Europe

Europe!

I’ve been fortunate enough to have travelled to a number of countries in western Europe and each time I come away with the perception of just how diverse Europe is.
If you think about the landmass of Western Europe – by landmass I mean the following countries (France/Holland/Belgium/Luxembourg/Germany/Spain/Portugal/Italy/
Switzerland/Austria/Ireland/Britain), the diversity of nationalities, cultures and values, is amazing given the relatively small landmass.

I say small because in terms of the landmass of USA, Canada, Australia, China, India – the region of Europe which I have described is small in comparative terms.

Take a trip to France and Germany for example.
Both countries border each other but they might as well be 10,000miles apart.
The French language and the German language are totally different.
The cultural values of both countries are divergent and yet they share what is a small landmass with a whole set of other divergent cultures and nationalities.
All separate and different from one another.

But this diversity isn’t confined to France/Germany : it is replicated across borders through Europe.
Personally I find it fascinating.
And I am sure that for the non-European visitor, the diversity must be even more astonishing.

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.."But finally the last thing I’ll say to the people who don’t believe in cycling, the cynics and the sceptics. I'm sorry for you. I’m sorry that you can’t dream big. [I]I'm sorry you don't believe in miracles. You should believe in these athletes, and you should believe in these people. I'll be a fan of the Tour de France for as long as I live. And there are no secrets - this is a hard sporting event and hard work wins it" - Armstrong 2005 TDF
morelike hypocrisy.