What do you think of Europe?

[Julie4]

Personally, I'm very proud of being European, and of all that Europe has achieved in the course of its history.

That's not to say that Europeans have always done the right thing, of course.

[KostasKouvalis]

With all due respect, I think your statement is a little silly, because you're putting all Europeans into one pot. Europe is extremely diverse. I would never say I'm proud to be "North American", but I will say that I'm proud to live there. It would make more sense to say you're proud to be French.

Anyways, I can only really answer your question from the perspective of a tourist. In terms of historical context countries like France, Italy, UK, Spain and few others have shaped the world in ways you cannot possibly imagine. The world would look very different if Europeans didn't exist and I think people should show us a little bit of respect.

That being said, a lot of Europeans have a bad attitude and dislike Americans. The only Europeans I really like are French, British, Irish and Greek. It's also sad how so many Europeans seem to have gone woke and lost respect for traditional values.

Now from a tourism perspective, I've been to 5 of the 7 continents, as well as some of the major subregions, and honestly haven't found Europe to be as tourist friendly as everyone things. European standards are quite low. I've stayed in accommodations in third world countries that were better than the ones in Europe. Reason for that, is because Europe seems more geared towards hostel and apparentment tourism. It's not that they don't have high quality American style hotels in Europe, but if you want to stay in one, you need a fat wallet. It's the only region I've been to where Western style hotels are so unaffordable. We always have problems with accommodations in Europe. France and the English speaking countries seem to be the only exceptions, but not the French overseas islands. $800 for an apartment in the middle of the jungle in Guadeloupe or Martinique, $1300 starting rate for a 1 star hotel. This is unacceptable.

Logistically, a lot of Europe also isn't as organized as people think. More often than not when it comes to airports and public transportation, there seems to be no system or order whatsoever. 12 days in Italy and Malta was the most exhausting trip I've ever taken. I've seen stories from so many backpackers who try to cram in as many cities/countries in Europe as possible. They think they can just get a cheap hostel on a whim or save money by sleeping on overnight trains, and they get a huge reality check. Unless you stay in a small town/village and only limit your sight seeing to one region, Europe isn't very relaxing at all. And I actually found it to be a quite challenging place to travel. The problem with Europe is it has too many iconic places and people try to see as much as possible in too short a time. And the smaller towns and villages aren't as well connected as the big cities, so if you wanna explore on your own, you're forced to either rent a car or stay in the big cities. Also, taxis and public transportation can go on strike at any minute and they don't care about you. So yeah, Europe actually isn't as good for tourism as people think. I think North America is better.

[Mettbltt]

what do you think about turkiye

[KostasKouvalis]

@Mettbltt Not much better. They changed every single one of our tours that we had booked weeks in advance. No responsibility or accountability, and it doesn't matter what the tourist wants, Turkish people always know better. You ask them to do something, they do it a different way. Everyone is trying to scam you.
I didn't use public transportation, but some YouTuber said you need a special permit.

That being said for sight seeing and relaxing I found it much better than Europe, but I was also there during COVID, so it wasn't as crowded as before.

And although it's probably the most Westernized Muslim country, a lot of people are still traditional.

I must say that I felt very safe though.

[KostasKouvalis]

We stayed at a Best Western hotel though for very good price. Everyone envied us. I cannot get this in Europe

[Julie4]

Europe has various countries, but when I say I'm proud to be European it's not about history and what the various European countries have accomplished.

[KostasKouvalis]

Okay. What did you think about the other stuff I said?

[Mettbltt]

You may be right about what you say about tourists
They usually try to get more money from tourists
But this is because Turkish people work for low wages.

