I haven’t done a Top Five/Bottom Five post in a while and I thought I might as well break the drought with something relevant to my current state of mind.
We’ve officially spent three weeks in Europe (Munich, Germany + Vienna, Austria) and there are some things we’ve loved… and some things we’d love to change.
Let’s start with the lowlights, shall we?
BOTTOM FIVE
- Smoking. So much smoking. Ugh. I hate the smell and the butts. (Admittedly, this is just a general city issue, and is even worse in NYC, in my opinion.) One difference is people in Europe seem to be completely unaware it might be distressing and most make zero effort to move out of the way when they’re smoking. I actually saw someone come onto a tram while still vaping!!!
- Having to pay to access toilets. I get that they are expensive to clean and maintain, but there is something that rubs me the wrong way about needing coins to access a basic human necessity.
- Toilet paper/Kleenex. It is like sandpapery cardboard. Yikes. NOT SOFT AT ALL.
- Can’t trust opening hours. Multiple times we went to restaurants or shops and they weren’t open during their advertised hours. This is confusing and frustrating when you’re hungry.
- Water situation. Why is tap water so hard to come by?! Even when you ask, you often get a VERY expensive, VERY small bottle of water instead—sparkling unless you’re specific. Just give me (free) tap water and save the plastic bottle and my money.
I asked the rest of the family for their input:
- Indy: People smoking, the bathroom situation, and closed museums (as in, they’re closed at some point during the week).
- Belle: Missing friends (not Europe’s fault), “no bathrooms you can pee in without a trust fund,” eating sandwiches for lunch (the fault of her parent’s frugal natures which helps fund trips like this), the constant smell of smoking, and jetlag (also not Europe’s fault).
- John: Not being able to access free public bathrooms easily, shower stalls (often half a glass door so water leaks everywhere and/or the faucet and nozzle are frequently in bizarre places), all the smoking, and the inconvenience of many things being closed on Sunday (while we actually LIKE that this is the case, it can make certain things tricky while travelling).
TOP FIVE
- Pet behaviour. There were lots of dogs around Munich, and a decent number in Vienna (some off leash, plenty on public transit) and they have all been tremendously well behaved. I didn’t hear a single dog bark or growl. 10/10.
- Windows. It is such a genius design where you can open windows from the side AND the top. I wish I had these windows in my house.
- Architecture. It’s all so lovely and stately.
- The public transit honour system. OH MY GOODNESS THIS IS AMAZING. Not having to show your ticket or go through turnstiles to get on buses and trains is THE BEST. Also, we’ve never been stopped to have our tickets checked. I’m endlessly impressed that adherence is estimated to be in the high 90% range.
- Pedestrian/bike-friendly roads. Things are designed for people and bikes ahead of cars and I love it. So many great sidewalks and bike lanes. That said, you definitely have to keep your wits about you because bikers do NOT like to stop for walkers—make sure you’re in the walking lane, not the biking lane.
From the fam…
- Indy: the food, the sights, spending time with family and the cars.
- Belle: the food (diversity!), the “essence” of Europe, cleanliness in Vienna, being away from school, being able to learn about so many different things while we’re out exploring, learning how to navigate public transit.
- John: cobblestone-pedestrian only promenades, ancient historical buildings, Renaissance and Impressionist art (which you find more of in Europe), and the overall quality of food.
At the end of the day, I’d say both Munich and Vienna are charming, and wonderfully livable—but please, for the love of all things good, just give me free tap water, access to toilets and softer toilet paper!
Your turn:
- Tell me your Top Five/Bottom Five about the house/town/region where you’re currently living.
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Top five:
-lack of traffic.
-great public library.
– medical care in town- don’t have to travel an hour to see urgent care.
-affordable housing .
– wide open skies for great sunrises and sunsets
Bottom five”
– school district
– far from family
– high costs for some things.
– irresponsible state legislation
-area so sports oriented
I grew up with more smoking around- cigarettes vending machines and a smoking area for high school students outside, cleaning the ashtrays at McDonald’s-but the smoking would still irritate me.
