Oi vey... :)

[gioarmani]

*pics added below*

I'd say it's good to be back home, but it's a bit depressing in its own right.

Sadly, the more I visit the UK & Europe, the less I wish to live in the States. Culture, history, fashion, cuisine, efficient driving skills, etc.--is the only thing we have going for us is a cheaper cost of living?

Good to be home again, though.

Edited September 11, 2007 by gioarmani

[FxrAndy]

Welcome back any nice wrist shot on you travels?

[KB]

Welcome back and being Australian I understand the lack of culture bit.

Ken

[Victoria]

I'd say it's good to be back home, but it's a bit depressing in its own right.

Sadly, the more I visit the UK & Europe, the less I wish to live in the States. Culture, history, fashion, cuisine, efficient driving skills, etc.--is the only thing we have going for us is a cheaper cost of living?

Good to be home again, though.

Wow, you're one of the few people I know who comes back to their home, and doesn't feel happy instead of slightly sad!

Being "European" (I don't consider myself European, I'm British), I too get frustrated with South Florida's comparative lack of history and culture, as I grew up understanding those two things to be.

Miami was founded in 1896, and really, you'd be hard-pressed to find buildings over 50 years old here -- so all that awe-inspiring, ancient architecture is completely missing here. I miss that.

Yes, we have a city ballet company, an opera company, a philarmonic, great cinemas, and attractions, but that SOLIDNESS that the continent and the UK have is utterly missing, you know what I mean?

But in compensation, all the pitfalls of ancient cities and cultures are avoided.

Buildings and bridges are not corroded, ugly, depressing and the streets don't smell of wee. Bureaucracy is at a minimum, and police are vigilant but not ever-present with surveillance as, e.g., in Stockholm and London.

I only say this because I recently noticed you're from South Florida too. If you were from Idaho or some boofoo city in Jersey, you might think the same thing, but I assure you, people from Scunthorpe, Rennes, and Nagoya do too.

EDIT: OH! You had "South Florida" as your location before, now it says Tampa. TAMPA! Wow. My condolences dude. Hope you get back to Yourup soon.

[plaifender]

I'd say it's good to be back home, but it's a bit depressing in its own right.

Sadly, the more I visit the UK & Europe, the less I wish to live in the States. Culture, history, fashion, cuisine, efficient driving skills, etc.--is the only thing we have going for us is a cheaper cost of living?

Good to be home again, though.

yeah.. you about said it.. apart from average cost of living.. europe blows my continent out of the water..... I guess i'll stay in madrid!

[Pugwash]

Miami was founded in 1896, and really, you'd be hard-pressed to find buildings over 50 years old here -- so all that awe-inspiring, ancient architecture is completely missing here. I miss that.

Hmm. Just this afternoon, I was strolling through the site of a 1850 year old Roman Bath-House. Here's the wall of the tepidarium and the caldarium, here's the cold plunge ... I like the history of Europe.

I've not spent enough time in the US to pick up on its history, though.

http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/f...efirst9969.html

[Victoria]

Hmm. Just this afternoon, I was strolling through the site of a 1850 year old Roman Bath-House. Here's the wall of the tepidarium and the caldarium, here's the cold plunge ... I like the history of Europe.

I've not spent enough time in the US to pick up on its history, though.

This is no way is a retort against you, Pugwash, but in a small way, your reply is reminded me of an anecdote.

When Consuelo Vanderbilt arrived in her new home of Blenheim Palace, on her way to becoming the new Duchess of Marlborough, you know how the mayor of Woodstock (bedecked in his chains of office, as usual) greeted her?

"Welcome, ma'am. You'll be happy in your new surroundings, we trust, now that you have a chance to be in a civilised country with history and culture. The Mayoress and I live in a house which is 300 years older than America."

I quote from memory, from her autobiography, you understand so forgive me if I got the exact wording wrong.

But that was the gist of it.

As long as I live, I'll never know why we British delight in making these comparisons to Americans' faces. My grandfather, bless his soul, was the worst of the lot.

[gioarmani]

Some pics from the trip (sorry to leave out our "us" shots; privacy reasons):

(Paris)

(THE best pizza on the planet is in Paris--not in Italy, and not in New York. Period.)

(Our hotel, somewhere in the mix, in Montmartre (near the Sacre-Coeur)

(London)

(notice how the clock is stopped for repair--different times on each side of the clock)

(the ubiquitous black cab)

(off to the west country for the week--the most fantastic 1700's cottages to rent)

(afternoon tea)

(Now, I've got German blood, but nothing builds your tolerance faster than drinking with the Brits...)

(detail)

(over the mid Atlantic & home)

Edited September 11, 2007 by gioarmani

[Pugwash]

Great stuff, but it looks ... normal.

I suspect my tourist photos of the US would look exciting to a European and plain and normal to an American.

ps. Great photos, it looks like you had an excellent time. Culture shock upon returning home can be a bitca though.

[gioarmani]

Yes, the grass is always greener. However, I think the grass in the Cotswolds literally is greener...

[Blindman]

Naaaa, even after growing up in Chicago the best Pizza I've ever eaten was in Garmisch. A hidden little place with a full view of the Alps. The best Goulasch soup is served in the cafe on top of the Zugspitz - the colder it is the better the soup.

[ryyannon]

When Consuelo Vanderbilt arrived in her new home of Blenheim Palace, on her way to becoming the new Duchess of Marlborough, you know how the mayor of Woodstock (bedecked in his chains of office, as usual) greeted her?