[Lynx122]

I love it. There's so many benefits. Like the public transportation walkable cities countries take care of nature (for the most part) there's a lot of green spaces in cities as well. And I also feel like you get more of a sense of human history in its entirety because so much has happened. It's humbling. I feel optimistic about the future of Switzerland there might be global economic problems and other crises but I think the foundation is solid and the country will continue to flourish. And that's very reassuring in todays world where a lot of places are not optimistic about their government or what the future will bring for their country. I'm not saying every place in Europe is going great lol. With the UK honestly I have no clue what's gonna happen it's not looking great. But with continental Europe I think things will go well even if some countries go through struggles others will rise up for instance Poland is predicted to do well in the coming decades. I believe Europe as a whole will keep moving forwards and get its shit together the ones who need to anyway :)

https://www.youtube.com/embed/BnnbP7pCIvQ

One of my favorite worlds /stories was made by CDPR who are from Poland lol. But that's just a side note. :D

[TheRealPepperPotts]

One of my dreams is to visit there someday. There is so much in Europe I'd love to see; the architecture, art, museums, scenery, people... I've read a lot about it and have read so many books set in Europe, it feels familiar. My family hails from Germany, but came to the US before WWI. I've had the privilege of speaking with tourists from Germany and The Netherlands, and it's so fascinating to hear how their countries operate and what it's like.

What part of Europe are you from?

[Julie4]

France

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@Julie4 Lucky you! :D I'd love to visit Provence one day...

[Julie4]

Haha yes I'm quite proud to be French lol but you have lots of great countries in the world.

Where are you from?

[TheRealPepperPotts]

@Julie4 The US, the country everyone loves to hate, ha. I love my country, but it definitely isn't perfect! :)

[Account]

I am not proud of being a European. I did not choose that or become that. It was something that was assigned to me randomly. I am not proud regarding stuff that have nothing to do with my effort. I consider that silly.

As to what I think of it, I am not sure how exactly you want me to answer because that is a wide subject.

[RavVid]

Well, it is the ancestral homeland for many of us. Above all it produced the Age of Enlightenment of which the two main threads are science & engineering and modern democracy.

The later is much more than political machinery because it carries the philosophy that all can advanced themselves in a way that was never before possible.

These are so powerful that all societies have necessarily adopted them even when fundamentally opposed to them.

Against that Europe produced the scourge of Marxism.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

How would you define Marxism? In your terms

[DrPepper12]

It's complicated. I'm a world history teacher so I may be a victim of knowing too much to give a simple answer.

Present day? You guys are fantastic. You care for each other. You don't have guns. You have unions. You are community minded. You are increasingly secular. You're environmentally conscious. You work to live. You're polylingual. You're well travelled. I would like to retire there to be honest.

Yes, lots of ugly skeletons in the closet but still, nice job today!

[Julie4]

Well, for a professor, you know very well that every continent has its corpses.

[DrPepper12]

Of course. I admire their social cohesion present times a lot though

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

So, with your profile, what are your ties to US? There must be something that prevents you from flying off

[DrPepper12]

Tenure. Family links. Kids in college / HS. Stubborn wife. My disability from GBS

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Hmm right

[RebelinSteel]

It is the birth place of the modern age. The birth place of modern engineering, modern medicine, the birth place of invention, the birth place of exploration. Yes also the birth place of war and a raft of other not so great things.

[Julie4]

Absolutely

[Franka9]

Europa is een beetje vergane glorie. Ze denken nog steeds dat ze machtig zijn, maar dat ze niet meer zijn.

Er is ook geen eenheid, de cultuurverschillen zijn te groot, zelfs tussen landen als Nederland, België en Duitsland. Hoewel deze landen overeenkomsten hebben op het gebied van handel, ecnonmie, cultuur, geschiedenis, verwantschap en taal (Nederlands (what men ook in België spreekt) en Duits zijn afzonderlijk redelijk goed te begrijpen.

Als je bijvoorbeeld Duitsland met Griekenland of Frankrijk slikt, dan zijn de verschillen nog groter.

[Franka9]

For example, if you compare Germany with Greece or France, the differences are even greater.

[Franka9]

Europa is een beetje vergane glorie. Ze denken nog steeds dat ze machtig zijn, maar dat zijn ze niet meer.

