Non-Americans rando thoughts on the US

[Trey3216 15350]

Thought this was kind of cool.  Shows that as deep as the doom and gloom can get, we still are fortunate to be here.   
 

https://apple.news/AYUZ79qgrSQq5IUbRHgrduQ

[52-80 19205]

When my family arrived in this country four months ago, we spoke no English and had no money in our pockets.  

Today, we own a nationwide chain of wheel-balancing centers.  

Where else but in America, or possibly Canada, could our family find such opportunity?  

That's why, whenever I see the Stars and Stripes, I will always be reminded of that wonderful word:  flag!

[mchookem 16342]

just started reading, but to point #1...we had a French exchange student live with us for a while in 2017 and 2018, and she agreed. she'd traveled extensively thru pretty much all of Europe, much of Asia and South America... and she just raved about the food here, particularly in Texas. that girl would absolutely clean a plate of Mexican, bbq, a good cheeseburger, steak, anything i cooked... basically everything we fed her.

i was honestly surprised at how much she raved about the food here... but then we hung out with some other students from Norway and Sweden and they all said the same: 'America has the best food in the world!'

me: 'well that explains why we're all fat' 😄

anyways, i thought it was interesting, i would not have guessed that!

 

ETA lol holy shit like 80% of the responses have to do with food! 😂

also...the points about the different geography and regions... that was another point made by our French guest. she spent time in Texas, Boston, and San Diego... and she said it was like three completely different countries, the food, the climate,  the language (i.e. accents), the people... she said traveling in the US was almost as diverse as traveling around Europe. plus the size of everywhere. i thought that was fascinating, made me want to visit more of the US.

Edited January 7, 2023 by mchookem

[po elvis 2076]

10 minutes ago, mchookem said:

just started reading, but to point #1...we had a French exchange student live with us for a while in 2017 and 2018, and she agreed. she'd traveled extensively thru pretty much all of Europe, much of Asia and South America... and she just raved about the food here, particularly in Texas. that girl would absolutely clean a plate of Mexican, bbq, a good cheeseburger, steak, anything i cooked... basically everything we fed her.

i was honestly surprised at how much she raved about the food here... but then we hung out with some other students from Norway and Sweden and they all said the same: 'America has the best food in the world!'

me: 'well that explains why we're all fat' 😄

anyways, i thought it was interesting, i would not have guessed that!

 

ETA lol holy shit like 80% of the responses have to do with food! 😂

also...the points about the different geography and regions... that was another point made by our French guest. she spent time in Texas, Boston, and San Diego... and she said it was like three completely different countries, the food, the climate,  the language (i.e. accents), the people... she said traveling in the US was almost as diverse as traveling around Europe. plus the size of everywhere. i thought that was fascinating, made me want to visit more of the US.

We spent November in Italy, December in Spain and now in Portugal for January. You don't know how much I miss food in Texas. After pizza and pasta everyday I was so excited to get to Spain. Then you get so sick of tapas. The variety in the US is just so great. Now the breakfasts over here sitting at a cafe eating a pastry or toast with coffee I will take any day over the big American breakfasts.

Looking to do two months in Mexico when we get back and I am fully going to test my theory that I can eat tacos every day, maybe every meal. We will see.

[flatdawgs 1279]

1 hour ago, po elvis said:

We spent November in Italy, December in Spain and now in Portugal for January. You don't know how much I miss food in Texas. After pizza and pasta everyday I was so excited to get to Spain. Then you get so sick of tapas. The variety in the US is just so great. Now the breakfasts over here sitting at a cafe eating a pastry or toast with coffee I will take any day over the big American breakfasts.

Looking to do two months in Mexico when we get back and I am fully going to test my theory that I can eat tacos every day, maybe every meal. We will see.

The food in Europe is amazing - for whatever region you happen to be in. The quality tends to be better, they've been making it for a couple of thousand years, and there's nearly always a local wine or booze that goes perfectly with it. It's the diversity that's lacking compared to the US, even in the larger cities.

Portugal, for an example - insanely good breads and pastries, even at the supermarkets like Pingo Doce, great seafood, wine - and piri-piri chicken is hard to beat. (Can't wait to get back to Tavira for all of the above.) But good luck finding much from anywhere else of the level of variety and quality you can find in most American cities.

