On Sun, 19 Nov 2006 17:35:35 +0100, Thomas Borchert
wrote in
:


Between the discomfort of
commercial flying, and the famously less-than-welcoming attitude of
many Europeans,

And where exactly did you get that idea? What media in the US, for
example, would even report on the European attitude, no matter if it is
positive or negative? Fox "News"?

My experience with western Europeans has been, that generally folks
have the same basic interests and concerns as, and mostly act with the
same or better dignity and refinement as urban Americans. Of course
there are individuals who harbor a little larceny or chicanery, or are
grumpy about the indentation of tourists in their once homogenous
environs, but the vast majority are thoughtful, helpful, and
delightfully warm, and interesting.