Joel Thornton

A common sense conservative.

Ugly Americans, We Seem To Be Everywhere!

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Everyone who has ever traveled international and many who have not, have heard the term ugly Americans. It comes from the way some of us act when we travel abroad. We are louder than most people, we are more outgoing, and many things that are not strange here stand out in other cultures.

I have traveled a lot internationally and I can tell you that while I am willing to admit that many of the things for which we are labeled ugly are merely cultural differences there is plenty that we need to change when we travel abroad. On the other hand, many times I have seen people behaving in ways that are not inherently American but are inherently ugly.

My first trip to Europe was in the summer of 1980. I spent eight weeks in Munich, Germany and one week in Oxford, England. In Munich we stayed in an apartment at Number 7 Hertzog-Wilhelm Strasse. It was right off the main entrance at Karl’s Platz, see my blog on Munich for a photograph of the entrance. I lived just a block and a half from there.

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Kavala (Neopolis) and Philippi, Christianity’s Beachhead in Europe

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Greece is an amazing country. Its climate is enjoyable, pleasant, most of the year. Its people are friendly and open to travelers from America. The food is much like what you have had if you have ever eaten in any Mediterranean country, or a Greek Restaurant. Greece is also a safe country and travel within the country is easy. It is also, easily one of my favorite places in the world.

I never tire of Greece. The mountains are amazing. The sea is beautiful. The antiquities are out of this world, literally from some of the most important periods in human history.

There are two cities in the northeastern part of the country that are interesting from a historical point of view. We include them on our Steps of Paul tours in Greece. They are Kavala, which is referred to in the New Testament as Neopolis, and Philippi, which is now an ancient archeological site. Together they are worth a day on any tour you do that puts you close to them.

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Munich, One of My Favorite Places on Earth

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Some places have a magical draw on our souls. Munich is one such place. Whenever I find myself in Germany, or central Europe for that matter, I am always tempted to hop a train, or drive down the autobahn to Munich. Known as München to the locals, this city has the heart of a village, but the energy of a large metropolitan area. It is filled with life and passion.

The best way to get to Munich is by train. The central train station or Hauptbahnhof is located just off the center of town. The stroll from the train station to the highlights of the city is casual and easy to find, even on your own. It is a great way to begin to enjoy Munich.

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Ancient Corinth, Critical To The Church In Europe

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One of the most famous ancient cities of Greece is Corinth. We have all heard the 13th Chapter of Corinthians read at a wedding, the love chapter. We might or might not know that it is from a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth, a church Paul had established on his missionary journeys. We know that Paul spent several years in Corinth. We know that he had troubles here, much like he had troubles most everywhere he went.

Thinking about Paul is easy while you are in Ancient Corinth. This incredible archeological dig is so well preserved that you can literally walk on the streets where the Apostle walked almost two thousand years ago. What an incredible feeling, knowing that your feet on the very stones that the Apostle Paul walked on.

From the streets of Ancient Corinth you can look out over the ocean which sits about a mile down the hill from the ancient city. Modern Corinth now sits right on the water, just below you. While you are here there are three sites to explore.

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Safety, Always a Concern, Never an Issue

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Many people never travel abroad because of the fear of the unknown. I do not let that happen. I believe that, if we do our homework and take some easy precautions, we can avoid troubles while abroad and still enjoy traveling.

My family and I were living in Strasbourg, France on September 11, 2001. We sat in our apartment and watched the World Trade Center Towers come tumbling down. I knew that this one event would change how we travel for years to come if not forever. Tensions rose in Europe, as did anti-Semitism.

Not long after, we began to see refugees streaming into Europe unchecked, mostly from the most troubled areas of the Middle East. This changed the dynamic of Europe fairly drastically. And yet the world still spins on its axis.

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