kind and more than willing to help. We've had strangers help us in both Rome and in Zurich during our Switzerland debacle and both experiences left us feeling reassured and incredibly grateful.
About the Weather
In Italy we had great weather for the most part - warm and sunny, with a few morning showers, but nothing that lingered around for the day. That went away when we visited Lucerne (probably why we felt so at home). Lucerne was cold and rainy, with a few sun breaks that made everything bearable. We got rained on pretty hard in Alsace two of our four days there, but the other two were sunny, though cold. The locals in a few of the cities we've visited have commented that this is the coldest and wettest spring on record - go figure. Belgium was a nice break from the rain - not a single drop while we were there, but gray skies with a few hours of sun each day. The forecast for Paris is showing sun with 0% chance precipitation and high 60s to low 70s - thank goodness! Here's hoping it holds!
Those are just a "few" of my thoughts so far - more to come I'm sure!
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