Euro Tripping

I was thinking this morning that it has been at least 2 or 3 years since I've walked the streets of Europe. That's too long. I don't have a massive love for all things European, but I know that Europe is an ever-changing place, so you have to catch it while you can. Demographic shift, politics, and even the currency are turning Europe into, well, Europe.

I don't think I'm alone in thinking of France and Germany as merely European provinces nowadays. That's good and bad. Good, because it means Germany might not invade France for a third time. Bad, because European culture is becoming purely European, and not French, German, Polish, Italian, so forth.

Europe is not the Europe of yesterday. To be a good European, you must merely hate the United States, and not wish to work more than 35 hours a week. Sad.

The last time I went to geographical Europe was in August of last year. I went to England. I'm in agreement with my English buddies that the UK is part of the European continent, but isn't "European." Still, I'm starting to wonder about that, too. The more I see and hear about Europe, I can't tell the difference between many of the countries and their peoples' views. England is now falling into that same 'European' category. That's a shame, because I love England, and I love the English people. But all it will take to put the fork in England's Englishness is a switch from the pound to the Euro. That last gesture will seal its cultural fate.

In any event, click here to see what I thought of my last trip to one of the spots in the geographical place we call Europe.