This probably should have been posted under the “Smug superiority link-roundup” I posed a few hours back, but I just saw it now so it gets its own post.
BIG BROTHER TAKES TO THE AIR: The British are already the most watched people in the world, but it seems that CCTV cams in every doorway, subway [...]
Posts under ‘Things I Hate About Europe’
British OK with Government surveillance drones, not Google Street View
European-style service fee lands two students in jail
America is the land of decent service and discretionary tips. Unless, that is, you’re eating with a group of 6 or more. In that case, you’re increasingly likely to find restaurants including a sizeable tip on the bill, regardless of the service provided.
And as two college students from Pennsylvania found out last week when they [...]
Why Europe Sucks €. 7: Horrible mattresses
For the last month I’ve been sleeping on one of those foam IKEA mattresses. You know, the spring-free pads that look so alluring when placed on the sleek, low-profile bed frames in the showroom. I’ll let you in on a little secret, though: after about five minutes, IKEA mattresses suck. Their hard, unyielding foam and [...]
The Pay-Toilet Address
I wrote this as a memorial on the 18 month anniversary of the new pay toilet installed in Madison Square Park. It is one of two pay toilets that have been installed in New York by a Spanish company seeking to undermine the right to pee for free that was hard won by the Committee [...]
5 Things about New York City that make America Great (and 4 that remind me of Europe)
In some ways, New York is the most American of cities. Its energy, drive and optimism are emblematic of the American spirit. It is also the birthplace of many great American institutions that have yet to disseminate across much of the rest of the country, like taxi cabs that take credit cards. But with its [...]
Why Europe Stinks €. 6 – Internet Cafes
They’re dirty.
They’re smelly.
And they are chalk-full of Euro-Trash.
And no—I’m not talking about youth hostels either.
I’m talking about a kind of place that manages to be far less pleasant. A place that combines gruff service, cramped conditions, poor ventilation, rancid smells, and dated technology—the internet café.
The typical European internet café is about as warm and inviting [...]
Why Europe Sucks €5. Different sized banknotes
Traveling can be a stressful activity.
Not only do you need to navigate an unfamiliar place, but you also need to keep track of numerous little things to make sure your journey goes smoothly; things like passports, airline tickets, bus passes, hotel keys, travel itinerary and, of course, your cash and credit cards.
Normally keeping track of [...]
Why Europe Sucks €4. Inadequate air conditioning
Today the temperature was more than 80 degrees here in Michigan. This means one thing—Americans across the upper Midwest enjoyed the first warm day of the year from the air-conditioned comfort of their homes and automobiles.
Sure, some Americans popped outside for a short walk or a brief spat of gardening. But more often than not, [...]
Why Europe Sucks €3. Cheek kissing
They say that cheek-kissing greetings are a longstanding cultural tradition that shows the openness and hospitality of Southern European culture.
This is hogwash.
Greeting someone by a kissing them on the cheek is much more intimate than a normal handshake, and also forces you to lean in and get a good whiff of the other person’s [...]
What makes Europe Stink €2. Nescafé Instant Coffee
Europeans love to look down on Americans. They poke fun at our history, mock our mannerisms, and guffaw when confronted with our cultural achievements. But there is nothing that gives Europeans more pleasure than mocking our food and often-rushed eating habits. To the Europeans, our convenience-based food culture is the very meaning of uncouth.
But behind [...]
