American Tourist Shares 22 Of Her Husband’s Witty Remarks Whilst Traveling To Europe, Goes Viral
In 1867, Mark Twain wrote the famous book The Innocents Abroad, where, in his witty and sometimes cynical manner, he shared travel notes from a long trip to European countries. More than a century and a half has passed since then, and if Mark Twain lived today, he would most likely choose TikTok to express his creativity.
Here's another great example of the witty travelogue genre from Americans in Europe: the TikToker @royaventurera shared some out-of-context observations her husband had been making during their first big Euro trip. So once upon a time somewhere in Europe, far far away...
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Imagine if service workers in America had living wages and universal healthcare like Europeans instead of $2 per hour and no healthcare at all.
The first video with Roya's husband's notes went viral with over 1.5M views on TikTok, and by popular demand, Roya produced a second video that became even more viral, garnering around 1.9M views. It cannot be said that they are all united by some common concept, rather the opposite - however, something in these completely diverse phrases about local places of interest, people, food and customs obviously resonates in the hearts of any American who has ever crossed the Atlantic in the eastern direction.
More to do with ignorance and being scared of going to the wrong place. Churches had the most money, so made the nicest buildings though.
What cannot be taken away from Europe is its incredible diversity, both geographical and historical. When you stand on the stones that were laid in the pavement about three thousand years ago, or look at the buildings that remember Julius Caesar or Hannibal, it is difficult to abstract from this thought. However, Americans both in the time of Mark Twain and now were very American-centric, so do not be confused by the comparison of San Francisco, founded about 250 years ago, and almost one-thousand-year-old Amsterdam. In the end, these cities really have something in common... Some kind of a common vibe, don't you think?
By the way, the comparison is also appropriate in the opposite direction - Europe has adopted too much from the U.S. over the past centuries. Even the very concept of the contemporary European Union goes back to the great French novelist Victor Hugo, who at one time, back in 1849, came up with the idea of uniting all existing European countries into the so-called "United States of Europe". Therefore, no matter how different, for example, life in Provence and Louisiana is, something in common can always be found.
I do feel like tattoo's are somewhat cheaper in Europe, when I see Americans getting tiny minimalistic tattoo's and it costs them like $500, it floors me. If I was paying the equivalent of that for a tattoo, it'd be a pretty large ish piece! (though my artists has started charging more lately.. and his work has gone downhill, thinking of switching tbh, not because of the price, but the quality...)
If you are interested in the topic of cultural differences between Europe and North America, seen from the point of view of natives who moved to new and unusual conditions for them, you can, for example, check out this post of ours about a Canadian in the Netherlands, or about a woman from a small Norwegian town who once moved to California. In the meantime, please feel free to read all of these really spot-on and witty remarks from this decent gentleman and maybe add your own in case you've ever had a chance to travel across Europe.
Weird to compare a Spanish sausage with a French one (which is disgusting, BTW, and nothing whatsoever like Chorizo) . Or is there a Creole version that is actually palatable? If so, for dog's sake, American tourists, do NOT make the mistake if imagining that the French one is like the one you know.
Europe has a beer-brewing tradition stretching back well over a thousand years with every type of beer imaginable available. IPA is an English beer. Perhaps there wasn't enough American Bud or Schlitz available.
It's really revealing about our country's history that a beer that is 'ours' is called India Pale Ale.
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My man where have you been? You can literally buy 100 different beers in the supermarket
There is a bar in Utrecht that has more than a 100 different beers, and it is in an old church, and there is a cat:)
there's an amazing bar in edinburgh which has hundreds of beer brands
... that's because we drink actual beer and not dishwater ;)
IPA is everywhere 8n Europe some years back. I guessed we just moved on to better things.
So royaventuera managed to find the only place on the planet that serves only two beers and then proceeds to tell us that he knows nothing about the european beer culture or indeed India Pale Ale, which should be made with specific ingredients, rather than the top brewed, overhopped piddle sold in America. This whole sequence has been written by somebody who has no idea about europe.
well, he should go to Poland. The beer variety we have would most likely satisfy an American (they have a lot of good breweries actually)
It depend a lot from the country and restaurants. In France you usually have more wine choice than beer, but in big cities it's sometime the opposites.
