Honestly, I ran into more of the anti-American thing in Italy than I ever did in England.

Not a single anti-American attitude in all of Italy that I experienced, and freely admitted to anyone and everyone where I was from.

Not a single anti-American attitude in all of Italy that I experienced, and freely admitted to anyone and everyone where I was from.

Nah, me either based on last year. Haven't been to England in yonks though.

Not a single anti-American attitude in all of Italy that I experienced, and freely admitted to anyone and everyone where I was from.

Don't get me wrong, most of Italy was wonderful, but there were a couple of incidents, like the gladiator who threatened my mother with a sword outside the Colosseum when he misinterpreted something she said and informed her that all Americans are rude when she tried to apologize for the misunderstanding.

I found Italians really helpful to me as a tourist--like they were genuinely happy to take my order or give directions or whatever. Londoners I found not effusive and more businesslike--which can feel cool, especially after basking in Italian warmth. However, I dug them once I hung out a bit. I bet once you are out on the street tomorrow actually hanging out, instead of dealing with airport/taxi-type people, you'll like Londoners very much.

Just for the record, I'm not going to let any of this cause me to judge London, it was just a shock after such a wonderful stay in Italy.

Maybe you can just understand it when they're cussing you out now...

Heh. No, I don't think that's it. It has nothing to do with the actual words being spoken, and everything to do with smiles, attitude, friendliness/helpfulness.

I bet once you are out on the street tomorrow actually hanging out, instead of dealing with airport/taxi-type people, you'll like Londoners very much.

I love London taxi drivers! Maybe it is because I was mostly traveling alone, but I found them so helpful as well as very interested in bragging about their city and pointing out the sights.

Londoners I found not effusive and more businesslike--which can feel cool, especially after basking in Italian warmth. However, I dug them once I hung out a bit. I bet once you are out on the street tomorrow actually hanging out, instead of dealing with airport/taxi-type people, you'll like Londoners very much.

I suspect this is it. When we finally dropped our bags off at the flat, and went out for some dinner, the wait staff were very friendly and nice. But, lots of sneers, dirty looks, brusque answers, and general lack of giving a shit if we lived or died from almost everyone between Heathrow and the flat.

We also experienced anti-USian sentiment in London (summer of 07). Still loved it and had a great trip, but it was a bit...chilly. The French we encountered while we were in Paris, OTOH, were wonderfully pleasant. Was the opposite of what I thought might happen.

I remember hearing that London cab drivers are required to know every nook and cranny of the city ... which, coming from a place where a comedian remarked that when you catch a cab into town from the airport you're both seeing the city for the first time, is a charming idea.

Sean, how long are you in London? What do you plan on doing while you're there?