The worst things I've seen while traveling

Every time I see a tourist video from Europe, it's about the food. It's like every European is obsessed with showing the world how good the food is. And it is good. But most people never show the other side. Here are a few things I've seen in Europe that people don't want you to know about.<br><br>The streets are filled with shit<br>I don't know if it's because they don't clean the streets enough, or if it's because Europeans don't give a fuck and just litter, but walking through a lot of Europe you will find that streets and parks are just covered in trash. It doesn't matter if you're in Paris or Rome or Berlin. It's a dirty place, and it's especially dirty if the streets are crowded with tourists. I've seen plastic cups, fast food wrappers, and beer cans all over the streets. It's not the end of the world, but you don't usually see that at home.<br><br>Tourists are rude everywhere<br>I don't know if it's because English gets you anywhere in the world now and people don't have to learn other languages, or if it's because everyone thinks they're entitled to travel anywhere in the world for free and act like they know better than the locals, but I find that most tourists are rude everywhere. They walk down busy streets speaking loudly on the phone. They don't move out of the way. They push people around. They're generally assholes, and you will find that wherever you go.<br><br>I've also seen a lot of drunk tourists, and most of the time this doesn't fly in the United States. I've seen people vomiting in the middle of streets, pissing in fountains, and screaming at the top of their lungs. This doesn't usually fly in the US, but for some reason it's acceptable in Europe.<br><br>You find a lot of con artists<br>This might just be because I'm from New York City, but I've found that you find a lot of con artists all over Europe. I was in Amsterdam a few years ago and this cute Dutch girl approached me in the train station and told me she was a fan of my work. I was like "dude I'm married", and she said it was okay because she wasn't into monogamy and wanted to explore the world together. She took me to her apartment, we ate some snacks, and then she wanted to move to the bedroom. I said no thanks, and she tried to get mad at me. She called me a prude and left. <br><br>This has happened to me several times in several European countries, and I'm not the only guy who has stories about this. I've heard stories about women being scammed too. There are a lot of predators out there who target tourists who are vulnerable to different experiences.<br><br>Most locals don't give a shit<br>You will find that a lot of locals don't care about you and don't care that you're there. Most people in Europe don't make a lot of money, so the rich tourists are everywhere. They see how much money you have and they don't care that you're taking their picture without paying you, or that you're taking their products without paying for them. They don't care that you're eating their food in a buffet and then leaving without paying. You will find a lot of locals who are scammers too, and most of the time they get away with it. <br><br>You find a lot of scams specifically in train and bus stations. There are a lot of people who want to take advantage of you. If you're not careful, you will fall for a scam. The same goes if you're a woman traveling alone, you will find that there are a lot of predators who want to take advantage of you. This goes for people of all races, and the only way you can avoid this is by being smart and paying attention.<br><br>Some countries are trash<br>You find a lot of countries in Europe that are in shambles. You find a lot of poverty and a lot of dirty streets. Some countries are beautiful and clean and well kept, but some of them are a disaster. Take a look at Bulgaria and Romania for example. These countries are beautiful, but they are poor and dirty. They've been through a lot of shit, especially when Russia wanted to expand its territories a few decades ago, and you still see the effects today. <br><br>I've also noticed that some countries are just lazy. You'll see streets in Germany or France or Austria or Switzerland that are just dirty and look unkept. You find that streets in the US are usually clean, especially in big cities. I know it's easy for me to judge Europe because I'm from the US, but it's the truth. I've noticed it, and it's especially true if you visit some of the smaller towns or cities. You find that a lot of Europe is in shambles, and you won't find this in the US.<br><br>You find a lot of dirty water<br>A lot of Europeans don't give a fuck about the environment. You'll find that water is dirty all over the place. I've seen lakes and rivers and beaches that are just gross. I don't know if they're not cleaning them often enough, or if a lot of the population doesn't care and just throws garbage into natural bodies of water, but you will find a lot of dirty water everywhere. <br><br>Some beaches are so dirty that you don't want to go in the water, and some cities are surrounded by rivers that are so polluted you don't want to walk along them. This is especially true if you visit some of the smaller cities or towns, or if you go to some of the more rural places. <br><br>I've noticed this a lot, and it's sad because I wish we all took better care of the earth. We shouldn't be throwing trash into our rivers and lakes and oceans, but it's especially bad in Europe. You will find that a lot of Europeans are ignorant and don't give a fuck about the earth.<br><br>Some of the best things in life are free<br>This may sound weird, but I've found a lot of good stuff in Europe that's free. If you know where to look, you will find some of the best parks, museums, galleries, and markets without having to pay. You find a lot of good food at a reasonable price. You find that some of the best cities in the world have a lot of free stuff to do. Some of the best things in life really are free, and if you're smart you will find a lot of it. <br><br>You will also find that a lot of good things come at a low price. A lot of meals are under $10 USD. A lot of accommodations are under $30 USD a night. A lot of train rides are under $60 USD one way. You will find that a lot of good stuff comes at a low price, especially if you know what you're doing. <br><br>It's not all rainbows and butterflies<br>A lot of people talk about how great Europe is, and it is great, but it's not all rainbows and butterflies. You will find a lot of things that suck, especially if you're not careful. Tourists get scammed, robbed, and assaulted all the time. People fight a lot in Europe. You will find a lot of drama. You will find a lot of homeless people. You will find a lot of weird things. It's not all sunshine and rainbows, and a lot of times people try to convince you otherwise.