(Definitely agree with you as well re the breakfasts in Europe.)

[InkaUtexas 26018]

Best friend from childhood is about to come over. Lives in Houston, from El Salvador. Will never forget the first time I took him to a buccees. Dude just stared at all the ice cream and could not make up his mind what he wanted. Yeah, we were a bit high, but that made me laugh. 

Bosnian family I sponsored thought Austin's food was the best. I was a broke student but we went out to eat all the time. Burgers is what got his daughter hooked. 

In the US you can eat what you want almost anytime. Might not be the best, but it is available. Outside the US you eat what the locals eat and it will be damn good. 

Concerning Mexico and tacos. Yeah, I could eat tacos for 60 days straight. Shit, might have to go get some Mole/Chicken tacos for lunch. 

[Kennythetiger 9411]

1 hour ago, po elvis said:

We spent November in Italy, December in Spain and now in Portugal for January. You don't know how much I miss food in Texas. After pizza and pasta everyday I was so excited to get to Spain. Then you get so sick of tapas. The variety in the US is just so great. Now the breakfasts over here sitting at a cafe eating a pastry or toast with coffee I will take any day over the big American breakfasts.

Looking to do two months in Mexico when we get back and I am fully going to test my theory that I can eat tacos every day, maybe every meal. We will see.

Turns out Po Elvis ain’t so po.  

[Samson's Wig 3194]

28 minutes ago, Kennythetiger said:

Turns out Po Elvis ain’t so po.  

Have you seen how strong the dollar is right now?  Go forth and travel, my friend.   A decent sized bag of pennies will take you around the globe!

[gmr548 16590]

Then you get so sick of tapas.

[Parliament 14272]

I have friends who use H2 workers from South Africa on their farms.  They can't believe Wal Mart.  You can buy food, a laptop and socks ALL IN THE SAME PLACE?!  One guy told me all he knew about Wal Mart was learned from South Park.  Apparently they get South Park on South Africa.

[52-80 19205]

how do you get tired of tapas.  because it's not 1 tapa.  there's 100 varieties.  it's like being tired of fruits, or vegetables.

[fattyflattie 4639]

4 hours ago, po elvis said:

Looking to do two months in Mexico when we get back and I am fully going to test my theory that I can eat tacos every day, maybe every meal. We will see.

I did it. You can, too.  Sometimes for a whole lot longer than 2 months.  

[po elvis 2076]

11 hours ago, 52-80 said:

how do you get tired of tapas.  because it's not 1 tapa.  there's 100 varieties.  it's like being tired of fruits, or vegetables.

in theory yes, but reality it ends up being a lot of fried calamari and pork in a stew.

[956 Worldwide 34738]

“American” cuisine stacks up against anything the world has to offer.  Jambalaya, clam chowder, gumbo, Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex enchiladas, soul food, west coast seafood, American beef steak, chili, green chile enchiladas, cornbread, cioppino….These are our foods and they are as good and as authentically ours as anything the old world has to offer. 
 

Foreigners, especially from Europe, can’t conceptualize the size. I got married in the RGV and had a friend from Switzerland who came. He mentioned he was interested to see San Antonio. I explained I wouldn’t have time around the wedding but could help him plan for after if he wanted to stay and he said “can’t I just take a bicycle up there one day?”

 

Many Europeans appreciate our natural beauty more than we do. Europe has amazing scenery but we do not appreciate how much of our continent is still wild in a way that is gone on the old continent. Our National Parks are our American cathedrals and castles. 

Edited January 8, 2023 by 956 Worldwide

[Guest]

19 hours ago, po elvis said:

We spent November in Italy, December in Spain and now in Portugal for January. You don't know how much I miss food in Texas. After pizza and pasta everyday I was so excited to get to Spain. Then you get so sick of tapas. The variety in the US is just so great. Now the breakfasts over here sitting at a cafe eating a pastry or toast with coffee I will take any day over the big American breakfasts.

Looking to do two months in Mexico when we get back and I am fully going to test my theory that I can eat tacos every day, maybe every meal. We will see.

