There's a lot we can learn from 'Old Europe'

[marmar]

And when the energy crunch comes down, the European model of centralized cities will pay dividends.

[Kievan Rus]

1. I can't wait until I live in Europe

I've since decided on learning a few languages (which I'm doing at the moment) and saving up money, in preparation for emigration.

[madmax]

2. Ahhhh, the benefits of youth

or lots of money, even if you're older than dirt. Live your dream!

[CTyankee]

3. My grandson (nearly 6) is in an Italian language immersion kindergarten program.

He will be continuing with it throughout his entire public schooling. I am hoping he will be able to go to Italy and work there, perhaps in industry, or art, or academia in both the U.S. and Italy. He has a very italian name and a heritage on his father's side. I hope he will embrace the language and the culture and have a rich and wonderful life on both continents. Learning another language at such a young age will afford him many, many opportunities that kids in regular schools here won't have. I am so hopeful for him...

[MindandSoul]

4. It is a very smart decision to help your son/grandson learn a foreign language

at a young age. . .The earliest you learn a foreign language, the more you assure that you will have no accent!

I should know! I only learned English at the age of 21, and today, 39 years later, I still have a strong French accent. . .although I have absolutely no problem writing English and I think and dream in English!

[CTyankee]

5. He is learning from a native Italian teacher so his accent in Italian will be

"next to native," according to linguists in this field. Learning another language at a young age also helps brain development and is quite advantageous for the child, an extra benefit. As learners at a later stage in life, his mother and I will be far behind him...we're planning a trip to Italy in 2011 and by that time he'll be doing translations for US over there...I love it!

[MindandSoul]

8. Yes, and in addition, once a child learns a second language. . .it's only

a few short steps to learning a third, and a fourth. . .

My two nephews (who live in Belgium, but whose mother is Italian) speak French, Italian, and English fluently. Then they speak German, and Flemish (Deutsh) with some difficulties.

It sure helps with travelling and doing international business!

[pampango]

6. Great pictures and truth about functional, historic cities in Europe. n/t

[asdjrocky]

7. One word...

Amsterdam.

[Dappleganger]

10. +10000

[CTyankee]

9. OK, I've guessed most of the cities you've shown but am missing 2...

In order I see Paris, Amsterdam, Barcelona, London, Rome, ???, Venice, ??? (maybe Stockholm?).

That big cathedral is interesting...I don't think it is Milan because I've been there and the newspaper kiosk isn't positioned there (nor does it really look like the duomo). If it is Milan then I've been to every one of those cities except the last (if it is indeed Stockholm)...

[marmar]

11. They are (in order)......

Paris
Amsterdam
Barcelona
London
Rome
Brussels
Copenhagen
Stockholm
Berlin
Madrid (I think....It's a random AVE picture, but I believe that is Estacion Atocha in Madrid)

[CTyankee]

12. Hey, I got 6 of the city scene picks right!

Hard for me to tell on those two trains since I don't know much about them. I love Madrid but altho I stayed near the train station I never went on their trains...unlike Italy where I did take the trains and plan to again when I go to Florence in September!

[RainDog]

13. that's the Grote Markt in Brussels, after Rome

or the Grand Place, in French. that's the location of all the old guild halls from the middle ages.

[CTyankee]

14. Could be...in fact, looking at the building I don't think it's a duomo at all...

I was in Brussels a very long time ago and do not really remember it...I was only 16 and we had been to London, Paris and Amsterdam, all of which I DO remember...just not Brussels...funny...

[RainDog]

15. I used to go there once a year or so - and lived in Antwerp for a while

my ex in-laws live in Brussels.

so, yeah, it's the Grote Markt. it's the old city hall with the guild halls around it.

[CTyankee]

16. Quite lovely and interesting...lucky you to visit there so much! nt