What does 'European' mean in America? We get told that something in America is 'European' or 'European style'. For example it occurs on a US hotel bookers site in describing some hotels in New York. I can remember being told that San Francisco was a 'European city'. I was there for two weeks out of nine in California and never discovered what Americans meant by that. So what is it meant to convey?

There is a term in wide use in the hotel and travel "industries" here, referring to accomodations on the "European plan." I've seen the term often myself, and was never sure, either, of what it was supposed to mean.

From what I can discover, apparently it means to the hotel industry here only an arrangement whereby meals are not included in the charge. I don't understand this at all, because I've never stayed in any hotel in America where the meals were included (though it is common to have a "continental" breakfast included in the charge in continental, i.e, non-British Europe!) Give me the wonderful British bed and breakfast every time!

Nor can I shed any light for you on why San Francisco should be considered a particularly "European" city. I've been there, and in many cities in Europe, and it doesn't remind me much at all of Europe. Sometimes, we use the word "cosmopolitan" to describe really hip places like San Francisco. Maybe the word "European" is used as a substitute here for "cosmopolitan," on the grounds that European cities are cosmopolitan and our own, except for a few places like San Francisco, are, sadly, mostly provincial?

I got the impression that it was being used to suggest a degree of 'sophistication', of understated refinement and culture throughout, where the staff were not 'pushy' and 'forward' and waited to be asked or addressed before approaching customers.

Or it could mean the elevators don't work, room service stops at midnight, and there is no air-conditioning of course.

.In 'sophistication' or 'culture' in a 'European' way San Francisco is about as 'European' as Coventry but with more extrovert gays ( Coventry is thought marginally more cultured than nearby Birmingham ,our second city: Rolls Royce and General Motors both make cars in Coventry).

Needless to say we prefer LA which isn't European at all, and much better for us, being so, well, non-European !

This may remain a mystery.

[This message was edited by FredPuli on 09-19-03 at 03:06 AM.]

Fred I don't know if this helps, but I know that some have compared the climate of San Francisco to those cities of southern Europe around the Mediterranean. Maybe this is what they also mean to imply?

I don't think they mean Great Britain at all! Too stuffy and uptight for the "extroverted" San Franciscans, no doubt. Being originally from a midwest, fly-over state, even I've been called uptight, and puritanical by some here(3-4 hours away from "The City", as it is called.)

I'm gradually learning to let my hair down and enjoy life more and be less Republican in attitude (as I was raised in a stuffy, conservative environment.)

Mrs Madrigal from "Tales of the City" would approve.

Is this a plot from the Bay Area tourist board to keep the locals there?

Seriously, it is true that the weather is a bit like the Med in some ways; San Francisco gets mild winters when frost is unheard of and there are a couple of cool rainy months; but the Summer is not as warm (mean August max 72F against 81F) and as for the mean low in Summer months; the Nice people would be in overcoats at 54F as their minimum is 68F ! ( To us from northern Europe or Switzerland they are comically sensitive to quite mild weather; in Geneva you'll still see people in shirt sleeves when in Nice they are suddenly dressed like Antarctic explorers at the same temperature)

Still, the local wine in California is better than the Nice area ones !( True; and I live near Nice much of the year)