Er is ook geen eenheid, de cultuurverschillen zijn te groot, zelfs tussen landen als Nederland, Belgie en Duitsland. Hoewel deze landen overeenkomsten hebben op het gebied van handel, ecnonmie, cultuur, geschiedenis, verwantschap en taal (Nederlands (what men ook in België spreekt) en Duits zijn onderling redelijk goed te begrijpen.

Als je bijvoorbeeld Duitsland met Griekenland of Frankrijk vergelijkt, dan zijn de verschillen nog groter.

[Franka9]

Europe is a bit of a faded glory. They still think they are powerful, but they aren't anymore.

There is also no unity, the cultural differences are too great, even between countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Although these countries have similarities in terms of trade, economy, culture, history, kinship and language (Dutch (which is also spoken in Belgium) and German are reasonably well understood.

For example, if you compare Germany with Greece or France, the differences are even greater.

[Lliam]

Each country in Europe has centuries of unique history, architecture and culture.

It's a shame that those individual cultures are being eroded and destroyed by the EU, UN, IMF, immigration policy, corporate capitalism, and Americanization. I think countries should retain their individuality.

[Julie4]

Europeans adopted what came from America on their own. The Americans didn't force them

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@julie4 In the specific case of France, due to WWII, US influence has and still is pretty vivid. And I don't see it as something chosen

[Julie4]

@Maybe_Maybe_not

No one is forcing the French to eat McDonald's, use Google, Netflix, Amazon, buy iPhones, etc.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Then again, @julie4 consider how political, cultural, religious and so many powers influence an individual or a society, no one is technically forced to go McD, no, but everyone's behaviour and thoughts are influenced heavily by so many factors at the same time !

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Consider asking a crowd, for example, why they are ordering a cheeseburger at McD. They will probably tell you that they chose it because "they like it". But what exact causality traces back to this liking, people have usually no idea because they don't, usually, have time to consider the why, they just live

[Julie4]

Nothing new under the sun, see the influence of France in the 18th century etc.

In the end, people have the power to decide whether or not they want to consume American culture.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Power yes, consciousness not lol, power is nothing without consciousness

[Julie4]

The Americans used their influence, but there's nothing new here lol, what country at its peak didn't do it?

People too often hide behind excuses.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

My scope is way bigger than that though

[Lliam]

@julie4. Why did you decided to focus on my mere mention of "Americanization" and nothing else I said" And where did I say anything about being forced?

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

As a french, mixed feelings towards Europe, when Europe is about what @DrPepper12 is describing, then hell yes, because it's Europe of people. Now when it's about Europe of globalized capitalism, then my enthusiasm starts to crumble. C'est la vie.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Un peu de musique, and most of all text, as usual, contextual:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-edXOkfNsp4

[DrPepper12]

That's a very good point. Capitalism is like a metastasizing cancer and a cure all too.

[Dargil]

• Europe is spiraling the drain due to rampant foreign invasion.
• Europe is committing demographic suicide because they have forgotten to have children.
• Much of the cultural history of Europe will disappear in this century and give way to Islam.
• The socialist systems in Europe flourished because the USA was paying for military protection. Trump will curtail that.
• Europe does not have the balls to save itself, They prefer white wine and brie.

[msc545]

Indicating you don't know a fucking thing about Europe. When was the last time you were there, how many times have you been there, what countries did you visit, and for how long?

I am guessing you have never been there.

[Dargil]

@msc545 blah blah blah.

[DJB72]

I'm proud to be English (not British). I'm even proudly Caucasian, although it's verboten to admit that in loony-left 2024.

I've followed my family tree back about 600 years in England, and a family member went back further than that to before the Norman Conquest.

There's history and development of modern culture dating back 2000 years in England, and mainland Europe has a lot on the surface before that.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

It is verboten for damn good reasons, Caucasia is the location where communism scourge launched.

So, from now on, I consider you as a double agent, shame on you!

[DJB72]

There's no good reason for not being proud of your heritage.

Nobody tells black people from North Africa to be ashamed of being black because of the Barbary slave trade.

Nobody dares point out the Crusades were the response to over 300 years of butchery in the middle east and Holy Land committed by the new muslims coming out of the east.