Son was in Spain for 2 years, including during Covid lockdown.  He loved the local foods, as you mentioned tapas; but also the (great) coffee everywhere.  He loved the breakfasts/ morning routine there.

When he came home to visit, it was straight to TexMex and traditional steakhouses.

[TwiceHorn 31512]

2 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

“American” cuisine stacks up against anything the world has to offer.  Jambalaya, clam chowder, gumbo, Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex enchiladas, soul food, west coast seafood, American beef steak, chili, green chile enchiladas, cornbread, cioppino….These are our foods and they are as good and as authentically ours as anything the old world has to offer. 
 

Foreigners, especially from Europe, can’t conceptualize the size. I got married in the RGV and had a friend from Switzerland who came. He mentioned he was interested to see San Antonio. I explained I wouldn’t have time around the wedding but could help him plan for after if he wanted to stay and he said “can’t I just take a bicycle up there one day?”

 

Many Europeans appreciate our natural beauty more than we do. Europe has amazing scenery but we do not appreciate how much of our continent is still wild in a way that is gone on the old continent. Our National Parks are our American cathedrals and castles. 

That the US has been settled over the course of the last 200 years or so and still has vast swaths of uninhabited and largely unexplored/unutilized lands is a tremendous difference between us and Europe that is somewhat unappreciated by either of us and accounts for so many things.  Guns being one of them.

[Longhornstampede 3185]

15 hours ago, fattyflattie said:

I did it. You can, too.  Sometimes for a whole lot longer than 2 months.  

Living up to username.... Goals man, goals

[Longhornstampede 3185]

This person gets it.... Making this distinction is important. Now I'm wondering if there is a word for shart in their native tongue

"The food: Peanut butter everything! Pumpkin spice everything! Fried chicken and waffles! Pancakes with bacon! General Tso's chicken! So much good BBQ! Mexican food! Taco Bell!"

[Parliament 14272]

1 hour ago, TwiceHorn said:

That the US has been settled over the course of the last 200 years or so and still has vast swaths of uninhabited and largely unexplored/unutilized lands is a tremendous difference between us and Europe that is somewhat unappreciated by either of us and accounts for so many things.  Guns being one of them.

And American Football.

[BrickHorn 18256]

1 hour ago, slorch said:

Son was in Spain for 2 years, including during Covid lockdown.  He loved the local foods, as you mentioned tapas; but also the (great) coffee everywhere.  He loved the breakfasts/ morning routine there.

When he came home to visit, it was straight to TexMex and traditional steakhouses.

The coffee in Spain is delicious, cheap, and ubiquitous. Coffee shops, restaurants, bars, bakeries, candy stores, hotel buffets, ice cream shops — they all make a cup of coffee better than most high-end specialty shops here, at 1/4 the price. 

Edited January 8, 2023 by BrickHorn

[Chopper 17242]

"in NYC I found everyone to be friendly. Maybe I've just been fortunate, but the moment I ask directions with my Irish accent, I find myself chatting away with complete strangers."

 

 

[Brisketexan 105180]

That the US has been settled over the course of the last 200 years or so and still has vast swaths of uninhabited and largely unexplored/unutilized lands is a tremendous difference between us and Europe that is somewhat unappreciated by either of us and accounts for so many things.  Guns being one of them.

This is actually a really important and cool distinction that I spotted as a Texas outdoorsman. When traveling in Europe, I’d see a pretty stretch of river or a lake, and it struck me odd that I saw NOBODY fishing. Last year, we were with some German friends and I commented on it, and he explained 1) how hard it was to get a fishing license, and 2) one of the reasons for that is because the local river (for example) suffered from overfishing starting around the year 800.
When it comes to such resources, in many ways our land and waters are “virgin” in comparison. When I explained to him that if I was forced to obtain protein for my family just from the local waters, I could do so easily. At any decent bridge over a river here, you will see guys fishing for catfish etc, and taking some home. I can get a fishing license for $40 in 2 minutes, and if I live on the coast, probably 15 minutes later I can have my first fish and/or crabs in the bucket. As outdoorsmen, we take for granted our ease of fishing/hunting and our relative abundance.

