Your most and least favourite Countries.

Possibly yeah lol. Come to think of it she rode a donkey on the beach in Bournemouth a few years ago and loved it, are you hiding something from me? :p

:erm:

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Originally Posted by gadjo_dilo

You're exaggerating. Russian girls are famous for their beauty. More than that it's the slavic soul that's fascinating- in case you bother to discover it. I mean that eternal heartbreaking conflict of the soul in search of a happy solution for life. A soul with a dilema: Do I love to suffer or do I suffer in order to love? Maybe you need to listern to some Vladimir Visotky songs....

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It was probably in the winter time...as weather warms up, so do the girls

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Originally Posted by donKey jote

I'm proud of my Turkish, English, Irish, Spanish and German heritage :andrea:

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you forgot your Greek and all those Greek lessons you were getting while you were in prison

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Originally Posted by donKey jote

I'm proud of my Turkish, English, Irish, Spanish and German heritage :andrea:

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Mongrel!

Mongol as well :s hock:

Donkeys get around more than I thought :D

Coincidentally to this thread: BBC News - BBC poll: Germany most popular country in the world

Very happy to see the UK up there in third. After yesterdays events and some of the nay-sayers, it's easy to think we're hated around the World but reassuring to see people quite like us. Glad of that because overall, I think we're quite nice people :)

Sorry but this poll has nothing to do with this thread, as we are judging countries base on our vacation experience not about life-quality of each country. Or am I missing something ? ;)

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Originally Posted by pino

Sorry but this poll has nothing to do with this thread, as we are judging countries base on our vacation experience not about life-quality of each country. Or am I missing something ? ;)

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Italy may be the favourite amongst the people here Pino but you lose in the poll lol. I might actually get a t shirt printed that says 'Great Britain - Third most popular country in the world.'

Then tell me why million people go on vacation to Italy starting from Germans ? ;)

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Originally Posted by pino

Then tell me why million people go on vacation to Italy starting from Germans ? ;)

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Good food, friendly people and a better chance of sunshine than in Berlin? For the record though I like Germany too and feel they are some of the friendliest in Europe. :)

I must admit that my least favourite country is possibly the USA. I've never been there, though, but being Spanish -and a leftist-, it's difficult not to have a good impression of it. My view of the USA is very heavily influenced by stereotypes and, in particular, I dislike their elites' opposition to things such as good public health and education, which is something simply unforgivable for me. And there's also guns.

That said, I'd be extremely happy to be able to travel to the US and be proven wrong. Almost everything I read about the US in Spanish press is negative and that has obviously taken its toll in my opinion of the country, but every now and then I heard stuff from people who have actually travelled there and they're always telling me that they're very friendly and nice people. I guess travelling is the best remedy for prejudice...

Oh, and I guess I'd take New Zealand as my favourite country. People were really nice to me when I was there and the scenery is absolutely impressive.

Of all the places I’ve visited Australia is my favourite. Great atmosphere, wonderful people, fantastic places to visit. A close second is the south of France.

South Korea was also wonderful with some of the warmest, friendliest people I’ve ever met :up: .

The U.S.A. is a bit of an enigma. Most of my travels there have been very positive, but I’ve also visited places where I’d rather never return :s .

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Originally Posted by N4D13

I must admit that my least favourite country is possibly the USA. I've never been there, though, but being Spanish -and a leftist-, it's difficult not to have a good impression of it. My view of the USA is very heavily influenced by stereotypes and, in particular, I dislike their elites' opposition to things such as good public health and education, which is something simply unforgivable for me. And there's also guns.

That said, I'd be extremely happy to be able to travel to the US and be proven wrong. Almost everything I read about the US in Spanish press is negative and that has obviously taken its toll in my opinion of the country, but every now and then I heard stuff from people who have actually travelled there and they're always telling me that they're very friendly and nice people. I guess travelling is the best remedy for prejudice...

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It doesn't help that a lot of the extremists seem to be on the web and get all sorts of confidence from their anonymity to be complete jerks. Assuming you can get past the TSA and into the US, even the parts you'd consider full of gun toting crazies are actually nice. Just don't engage when someone goes off on a political tangent.

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Originally Posted by Gregor-y

Just don't engage when someone goes off on a political tangent.

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Good advice, but it rarely happens without the able assistance of alcohol. :D

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Originally Posted by N4D13

I must admit that my least favourite country is possibly the USA. I've never been there, though, but being Spanish -and a leftist-, it's difficult not to have a good impression of it. My view of the USA is very heavily influenced by stereotypes and, in particular, I dislike their elites' opposition to things such as good public health and education, which is something simply unforgivable for me. And there's also guns.

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While it may surprise some of the Americans on here that I should say so, I disagree. As I've always said, criticism of aspects of American policy and life is very different from being 'anti-American', or disliking Americans. I have no doubt about the USA, once one is actually in the country, offering a warm welcome and many tremendous experiences.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

While it may surprise some of the Americans on here that I should say so, I disagree. As I've always said, criticism of aspects of American policy and life is very different from being 'anti-American', or disliking Americans. I have no doubt about the USA, once one is actually in the country, offering a warm welcome and many tremendous experiences.

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You'd be surprised (or maybe not) to know that a large segment of the Spanish population considers itself 'anti-American'. That said, I need to point out that you're right - their dislike of America is based on its government's policies, not the actual Americans.

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Originally Posted by N4D13

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) to know that a large segment of the Spanish population considers itself 'anti-American'. That said, I need to point out that you're right - their dislike of America is based on its government's policies, not the actual Americans.

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Considering that a good percentage, and growing, of the American population is hispanic, I find that highly amusing.

