European WWII History Tour

[shotgunneeley]

In May, I'm going to Europe with a local university through the EF college study tours program. I believe there are 17 of us going for a total of 11 days visiting London, Normandy, Paris, Bastogne, Cologne, and Berlin. We just had our first group tour meeting today, my tour leader is a Russian-born professor at the local college. Today she gave us a few tips on what we can/cannot bring with us based on past experience.  I'm an extremely laid back/low maintenance sort of person, so I'm not concerned with travel stress or carrying a bunch of luxuries with me. What did concern me is that she told us not to wear anything that would readily ID us as Americans and to tell anybody who asked that we were Canadians (sorry guys, LOL)... . I'm not naive, I know global opinion of America ain't too good, but geeze! I'll certainly be taking the "when in Rome,..." approach. I've already been studying up on the customs and norms for the different countries we will be visiting to keep a low profile. If that doesn't work, I sized up a few of the guys in the group to see who would be good to hang with in case of a brawl.  

Anybody here got any tips on traveling through Europe? Any tales and experiences? I've already got a rough plan on what I want to hit, just wanted hear what y'all had to say.  

[nrshida]

  Just be yourself. Try to be open minded, Europe is a very different culturally to what you are used to. Obviously take basic care when in any big city (standard tourism advice).

Enjoy yourself and try to soak it all in, do not talk to French girls and when crossing the road in London LOOK RIGHT FIRST!

[Grayeagle]

Don't be rude .. goes a long way anywhere.
You're the guest.

There's a D-Day memorial on the beach in Normandy.
(think Omaha .. not sure)
My dad's name is on it, he was there.
One of the bridges off the beach still has the Sherman tank that began it.
Dad said it sank in the creek mud and they just laid planking over it.
It was still there when my dad went on a tour years ago.

Memorials all over ..also some truly mind blowing places to visit.
I highly recommend Heidelberg Castle
Initially built by the Romans in ~400 BC.
Kegger in the basement below the main ballroom holds over a million gallons of wine.
They knew how to PARTY!!

an such

-Frank aka GE

[jimson]

Christ!!

I'm planning a European vacation but hearing that I should hide the fact that I am an American makes me think that that whole continent doesn't deserve for me to spend a dime of my money over there.

I would never dream of mistreating a European guest to my country.

[nrshida]

I'm planning a European vacation but hearing that I should hide the fact that I am an American makes me think that that whole continent doesn't deserve for me to spend a dime of my money over there.

I would never dream of mistreating a European guest to my country.

In my opinion you should still visit Europe but leave that expectation at home. It doesn't work like that here and experiencing that would be part of the reason to come. You would not be mistreated.

The advice about disguising yourself as a Canadian is because certain aspects of American foreign policy are not very popular in a lot of nations and cultures outside America. Again in my opinion I don't think you should do that, just be yourself but I would have thought it obvious that you can't expect your domestic values to be valid elsewhere.



For Shotgunneeley, if you have some freedom in London The Natural History Museum is well worth a visit. Also the  Science Museum is nearby. You can also go to the top of St Paul's Cathedral very cheaply for an hour in the afternoon, used to be 4 p.m. but you'll have to check on their website, dash up to the top of the dome for a great view of London (be careful on the spiral stairs, you will see  ). If you can get away for a day, take a trip out to the R.A.F. Museum (London) it's actually outside of London in a place called Colindale (formerly Hendon). If you have a full agenda I'd consider calling in sick and buggering off there anyway, entrance to the Museum is free and you could spend a day there and trust me, you wouldn't regret it. Take your camera. Also try to go for dinner in a Curry house or a Balti house if you can find one. Indian culture and cuisine is an important part of British culture. Do not order a Vindaloo or a Phaal:-




The Paris underground Metro is fantastic and you can pop up all over the place. You have to see the view from the Sacre-Coeur Basilica and if you have a spare €50 (joke, but it is expensive) get yourself a coffee on the Champs-Elysees and watch the world go by for twenty minutes. Although I've not been to them there are apparently some very good WWII museums in Normandy, this one in St Mere Eglise:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgYZRaOAnMY

Also some other videos about the beaches on Kiwitedferny's channel there, including some insightful information from a guided tour which you should watch before you go.


I have not been to Cologne in the daytime or to Berlin but Germany is very interesting and nice. Do not mention Ze Vwar 

[mthrockmor]

Learn proper Canadian pronunciations of "about" a another dozen words. I'm sure you'll be fine. Have fun, takre pics and post here.

Boo

[mipoikel]

In France they don't speak english anyway (or they dont want to). 

I wouldnt hide your nationality in central europe, looks like cities you are going to visit are also quite "safe" places.

Americans are all welcome at least here. 

