gftChris

I have never heard anyone criticize Americans for never leaving America. Who the fuck does that? And why?

 

How about this gft: apply the categories I have used and apply them to the UK....or wtf, apply them to the entirety of Europe.

Bust sunsets, sunrises, stadiums, mountain ranges etc. etc. etc.

I mean, why go to the Alps when I can go to the Rockies.

People outside America, clearly! And no, that's not a dig. But people do, it's a real thing that happens. I guess you'll have to take my word for it.

Not been to enough places around europe to comment on all of that, but it'd probably go something like:

Best Sunset: Canary Islands

Best Sunrise: Don't recall ever being awake for sunrise (for good reasons at least)

Best Beaches: south of France/northwest italy

Best Patriotic site: differs country to country obviously, but for a few countries it might be Ypres

Best Single Vista: Pick your favourite point in the alps, there are loads with views of mountains, lakes, trees, snow and wildlife.

Most Fun Town: Honestly, London's up there, with Barcelona and Amsterdam

Best Consistent Architecture: Paris, without a single doubt in my mind.

Campiest Attraction: ? Most like a camp? Not much of a camper.

Nicest College Campus that is not Kenyon: My alma mata, University of Birmingham is pretty nice. But winner is probably Cambridge/Oxford, although not strictly speaking a campus

Best Tall Building: The Shard is striking, if not 'nice'

Best Statue not called Liberty: Probably the colossus at Rhodes or Zeus at Olympia, if they were still around

Best Scenic Town Setting: Any of hundreds in and around southern/central europe, through france, italy, switzerland, pick your poison.

Gawdiest Display of Wealth: Monte Carlo - yachts absolutely everywhere and not a poor person in sight. Closely followed by Cannes.

Best Stadium: Nou Camp

Best hiking for the average person: Swiss Alps

Best Lake: Geneva?

Best Mountain Range: Alps

People criticise americans for never leaving america. While I can understand that to a degree, not seeing all the different cultures etc, it's just incredible to see the vast range of nature and culture that exists within the country - you could not leave and still have 50 very unique holidays.