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A question foir Americans who have travelled/lived around America and Europe:
Common wisdom says the American East Coast is fast-paced while the West and especially the South are laid back. Where would you put European cities on that scale? In terms of pedestrian traffic they would obviously be East Coast, but what about social interaction, pace of life, etc?
US cities DO suck compared to others - at least the ones in Latin America. In Brazil (Rio & Salvador) I found the "energy" of the cities much more intoxicating than the majors in the US. I think its because Brazilians tend to not distance themselves from you like people do in the States. Americans tend to be colder and like a lot of distance thus you never feel like you really know American people.
I found that in Brazil people tend to be warmer and easier to know despite the cultural/language barriers. Also in the States, people are usually stressed trying to rush to and fro in a fastpaced society and thus tend to have a "don't mess with me" look on their faces (myself included). I am more familiar with California where I live - LA and San Francisco and these cities are almost as fast paced as NYC. The only "laidback" Californians are those with billion dollar trust funds who don't have to be caught up in that rat race.
Overall I just love the "human' element of Latin American cities. The love of family and community over making another buck and the emphasis on living life with passion and gusto which is lacking in the States. The States are a good place to make money if that's your goal but in the human relations department it is pretty much lacking.
Don't compare big cities in the US (like NY or Chicago) with smaller cities in Europe. If you compare two similar cities, one from the US and one from Europe, the European city will be mostly more vibrant.
And yes, in Europe we like to go out for a walk in town. Maybe a drink on a terrace too.
We walk a lot.
Does anyone ever take account, that American cities, are on average, hundreds and even some cases thousands of years, younger than cities in Europe. Also, most American cities, are actually smaller than their peak population which they've hit between the 1930s-1950s. Simply put: most American cities were founded in the early-to-mid 1800's. Cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, etc, were all ready thriving urban centers for centuries.
American cities simply developed differently from cities in Europe. Personally, I perfer the European style cities, but it would of been very difficult for cites in the US, to develop that way.
If I may ask: what in the world do you do that allows you to spend time in so many cities?
Short version: I'm a big slacker.
Long version: My spouse and I work our butts off for a while in expensive places (with high wages) while living on bread and water. Then we go places that are cheaper or that we like better and travel around there a while. We also have family in a few of those spots around the world, and sometime our jobs send us someplace interesting. You can make a crapload of money in a very short time in the rich places of the world.
It's a tradeoff. We have very few material possessions or physical property, but plenty of great experiences and no obligations.
Does anyone ever take account, that American cities, are on average, hundreds and even some cases thousands of years, younger than cities in Europe. Also, most American cities, are actually smaller than their peak population which they've hit between the 1930s-1950s. Simply put: most American cities were founded in the early-to-mid 1800's. Cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, etc, were all ready thriving urban centers for centuries.
American cities simply developed differently from cities in Europe. Personally, I perfer the European style cities, but it would of been very difficult for cites in the US, to develop that way.
You seem to forget that once American cities were that vibrant. They just stopped being so.
You seem to forget that once American cities were that vibrant. They just stopped being so.
^^ I think "Vibrancy" is something that is debateable. Certainly, cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Boston, etc, will have their share of major cultural institutions and tourist spots, that most people will agree is vibrant, in itself.
Where as cities like Charlotte,Seattle, Dallas, may come across as "dull" to some, because these cities doesn't come across as being a New York, or Chicago. The fact is: not every city wants to be in their shoes, so to speak. We just have to take this cites for what they are. Where as I, my find myself being "bored" with the style and pace of Cincinatti, there are some who find it just perfect. America, has great regional cities. These cites may not be major international types like London or NYC, but they are still anchors, of their metro area or geographic region.
US cities DO suck compared to others - at least the ones in Latin America. In Brazil (Rio & Salvador) I found the "energy" of the cities much more intoxicating than the majors in the US. I think its because Brazilians tend to not distance themselves from you like people do in the States. Americans tend to be colder and like a lot of distance thus you never feel like you really know American people.
I found that in Brazil people tend to be warmer and easier to know despite the cultural/language barriers. Also in the States, people are usually stressed trying to rush to and fro in a fastpaced society and thus tend to have a "don't mess with me" look on their faces (myself included). I am more familiar with California where I live - LA and San Francisco and these cities are almost as fast paced as NYC. The only "laidback" Californians are those with billion dollar trust funds who don't have to be caught up in that rat race.
Overall I just love the "human' element of Latin American cities. The love of
family and community over making another buck and the emphasis on living life with passion and gusto which is lacking in the States. The States are a good place to make money if that's your goal but in the human relations department it is pretty much lacking.
I know many Brazilians here in Boston who would never move back. I wonder how many Americans have moved there. I'm thinking very few.
I find that cities with high levels of unemployment and poverty to be more vibrant. Something about having a job and having to get up early keeps people off the streets.
People who are less satisfied in life (due to standard of living, politics, other forms of strife) are also more likely to remedy their dissatisfaction by carousing, dancing, drinking, etc., while people with a higher level of satisfaction are more apt to behave complacently and spend quieter time in their homes or in the country.
Also, colder cities tend to have less activity in the winter months but often have festivals in the summer. After a winter of being cooped-up indoors, even sedate people need to stretch their legs annd do some binge-drinking. ;-)
ABQConvict
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