Don't know when this comment written. IPAs virtually (including cheekily Irish Pale Ale). The French breweries are taking on UK, Scots, Irish, German, Belgian, US and other styles of beer, with a vengence in the past few years, and from an ale snob, I have to admit they are as good as, and often better than the originals. Of course depends where and what type of bar or hotel you visit, they range kept on pumps or bottles.
There are hundreds of breweries, large and small in the UK. Most make variations of bitter with a whole range of strengths and flavours. There is also a lot of swill marketed as 'lager', but top fermented with ale yeast and never stored. I live in a very small market town where the local British Legion held a beer festival. They had some dozen or more ales plus nearly as many ciders. Fortunately it is downhill all the way to my home!
What? I've been to plenty of good bars and restaurants in NY that serve a range of European beers. How did this person only find two?
Depends on where you go for both continents (I’ve lived/travelled in both). But if you live in the northwest part of America/Canada, the brewery culture and beer selection is incomparable. I mean they have local artisanal beers at chain restaurants. The further east you go the more “bud light” it gets.
The US does not have the history , diversity or regard for beer as does a number of European countries, especially those in the north.
Load More Replies... In fairness, most restaurants will serve 3-5 mainstream brands, depending on which one will provide stuff like coasters, umbrellas, etc. But you can still find ones who serve local beers.
I really wouldn't call these observations dead-on. There's a few that are or might be accurate, certainly not all though. And what's with the random pictures going with the quotes? People across the pond might get confused there's some cohesion..
Would be much better if there was an explanation to why OP came to the conclusion. I mean some of them are obvious, some totally aren't
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Very boring and dull. Mostly people complaining that things are different on a different continent.
Exactly. A number are incorrect, others are ignorant and others are 'I like something in a particular way and if others don't then they are wrong.'
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It's been a while since I've seen a post with so many downvotes
Bored Panda: make generalizations about America/Americans? **gets applause** Make generations about Europe/Europeans? **surprised Pikachu face**
Well done. You've just highlighted an all too common misconception .. that the US (one country) equates to Europe (44 countrie)
Load More Replies... How is this posted here? Screenshots from a tiktok? I know BP has to post the anti-American list at least three times a week, but this is just low quality.
If BoredPanda has taught me nothing else, it's to stay my America self in America. Y'all are mean. That's right, I said y'all.
I, for one, am pleased that people like you'll be staying where you are.
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Becky, I vote, advocate and organize. I do what I can within the system as it is, I never said I sat around whining without action. I see nothing wrong with pointing out dysfunctions and suggesting there could be options for improvement.
Why is not liking, not having, preferring something else, synonymous with "hating" something?
I just wanna say, WE KNOW! OUR COUNTRY IS TERRIBLE! YOU DON'T NEED TO GO EVERYWHERE SAYING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
I really wouldn't call these observations dead-on. There's a few that are or might be accurate, certainly not all though. And what's with the random pictures going with the quotes? People across the pond might get confused there's some cohesion..
Would be much better if there was an explanation to why OP came to the conclusion. I mean some of them are obvious, some totally aren't
Load More Replies... Very boring and dull. Mostly people complaining that things are different on a different continent.
Exactly. A number are incorrect, others are ignorant and others are 'I like something in a particular way and if others don't then they are wrong.'
Load More Replies... It's been a while since I've seen a post with so many downvotes
Bored Panda: make generalizations about America/Americans? **gets applause** Make generations about Europe/Europeans? **surprised Pikachu face**
Well done. You've just highlighted an all too common misconception .. that the US (one country) equates to Europe (44 countrie)
Load More Replies... How is this posted here? Screenshots from a tiktok? I know BP has to post the anti-American list at least three times a week, but this is just low quality.
If BoredPanda has taught me nothing else, it's to stay my America self in America. Y'all are mean. That's right, I said y'all.
I, for one, am pleased that people like you'll be staying where you are.
Load More Replies... Becky, I vote, advocate and organize. I do what I can within the system as it is, I never said I sat around whining without action. I see nothing wrong with pointing out dysfunctions and suggesting there could be options for improvement.
Why is not liking, not having, preferring something else, synonymous with "hating" something?
I just wanna say, WE KNOW! OUR COUNTRY IS TERRIBLE! YOU DON'T NEED TO GO EVERYWHERE SAYING THE SAME THINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
