What I learned in my recent two week European vacation.

[RyanEC]

London has a very defined aesthetic. Red double decker buses, black cabs and a mix of traditional and modern architecture.

Amsterdam has things that are legal that aren’t legal in most places. I didn’t partake in any of these activities but interesting none the less.

I am surprised how walkable European cities are compared to American cities including Munich.

The Australian alps are really cool figuratively and literally.

Venice is really crowded but the no car no bike pedestrian and boat centered design is interesting and unique.

Switzerland is beautiful but super expensive.

Paris is a beautiful city with a beautiful city design, most of the buildings look very similar with similar aesthetic designs except for buildings like the Eiffel tower and the louvre pyramid and others add a little difference.

I’m glad I went.

[Julie4]

Where is the American style of dress here? 😅🤣

These are great photos and it looks like you had a great time.


The buildings in Paris are called Haussmann style.

[RyanEC]

I thought it was a more European look along with the leather jacket I wore for warmer days.

Yes it was really fun.

I thought that were barque.

[PrincessC16]

Wow! You are so blessed! Ty for sharing. Some people like me have never really even left out state. Much less get to travel Europe.

[RyanEC]

Neither was I until I took this trip.
Just a few states.

[PrincessC16]

Congratulations! I have so many things I still want to do in this life and look at you. So handsome and young. Stepping out and making your dreams come true. You inspire me!

[Avicenna]

Glad to see you had a good time. Don't forget that all of those cities are really old and people used to live much closer together for defense and better resources.

[KostasKouvalis]

Okay. Looks like you didn't have the best weather. That's an interesting outfit. Blends right in with the locals.

Speaking of locals, were the people friendly?

[alice55]

I think his outfit is perfect to fit in with European people, a lot fo European guys dress this ways at least in France. It's a good choice.

[KostasKouvalis]

@alice55 For Europe yes, I was thinking the same thing. But I personally wouldn't wear something like that.

[alice55]

Why? It's a pretty neutral great style, very classy. You are more relaxed no? Looser fitting generally. I guess it surely look special if it was in California

[KostasKouvalis]

It's not my cup of tea. XD
Yeah, it's very rare here

Speaking of outfits, do you have the thing you were talking about last night?

[alice55]

Everyone have different style, I think his style is quite nice but I'm French so I'm used to seeing this style everyday.
Yes I have it, just give me a link to one of your question to where I can post it

[KostasKouvalis]

@alice55 You can do it on this one. Then I should be able to just delete your answer

Why were the US and Costa Rica playing last night's friendly like it was a knockout game? ↗

[KostasKouvalis]

Got them 🙂 I removed the post, but it accidentally reported it. I didn't mean for it to do that, but I think you'll be okay.
I'll comment somewhere else.

[alice55]

It's ok even it take time it's just shoes pics and nobody will see it so XD

[KostasKouvalis]

@alice55 Oh, well there's an off chance you might have gotten in trouble for spamming anyways. Although unlikely, but better not take chances, especially if they were "for my eyes only"

[alice55]

Seriously? That's crazy I hope I won't get in trouble after they will block me from coming on the site for three days

[KostasKouvalis]

@alice55 Nah. You probably won't even get a violation.

[KostasKouvalis]

It was the best way I could come up with for you to show me though given the circumstances

[RyanEC]

@KostasKouvalis I did try a more sophisticated European look because they seem to dress better than Americans, in warmer areas I would wear a lighter leather jacket so it wasn’t always cold.
@alice55 do you think I wouldn’t be see as a stereotypical American tourist and I could be mistaken for a European?

[KostasKouvalis]

I mean, good for you. I don't really care if I blend in or not, especially since there's other stuff that immediately gives me away as a tourist.

[RyanEC]

Like what?

[alice55]

Yes dressed like that you definitely look more European than American, you blend in perfectly :)
If I saw you and didn't know you I would think you were an European guys for sure

[KostasKouvalis]

@RyanEC are you talking to ME?
Probably the fact that I have a waterbottle and camera around my neck

[RyanEC]

@KostasKouvalis that makes sense.
I just carried my phone so I probably didn’t stand out as much.

