Times have changed!

I have to agree with you 100%.

I am involved in the tourist industry in Europe, and while American children are more unruley than the norm and Americans talk louder than average; when it comes to ugly behavior Americans are not even in the top 5.

As for politics, like life, it depends where you are and who you talk to; I am currently traveling and have had a couple of brief conversation. Honest interest with out a lot of judgment; I haven't seen the nastiness that I see back home.

Europeans and those from North America dress alike...gosh, the number of related questions on the Travel Forum will decline dramatically.

More precisely, people from large urban cities dress alike due to global chains everywhere. The OP is from LA, so no surprises there. Try finding someone in Italy with a bolo tie and cowboy hat and boots like I saw in Fort Worth. There's a lot of variation in dress in various regions of the US and in North America (including Canada and Mexico).

I respectfully disagree. We just returned from Ireland and EVERY single person we came in contact with and had enough time to talk to ( maids, waitresses, fellow travelers waiting in hotel lobbies or sitting next to us in restaurants or even waiting for the bathroom at tourist sites, taxi drivers, etc) initiated the topic of American politics. They approached the subject cautiously, but the gist was always the same. "What were you Americans thinking? Is HE really as crazy as HE seems? Are you as worried as we are?" By the end of two weeks, when we were approached with initial foray we had well-practiced responses.

Hate to be a buzzkill but it's been this way for a decade. Got a bud in the fashion/film scene too. Works for one of the big houses. America is hot. Fashion. Film. Business. The whole 'don't take credit cards' is severely dated. I'm sure some long standing businesses that cater to RS guests can get away with it but I use my AMEX or MC every where, but hugely by far AMEX. I get the feeling politics are a locals only thing. As it should be.

Talking about EUROPE as though it were a neighborhood is a little narrow. But if I had to over generalize, way over generalize and just for the places I have seen, I would say compared to Americans the cut and styles are the same, it's just that they choose to look a little more ... Looking for the word here? Clean? Upscale? Fashionable? Proper? The people on the streets, in the places I have been, just look like they are dressed a cut above what I see at home.

True, I would agree that Americans, despite their behaviour , are no longer the top obnoxious, "ugly" tourists based on my current observations. I don't excuse that sort of behaviour as being cultural, regardless of the nationality. That can be an explanation, even a valid explanation, but does that validate or justify the behaviour, not with me. Americans were in the ugly tourist spot 40 plus years ago. I saw several examples of that in Germany, Austria in the 1970s and '80s. Other nationalities have since nudged them from the "ugly" tourist position. That is plainly evident. There are still those locals willing to talk politics, backlash or not, no problem with me, I'll gladly take them on.

Fred, fresh prospective on politics is interesting. What seems to be overlooked in this conversation is that Europe isn't a culture and Europe hasn't got a point of view. I have been to a few countries as divided politically as is the US. In some the Right is in power, and in others the Left. So there is no universal opinion on the US or anything else for that matter. So if you go to France, for instance, and everyone you speak to has the same opinion on an issue, it just demonstrates you haven't seen much of France. Afterall, a third of the French voters voted for le Pen so you would expect 1 in 3 that you meet to be of her bent.

It makes no difference to me if "they" are on the Right or the Left, as long as their statements in their arguments are historically accurate and correct, as regards to dates, concepts, historical figures, ideas, events, and so on.

In 2003 (when Bush invaded Iraq) in the summer I was in Berlin near Bahnhof Zoo, bought a Wurst from this stand. The stand guy started raging on the US, the US did this , US did that, etc, such as the "The US started the Depression." The US is the only country to drop the atomic bomb." etc...ie, tedious rambling but I just listened to him, a sign of my forbearance, as long his statements were not lies or displayed historical inaccuracy. . He made about 4-5 statements, then he stopped. Historically, his statements were all factually correct, but had any not been, I would have counter-attacked him. After finishing the Wurst, I just left.

On Le Pen's vote getting: In 1999 I was in France, this time also went to Toulon, where in exploring the town, I saw Le Pen stickers on walls and signs, they had FN on them. BTW, a couple months ago, I got the book, "Budapest 1900"...a very good and useful book...thanks. Anything that author/ historian writes is good, should have looked at that book 30 years ago when it came out.

While viewing Van der Weyden's Last Judgement in Beaune I updated a joke from RS and pointing to the people going to hell on the right said la Pen. The staff member (through another guest translating) and who had an answer waiting said no, from Jesus's perspective they are on the left. I pointed out that the real problem today is we can't even agree on what is right or left. I didn't mention that the artist drew perspective for the viewer. Obviously, I don't care if I offend someone with a different view.

Excellent Richard! I was referring to the occasional post in which some one would comment to the effect that they were in Lisbon (or ... ) last week and they spoke to 2 waiters, a bellhop, and 3 homeless people and they all agreed that American's were lousy lovers (or .... ) therefore I know that Europeans believe Americans are lousy lovers (or.... ). Tell the French that their culture is the same as the Greek culture and see if you get a nod, or tell the Erste executive that his opinions and values are the same as the homeless person. It's obvious of course, but I still read it.

Kaeleku, not sure if "love" is the right word, but I do enjoy the place. The government is a bit worrisome, but its still free enough where votes and protests can shape the outcome so I remain optimistic. It is one of those places where the RS concept has some merit; visit and share and influence values.

You won't get an argument from me on Russia. There is no way the RS theory works there. I hope after nearly a decade of wrong moves, the US steps up and fills the void that let the Russian's in. Looks like that might be the case. Along the new "Eastern Front". The Baltic states are scared out of their gourds; and if what happened in Crimea is any indication, as a tourist if you are interested in the Baltic states or Georgia or Moldova or ..... you had better visit now while you can still do it without a Russian visa. Cant believe anyone in good conscience can hear the news coming out of Russia and want to dine in St. Petersburg.... But what is beautiful about the U.S. is that they can.

I am encouraged by the OPs noticing that WiFi and cell service is improving. Tt

That is great to hear as i travel more and more partly due to being able to work from anywhere with a cell phone and occasional internet connection.

Another example.....shopping and the store clerk recommended we use a credit card so she could process the VAT refund and it would go directly to the card and save the extra step at the airport. She asked to see the photo of my passport on my smartphone which I had never thought to do because nobody on the forum ever mentioned it! Well I have the photo on my phone now and you can't say I didn't tell you.

My TMobile has worked almost without loss of signal from Istanbul to Moscow (although there was weird clicking noises when using in Moscow), to Scotland and just about everyplace in-between. Although on the last trip the data services slowed down to a crawl.

As for the passport on the phone. I build a PDF document before each trip. The document has all of the reservation confirmations phone numbers, links, emails an photos of the passports. I keep the pdf on my cell phone and on a cloud server. People are going to do what they are going to do, but at least know that in Belgium and most every old soviet state it is a requirement that you carry your passport at all times.

My T-Mobile has been great in Amsterdam, Italy, burgundy but here in Paris it drops me every five minutes. I have to turn airplane mode on and off to get it to reconnect. Very frustrating. Still great to have data and use my phone as often as I need.