h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Goblin Valley. The reason being that it's unique, where as The Grand Canyon is not.

i differ with some things leo and ford have said. travelling around the US is nothing like going from country to country in europe. there are regional dialects and regional cuisine, but nothing at all like the differences you get throughout europe, or even within, for example, france.

from connecticut to kansas to california you get the same cookie cutter towns. rearrange the k-marts, KFC's and exxons; put oak street next to pine instead of walnut and voila! one of the big gripes europeans have is that american commercial hegemony is gradually turning europe into the same nightmare.

i know that's simplistic, but it's a strong impression i have, and i'm not talking from an armchair; i've am american who's either visited or lived in 75% of the 50 states and 75% of the countries in europe, including the last 13 years in france.

i want to put in a last word about foreign languages. learning a foreign language does more than just let you speak to people. it has a profound effect on your mentality. when you accept that adjectives can go after nouns as well as before, or that verbs go at the end of a sentence, you become a more open person; your mind is expanded in a way fox television can never undo.

There are large regional differences within the UK as well. Many Americans are surprised to learn that regional accents vary so much that people from different parts of the UK can't always understand each other.

an anecdote: my wife was born in avignon, in provence. one day we were driving through the countryside about 50 miles from there, and we stopped for directions. i couldn't follow what the man was saying, but she was nodding her head, yes...yes... when it was over i asked her "well?" she replied, "let's go find someone else, i didn't understand a word he said!"

I'm 98% sure it's similar in Germany too....

lovely people, but I could'nt eat a whole one.

However, I bet they could eat a whole one of us, with fries and coke !!

Sorry just teasing, honest

Sounds kinda like Zaphod after being put in the Total Perspective Vortex.

Oops... that was a reply to the last page concerning the grand canyon being no big deal.

Dontcha hate it when that happens?
cheers
ford

As an actual american, there are three things that stand out among my country men. Most of us are extremely fat, most of us are really greedy, and most of us are convinced that the rest of the world loves us even though we are fat greedy and ignorant. I am none of those things. I am thin, not TOO greedy, and no that the rest of the world despises us

I've only met one American for any length of time. She was smart and friendly, and incredibly self-assured. I think this is the quality which can bemuse Brits the most. It can also be a little overwhelming - discussions can become arguments if this self-assurance is perceived as arrogance.

As a nation, I think the Americans can often be seen in terms of who is in office at any given time. Bush has given the impression of the nation being war-mongering, trigger happy, greedy and self-inflated.

then does that mean we should judge brits by the queen? everyone is old and happy!...
cheers
ford

Ooops! Meant to say they ARE often seen in those terms. Am now suitably humiliated.

Although there are worst ways to be seen than old and happy. Young, happy and attractive would be better though.

I wish to say that this is in no way meant to be offensive or anti british. I love the british. It got one of my worst enemies out of the country for 2 months. Thank you britain!!

but does anyone know exactly how old the queen mother of england is?

none of this "well, she looks about 100..." bullsh*t, but how old is she?

she's dead

oh dear...
cheers
ford

really??

so THATS what eddie izzard meant when he said she was a bionicle

it all makes sense now

~*~As an actual American, there are three things that stand out among my country men. Most of us are extremely fat, most of us are really greedy, and most of us are convinced that the rest of the world loves us even though we are fat, greedy, and ignorant. I am none of those things. I am thin, not TOO greedy, and knows that the rest of the world despises us.~*~

Arrogant, moronic, yes-man. I hate your kind.

Goblin Valley. The reason being that it's unique, where as The Grand Canyon is not.

The Grand Canyon is not unique? Have you *been* to the Grand Canyon? I've been there twice, and it's impossible to capture it on film - it's just too immense.