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Originally Posted by markabilly

you forgot your Greek and all those Greek lessons you were getting while you were in prison

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no Greek in me and never has been, unlike your missus :andrea:

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Originally Posted by Starter

Considering that a good percentage, and growing, of the American population is hispanic, I find that highly amusing.

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a good percentage, and growing, of the Spanish population is hispanic too... if you listen to the more xenophobic politicians in Spain at least ;) :p

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Originally Posted by Starter

Considering that a good percentage, and growing, of the American population is hispanic, I find that highly amusing.

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Hispanic is not necessarily Spanish. Stop making us look silly! :p

back in 1984, my first trip to the US:

"where do you come from?"
"I live in Madrid, Spain" (I thought I'd point out Spain to make things easier)
"where in Mexico is that?"

Was in Dallas, but the guy was also white-skinned, blond-haired and blue-eyed. :dozey: :andrea:

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Originally Posted by donKey jote

back in 1984, my first trip to the US:

"where do you come from?"
"I live in Madrid, Spain" (I thought I'd point out Spain to make things easier)
"where in Mexico is that?"

Was in Dallas, but the guy was also white-skinned, blond-haired and blue-eyed. :dozey: :andrea:

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That's OK. I had a conversation a couple years ago with someone (US citizen) who was adamant that New Mexico was not a US state but a foreign country.

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Originally Posted by pino

Then tell me why million people go on vacation to Italy starting from Germans ? ;)

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That's easy to answer. In Germany it usually rains a lot in summer. In Italy it doesn't. ;)

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Originally Posted by dj_bytedisaster

That's easy to answer. In Germany it usually rains a lot in summer. In Italy it doesn't. ;)

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Exactly - true also of the uk. In a supermarket in. Arzachena in 2007 the lady on the deli counter asked if I was German - I shaved the submariner beard off immediately

Places I enjoyed : Iran, Belgium, Colombia

Not so much enjoyed: Egypt, China

Ambivalent about: USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Gemany

Still wanna see: Indonesia

Are we talking about places to visit on holiday, places to visit in the course of your work (short term and long term) or places to live? My view of some placescertainly varies - there are places I've enjoyed visiting but I wouldn't want to live there, eg Bangkok.

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Originally Posted by edv

Places I enjoyed : Iran, Belgium, Colombia

Not so much enjoyed: Egypt, China

Ambivalent about: USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, Gemany

Still wanna see: Indonesia

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That's an intriguingly varied list!

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Originally Posted by D-Type

Are we talking about places to visit on holiday, places to visit in the course of your work (short term and long term) or places to live? My view of some placescertainly varies - there are places I've enjoyed visiting but I wouldn't want to live there, eg Bangkok.

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Excellent point. I might add that among the places I have visited, or even lived for brief periods, it's really not fair to "rate" them without at least a year or two of absorbing the entire culture and understanding the country better.

Being I enjoy learning cultures different from our own, I've enjoyed the vast majority of places I've ever visited. Even Alabama. :)

I talk about places I dream of.
I'd be happy to travel anywhere in the world.

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Originally Posted by D-Type

Are we talking about places to visit on holiday, places to visit in the course of your work (short term and long term) or places to live? My view of some placescertainly varies - there are places I've enjoyed visiting but I wouldn't want to live there, eg Bangkok.

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Why does it matter? I would say that it's the same as what you look for in a partner. For me, I have a partner that's a good cook and home maker, great fun to be with and makes me happy and finally is a complete slut between the sheets.

My job is to ensure that these 3 women never meet each other :devil: :laugh:

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Originally Posted by Knock-on

Why does it matter? I would say that it's the same as what you look for in a partner. For me, I have a partner that's a good cook and home maker, great fun to be with and makes me happy and finally is a complete slut between the sheets.

My job is to ensure that these 3 women never meet each other :devil: :laugh:

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Romanian demands are a bit different: housewife in kitchen, lady in society, slut in bed

That is what most men look for in a partner, it just takes us a little longer to find the right one. If the equation runs in the opposite, it can be embarrassing for all concerned. :)

Favorites, Most favorite, Australia. Very friendly and a fascinating place. New Zeland, same reason as for Australia. Greece, beautiful islands and it's history. Israel, amazing, like it due to my religious feelings.

Least favorites, Lebanon, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudia Arabia. I was there too many times, lost allot of friends, they were trying to kill me. For most of that region, whatever good there is there, is underground, because it isn't on the surface.

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Originally Posted by edv

Places I enjoyed : Iran, Belgium, Colombia

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In terms of people Iran is definitely the nicest place I've been to by far. Nowhere else has come close.

I agree with Belgium, it seems almost like an undiscovered and underrated version of France with nicer people.

Don't really have places I dislike. I'm not too bothered about returning to China and I don't see the attraction in going to identi-kit Gulf States either.

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Originally Posted by R.Lee

Least favorites, Lebanon, For most of that region, whatever good there is there, is underground, because it isn't on the surface.

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You're right, the best bars in Beirut are very difficult to find rather like American style Speakeasys. Its very easy to walk straight past them. I like the nightlife and eating out there but its too expensive to be my favourite place to go to. The people are extremely stylish too.

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Originally Posted by Malbec

The people are extremely stylish too.

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It's a matter of taste. I haven't been to Lebanon, but we have some Lebanese people in Minsk. Their style often looks like mating call.

Besides the USA, Australia is fantastic.

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Originally Posted by pino

Then tell me why million people go on vacation to Italy starting from Germans ? ;)

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They either forgot WW2 is over or they want to re-live World War 2