[NeverMarryAStripper 21912]

2 hours ago, slorch said:

Son was in Spain for 2 years, including during Covid lockdown.  He loved the local foods, as you mentioned tapas; but also the (great) coffee everywhere.  He loved the breakfasts/ morning routine there.

When he came home to visit, it was straight to TexMex and traditional steakhouses.

The coffee and breakfast is what I love best about traveling.  Nothing better than waking up and grabbing a great coffee and fresh baked pastry and enjoying the view.  It seems like every place I’ve ever been outside the US has a place right next door with great coffee and excellent pastries.  When I get home though the first breakfast is always breakfast tacos.

[Js1 85449]

3 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

The coffee and breakfast is what I love best about traveling.  Nothing better than waking up and grabbing a great coffee and fresh baked pastry and enjoying the view.  It seems like every place I’ve ever been outside the US has a place right next door with great coffee and excellent pastries.  When I get home though the first breakfast is always breakfast tacos.

Same

[Brisketexan 105180]

The coffee and breakfast is what I love best about traveling.  Nothing better than waking up and grabbing a great coffee and fresh baked pastry and enjoying the view.  It seems like every place I’ve ever been outside the US has a place right next door with great coffee and excellent pastries.  When I get home though the first breakfast is always breakfast tacos.

Good call, we have similar thoughts.
A couple of years ago, we were in Berlin for several days. Across from our hotel was just a regular little cafe, run by a Croatian couple. By the third day, we were all familiar, communicated our orders in a mix of English and German, and felt like regulars. Sit on the patio, have a coffee and pastry, maybe some mett, and watch the city move. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in local life, even for a little bit.
I think that’s true here in the US as well, think of your favorite breakfast taco spots and their vibe and rhythm.

[956 Worldwide 34738]

57 minutes ago, Chopper said:

"in NYC I found everyone to be friendly. Maybe I've just been fortunate, but the moment I ask directions with my Irish accent, I find myself chatting away with complete strangers."

 

 

This is a bit precious but yes— lots of foreigners note that Americans are more chatty and open to strangers than others. Some like it, some don’t.  
 

The flip side of that, with Central and Eastern Europeans, is that if you get to a point where one calls you a “friend” then that relationship comes with a lot more trust (and expectations) than we have for anyone than our very, very closest friends. It’s not a word they use lightly. 

[RollLeft 5045]

1 hour ago, 956 Worldwide said:

This is a bit precious but yes— lots of foreigners note that Americans are more chatty and open to strangers than others. Some like it, some don’t.  
 

The flip side of that, with Central and Eastern Europeans, is that if you get to a point where one calls you a “friend” then that relationship comes with a lot more trust (and expectations) than we have for anyone than our very, very closest friends. It’s not a word they use lightly. 

...so swingers eh.  Got it.

[Neonmoon 38130]

Agree. European food is delicious, but narrow and country specific. Meaning, I had some coq au vin in Paris and it was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, but I’m not finding a great breakfast taco or pho there. In US, you can find any type of food, in any city, and it could be really good. Plus, the portions are stupid big. Which can be good or bad depending on your situation. 
 

 

[Chopper 17242]

53 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

This is a bit precious but yes— lots of foreigners note that Americans are more chatty and open to strangers than others. Some like it, some don’t.  

It's more of a statement about New York City women in particular imo and many other Americans, as well, who realllly like a man with an Irish, Aussie or English accent. I'm not going to speak for ROTW about what "they" think about American hospitality when they visit the US. I will say, having lived in a few different European countries, I was treated very well by the locals. I've also traveled somewhat extensively in other European countries, China and SE Asia, as well, and can't recall a negative personal encounter. Okay, it just hit me - there were a couple Russian gals who were less than polite.

The comment about being treated well by strangers in NYC and wondering if it was because of his Irish accent (lol), as well as the expressed love for Arby's fries, soda refills (fast food), cheap burgers (fast food), humongous portions for cheap prices (fast food), cereal, and other cheap food, make me believe the writer spoke with mostly a bunch of teens and 20-somethings to get the quotes. 

