Hi Spencer, this was very interesting and educational, as always. I did not realize that you have traveled to 22 countries! I think your experience would make for an excellent new book.
We just returned from Danube trip, including Austria. Similar observations. Not easy to see past the surface of that world--certainly far less commercialized than the US.
There is a weird (at least to Americans) control thing in certain areas of Europe. It can be scary. When I first went to Europe (in 1990!!!) I heard recollections from Austrians who had been liberated by both the US and Russia after WWII as well as Germans and Hungarians. They were eye opening and have always thought America was childlike after that. The general feeling I got from talking to people in those countries (which I always felt grateful for the chance to do) was that Americans had not had the experience yet of truly limited resources and they'd wait and see how we responded if / when it came. And as much as I hope this in not true and people bum on Sting it's relevant https://youtu.be/ETC9cbIoIxk?si=8ZmHFGJXGeqrVAXA
I have so much to learn from all the places elsewhere that are themselves living museums, just walking outside in Paris, Oslo, Reykjavik, Auckland, Montreal, anywhere is an eduction that baths my ignorance & can expand the heart & mind ☺️
How wonderful it is that you are getting this exposure to so many other countries and modes of thinking! You'll be sifting it all through your brain for a long time to come, and it changes how you see your own country. I love hearing your thoughts.
If you're in the neighborhood, you should check out the places where Italians and Austrians did something so mind-bogglingly tragic that AI couldn't even begin to hallucinate: Europe's vertical WWI battlefield. It will haunt your dreams...
The vernacular has so much patina in these regions. Like the backyard speak it flourishes with that garden in our minds.. https://youtu.be/OFzXaFbxDcM?feature=shared back when we sampled sound bytes on tape recorders.. thanks for sharing these road stories.. It rivals up there with our pal Rick Steve's adventures. Calling out our age you have an old soul young sire;)
Hi Spencer, this was very interesting and educational, as always. I did not realize that you have traveled to 22 countries! I think your experience would make for an excellent new book.
Love, Zaid
We just returned from Danube trip, including Austria. Similar observations. Not easy to see past the surface of that world--certainly far less commercialized than the US.
The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.
Albert Einstein
There is a weird (at least to Americans) control thing in certain areas of Europe. It can be scary. When I first went to Europe (in 1990!!!) I heard recollections from Austrians who had been liberated by both the US and Russia after WWII as well as Germans and Hungarians. They were eye opening and have always thought America was childlike after that. The general feeling I got from talking to people in those countries (which I always felt grateful for the chance to do) was that Americans had not had the experience yet of truly limited resources and they'd wait and see how we responded if / when it came. And as much as I hope this in not true and people bum on Sting it's relevant https://youtu.be/ETC9cbIoIxk?si=8ZmHFGJXGeqrVAXA
I have so much to learn from all the places elsewhere that are themselves living museums, just walking outside in Paris, Oslo, Reykjavik, Auckland, Montreal, anywhere is an eduction that baths my ignorance & can expand the heart & mind ☺️
How wonderful it is that you are getting this exposure to so many other countries and modes of thinking! You'll be sifting it all through your brain for a long time to come, and it changes how you see your own country. I love hearing your thoughts.
If you're in the neighborhood, you should check out the places where Italians and Austrians did something so mind-bogglingly tragic that AI couldn't even begin to hallucinate: Europe's vertical WWI battlefield. It will haunt your dreams...
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/most-treacherous-battle-world-war-i-italian-mountains-180959076/
Enjoy your travels, Spencer, and keep taking it all in. You have the advantage of being an open and keen observer of your surroundings.
I hope some of those wrestling fans got their nights mixed up, and got to enjoy your performance instead.
The vernacular has so much patina in these regions. Like the backyard speak it flourishes with that garden in our minds.. https://youtu.be/OFzXaFbxDcM?feature=shared back when we sampled sound bytes on tape recorders.. thanks for sharing these road stories.. It rivals up there with our pal Rick Steve's adventures. Calling out our age you have an old soul young sire;)
So cool to have these experiences and gain insight. Love the photo essay! ☮️❤️