[Motherland]

I was in southern Germany, Switzerland and Austria two summers ago and was never treated badly for being American. Then again, no one ever asked if I was American. Most people spoke English fine or could understand my German well enough. You may have problems with this in Britain, though.
I honestly can't really imagine you being mistreated for just being American, the problem would be if you're belligerent about it. Don't act like you're god's gift to the world or deserve special treatment because you're American. Don't where those T-shirts or hats or whatever with flags and 'murrka f yeah' all over them; although from the Europeans I've talked to, the object to this not because of some special hatred for America, but because the idea of wearing something like that in the first place is tasteless and cheesy. This may not go for everyone though...
In some of the places you visit, a lot of the people will be immigrants anyway (London, Paris, and Berlin especially). Again, I never had any problems with these people but few of them spoke English compared to the general population.
Also, if you have puritan (read: average American) views on sexuality, be prepared for major culture shock. The first night I was in Germany we stayed in a hotel and Mannheim, and as my friend was flipping through the channels looking for something to watch we were greeted by hardcore pornography on a couple of channels... this was at like 7 o'clock in the evening. Sex shops and dirty magazines are no where near as taboo and you'll see them all over the place and not as concealed... in fact they aren't at all.

[cpxxx]

Seriously I would go back on ask what the hell she's on about? When is the last time she was in Europe with Americans? Maybe it's something to do with being Russian. Anyone would think you'll be stoned in the street if anyone thinks you're American.

Lots of Americans visit and live in Europe. No need to pretend to be Canadian. Besides everyone in Europe thinks Canadians are American anyway. The most likely problems you'll have is the usual tourist stuff. Particularly watch out for Romany Gypsy pickpockets and thieves. They will target tourist of all sorts.

I have heard of Americans being told stuff like that before only for them to be pleasantly surprised when they arrive. I remember once some high school kids came over on exchange. One girl stayed in our house. Her bags were filled with heavy clothes because she'd been warned that Ireland was freezing in the summer . The poor girl had to go out and buy some summer clothes because it was hot that year.

I would seriously question that woman's credentials if she's telling you stuff like that. Whether you like Obama or not, since he got in. The heat's gone out of all the anti American nutjobs.

Also remember Europe isn't one big country. Each country has it's own very specific identity and don't call the Brits, European. They don't like it.

[guncrasher]

In France they don't speak english anyway (or they dont want to). 

I wouldnt hide your nationality in central europe, looks like cities you are going to visit are also quite "safe" places.

Americans are all welcome at least here. 

lol when i went to france i didnt have any problems finding somebody that spoke english on the street.


semp

[PR3D4TOR]

Never had a problem traveling in Europe. As long as you're nice and respectful they will return in kind.

[shotgunneeley]

Seriously I would go back on ask what the hell she's on about? When is the last time she was in Europe with Americans? Maybe it's something to do with being Russian. Anyone would think you'll be stoned in the street if anyone thinks you're American.

Lots of Americans visit and live in Europe. No need to pretend to be Canadian. Besides everyone in Europe thinks Canadians are American anyway. The most likely problems you'll have is the usual tourist stuff. Particularly watch out for Romany Gypsy pickpockets and thieves. They will target tourist of all sorts.

I have heard of Americans being told stuff like that before only for them to be pleasantly surprised when they arrive. I remember once some high school kids came over on exchange. One girl stayed in our house. Her bags were filled with heavy clothes because she'd been warned that Ireland was freezing in the summer . The poor girl had to go out and buy some summer clothes because it was hot that year.

I would seriously question that woman's credentials if she's telling you stuff like that. Whether you like Obama or not, since he got in. The heat's gone out of all the anti American nutjobs.

Also remember Europe isn't one big country. Each country has it's own very specific identity and don't call the Brits, European. They don't like it.

She has lead several tours before, they went to Italy last year. Not saying that all Europeans are hostile to Americans but there have been cases of anti-US sentiment in the past. There are jerks and crazy people in every country on this planet. She mainly doesn't want to cause a stir by parading through places like Paris with big ole' USA flag shirts and the like. No sense in calling attention to ourselves and publicly displaying that we're American tourists 5,000 miles away from home in a land where there "may" be a person/people with anti-US feelings. Nothing wrong with being cautious, I'd expect any travelers in a foreign land to keep their wits about them and stay observant to their surroundings.

[Shuffler]

In May, I'm going to Europe with a local university through the EF college study tours program. I believe there are 17 of us going for a total of 11 days visiting London, Normandy, Paris, Bastogne, Cologne, and Berlin. We just had our first group tour meeting today, my tour leader is a Russian-born professor at the local college. Today she gave us a few tips on what we can/cannot bring with us based on past experience.  I'm an extremely laid back/low maintenance sort of person, so I'm not concerned with travel stress or carrying a bunch of luxuries with me. What did concern me is that she told us not to wear anything that would readily ID us as Americans and to tell anybody who asked that we were Canadians (sorry guys, LOL)... . I'm not naive, I know global opinion of America ain't too good, but geeze! I'll certainly be taking the "when in Rome,..." approach. I've already been studying up on the customs and norms for the different countries we will be visiting to keep a low profile. If that doesn't work, I sized up a few of the guys in the group to see who would be good to hang with in case of a brawl.  

Anybody here got any tips on traveling through Europe? Any tales and experiences? I've already got a rough plan on what I want to hit, just wanted hear what y'all had to say.  

It has nothing to do with global opinion.

It has to do with the cowards calling themselves taliban and such. As an American you are a target.

[Pigslilspaz]

 

It has nothing to do with global opinion.

It has to do with the cowards calling themselves taliban and such. As an American you are a target.

[nrshida]

It has nothing to do with global opinion.

It has to do with the cowards calling themselves taliban and such. As an American you are a target.

Yes. We have gangs of Taliban standing around on street corners looking for American tourists to attack. They are a genuine nuisance