@alice55 that’s nice to hear.
I don’t think I act like a stereotypical American because I’m not super loud and I have been told I dress more European by friends.
It’s nice to know I don’t stand out much.

[RyanEC]

I also tried to walk with swagger like James Bond so it looks like I belong.

[KostasKouvalis]

Well, Aussies you can tell because of their accent. But it seems Canadians are often just assumed to be Americans, unless they're from Québec. I don't know, I haven't really heard any complaints about Canadian tourists. I'm sure I have before, but I can't recall any specific incident. But American tourists have a pretty bad reputation and I've seen with my own eyes.
British people also do apparently, even though almost all the British tourists I've met have been wonderful, but I often hear people complaining about British youth because they mainly travel to drink and party and they get rowdy.

[alice55]

You went to so many European countries, this is really cool and interesting :)

[KostasKouvalis]

He took a group tour

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis This is cool, my grandparents also used to take grouptour when they were younger

[KostasKouvalis]

They're popular in Europe. Your job often organized them. But there they mainly do transport, but then you can book more tours at the destination. I did it with my aunt once. But his was different. It was a multi-day sight-seeing tour

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis multi-day sight-seeing tour is what my grandparents did, they went to Italy, Venice, Florence, Pise and I think Milan too.
Those are extremely popular with Chinese and Japanese tourist in France.
The one my grandparents went on in Italy was one they won at a game most of their others travel were organized by their work though. It's great to have a job that orgnasize tour travel

[KostasKouvalis]

They're popular with Chinese because they're cheaper, which is weird, because for most everyone else it's more expensive.

Those tours aren't as fun anymore because too many snobs and assholes. Also, I hate being at the mercy of someone else's schedule and itinerary. I get annoyed at tours though sometimes they're logistically easier. But I prefer exploring independently when possible. I've only really done group day tours and overnight tours. But I want to take a break because the last few times we had to deal with snobs and assholes and tour guides kissing brown people's ass

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis It's weird chinese like it as they're usually pretty rich

Those people ruin anything
I guess they're good when you're too lazy to organise a tour but yes being free and being able to go sight seeing and do whatever we want is better

[KostasKouvalis]

Are they?
Well I can tell you from personal experience a lot of rich people are cheap

Yeah. It's not necessarily that. For me, it's more that it's often easier, especially if you want to see a lot of places in one day.

Yeah, when I was in Mexico last year there was only one other mother and daughter in our group. We didn't get to see one cenote and one town properly, because they wasted an hour shopping than 2 hours getting a massage. If the guide hadn't left them at the buffet and taken us to the ruins early, we wouldn't have seen the whole thing.

Stuff like this happened on many occasions. When it's a mixed group it's fine, but if we're the only White people, the guides kiss minority ass and let them run the tour. It's even worse when it's a White tour guide. At least in Taiwan the guides had enough self respect to kiss the ass of their own race

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis @KostasKouvalis Chinese tourist yes I always see them buying hundred of stuff in expensive mall / shop. It's crazy how with the most money they have the less they want to give but they spend it all on clothes and bag and shoes.

It's sure that if you go with someone they would be very slow

that's crazy how can the guide be ok with that? Like letting them shop and get a massage instead of actually visiting?

That would be pretty awkward and upsetting for sure

[KostasKouvalis]

Reminds of that movie "Crazy Rich Asians" though I didn't actually watch it

And watches apparently. Someone on Urban Dictionary was talking about that when I searched "Asian supremacy"🤣
It might be true because there was an Asian guy at my job who would drive a Mustang to work and everyone was looking at it

Unless it's my dad😂

Exactly. I doubt he would do that for us.
In Panama was the same. The other group already left the village on the boat and this Dominican guy from Florida was taking pictures of girls and the guide told me two times we'll leave when he's done. My mom finally went to deal with it and it wasn't a pretty sight.
In Spain this Jew was also letting this Indian guy shop in the middle of the tour because he needed something. He could've done that during the free time.

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis I didn't watch it either but I know the name

yes they love watches too and jewelry in general

XD

That's so crazy, how can people be so selfish I can understand taking pics but if you make everyone wait it's awkward

I mean that's what free time is for guide are weird

[KostasKouvalis]

EXACTLY! I put more blame on the guide, because the guide is supposed to be the boss! And I know if WE did this, he would say something, but because it was another Latino, he was kissing his ass.

