Why are Americans so rude? I'm waiting to board a flight from

[thucythucy]

37. Years ago a friend told me a story about visiting the Vatican

and going into the Sistine Chapel.

Do you remember clacker balls?

An American couple had a kid slamming a set of clacker balls while people were trying to admire the incredible art. Eventually a staff person told him to stop. But why on earth would you think it appropriate to have your kid making that kind of noise to begin with, at a place like that?

Years later my SO and I, also on a trip to Rome, stopped for dinner at this delightful hole in the wall restaurant. Seated maybe thirty people tops, but the food was excellent and reasonably priced. Also the wine. Thoroughly lovely.

Enter an American family. They order. Wine is brought to the table. The guy loudly upbraids the waiter for bringing them wine in a glass not elegant enough for his satisfaction. Insisted they find him something else. Waiter explained this was all they had. Again, small place, probably family owned, and to us delightful. The guy loudly exclaims, "What a shithole!" and he and his clan storm out--after ordering a meal which was probably about to be served.

My SO and I apologized profusely for their boorish behavior, and we made it a point to stop by again for another couple of meals.

Anyway, at the time I thought: typical American. More concerned with the packaging--the glass--than the wine itself, which was exquisite.

I have other stories, but I'll stop here.

The French are supposed to have this reputation for being obnoxious, but that certainly has never been my experience, either with French visitors here or the times I've traveled there. Maybe other nations export more bothersome travelers, but in my experience Americans take the prize.