I haven't done much traveling, but all of the places I've been seemed very tourist-friendly! The Swedish and Danish folk were more than happy to jump to helping me with whatever I needed, and a couple of times some very nice gentlemen lifted my bags up to luggage racks or carried them off the transportation for me. (I flew into Denmark and took a train from Copenhagen to Vaxjo, where Pontus lives.) The stops were being broadcasted in the overhead speakers but I couldn't understand anything, so a very nice lady across the way told me when my stop was so I could get off. Most everyone spoke English and were very kind and welcoming. The Danish gentleman who checked my passport chatted me up a bit and wanted to know about my journey and the like. Very friendly! Pontus and I ate out sometimes and people were very friendly there as well. I particularly remember a nice Thai restuarant we went to were the staff was super polite and nice to us. Seems like Scandanavians in general are super polite!

London and Edinburgh were also very friendly. In London, I ordered an iced coffee and the gentleman behind the bar gave me a very puzzled look and it became apparent that iced coffee was not a thing there! He asked me exactly how I wanted it and I gave him directions from the other side of the counter. I think that this would have really bothered an American, but he was such a nice and charming old man to adhere to my request. Everyone in Scotland was lovely as well, but if I needed anything I really only had to have Mr. Daniel Towns do the talking for me in order to be taken care of. Lovely places, though, the both of them. Additionally, the lady who ran the bed and breakfast I stayed in was the sweetest little lady I think I've ever met, just so full of pure joy and happiness and caring and she was a delight to be around. I very much got the same feeling from smittenkitten's mother, who was so kind and charming that when she called Danielle as we were at the airport for me to fly out, she asked if she could talk to me to tell me goodbye and wish me well. Everyone all seemed to be very open and welcoming.

I've been nervous about traveling because I am very afraid of what most people think of Americans and that things we say or ask for or ask about might be absurd or ignorant. But I can't say I've had a single bad incident with the locals of any places I've been to. I'd like to visit France as well, and I do worry about my American-ness when traveling there (as well as a million other places). I think, though, that it all comes down to how you treat people. I am bubbly and optimistic and say my polite graces and whatnot, and people tend to respond in kind, no matter where I am.