not so many potholes as in your own country...
"VainGlorious" a écrit dans le message de
news:sdsvf3tc051kfts4v49kl3julf9r05i5gb@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:20:24 -0400, Fishkill Bill
> wrote:
>
>>Well Cathy and I have returned from two and a half weeks in Germany.
>>The first ten days were on a Cosmos bus tour and the last seven were
>>in a rented car.
>>
>>Here are the places we visited:
>>
>>Heidelberg-Bacharacher-Cologne-Bremen-Hamburg-Wittenburg-Berlin-Potsdam-Dresden
>>-Nuremberg-Rothenburg-Nordlington-Neuschwanstein-Munich-Oberommergau
>>-Peiting-Donauworth-Nordlington-Dinkelsbuhl-Anbach-Nurmberg-Bamberg-
>>Schonbrunn-Burgebrach-Werzburg-Schwinberg-Tausberbeschofsheim-
>>Rottingen-Creglingen-Heilbrann-Dieburg-Dormstadt-Buttelborn-Grob-Gerau-Frankfurt.
>
> In other words, rather than slow down and relax a bit and get to know
> each place even slightly, you rushed right through and walked away
> unimpressed. Wow.
>
>>We would have to say the cities are quite unimpressive. A lot of 50's
>>style plain looking buildings.
>
> Maybe that's because the Americans and British bombed most of Germany
> into dust about 60 years ago. Had that thought ever occurred to you?
>
> At least Germany has an excuse. Why is it that American cities are so
> painfully bland? My guess: because they are populated with people like
> you.
>
>
>>The little towns are the cleanest we
>>have ever seen. Most look the same though. Down near the Alps is
>>probably the best area.
>
> So, when glancing off the highway, you liked the Alpine areas better.
> Well. They must be better, then.
>
>>Driving is a dream in Germany. Not a pothole in the entire country.
>>Not the most friendly people though, (not like Ireland).
>
> Germany and Austria invest in infrastructure. Thus, they have nice
> highways. But if you leave the numbered thoroughfares and venture into
> villages, you will find potholes. Lovely German potholes.
>
> And in those villages, you will find people who speak German. They
> don't understand English. So when some doofus American retiree comes
> waddling up to order lunch and cannot read the menu or engage in
> simple pleasantries in German, the locals aren't impressed.
>
> With that, I dispose of you. I strongly suggest you remain home with
> your idiot wife and stop imposing yourselves on Europe.
>
> And now, a general comment from an American who travels in Europe and
> has a brain (ie, me):
>
> Compared to golly-gee midwestern Americans, Europeans may seem
> somewhat aloof. Since I grew up in urban New Jersey, I have an
> understanding of this cultural affectation. Like New Yorkers,
> Europeans do not suffer fools gladly. That's the crux of it. And
> eastern Europeans are even tougher nuts to crack. They have steep
> requirements before trusting acquaintances. But once you are "in", you
> are IN.
>
> I don't see this as a bad thing. Now that I'm living in the
> plastered-smile insincerity of the American west coast, I yearn for
> the days of honking car horns and soup nazis. At least you knew where
> you stood with New Yorkers. And Europeans are often the same. That's
> partly why I enjoy Europe so much. And eastern Europe in particular.
>
> Here's my favorite anecdote to illustrate the joys of not suffering
> fools gladly:
>
> Twenty years ago, there was a small hamburger stand in central New
> Jersey called "The White Rose". It was housed in a renovated Airstream
> (an aluminum caravan of sorts). At the White Rose, you entered in one
> door, ordered your food, moved along the line, paid at the end then
> got out. They had three choices: hamburger, cheeseburger and
> California cheeseburger. French fries came along. At White Rose, there
> were rules, much like the soup nazi rules. As soon as your turn came
> up to order, you ordered quickly and clearly. If you failed to do so,
> the burger nazi would yell "NEXT!" and you would be elbowed out of the
> line by the next person, who quickly shouted their order.
>
> There was a lot of yelling at the White Rose. But I loved it. I
> particularly loved seeing idiots who had been standing in line five
> minutes (staring at the simple menu) then stammering to place their
> order, be immediately punished and tossed out on their ear. It was a
> place that did not suffer fools gladly.
>
> And oh, how the dispossessed would cry and wail! "Not fair! Wait! I
> want...I want..." as the local businessmen and blue collars literally
> shuffled them out the door to the back of the line.
>
> I'm sure the Cathy's and Bill's of this world would view such behavior
> as rude and un-friendly. But not me. I see it as warm, inclusive and
> invigorating. If only MORE idiots were instantly isolated and
> disregarded, the world would be a better place.
>
> So, meine Europäisch freunde, nicht nachlassen!
>
> - TR
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