"Welcome, ma'am. You'll be happy in your new surroundings, we trust, now that you have a chance to be in a civilised country with history and culture. The Mayoress and I live in a house which is 300 years older than America."

"As is our plumbing and heating."

But I'm sure he didn't mention that.

[dluddy]

Great pics Gio. Looks like you had a great trip. thanks for sharing

[Victoria]

Yes, the grass is always greener. However, I think the grass in the Cotswolds literally is greener...

It is. I grew up nearby.

Especially during the time you went, when men all over are playing in their cricket whites, which you can see below you as you fly into Heathrow or Gatwick.

Every time I see that as we approach, I get a lump so large in my throat, it hurts. It's the little things you miss. Like PG Tips and Richard & Judy, which sounds twee, but there you are...

I'll c/p the two photos I liked best in a second, Gio.

FAVE #1:

FAVE #2:

...as Puggy said, tourists have practically the same "eye" when shooting things which to them is astounding (and they are!), but to those used to it, are a little more prosaic because of custom.

But I have never been to the Blackfriars (!), and I just love the photo of this pizza. For the record, though it's become a chain, Pino's is pretty good too.

[Victoria]

"As is our plumbing and heating."

But I'm sure he didn't mention that.

"And our teeth"!

Honestly, though, what's the deal with the teeth? It's not as bad as all that. And whenever I hear Americans being called fatties by us (which has reached fever pitch proportions in the past decade, but most especially after Hurricane Katrina), I remember that Americans have always derided us for our teeth. I have great teeth okay!

By the way, just to make my comment fair and balanced, when Consuelo did indeed become Duchess of Marlborough, she was chosen as one of the Court Ladies to escort Queen Alexandra to her coronation. I believe there were only 8 ladies given this EXTREME honour, and one was an American.

We British are nothing if not fair.

[Pugwash]

Yes, the grass is always greener. However, I think the grass in the Cotswolds literally is greener...

Ireland is even greener still. It's the rain.

[Victoria]

Ireland is even greener still. It's the rain.

Indeed.

That's Columbia River, Oregon, in the great Pacific Northwest of America. Not my photo, and I've only been to Washington State, but it looks very beautiful.

HOWEVER, at the risk of bringing down the wrath of the Mighty Lanikai, and the wonderful Irish RWGers, I find Hawaii and Ireland a TOUCH too green. England's is about right. The Lake District especially.

[gioarmani]

I will say, even though I only flew in for a day of shopping (and forgot the &%!~#damn camera...) the Guinness in Dublin is ASTOUNDING. It's not even as good in England-- and is absolute [censored] in the States (better in the can with the widget though, than in the bottle). Dublin Guinness is like drinking milk. And each coupled with a Bailey's...holy lord...I don't even remember the flight back.

And I must say, the local ales really are so much better at room temperature. The new "Extra cold American-style" Guinness that was popping up in all the bars is [censored] too. Ruins the flavor.

Developed quite a taste for 1664 in Cirencester, too...

[Pugwash]

I will say, even though I only flew in for a day of shopping (and forgot the &%!~#damn camera...) the Guinness in Dublin is ASTOUNDING. It's not even as good in England-- and is absolute [censored] in the States (better in the can with the widget though, than in the bottle). Dublin Guinness is like drinking milk. And each coupled with a Bailey's...holy lord...I don't even remember the flight back.

And I must say, the local ales really are so much better at room temperature. The new "Extra cold American-style" Guinness that was popping up in all the bars is [censored] too. Ruins the flavor.

Developed quite a taste for 1664 in Cirencester, too...

In Paris, I drank 1664 (or Seize, as it's known) but Guinness is one of my all-time favourites. You're quite right, it's amazing in Dublin, but it doesn't travel too well.

Room temperature is a little too warm, but yes, English ale should be served between 13 and 20 degrees C (something like 70degF?) as the flavours are good enough not to need masking by dropping the temperature. The prevalence of so-called Ice Beers recently is done to allow beer makers to make crappier beer as the closer to zero degrees centigrade a drink reaches, the less it can be tasted. If you want to try a test, get a coke and a seven-up and drop either to 1-3 degrees C (35 degrees farenheit) and try to tell them apart in a blind test.

Damn, you're making me want a hand-pulled pint of Yorkshire bitter now.

[gioarmani]

Lol...me too actually.

[cornerstone]

Great photos....you had me until you showed me the British meal!

Seriously, the grass is always greener on the other side, as you say. That's why Florida is full of, well, vbarretts!

Glad to see you had a wonderful holiday!!

[Pugwash]

Great photos....you had me until you showed me the British meal!

Traditional British fare can be amazing. Try a Chicken Tikka Massala or a decent Balti on your next UK visit.

[giorgio]

Traditional British fare can be amazing. Try a Chicken Tikka Massala or a decent Balti on your next UK visit.

It would be quite a stretch to call either of those "traditional" British, considering Balti can be traced all the way back to the '70s

[jeff g]

Beautiful photos. Nice sentiment.

I have been fortunate to have lived for almost a decade in Europe.

I continue to travel there fairly often. It is Italy and Spain for me these past few trips.

But...Home IS where the heart is, and home for me is the good ol' USA.

I live in the rockies, and there is where my heart is. It is always good to come

'home' after a great visit. Be thankful for all that you have.

[Pugwash]

It would be quite a stretch to call either of those "traditional" British, considering Balti can be traced all the way back to the '70s

Well, sure. But at that point, anything using a potato is suspect as well.