He traveled to 15 different countries (I believe) in 2 months traveling Europe with 2 friends, living in hostels.

It's pretty sweet and I was happy to see him.

Here's what he got me-


http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v132/171/31/39500005/n39500005_31896006_7597.jpg


It's a Beer Stein from Munich. It's very sweet and I'm afraid to ever use the thing.

Here's another pic while I try to pose with it, and fail miserably-


http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v132/171/31/39500005/n39500005_31896004_7070.jpg


He got our Mom a candle holder from Krakow, Poland made entirely of salt (Krakow is famous for their salt mines)-

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v132/171/31/39500005/n39500005_31896005_7347.jpg



Also, not pictured, he got my dad a Beer Stein also, my granddad rosaries from Vatican City & a piece of the Berlin Wall, and my grandma Geneva Chocolates as she has a hell of a sweet tooth.

Interesting things he told filled me in on-
His favorite place of all places was Prague, Czech Republic in that he said it felt very historic and old-timey.

When I asked him if he thought Rome was dirty (due to that Italy thread floating around), he told me there were much dirtier places.

He said the Red Light District wasn't as sketchy/dirty as he had anticipated.

I didn't know Europeans don't tip at restaurants, he said as a result places were much more lax and you could stay at restaurants for hours without feeling like you were expected to leave. On the negative side, as expected, service was much slower.


---

During the time he was there he sent me a total of 10 emails describing his experiences in each location and his observations, if there is any interest I'll post them.

Sounds cool, nice souvinier.


did you put on some weight?

I think it's just the angle of the picture, but I've always had a chubbyish face

You really do always have a baseball cap on don't you.

Liar! I see man boobs

lol yea right

i have a spoon chest it caves inward, and yes neuqua of course

http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-sf2p/v132/171/31/39500005/n39500005_31896087_642.jpg

you have fat thumbs

And what the hell is up with the baller band?

If your brother had gone to Venezuela instead of Europe he could have bought you a 15 year old with big tits...always a great gift for younger brothers

If your brother had gone to Venezuela instead of Europe he could have bought you a 15 year old with big tits...always a great gift for younger brothers


Shorty likes older women?

It never gets old.

If your brother had gone to Venezuela instead of Europe he could have bought you a 15 year old with big tits...always a great gift for younger brothers

I doubt her tits would be bigger then his...

Damn, you guys are being pretty hard on Patton Oswald...all the man does is tell funny humor-jokes. LEAVE PATTON A-LOOOONE!

You should have posed holding that thing like you were drinking from it.

He said the Red Light District wasn't as sketchy/dirty as he had anticipated.You could have warned him Amsterdam is overrated. ;)

I didn't know Europeans don't tip at restaurants, he said as a result places were much more lax and you could stay at restaurants for hours without feeling like you were expected to leave. On the negative side, as expected, service was much slower.I can't speak for the 50 other countries, but even the cheapass Dutchmen consider it good custom to tip at restaurants. :D

Am I the only just a little disappointed it wasn't a t-shirt that said 'My brother went to Europe for 2 months, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt' ?

I can't speak for the 50 other countries, but even the cheapass Dutchmen consider it good custom to tip at restaurants. :D

Interesting. I really have heard (i think multiple times on this messageboard) that in European restaurants it was not customary to tip.

Interesting. I really have heard (i think multiple times on this messageboard) that in European restaurants it was not customary to tip.

Generally speaking in England at least you are expected to tip in a 'nice restaurant' but not a fast food restaurant (ie. if you're given a knife and fork consider tipping).

It isn't as 'clear cut' how much you tip in England compared to America though and generally anything goes so long as its not insulting (generally I used to round to tne nearest £5/10 depending on the price of the meal involved - but then again I'm a tightwad, ask my kids ;) ).

I've heard that it's considered an insult to tip at a pub in England, and I also believe that the tip is already automatically included on the check in Germany...

Tipping is very miniscule in Spain from what I've heard. Rough estimate is 0,10 euro on a 10 euro meal.

I've heard that it's considered an insult to tip at a pub in England, and I also believe that the tip is already automatically included on the check in Germany...

As someone who has worked in a pub in the past I never considered it an insult.

PS - Please note that if you 'tip' a bartender its customary to do it by 'buying him a drink' (have one on me is the customary phrase where I grew up) rather than saying keep the change or similar. This way its more like a gesture of friendship than saying "you look like you're underpaid" ... doing this is also a good way of helping ensure you get served quickly in future ;)

Generally speaking in England at least you are expected to tip in a 'nice restaurant' but not a fast food restaurant (ie. if you're given a knife and fork consider tipping).

It isn't as 'clear cut' how much you tip in England compared to America though and generally anything goes so long as its not insulting (generally I used to round to tne nearest £5/10 depending on the price of the meal involved - but then again I'm a tightwad, ask my kids ;) ).I think the rule of thumb overhere (Netherlands) is that you tip when you pay the bill after you've been done consuming, you don't tip if you pay before you eat/drink.

But enough about tipping, we need to talk about sipping, Shorty sipping on beer from his large beer mug!

As someone who has worked in a pub in the past I never considered it an insult.

PS - Please note that if you 'tip' a bartender its customary to do it by 'buying him a drink' (have one on me is the customary phrase where I grew up) rather than saying keep the change or similar. This way its more like a gesture of friendship than saying "you look like you're underpaid" ... doing this is also a good way of helping ensure you get served quickly in future ;)

that's the same way in Belgium and Switzerland. When I travelled to Geneva last May, we went to the same bar so much that we were on first-name basis with the bartender and waittress. Got free appetizers and a few rounds. Of course, we also bought one for the staff each day.

Tipping, in Belgium and switzerland if not all of the mainland, is usually pretty low compared to american standards. service is already factored in to the prize of entrees, etc. Usually, i've been told you include a few euros (or francs in switzerland) if you enjoyed the service.

Edit: In Singapore, i can't recall what the tipping custom is so i usually tipped 10% on the bill at restaurants.

Sipping: Best beer I've had is Leffe Blonde on tap.

I met a woman who worked in a pub and got so many "next one on mes" that she would bring her friends on her days off and treat them. The downside, aside from the fact that she was giving her tips to her friends, was that she had to go to the pub on her off days.

She would have much preferred cash.