Here's what I would generalize. Europeans living on the continent, even Parisians, on average are much more pleasant than Londoners. There are biases within Europe (i.e. between British, Germans, Spanish, French and Italians) that impact their own treatment when they travel intra-Europe, and perhaps make travel in the US seem more attractive as a result. Younger people are exposed to American culture to a greater extent than their elders and have less of, or no, bias against the US; younger people are also more like to work in the service industry.

The two things the article mentions, and with which I agree, are our protected wilderness areas, plus the great diversity of different cuisines in most cities. As an aside, it has been theorized that the diversity of the SF Bay Area population in particular is what enabled this country to dominate international technology - by designing products that are compatible with many other cultures around the world. 

 

 

 

[956 Worldwide 34738]

Working class English are absolute horrors to be around when traveling. Almost as bad as Russians. More and more Europeans are also just DONE with Chinese travelers. If you aren’t slinging luxury goods or part of the diaspora you don’t see any money from them.

 

But generally, anywhere you go— the farther from home and the costlier the destination, the better class of traveler. Americans on a Viking cruise are better than Americans pouring out of a carnival ship. Until you hit the Gulf prince/Russian magnate/Chinese factory owner class and then the asshole quotient is way off the charts. 

[hayden_horn 11364]

17 minutes ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Working class English are absolute horrors to be around when traveling. Almost as bad as Russians. More and more Europeans are also just DONE with Chinese travelers. If you aren’t slinging luxury goods or part of the diaspora you don’t see any money from them.

 

But generally, anywhere you go— the farther from home and the costlier the destination, the better class of traveler. Americans on a Viking cruise are better than Americans pouring out of a carnival ship. Until you hit the Gulf prince/Russian magnate/Chinese factory owner class and then the asshole quotient is way off the charts. 

i once saw a two drunk english guys in greenwich nearly get into a fist fight in the middle of sunday afternoon. one uad his two year old daughter on his shoulders. 

sunday afternoon pub time in england is something. 

[MissingInAction 25132]

3 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

This is a bit precious but yes— lots of foreigners note that Americans are more chatty and open to strangers than others. Some like it, some don’t.  
 

The flip side of that, with Central and Eastern Europeans, is that if you get to a point where one calls you a “friend” then that relationship comes with a lot more trust (and expectations) than we have for anyone than our very, very closest friends. It’s not a word they use lightly. 

Tips will touch.

[Nivek 16949]

Now I want to travel.  Thanks a lot bin ladens.

[52-80 19205]

1 hour ago, hayden_horn said:

i once saw a two drunk english guys in greenwich nearly get into a fist fight in the middle of sunday afternoon. one uad his two year old daughter on his shoulders. 

sunday afternoon pub time in england is something. 

Its genuinely cool at noon in pubs to see grandpas and toddlers - basically the whole family - hanging out, in what we normally consider a “drinking place”

[Fudge Nuggets 19209]

6 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

It seems like every place I’ve ever been outside the US has a place right next door with great coffee and excellent pastries.

There are a lot of good things about Thailand, but coffee over there is absolute shit.  I think 99% of it is instant Nescafé or similar.

[Telegraph_it 3358]

6 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

This is actually a really important and cool distinction that I spotted as a Texas outdoorsman. When traveling in Europe, I’d see a pretty stretch of river or a lake, and it struck me odd that I saw NOBODY fishing. Last year, we were with some German friends and I commented on it, and he explained 1) how hard it was to get a fishing license, and 2) one of the reasons for that is because the local river (for example) suffered from overfishing starting around the year 800.
When it comes to such resources, in many ways our land and waters are “virgin” in comparison. When I explained to him that if I was forced to obtain protein for my family just from the local waters, I could do so easily. At any decent bridge over a river here, you will see guys fishing for catfish etc, and taking some home. I can get a fishing license for $40 in 2 minutes, and if I live on the coast, probably 15 minutes later I can have my first fish and/or crabs in the bucket. As outdoorsmen, we take for granted our ease of fishing/hunting and our relative abundance.

One of the coolest things I’ve done while traveling was the time my Polish colleagues took me hunting. Stayed at some lodge out in the woods outside of Gdańsk.
 

Didn’t see shit. It was freezing. But we drank (maybe good) vodka after and ate some good Bialy Barszcz. Fairly certain the blunderbuss I was given would not fire anyway. 
 