[RyanEC]

@alice55 yeah it was really cool to visit all these places but it was more of a taste of each country instead of a larger tour of each country. I went from never leaving America to visiting 8 countries (Belgium just to eat at a Burger King though.)

@KostasKouvalis I wanted a structured tour that was planned out because I never done this before.
Maybe next time something different.

Alice maybe you can do something similar if you want to travel but not by yourself.
At least you won’t need a plane ticket.

[alice55]

This is still great, at least you were able to see a lot of different things in a small time frame. Belgium is famous for waffles.

Yes that's actually a good idea and it'll feel a lot more safe than traveling alone :)

[alice55]

@KostasKouvalis Yes that's totally the guide work to make sure everyone work along and the tour can be successfully done

[KostasKouvalis]

There's always the risk of getting assholes in your group though.

[KostasKouvalis]

I don't know, I like to vlog and see very specific things. But if you want to travel just for the sake of going and don't care about truly immersing yourself, these kinds of tours might be good.

[RyanEC]

My group was full of people acting like they were at a frat party.
All about drinking, super loud and some were annoying.

I was hoping to meet a girl who was into history, art, and architecture who I could have something happen with but unfortunately not.

[alice55]

That's not great.
It's definitely not agreeable when people are being so loud and only wanting to party when we want to be serious and discover things

[RyanEC]

Yeah.

Most of our tour were actually Australian, Canadian and British.

Only me and one other American.

I’m curious if people thought we were all American since we speak English.

Do the Australians, Canadians and British have the same stereotype as being loud and obnoxious like Americans.

Can you tell the difference between an American, British, Australian accent.

[alice55]

They surely thought you were all American I think, people generally can't really distinct different English accent to me for example they all sound the same except the British one that I can recognize.
Australian and Canadian have no stereotype that I know off except maybe for Australian being blonde tan and good at surfing, people from Quebec are liked because they're of French descent. British are pretty liked especially by girls, they love the accent. Stereotype of British is bad food and being our sworn enemy (but just as a joke because of history). Some think of British people as classy and good dressed (because they think of British royal).

American and Australian sound the same to me I can only pick out the southern British accent but the one from Liverpool / Manchester I can't understand it at all neither can I pick it out from the other. To be honest I generally don't understand spoken English expect if it's spoken by a foreigner- or a London accent all the others kind of sound like griberish to me as I feel they do not pronounce all the letter of the words, I have a really hard time understanding it but I can't pronounce it correctly either so I think my ear have a hard time picking up the English sound.

[RyanEC]

Interesting.

I think the Canadians and Australians are partly responsible for Americas reputation in non English countries.

Do you ever get English (meaning from any English speaking countries) tourists in your area?
Have you ever met one.

[alice55]

It's possible. As we cannot differiantiate them it's possible they're responsible in part for Americas reputations.

I often do, every years from spring to autumn.
I did talk in English to many foreigner in my area but I'm not sure if they were English or any others nationality I'm totally unable to pick up on the accent, I've talked to German, Spanish, Dutch, etc.. I think I talked to English too but I'm not sure if they were English or simply spoke English. (for the others I knew their nationality because their camping car were next to them

[RyanEC]

I hope they were respectful when they visited.

[alice55]

They were, they just asked for direction mostly or if they could swim in the river. Usually they were pretty respectful and looked around / visited or took a walk around the town.

[RyanEC]

I’m glad you haven’t had many bad experiences with English speakers.

I’m guessing you can speak English fairly well?

[alice55]

Yes :)

Well it was just to give direction so it was easy, I guess my accent is not so bad, they were able to understand me well. Many tourist speak French though at least they learn the basic so it's easier to communicate with them

[Anonymous]

Very cool MyTake! Thanks for sharing your experiences and photos. I'm jealous.

[Jessie1103]

Europe is a blast. Clubs , I felt safer their.

[glennos89]

In my country the Netherlands... You can easily find a gun on the blackmarket somewhere but if the police have the slightest idea that there might be a gun in your house they would raid it with full force immediately. Even fake guns are hunted by the cops

[strateguy632]

Nice photos!

[DrPepper12]

Wow!!!