I'm finally back after a month's absence!

[IrateCitizen]

For those few of you who missed my rants on these boards, I was away for a month on my honeymoon touring Europe with my wife (it still feels funny saying that word!). And what an experience it was, but it gave me several insights as well. I'll share a few off the top of my head....

1. The French, Parisians in particular, have an unearned reputation for being rude, IMHO. The people we talked to in Nice were some of the friendliest we encountered, and we found Parisians to be pretty friendly and helpful as well.

2. The only country we visited that we agreed we could live in was Holland. Amsterdam is, quite possibly, the most beautiful city we saw -- even aside from all of the novelty of the Red Light District and myriad of coffeeshops. The attitudes of the Dutch toward just about everything makes even the rest of Western Europe seem a bit conservative, and it definitely seems to be working. The "live-and-let-live" attitude toward just about everything seems to result in less poverty, less hard drug abuse problems, less teenage pregnancy, less violent crime -- you get the idea. And for those of you who have been there, I just can't get over THE BIKES!

3. The Romans were, without a doubt, the rudest and most inconsiderate group of people we encountered. And of all the places we visited (Holland, France, Switzerland and Italy), Italy was definitely the dirtiest (and seemed to have the most street people). But the sights were, without a doubt, spectacular.

4. There are things about the States that I missed. Number one was the lack of private space. Americans are definitely more open than Europeans, and I think it's a result of the fact that they live with far less private space and therefore need to put up a "wall" in order to maintain some degree of privacy. And, to a typical American like myself who speaks only Americanized English, it was a pleasure to be back in an area where I could understand everything anyone said and read the signs.

There's a lot more I could say, but these are the first four that come to mind. In any event, the experience gave me an appreciation for the cultural treasures that are available throughout Europe, for many of the things that Europe has that we in the States don't, and also for many of the aspects of the States that I missed.

I have to say that I'm glad to be back, and will be happy to try and enlighten my fans and infuriate my detractors on these boards once again!

Peace!

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. Glad you had a safe and wonderful trip. Welcome back and belated

congratulations!

[CatWoman]

2. So that's where you've been!!!!!!

As I am the president of your fan club, I would think that you would inform me of such things beforehand!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:hi:

Welcome back, and congratulations :D

[Tyler Durden]

3. A MONTH off WORK??

Where do you think you live, Commie? Australia?

Seriously, hope you had a good time and I'm insanely jealous.

[IrateCitizen]

4. Two words: UNPAID LEAVE

My wife is a teacher, and she didn't do summer school this year, so she had no problem with the time. I was able to get the leave because it was my honeymoon.

[Tyler Durden]

6. I am SOOOO jealous.

Wifey and I are putting change in a jar: we hope to have enough in 3 years to pay for two weeks in a Tuscan villa near Florence. Not really as pricey as I thought it would be.

Pat "Teach" on the back for us. Bravo for a noble profession, and congrats to you both.

[IrateCitizen]

8. Now a Tuscan villa is a reason for jealousy, Tyler!

Our accomodations were a bit more "bare bones" than that. All pensiones and one-stars. Many of our rooms would have been called "closets" in the US -- and southern Europe w/o air conditioning wasn't the best thing going.

As for the teaching gig, I'll just say it's in the blood. Both of my parents were teachers, I'm married to one... and I'm working on changing over to it as a career. I don't think that there is a more family-friendly profession out there, and it certainly is a noble one as well!

[Tyler Durden]

9. We ain't there yet!

I wish I had the link at work, but I'd never get anything done if I did. Seems like the cost averages less than a comparable 3-4 star hotel. Some are a little rough, but charming. The one we want is part of a larger estate, and comes with pool, private orchart, cook, maid service, laundry...goes for around $2500 for a two week stay: a stone bargain in my book.

[CWebster]

5. Was just about to comment

about your whereabouts lately. Wondered if you were off wandering the world. Congrats on your marriage and happy to see you around these parts again. Now, where the hell is Armstead? ;-)

BTW, ain't it the truth about the Romans. They are like new Yorkers are reputed to be---and they are worse in the winter months when the Roman matrons drag out their fur coats. It is like a cross betwwn Fellini and Empire.

[IrateCitizen]

7. NYers ain't anywhere close to the Romans!

I'm a NYer by transplant, and I work in Manhattan. While NYers can be brash and harried, they aren't inconsiderate as a rule. It seemed to me like the Romans were.

