Europe vs. USA
In the spirit of the UK vs. America and because I just returned from vacation in Spain/France, I present to you the definitive reasons why Europe is better than the United States and why the United States is better than Europe. Add others if you please.
Europe wins for general fashion sense.
USA wins for general lack of dreadlock-mullets and rattails.
Europe wins for its train system.
USA wins for its highway system.
Europe wins for city street beauty.
USA wins for city street navigation (a result of actually having signs indicating street names).
Europe wins for its enormous stadiums.
USA wins for not allowing smoking in its stadiums.
Europe wins for better bread.
USA wins for not charging for bread at restaurants.
Europe’s beaches win if you’re a boob-watcher.
USA’s beaches win if you’re a surfer.
Europe wins for their common chocolate.
USA wins for their common candy.
Europe wins because its cars don’t use much gas.
USA wins because its trucks will kick your ass.
Europe wins for its historical art.
USA wins for its contemporary art.
Europe wins for no obligatory tipping at restaurants.
USA wins for service at restaurants.
Europe TV just sucks.
USA wins in every category related to television (unless, of course, you’re into free late-night porn).
Oh, and by the way, the ground floor of a building is the first floor, not the zero floor. You don’t see us calling this the 20th century.
You can’t smoke in UK (or most EU country) stadiums.
Some European TV sucks. Britain has great TV (and not the imported US stuff).
Comment by Rebecca — September 27, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Rebecca,
You can smoke in stadiums in Spain, France and Italy so I just assumed it was all of Europe.
And you’re right, Britain has some great TV, but I don’t know if a little Office, Coupling and BBC News can make up for the rest of Europe’s televisional offenses.
Comment by Rusty — September 27, 2007 @ 6:24 am
Rusty - all EU countries will have to comply with the EU smoking laws in the next few years I believe. Many are behind the UK and Ireland in this though.
True - TV offenses across Europe are indeed huge. I lived with Austrian TV for a year and it’s TERRIBLE. I love British TV though - we get the best of the US stuff and we make some fantastic drama and comedy series.
Comment by Rebecca — September 27, 2007 @ 6:36 am
I’ve only seen Greece, Romania (twice), and Bulgaria, and spent some hours in the Amsterdam airport.
I thought Greece reminded me of Utah — all rocks. But the ancient architecture certainly gives it character.
Otherwise, driving in Athens (we were on a chartered bus) was perhaps the scariest thing I’ve ever done.
Comment by D. Fletcher — September 27, 2007 @ 7:11 am
“I have something to say about the difference between American and European cities. But I forget what it is. I have it written down at home somewhere.” –The Narrator, True Stories
Comment by John Mansfield — September 27, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Is it just me or do cigarettes in Europe smell differently? More tolerable than the stinky American cigarettes…
Europe wins on cell phones! You can talk on your cell phone deep underground (like the mile deep Moscow subways).
America, well, it doesn’t win on cell phones, not even designs.
Europe and America are tied for natural geographic beauty.
Comment by Dan — September 27, 2007 @ 8:13 am
Europe wins on food, except BBQ, which it cannot do in any recognizable form.
Comment by Supergenius — September 27, 2007 @ 9:47 am
With all of the Inspector Lynley and Foyle’s War I’ve been watching lately, I wouldn’t be surprised if the US is starting to become a net importer of British TV (if you count the shows inspired by their British originals).
Comment by lief — September 27, 2007 @ 9:50 am
I don’t know about the food across the board. Certain places, yes, but breakfast in London? Or tried to be a vegetarian in Germany? There’s only so many bowls of Tomate-Souppe overcooked plates of Gemüsepflanzen mit Käse-Soße one can take.
Comment by tracy m — September 27, 2007 @ 10:08 am
Tracy, I thought they purged the vegetarians out of Germany decades ago.
Re: breakfast in London, it’s splendid! The English Breakfast is a delight. Or, failing that, there’s cereal like everywhere else.
Comment by Supergenius — September 27, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Bah! Stewed tomatoes, on every plate? No thanks- although I do love the soft-boiled egg tradition.
Comment by tracy m — September 27, 2007 @ 10:38 am
Dan,
Oh man, that was on my list, I forgot to type it out. But I’d have to say Europe wins on cell phones and cell phone technology, but the United States wins because it has the iPhone.
SG, Tracy,
Breakfast in Spain was my favorite. Prosciutto wrapped Spanish melon with Manchego, local sausage slices and sweet croissants. And of course a classic crepe in Paris is hard to beat as well. But yes, English breakfast brings all of Europe down. Of course most of the sweet cereals of the United States aren’t doing us any favors either.
Comment by Rusty — September 27, 2007 @ 11:19 am
You do know that actual English people don’t really eat the traditional English breakfast though right?
It’s only served at B&Bs or hotels. Although most offer the continental breakfast too. Real English people eat cereal or toast for breakfast.
Comment by Rebecca — September 27, 2007 @ 11:23 am
I dunno…Portugal has some frikin’ awesome surfing. And though its not too common here in the US, my only experience stubling across an all male, all nude beach was in the great city of Santa Cruz California.
