[August]

People like familiarity. That's why chain restaurants like McDonalds do so well. They like the idea of being able to get the same things no matter where they go. It's comforting.

Perhaps that tendency translates to travel as well.

For example snowy Massachusetts and tropical Hawaii are as different as, to use McBecks example, Denmark and Spain when it comes to the environment, local customs and racial makeup, but other things, money, road signs, language and laws are the same. To someone who doesn't give a fig about bullfights, smoked herring or European history those differences might be enough to satisfy the a persons desire to see strange places.

Europeans on the other hand being from significantly smaller countries, are forced to travel to other countries to experience same range of environment and culture. It's not a bad thing, just different. Who knows?, if this EU thing lasts maybe Euros will feel as satisfied with their home as we are with ours.