People are terrified of remembering it was the British Empire that eradicated the Transatlantic Slave Trade and destroyed the slave ports in Africa in case it upsets black Americans.

God forbid it gets pointed out that if Washington hadn't led the 1776 revolution, the USA would have eliminated slavery over 50 years earlier as part of the British Empire.

And the fact that Europeans say on the coast while Africans rounded up other Africans as chattel to be sold is completely ignored.

I've never been anything but straightforward about my heritage. Communism may have been launched in Europe, but so was the limiting of the power of the monarchs in Magna Carta.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

In fact, I don't really see reasons to be proud or ashamed of heritage, as I'm not responsible for this, it happened outside of my reach, I'm just a byproduct in this equation. That being said, I find it extremely interesting to look at what happened outside of my reach, or even what is happening now, outside of my reach. And even what will happen then, outside of my reach. I may be a fan of conjugation, after all xD

[Makeushiver]

Well there is a wide variety of cultures in what you are referring to. It would be great if the food were French and Italian, the engineering German etc. Of the places I've been to Scandinavia seems to offer the culture that's most livable. The southernmost countries are a bit topo conservatively catholic for me. The North is pretty expensive. Austria, Hungary and some others seem to buy into the us against them attitude that makes Donald Trump so lovable

[Babygirl_S]

I think London is a very clean city with no honking or loud noises. Paris is also beautiful. I would like to visit Switzerland because it looks breathtaking in photos. Perhaps it’s like Kashmir? Also, I think European guys look great , especially when they’re young.

🫠🫠

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Considering that the more cultural distance there is, the more illusion strikes, I really think that what you think of Paris is mostly a postcard that never existed

[Babygirl_S]

An exotic place!

[Potteplante]

I think Europe is big, with a lot of different countries and cultures, filled with history - some that I like more than others.

I take more pride in my Nordic heritage than my European one - I'm Nordic before European. 🥲

[Little_Bumblebee]

Danish by any chance?

[Potteplante]

@Little_Bumblebee Live in Denmark and posses the danish passport - so I view myself as a semi Dane with a Icelandic heart and pride.

[msc545]

Nice!

[Little_Bumblebee]

@potteplante ah that's awesome. I'm Danish myself, just saw your name

[Zenpanda]

I love being European.
I'm from the Netherlands and I'm very glad I am.
We're not perfect, we could do a lot better and we've done a lot of horrible shit in history, but I could be off way worse.
So I'm happy I'm here.

[captain_voidwalker]

Well as an American we started by telling the British to get fucked, then we had to come put Germany in its place... twice because the rest of Europe couldn't get thier shit together. And then we had to spend the next almostv50 years keeping the soviets at bay for you. All in all my nation has wasted a lot of both time and money sorting your shit out for you

[abc3643]

They were a pretty lame 1980s hair metal band from Sweden. They were one-hit wonders.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9jK-NcRmVcw

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

😆😆

[AviatorTom]

I like Europe. Being able to take so many different cultures and languages and get them to work together, the European Free Trade Zone, Schengen free-movement zone, European Court, the Euro, is a difficult feat.

[molonski2]

50/50 , there is some great stuff there and some utter utter sht..

Economically , needed as a group to be more open like the USA , but its a complex mix.

[Unit1]

Central Europe - Awesome

Can't speak for the other parts. I'm too broke to travel all around the planet and I'm not going to form my opinion based on what the internet or the matrix or the media says.

[Bricealan]

Been to Europe several times, recently to tour Germany in August. I do love France,(Paris in particular) and Italy

Next time to Greece.

[sean1234]

Is today Sunday or Monday to you. What is the 1st day of the week to you. Sorry to ask you dumb questions.

[Julie4]

It's Monday, and there are no silly questions.

[sean1234]

To be perfectly honest, I think in that regard, Europeans are brainwashed, lied to, and endoctrinated when it comes to the 7 days of the week.

