Taking a Vacation to a Popular Foreign Country is Overrated

MoMeanMugs

Golden Member
Apr 29, 2001
1,663
2
81
I'm in Rome, Italy right now, and I don't see what all the hype is about. I am working in Europe until the end of the week (been here over a week now), so I decided to go to Rome for the weekend. I got here yesterday morning and was ready to leave by the end of the day. It was fun to see the Colosseum and taste a real Italian pizza, but I couldn't see myself staying here for a week. There are too many (rude) people. If I have to get on the train one more time with someone who won't move to let me off at my stop, they are getting punched in the back of the head. I'm also tired of walking in the street from jackasses that want to take up the entire sidewalk. I think I'm going to stick to smaller, less known places in the future. Anyone started making a list of places that you will never go back to?
 

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
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Rome is my favorite vacation city in the world. Go sit in a church full of 25-foot marble statues, enough seating for 50,000 people, and gorgeous, 400-year old frescoes or mosaics, and appreciate the work that went into this art pre-electricity, motorized machines, and technology.

I do find many European cultures (forget if Italy is one of them) where bumping into each other to get where you need to go is more accepted. It took a while to stop getting pissed at people who would bump me as they went by, nudge me out of the way to get past me, or other physical contact that would be considered rude without an apology in the US. It's annoying to those who find it uncivilized, and I agree, but don't let minor inconveniences ruin the fun!
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,542
921
126
I enjoy traveling and would like to visit Europe again. We have friends who live near Zurich so we're planning on traveling to see them next year sometime.

Visited Spain and Portugal a few years ago and loved it. The culture, the history, the art. I love it!
 

Arcadio

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2007
5,637
24
81
Solution: take a vacation to an unpopular foreign country i.e. Colombia. The people are nice and the women beautiful.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,565
8,843
126
There isn't a single city in the world I'm particularly interested in seeing. Go out to the country where the culture's more distinct, and the people aren't tired of tourists. You'll get a better feel for the country, and there's more interesting things to see.
 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
OP sounds like he's just not a city person. Everything he said he hated about Rome is true for pretty much every major city in the world. Hell, I've been experiencing that stuff for 4 years now in Philly.
 

CountZero

Golden Member
Jul 10, 2001
1,796
36
86
There isn't a single city in the world I'm particularly interested in seeing. Go out to the country where the culture's more distinct, and the people aren't tired of tourists. You'll get a better feel for the country, and there's more interesting things to see.

I would tend to disagree with more interesting things to see. If it is history you want the cities are the epicenters of this. They are the places where cultures met, where trade was conducted. The variety of architectures, churches, temples gives rise to the interesting cultural dynamic that make these countries interesting to visit to begin with. Not to mention cities are frequently where the museums are that house the interesting relics of the past.

If it is non-touristy stuff you want you can still do that in the city, just gotta explore. After all the cities are full of locals and they avoid the tourist places as well.
 

MoMeanMugs

Golden Member
Apr 29, 2001
1,663
2
81
OP sounds like he's just not a city person. Everything he said he hated about Rome is true for pretty much every major city in the world. Hell, I've been experiencing that stuff for 4 years now in Philly.

I'll admit that you're absolutely correct on this. I've lived in Houston my whole life and can't stand it any longer. It's on my agenda to move by the end of the year.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
58,565
8,843
126
I would tend to disagree with more interesting things to see. If it is history you want the cities are the epicenters of this. They are the places where cultures met, where trade was conducted. The variety of architectures, churches, temples gives rise to the interesting cultural dynamic that make these countries interesting to visit to begin with. Not to mention cities are frequently where the museums are that house the interesting relics of the past.

If it is non-touristy stuff you want you can still do that in the city, just gotta explore. After all the cities are full of locals and they avoid the tourist places as well.

Depends on what you're looking for I guess. I could spend a year exploring a 20 mile radius around my house, and I grew up here. That doesn't get me to nearest city even, though they're doing their damnedest to correct that :^S
 

TheSlamma

Diamond Member
Sep 6, 2005
7,625
5
81
I hate small town America, but I love small town Europe. Go hit the countryside in Europe, much nicer.

Big City Europe is like big city America imo and If you want to experience a different culture you need to head over to Asia or Africa, Europe's big cities are same as US just with older buildings and monuments.
 

Cogman

Lifer
Sep 19, 2000
10,283
134
106
I hate small town America, but I love small town Europe. Go hit the countryside in Europe, much nicer.

Big City Europe is like big city America imo and If you want to experience a different culture you need to head over to Asia or Africa, Europe's big cities are same as US just with older buildings and monuments.

It really depends on which "small town" in america you go to. It may not be the cultural experience of a life time, but there are plenty of fun things to do in and around small towns.
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
30,322
4
0
I'll admit that you're absolutely correct on this. I've lived in Houston my whole life and can't stand it any longer. It's on my agenda to move by the end of the year.

Houston's not too rude.
 

PhoKingGuy

Diamond Member
Nov 15, 2007
4,685
0
76
I enjoy traveling and would like to visit Europe again. We have friends who live near Zurich so we're planning on traveling to see them next year sometime.

Visited Spain and Portugal a few years ago and loved it. The culture, the history, the art. I love it!

Try Germany as well, I splurged and rented a GTI to drive on the ring. Expensive as fuck, but oh so worth it.
 

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
13,559
8
0
go to fresno and stay at a holiday inn with the free buffet...that seems more your style...


then again just watch criminal minds seasons wearing diapers at home..
 

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
And in other news, people from different parts of the globe don't act like they do at home...

Damn foreigners.
 

coloumb

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
4,069
0
81
Vacationing in a foreign country is [almost always] only fun if you have locals who can show you around, translate, and provide you insight on their culture. From my own experience - the more people who understand English and the more signs in English - the easier it is to find and have fun. [Why hasn't someone developed a universal translator yet!?!]

Major Cities around the world are typically very busy places and very competitive. Downtown American cities are also jam packed of rude people climbing over each other to get to that one empty seat on the bus.
 

flexy

Diamond Member
Sep 28, 2001
8,464
155
106
I think judging a whole country within some hours based on their perceived rudeness...is silly.

You are right, actually my current wife AND my ex (both from the states) confirming that people in EU (in particular Germany) *are* rude - they do indeed just walk into you on the sidewalk...or stand there like cows in front of malls blocking entrances.

Its funny that you mention this since my wife said *exactly the same thing* :)

The rudeness and crouchyness (plus the weather :) are actually the reason we now moved to spain.

People are FAR friendlier, more open and happier here in Spain

As an American, you MUST simply accept that Europeans are not so open and "warm" as Americans. Americans are different that they are very friendly to strangers which you HARDLY will find in (northern) Europe.

For example, it would be a total no-no that a stranger would complement you on the streets (which i saw quite often in the states) saying "oh i like your hat" or similar (quite common in the states).

Or here in Spain people always saying "hola" even if they are total strangers...NEVER seen that in Germany.
Thats just one example.

But there is more to EU than how people are behaving in public transportation...and it simply takes certain situations for European people to "warm up" to strangers first. Thats just how it is.

As for Rome..havent been in Rome and not any desire to ever go there....i think it might be swamped by tourists, BORING (pope!) and whatnot....there are probably a zillion places which would be way better than Rome!
 
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shortylickens

No Lifer
Jul 15, 2003
80,287
17,080
136
Rome is fucking awesome.
You are a dumbass.

Next time just go to Cocoa Beach or something if you have no culture.