And the worst part was, after that, anytime we ran across a large group of people who wouldn't practice common courtesy by giving some way on the sidewalk or people rudely trying to cut in front of us in line or anything like that, all we had to do was listen to them speak. Each and every time we heard them speaking in Italian.

I hate to generalize, but if I never went back there it would be too soon! And I'm glad I'm not the only one who was left with that impression, because numerous people I know who have visited Europe have said the same thing about Italy and Rome in particular.

[CWebster]

10. Sidewalks?

At least so long as you don't cross the street, you can survive 'til the end of the day, unlike the free-for-all roads, where the center line is a "decoration" and stop lights a mere suggestion. ;-)

But they can't be all bad, after all millions of Italians hit the streets against the war, and there is always the food. ;-)

[Kellanved]

13. Italy...

This flash animation about Italy is a little too harsh, but it has a point.

http://europa.tiscali.it/futuro/speciali/cartoon.html

[IrateCitizen]

14. That flash animation is RIGHT ON!

Especially the part about waiting in line. And the part about driving. And pedestrians. And taking the bus. And... well, you get the point. ;-)

BTW, it was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud while watching it! Thanks! :D

[Karenina]

22. I made enough noise for us both.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! SUPER!

[izzie]

11. How did you get 30 day vacations?

I love the Dutch and their country. I have not been there since the 50's but I just loved it then and every one I knew loves that country.

[Kolesar]

12. If it was a honeymoon, I am sure it was not a month of "abstinence"

Congratulations and best wishes, newlyweds! Sounds like you had a nice trip.

[prolesunited]

15. Congratulations and welcome home!

Sounds like a fabulous trip. I hope to someday be able to do the same, but I would skip Italy in favor of Spain. Can you elaborate about the bikes in Holland?

You can put me in the category of one of your fans waiting to be enlightened. ;-)

[IrateCitizen]

17. Bikes in Amsterdam

With all of the canals and narrow streets, it is very difficult to drive in Amsterdam -- plus, fees, parking and taxes make owning a car prohibitively expensive. There is an extensive streetcar network, but it doesn't go everywhere. So, the way that everyone gets around is by bike.

And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. People in business suits talking on cell phones. Women in skirts and heels going out on the town. Mothers with two children. People going to the market to go shopping. Young kids. Elderly folks. It's a surreal scene. We were so blown away by it, we tried to get pictures of all kinds of different people (as listed above) on their bikes to set it up in our scrapbook.

And they don't ride high-priced mountain bikes or racing bikes or anything like that, either. Almost everyone is riding the same model bike -- a beat-up single speed circa 1955, with pieces of it sometimes literally falling off while riding! While you don't see as many in the old city, when you go down around the museums and the big park nearby (Vondelpark), they are swarming the streets!

I've tried to explain it, but you can't really imagine it until you've seen it. It's quite a spectacle.

[soleft]

16. This will serve you well when you run for President

:)

[IrateCitizen]

18. You forget that one of my stops was AMSTERDAM

:evilgrin:

[newyawker99]

19. Welcome back Chris and

congrats on your marriage! :toast:

[Karenina]

20. NA, DUUUU!!! HALLO LIEBER MANN!!!!

Ah, Chris... DELIGHTED to see your post! :loveya:

:toast: CONGRATULATIONS!!! :toast:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. Welcome back Chris! I missed ya!

I was about to put your pic on a milk carton!!!

Interesting experiences you shared...I mostly agree having lived in France for a couple months back at the end of the Viet Nam war.

[buddhamama]

23. Welcome Back and Congrats !

i was thinking of you the other day and was wondering where you were. there was talk of you returning to school at one time, thought maybe that is where you had disappeared to.

the honeymoon sounds wonderful!

[IrateCitizen]

26. I started back to school last year

Only took one course, though. I'll be back again this coming spring term, as I am working on obtaining a teacher's certificate and changing careers within the next 3-4 years.

For the fall, I am concentrating on obtaining my Professional Engineer license in NY State.

[buddhamama]

28. Best Wishes

and good luck!

[noiretextatique]

24. congrats and welcome back!!!

wow...i had a totally different experience in rome. but naples was a shithole. glad to have you back...missed your clarity (some might call it ranting) :hi:

[IrateCitizen]

27. Don't get me wrong -- Rome was beautiful (the Forum and Vatican esp.)

It's just that the people, generally speaking, were rude and completely inconsiderate. And you're right about Naples -- we had to take a train there on our way to Pompeii, and it was a TOTAL shithole!

[sangh0]

25. Welcome back and congratulations

.