History for example says the pagan worshipping day of the sun is on the 1st day of the week, while many countries have Sunday as the 1st day and a foreign name that translates as sabbath as the 7th day. My own Cuban mom didn't realize that the 7th day "Sabudo" meant sabbath.

The council of Laodicia in the 4th century changed the solemnity of the sabbath from the 7th day Saturday, to the 1st and Europe (the Vatican more specifically) took it even further by making Sunday into the 7th day.

[sean1234]

Oh and historically Saturnday or Saturday is the 7th day of the week on the Roman calender back thousands of years ago.

[RyanEC]

I look to Europe with respect and reverence.
I see many things that are superior culturally to America.

[NamerOfStars]

Are you proud enough of it to change your location away from "United States"?

[Julie4]

I use the phone application, when I registered on the site, it showed me that I was located in the USA. And you can't change it from the app

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

@NamerOfStars
actually a very misleading trait of GaG's interface, when you don't take care of your default profile it puts you automatically in US lol

[bluesparrow]

Based solely on this site, I hate Europeans.

[msc545]

Based solely on your posts, a lot of us hate YOU.

[bluesparrow]

@msc545

When I'm wrong about something, I admit it. You do not. Just block me.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

And why is that?

[bluesparrow]

@Maybe_Maybe_not
They spend all of their time trashing America.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Really? Point them to me please !

[msc545]

America spends its time doing things that it should be trashed for.

[bluesparrow]

@msc545

Yesterday you said you hated talking to me. What gives?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x8UzELvKlY

No one can watch this movie without tearing up. This is Africa, not America. Can you imagine dark Africans cutting off the arms of children, because they have lighter skin than them? If you think white people are racist, it's best you not watch the movie.

[bluesparrow]

@Maybe_Maybe_not

That's against the rules. But you will find them.

[summiter]

I enjoy visiting and I like the somewhat more liberal culture

[HaveNoName]

A continent with history, culture and better life than the USA who thinks she has the best of everything. Always hate coning back to the village USA after visiting Europe.

[patrick994]

I am European, I love Europe, it is big and ja many types of culture and a lot of history.

[4ngelic]

love it, also kinda proud & happy to be european

[EnjoytheDay777]

I think Europe has become too "Americanized". I lived in France in the 80's and it's very different now than it used to be.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Any country might be different, compared to the 80's, we had disco then punk then eurodance then rap... I mean its a lot to process in 40 years :D Where are you now?

[Jamie05rhs]

I'm not sure. All I know is they're a lot sluttier than we are. (Which is saying something.)
(But I know that's not everyone, of course.)

[Irene97]

Love it each country different cultures. Most of people are warm people.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

There are exceptions, especially in administration buildings !

[Irene97]

True here in Greece Just trying get a drivers license tough.

[loveslongnails]

I like Europe a lot. It makes a lot more sense than the USA does most of the time.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Good. Then go take you and your leftist politics to Europe!

One less problem under our nose…..

[msc545]

I LOVE Europe. Aside from Hawaii and California, it is a hell of a lot more interesting and nicer than the US.

[Reijen]

Cradle of modern civilization. It's a shame they got too old to care.

[noohair]

Pseudo intellectual blood thirsty barbarians.

[Anonymous]

I love visiting Europe. I always have a great time. I’ll be there next week! A little worried about the pickpocketers tho… This time I’m bringing a money belt. Haha

[ABC1x1x]

A failed nation and union. Their fear of guns has lead to their downfall

[robocop666]

best continent on earth shame about the EU though. The whole world wants to live here.

[NathanDavis]

what about them?

[MemeSupreme]

all i see are a bunch of texas sized countries

[Kelly6]

@julie4 Rich of culture and history

[exitseven]

I imagine its a nice place to visit.

[Tim2nice]

I live here and it’s dying a slow death.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Europe seems kinda overrated to me tbh

[eagle1951]

have not been there since 1969

[Aiko_E_Lara]

Castles

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

😆😆

[Luopio27]

I love snowbunnies!

[WhiteBoyChill]

😂😂😂

[Iron_Man]

Ver nice