| | James, a little devilishness is always a welcome thing, and Barbara pulled a fabulous stunt with this headline. Well done! :)
My own initial coronary not withstanding, I am completely unsurprised to see such numbers. It would be far easier for the rest of the world if we were to join them on the left-er side of the street.
Having worked for foreign companies throughout most of my career, I never cease to be amazed at the simultaneous envy and contempt European cultures hold regarding Americans. They scorn and condemn us for our perceived arrogance and lack of culture, but are so damned eager to take our dollars.
It is American travelers that Europe turned to when their hospitality industry was in crisis, begging them to return with their full pocketbooks. And yet I'm sure the sneers returned to their faces once the suitcases were delivered to the rooms. Now, this is not to say that some Americans are not a complete embarrassment when traveling to foreign countries (I have listened to way too many loud Texans on the Paris Metro), but these hotels were dealing with cultured U.S. citizens.
Such hypocrisy is disgusting to me. The last time I was in France, during the beginning of the Iraq war, I was subject to a political diatribe every time I got in a cab, went to a restaurant or made the mistake of telling someone my nationality. I should have just said "No speaky."
M'kay, I had a lot more thoughts on that than I realized. Thanks for letting me vent. :)
Jennifer
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