Post by Nikola on Mar 19, 2012 11:39:28 GMT -5
Didn't go to the Balkans this time (too short a notice to plan it properly), so I went to western Europe. Thought I would post up some of my impressions of the places I visited.
First stop, London:
+ A nice and clean city. Lots of beautiful old style buildings. Public transportation is top notch. Pretty English women. Less Americanised than I thought.
- Food is nothing memorable. The English people are not the most friendly. The number of Indians and Africans is excessive.
Comments: Feels like a first world city with a powerful history and a future. The English people look very northern European but still unique. The Indians/Pakis are everywhere and quite aggressive. Which is an interesting contrast to how they are in Australia, (quiet and placid).
Next, Paris:
+ Beautiful architecture and history. Best food in the world. Good public transport. Beautiful women. Very friendly people.
- Is dirty in places. Number of Africans is out of control. Can't walk for more than 10 mins before being asked for money from beggars.
Comments: The greatest city in the world to my eyes. The food is amazing, didn't once have a poor meal. The French are southern Europeans. The culture, the appearance, it all feels familiar and very different to London. They thought I was French. I can walk around the city for hours and not be bored.
Next, Amsterdam:
+ Clean and modern. People obviously have money and a good economy.
- Food is average. Non-Europeans are everywhere and out of control. Red light district. Smoking shops.
Comments: Very different to Paris and does not even feel like Europe. The people look Scandinavian and they think they are Americans. They are not rude but they don't talk much. The type of tourist the city attracts is not me, so I left after two days.
Next, Prague:
+ Beautiful architecture in the old city part. Pretty women and lots of them. Very few non-Europeans.
- Feels 2'nd world. Food is not great. People not very friendly. Trams are old and loud.
Comments: Once again, very different to all the others cities I visited. Czech people are very Slavic. Some look Germanic but most like Russians and some as south Slavs. They thought I was Czech which is probably why they were't that friendly.
Next, Nurnberg (Germany):
+ Modern, clean, 1'st world. People are friendly. Public transport brilliant. Has some nice older style buildings.
- Food isn't great. Too many Turks.
Comments: The Bavarians are not Scandinavians. They are Germanic and none of them looked Slavic, but they are still darker and different to northern Europeans. They don't joke much but still treated me with respect. Their trams and trains are amazing. It felt like I was in a city of the future in places.
Finally, Frankfurt:
+ Similar to Nurnberg but with lots of modern buildings.
- Way too many Turks and Asians. Red light district area disgusting.
Comments: A modern city but didn't feel like Europe, felt like an American city. The people are friendly but once again, not very chatty.
So from what I saw, Germany is in a whole different league to the poorer parts of Europe. French people are southern Europeans and Czech's are very Slavic. The differences between countries is very obvious as soon as you cross the border. I'll post some pictures later. Thanks for listening.
First stop, London:
+ A nice and clean city. Lots of beautiful old style buildings. Public transportation is top notch. Pretty English women. Less Americanised than I thought.
- Food is nothing memorable. The English people are not the most friendly. The number of Indians and Africans is excessive.
Comments: Feels like a first world city with a powerful history and a future. The English people look very northern European but still unique. The Indians/Pakis are everywhere and quite aggressive. Which is an interesting contrast to how they are in Australia, (quiet and placid).
Next, Paris:
+ Beautiful architecture and history. Best food in the world. Good public transport. Beautiful women. Very friendly people.
- Is dirty in places. Number of Africans is out of control. Can't walk for more than 10 mins before being asked for money from beggars.
Comments: The greatest city in the world to my eyes. The food is amazing, didn't once have a poor meal. The French are southern Europeans. The culture, the appearance, it all feels familiar and very different to London. They thought I was French. I can walk around the city for hours and not be bored.
Next, Amsterdam:
+ Clean and modern. People obviously have money and a good economy.
- Food is average. Non-Europeans are everywhere and out of control. Red light district. Smoking shops.
Comments: Very different to Paris and does not even feel like Europe. The people look Scandinavian and they think they are Americans. They are not rude but they don't talk much. The type of tourist the city attracts is not me, so I left after two days.
Next, Prague:
+ Beautiful architecture in the old city part. Pretty women and lots of them. Very few non-Europeans.
- Feels 2'nd world. Food is not great. People not very friendly. Trams are old and loud.
Comments: Once again, very different to all the others cities I visited. Czech people are very Slavic. Some look Germanic but most like Russians and some as south Slavs. They thought I was Czech which is probably why they were't that friendly.
Next, Nurnberg (Germany):
+ Modern, clean, 1'st world. People are friendly. Public transport brilliant. Has some nice older style buildings.
- Food isn't great. Too many Turks.
Comments: The Bavarians are not Scandinavians. They are Germanic and none of them looked Slavic, but they are still darker and different to northern Europeans. They don't joke much but still treated me with respect. Their trams and trains are amazing. It felt like I was in a city of the future in places.
Finally, Frankfurt:
+ Similar to Nurnberg but with lots of modern buildings.
- Way too many Turks and Asians. Red light district area disgusting.
Comments: A modern city but didn't feel like Europe, felt like an American city. The people are friendly but once again, not very chatty.
So from what I saw, Germany is in a whole different league to the poorer parts of Europe. French people are southern Europeans and Czech's are very Slavic. The differences between countries is very obvious as soon as you cross the border. I'll post some pictures later. Thanks for listening.