"Mommy, Europe isn't as pretty as Rick Steves' videos."

Adorable story!

Unfortunately, like everywhere else, Europe has real cities with real people and real problems and it's probably better to be honest with your kid (they seem to be too impressionable when it comes to tv shows)...maybe Rick has painted it too much like a fairyland. Reality bites. Hopefully you weren't too surprised.

Agreed. I remember going to Capri and seeing all the trash floating in the water. Sad to see beauty spoiled as such. But, as noted, the world and its inhabitants can be pigs, to put it blountly. More reason for those of us who see it to make an effort to improve our planet. That should be the lesson.

Don't worry, some adults can't tell the difference between Rick Steves fairyland and reality either.

Good one, Tom.

London and Amsterdam win first prize for the most garbage, and Amsterdam also wins for graffiti everywhere (even on almost every beautiful building), that we've ever seen... It blew my mind. So glad you all enjoyed the Luxembourg Gardens... I love it there... that's why I recommend it ad nauseum.

Geez Susan, I thought Paris would win the graffiti garbage prize, at least the northern area away from tourist areas. Should I be glad or sorry to learn there are worse? You have smart kids, Stay-ce

Stay-ce that is cute!
My 11 yr old was shocked by the amount of garbage and graffiti we saw in many cities in Europe,, we just don't have same issues here ( oh we have others, but litter is not one of them. .lol ) If you get to Versailles please make sure dd sees Marie Antionettes Hamlet, and finds the "secret grotto" there... can't tell you where it is , we just discovered it ourselves by wandering the estate,, it will restore her visions of " pretty " and cute things in Europe...

You probably need to spend time in the smaller towns of Germany, Austria and Switzerland. We have made it a priority to stay away from large European cities for the reasons you mention.