[Celery Man 20981]

7 hours ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

The coffee and breakfast is what I love best about traveling.  Nothing better than waking up and grabbing a great coffee and fresh baked pastry and enjoying the view.  It seems like every place I’ve ever been outside the US has a place right next door with great coffee and excellent pastries.  When I get home though the first breakfast is always breakfast tacos.

nothing worse than trying to figure out how to use a fucking bialetti before you’ve had a cup of coffee

[Biff Tannen 45695]

12 hours ago, 956 Worldwide said:

Many Europeans appreciate our natural beauty more than we do. Europe has amazing scenery but we do not appreciate how much of our continent is still wild in a way that is gone on the old continent. Our National Parks are our American cathedrals and castles. 

This is extraordinarily important.

[DefinitelyNotHollywoodColt 12301]

[gmr548 16590]

“American” cuisine stacks up against anything the world has to offer.  Jambalaya, clam chowder, gumbo, Texas BBQ, Tex-Mex enchiladas, soul food, west coast seafood, American beef steak, chili, green chile enchiladas, cornbread, cioppino….These are our foods and they are as good and as authentically ours as anything the old world has to offer. 
 
Foreigners, especially from Europe, can’t conceptualize the size. I got married in the RGV and had a friend from Switzerland who came. He mentioned he was interested to see San Antonio. I explained I wouldn’t have time around the wedding but could help him plan for after if he wanted to stay and he said “can’t I just take a bicycle up there one day?”
 
Many Europeans appreciate our natural beauty more than we do. Europe has amazing scenery but we do not appreciate how much of our continent is still wild in a way that is gone on the old continent. Our National Parks are our American cathedrals and castles. 

My father had a professional acquaintance - German I think - who would regularly come over, rent a Harley, and wander the American west on holiday.

European cities generally beat American cities, especially once you get past America’s A game. But the west; the west is the crown jewel of this nation.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

Agree. European food is delicious, but narrow and country specific. Meaning, I had some coq au vin in Paris and it was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, but I’m not finding a great breakfast taco or pho there. In US, you can find any type of food, in any city, and it could be really good. Plus, the portions are stupid big. Which can be good or bad depending on your situation. 
 
 

Wait, there isn’t great Pho in Paris? I have only been to Paris once over 20 years ago, but considering France’s former colonies, it would seem they would have a few good Vietnamese restaurants.

[Patricio Swayze 17058]

My father had a professional acquaintance - German I think - who would regularly come over, rent a Harley, and wander the American west on holiday.

European cities generally beat American cities, especially once you get past America’s A game. But the west; the west is the crown jewel of this nation.

It is. And then there is the myth os of the American west, whether true or embellished, people are drawn to it. No matter the nationality.

[choripan 790]

1 hour ago, gmr548 said:

My father had a professional acquaintance - German I think - who would regularly come over, rent a Harley, and wander the American west on holiday.

European cities generally beat American cities, especially once you get past America’s A game. But the west; the west is the crown jewel of this nation.

Agreed re America's A cities vs Euros and the HUGE gap after, say, NY/Chi/Phil/SF/(Mia?)/Bos?).

But that road tripping / out west romanticism is some white people shit.

I say this as a white guy that had the best summer of my youth as a 16yo traipsing around Montana with a new driver license -- try leaving major metro areas as a nonwhite and, especially, a black person, and there ain't nothing romantic about it. Best case scenario is stares and the weight of otherness. Had my mind blown by this road tripping twice between Chicago and Austin with my (black) brother in law.

[troph 24893]

21 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

This is actually a really important and cool distinction that I spotted as a Texas outdoorsman. When traveling in Europe, I’d see a pretty stretch of river or a lake, and it struck me odd that I saw NOBODY fishing. Last year, we were with some German friends and I commented on it, and he explained 1) how hard it was to get a fishing license, and 2) one of the reasons for that is because the local river (for example) suffered from overfishing starting around the year 800.
When it comes to such resources, in many ways our land and waters are “virgin” in comparison. When I explained to him that if I was forced to obtain protein for my family just from the local waters, I could do so easily. At any decent bridge over a river here, you will see guys fishing for catfish etc, and taking some home. I can get a fishing license for $40 in 2 minutes, and if I live on the coast, probably 15 minutes later I can have my first fish and/or crabs in the bucket. As outdoorsmen, we take for granted our ease of fishing/hunting and our relative abundance.