I’ll take boobs to that particular experience any day.
Comment by Andres — September 27, 2007 @ 12:49 pm
Although my experience is restricted to the UK specifically, it seems to me that Europe has better drivers. But the US wins for cheaper gas.
Comment by Mephibosheth — September 27, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
America may have the highway, but only Germany has the Autobahn! I drove one time from Zurich to Munich and man that was a dream drive, even though I had the cheapest vehicle. I could still go at 100 to 120 miles per hour. Legally!!!
Where can you do THAT here in the US?
Comment by Dan — September 27, 2007 @ 1:25 pm
Rusty,
How was Spain/France? See the Pyrenees?
Comment by The Brit — September 27, 2007 @ 1:36 pm
As a former resident of Santa Cruz, I have to ask Andreas: where is the heck was that beach??? I know of a nude beach north of SC on the Devil’s Slide area of 1… uh, um, just curious, you know?
Comment by tracy m — September 27, 2007 @ 1:37 pm
Ronan,
Amazing. We stayed up in the Pyrenees (Llivia, la Seu d’Urgell & Cardona) I’m working on a couple posts for 9M about some experiences I had there. A vacation I’d recommend to anyone. (plus we went to an FC Barcelona vs. Sevilla game which was pure awesomeness)
Comment by Rusty — September 27, 2007 @ 1:55 pm
Montana has some freeway stretches with no daytime speedlimit. Only night limits.
Comment by Susan M — September 27, 2007 @ 2:06 pm
We drove from Phoenix to Seattle last weekend, stopping in Elko. I loved loved loved US highway 93 north of Las Vegas. It is a two-lane undivided highway, true, but there were almost no other cars, and the highway seems to be built of 5-mile-long VERY straight sections.
It was way more relaxing than an interstate!
Comment by mistaben — September 27, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
Oh, and my wife got her first taste of 100+ miles per hour. Actually 110. While she was crocheting. It was awesome.
Comment by mistaben — September 27, 2007 @ 2:16 pm
mistaben,
I once got busted on a stretch exactly like that in northern Arizona. The police come at you much faster when you’re going 100 mph (though he only busted me for going 80, I guess I saw him soon enough to slow down by the time he radarred me).
Comment by Rusty — September 27, 2007 @ 2:53 pm
Rusty,
Sounds delightful. I’m jealous that you saw some of La Liga.
Here’s where Europe wins:
European Union open borders. I can live and work in any EU country I like. Our “united states” include western Ireland, the Greek islands, and everything in between. And now it stretches as far as the Black Sea.
Comment by The Brit — September 27, 2007 @ 3:11 pm
Europe wins for places I’ve never been.
USA wins for places I’ve been.
Comment by BTD Greg — September 27, 2007 @ 3:15 pm
As a resident of both socities (England and America), the thing I remember standing out was you could buy a much nicer suit much cheaper in England. Otherwise, it is all cheaper here in America. I also really miss the public transportation, especially trains that run between towns regularly.
Comment by TStevens — September 27, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Tracy M.
The beach was on the north side of town in a small cove off of Cliff Drive. Despite that experience, SC remains one of my favorite towns in our great nation.
Also, I would say that the nightlife is generally much more vibrant in Europe than in the US. I remember walking to church in northern Spain at 9am when the revelers were just heading home. Most downtowns in the US are completely empty by the time 10 or 11pm rolls around.
Comment by Andres — September 27, 2007 @ 6:19 pm
In Switzerland, if a train is scheduled to arrive at 1:47 pm, when their perfectly synchronized clocks turn 1:47, you see the train coming into the station. Beautiful perfection!
Where in the United States can you find trains on time all the time?
On the other hand, driving is much simpler here in the United States, fewer permits, less restriction.
Comment by Dan — September 27, 2007 @ 7:41 pm
America has the best campgrounds.
Comment by Rebecca — September 28, 2007 @ 4:38 am
Rebecca- I know regular English folks don’t have awful stewed tomatoes for breakfast- but I’ve never had the opportunity to eat in an English home. I have eaten in several German and Austrian homes, and the pleasures therein are remembered most fondly…
Heres one:
Europe has the BEST toys for kids. Germany in particular.
Comment by tracy m — September 28, 2007 @ 5:25 am
America has the best public rest rooms, especially at rest stops on the interstate.
The European countries I know about first hand have better postal service. Delivery twice a day, and you can do your banking at the post office.
Comment by Mark IV — September 28, 2007 @ 8:06 am
Most european villages I saw were very tidy
American “villages”, not so much.
Rusty - US 93 from Vegas to Reno is very different that most highways in Arizona. There are actually people in Arizona. But that is one thing that America has over Europe. Wide open spaces, not much touched by human civilization.
I love cities, but driving through the vast plains and mountains of the western US is amazing.
As to Brit tv, there are some very good shows. I just recent finished Life on Mars…
Comment by Jay S — September 28, 2007 @ 9:56 am
A cen see that article read american. Have you ever bean in Europe man?
Comment by Dack — December 27, 2007 @ 12:47 pm