yeah jens, i was one of those Americans not trying to be different... but was different... being american these days in europe is not a good thing i and we stand out i guess.
the wife and i lived in suisse for a few years back and traveled thru out europe... a very aged place... compared to the US... you guys have castles close to 2000 years old... here 300 years old is the oldest you will find. and sexy? europeans are a very sexually oriented culture... where here, you won't find naked people on billboards!!! hehehehe
hi josh!
you are mainly right. americans are regarded with mixed feelings these days and I can tell you, that Bush is not very popular here. but there is always the problem of judging one for all. the "typical" american" does not exist, like a typical german or whatever. we germans have a strong and enduring sympathy for America, because of all the help after WW2 - this is not forgotten yet.
btw: there are also some (lot) things I like in the US. I was there in 1993 (western states, 4 week trip with school mates), in 1995 I stayed in Manitoba/Canada with the German Army "Bundeswehr" (2 weeks at Shilo Range) and in 1998 I visited New York and Washington (2 week trip with University). First of all, Americans ARE friendly and, I would say, somehow "cool"! they way they deal with each other is "smoother", more relaxed and much more friendly - we had a lot of situations, where this was to proved. maybe there are differences in that between bigger cities and some regions (the westerners seemed to even more cool than the New Yorkers
), but this was my (our) impression. and: I would - at once! - trade in the right to drive as fast as I like on the Autobahn for the right to own a firearm. this is nearly impossible here due to tough gun laws. and do not forget, the states have a lot of nice places, like vast and beautiful natural areas (Grand Canyon Area f. e.).
oh shi..., OT all over again!
jens
okay, to make it on-topic: yes, the crossfire is a sexy car! some days ago a neighbor asked me, if it is JAPANESE CAR! so you can guess, that this auto is quite rare and unknown at all.