I went down the rabbit hole of retiring in Portgual again and was researching fly fishing, apparently they fish for mullet on the costal flats in the south. O_o

[VABuckeye 2472]

On 1/7/2023 at 1:21 PM, po elvis said:

After pizza and pasta everyday

Italy is about WAY more than pizza and pasta when it comes to food.  Particularly when you get up north.

[YChang 3455]

On 1/8/2023 at 12:15 PM, Neonmoon said:

Agree. European food is delicious, but narrow and country specific. Meaning, I had some coq au vin in Paris and it was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten, but I’m not finding a great breakfast taco or pho there. In US, you can find any type of food, in any city, and it could be really good. Plus, the portions are stupid big. Which can be good or bad depending on your situation. 

Fwiw, just got back from Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris. At least in the big cities, I found the types of cuisines to be surprisingly diverse. While I can't speak to the quality, but for example across my hotel in Madrid was a boba tea shop and hot pot restaurant and both had long lines/crowds each night I walked passed it. And one of the best meals I had in Paris was at a Thai place specializing in crispy pork. 

Edited January 9, 2023 by YChang

[Brisketexan 105180]

51 minutes ago, YChang said:

Fwiw, just got back from Lisbon, Madrid, and Paris. At least in the big cities, I found the types of cuisines to be surprisingly diverse. While I can't speak to the quality, but for example across my hotel in Madrid was a boba tea shop and hot pot restaurant and both had long lines/crowds each night I walked passed it. And one of the best meals I had in Paris was at a Thai place specializing in crispy pork. 

I think it depends on the city (not all european countries have diversity).  AND, some of it is a more recent development; some cities that were pretty ethnically homogenous 25 years ago have a decent immigrant population now (where all your great other cuisines comes from).  Berlin, for example, is pretty damn diverse.  It's always had great Turkish/middle eastern, and good Vietnamese (since the wall fell, at least -- remember, a lot of Vietnamese were in E. Berlin back in the day, being friendly commie regimes and all).  But now, there's all kinds of great African food, different asian fare (Thai and Chinese), and even American grub (the boy still misses "Meister Burger" there).  But other places, even other German towns....not so much.
Paris has long had diverse cuisines (a dividend of being a colonial power; you could get good african/middle eastern grub there for a long time).  Oslo?  Not so much.  Although we did spot this place when we were there.....

Edited January 9, 2023 by Brisketexan

[YChang 3455]

3 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

I think it depends on the city (not all european countries have diversity).  AND, some of it is a more recent development; some cities that were pretty ethnically homogenous 25 years ago have a decent immigrant population now (where all your great other cuisines comes from).  Berlin, for example, is pretty damn diverse.  It's always had great Turkish/middle eastern, and good Vietnamese (since the wall fell, at least -- remember, a lot of Vietnamese were in E. Berlin back in the day, being friendly commie regimes and all).  But now, there's all kinds of great African food, different asian fare (Thai and Chinese), and even American grub (the boy still misses "Meister Burger" there).  But other places, even other German towns....not so much.
Paris has long had diverse cuisines (a dividend of being a colonial power; you could get good african/middle eastern grub there for a long time).  Oslo?  Not so much.  Although we did spot this place when we were there.....

I know I was pleasantly surprised! Big diff compared to even 4-ish years ago which was when I was last in Paris. 

[WBT 20643]

On 1/8/2023 at 7:47 PM, gmr548 said:

My father had a professional acquaintance - German I think - who would regularly come over, rent a Harley, and wander the American west on holiday.

I had work colleagues from Spain - he was Catalan and she was Belgian - that spent their month-long holiday one year renting an RV and hitting up a bunch of national parks out west.

[Brisketexan 105180]

3 minutes ago, WBT said:

I had work colleagues from Spain - he was Catalan and she was Belgian - that spent their month-long holiday one year renting an RV and hitting up a bunch of national parks out west.