Five Countries where the US is Celebrated

[RudeRy]

thought this might be a benefit to some of you; sometimes people write in voicing their concerns about how they will be percieved in other countries, as an American, well, this is from a magazine article...enjoy...

1. Northern Mariana Islands - US territory since 1947, this string of Pacific Islands is reasonably priced and even celebrates the 4th of July.

2. Grenada - celebrates Thanksgiving on October 25 to mark the American overthrow of the socialist government in 1983. The exchange rate is 2.5 Eastern Carribean dollars for every U.S. dollar.

3. Belize - has a growing British and American expat population, which has buoyed the economy of Central America's only english speaking nation. Exchange rate, 2 Belize dollars for every U.S. dollar.

4. Andorra - the U.S. is a primary trade of this kingdom in the Pyrenees, between Spain and France. Tourism fuels the economy, so politics are rarely discussed.

5. Luxembourg - the U.S. liberated this tiny country twice - in 1918 and 1944, the people haven't forgotten.

[RudeRy]

was hoping for some replies! has anyone been to Andorra or Luxembourg? I know they're both tiny countries, but anything that's off the beaten path is worth a look!

[Kim]

I've been to Luxembourg and it was OK, woudn't go out of my way to go again. The people were no friendlier or less friendly than anywhere else.

I thought the friendliest people were on the Greek Islands.

I find that list interesting as I've only ever heard travellers should be very cautious in Belize and about the crime rate, especially in Belize City. Actually, I read once that if you aren't from Belize City, you shouldn't venture out at night!

I'm not big on articles about how you will be perceived in regards to your nationality as I truly believe you will be perceived more on how you conduct yourself. Sure you will meet jerks along the way but there are jerks everywhere. People jump to conclusions that they were treated like that in regards to their nationality, which isn't necessarily true.


Kim

[LHR02]

So true Kim! I was 'raised' on the mantra that the French were unappreciative, snobby, US hating $%#@*&!!!'s and for all my life refused to step foot in that country, even when we lived in Western Germany. I finally decided to give it a chance and spent 3 weeks in France....all the while shaking my head and wondering where these obnoxious people were hiding. Even in Paris I personally never once encountered that rude uppity Frenchman or woman. Granted, I might have been exceptionally lucky but I found everyone I encountered to be polite, friendly and taking great fun of my absurd attempts at even the most basic french phrases. But appreciative that I was trying at least.

Conversely, Bastogne, which was rescued by Patton's 3rd Army and to this day positively thrives on American tourists and reunions proved to be the most openly anti-US city I have ever visited. Rude does not scratch the surface of what I encountered in that town...even at the memorial.

You can't depend on pre-concieved notions and opinions. Part of the fun of travel...you just really never know what you will find.

[splatting]

i have found that ireland was incredibly friendly to american travelers (many of their extended family live in us or canada).

i lived in poland for 2 1/2 years and i found that the poles wre extremely friendly to americans. they might not enjoy our politics, but they still tend to appreciate americans visiting.

personally, i feel that most european countries like americans as long as you are friendly, not annoying, and not loud. if you respect the culture, try to know the language and try to understand the basic costums than most people appreciate it.

[wease81]

The people of Luxembourg were by far the rudest I have ever encountered by far in my travels to europe. It might have been the fact that a million people decended on the little country for the first 3 legs of the 2002 Tour de France. From the hotel clerks to the police to the people on the buses, were shocked by the attitude....... An old lady came out of her house to yell at us to get off of her wall while in the village of Echternach. We were waiting on Lance and the peleton to pass. I told her and the policeman who came by to also yell at us that my father had fought and slept in ditches in their country in WWII to save their asses. And, I that I had listened to him my whole life telling stories about the wonderful people of their country. Once they heard that their whole attitude changed and the finally became a little more gracious......... At our hotel in the city, we encountered the worse scam ever. Our reservations booked directely through the hotel were for an advertised suite that could sleep 5. We found our suite could only sleep 3 at the most. We were already paying inflated TdF prices and ended up having to get another room (they magically had one available) after the clerk threatened to throw us out and call the police. We were at their mercy in the jam packed city.,,,,,,,,,,,,So Luxembourg, I don't think I'll go back.

[nitsansh]

BTW... Andorra is not a kingdom and never was.
It has 2 official rulers - the bishop of Seu d'Urgell (a town in Spain near Andorra) and the president of France, who inherits the title from the count of Foix. Since a referendum in 1993 the heads-of-state have no executive power.
Andorra is NOT part of the European Union, but de-facto part of Schengen agreement and uses Euro as currency since its introduction. For tourists that means no border control but possible costume inspection. Many goods are tax-free in Andorra so it's heaven for shoppers.