You younger folk don’t know how good you have it!
Vending machines??? I’d never heard of that.
My mom was a nurse who worked at a nursing home for many years and to get INTO the nursing home you had to go through a giant indoor smoking room. She would come home from each shift reeking of smoke.
It is SUCH a win to have access to medical care. And I’ve seen pictures of your public library and it looks wonderful.
I am 100% with you on your bottom five! The pay toilets and the dearth of water are so hard to get used to! And I hate the smoke so very much.
Not only paying for toilets, but they are often SO sketchy. Eeks.
The smoking tho! I feel like I’ve gotten a taste of that when we’ve gone to all inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Lots of Europeans there, and lots of smoking. I wonder why public smoking has endured in Europe when it’s practically non existent in the US and Canada now. Like seriously…the US is generally not considered to be a world leader in public health but even we figured this out.
The “pay per pee” situation sounds very stressful.
Pay per pee… hahah. Had to chuckle at that.
I’m not sure why smoking is so prevalent here; when we were in Hungary yesterday the kids were excited to see several no smoking signs (one at the train station, for instance).
In the larger cities unfortunately it seems necessary to pay for public toilets, not just for upkeep but also as a deterrent. Then restaurants, etc., have to follow suit so that their toilets are available for their clients, and not overrun by people looking for a free pee 😉 it varies from place to place. You’ll probably be able to do a post on European toilets by the end of your travels 🙂
I don’t follow the issue with the water. Most shops sell 500 ml bottles as standard (so if you ask for a bottle of water that’s what they’ll give you) but larger ones are available if you ask, or in the supermarket (on the shelves). The water sold is mineral water. I don’t think you can sell tap water. In Germany/Austria carbonated water is more popular. In some places there are fountains where you can fill up (usually it’s indicated whether the water is safe to drink or not). What do you do in Canada?
Yes, I understand both of these things (the deterrent effect is definitely a reason; we’ve been in some free toilets in NYC that were ROUGH; needles on the floor, feces on the wall). I need to keep reframing it with a reminder that paying helps keep them safe and available.
In terms of the water, I mean out at restaurants. When you ask for water you generally get a small bottle of EXPENSIVE bottled water. We did get tap water last week and only paid 1 euro and were ecstatic to pay so little and get tap water (and a giant glass at that).
Top 5 / Bottom 5 of my town/area? Hmmm.
Top 5
Living near San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland – So much to do!
Moderate Weather – not too cold in the winter
Lots of good restaurants and bookstores not too far away
Good neighbors (uh, mostly)
I like the politics here
Bottom 5
Everything is so expensive! SO EXPENSIVE.
Traffic sucks
I miss my family (mom’s side moved away, dad’s side lives in Oregon)
I miss my friends (most have moved away for various reasons)
So hot and dry in the summer
BONUS CONTENT
France
Top 5
Beautiful art museums
Amazing cathedrals and architecture
Medieval towns
Beautiful countryside
Great food and wine
Bottom 5
I think I’ve told you about the rest stop in Brittany where the ‘toilet’ was a hole in the ground.
I do not like the lack of toilet seat covers, or rough toilet paper.
Once we wanted to see a church (Joan of Arc in Rouen, where she was murdered) and they closed from 11 – 1. They never came back that day, so we didn’t get to see it. I saw it on a different trip, it’s beautiful.
SUCH a long flight from California
Pretty spendy
I am jealous of your winter weather FOR SURE!
But… not the prices. (Or the traffic.)
Ah, France. *Happy sigh*
My sister had a similar “hole in the ground experience” while living in France and was horrified!
The fantastic public transportation system and the walking-centric cities are a huge bonus in European cities!
I don’t quite get the lack of tap water. Is this happening in restaurants? Or in shops?
In most European cities you have countless fountains. I know that Zurich has over 1,200 public fountains scattered throughout the city where you can drink fresh, high‑quality water for free. People usually just refill their bottles there as they walk around town.
As a runner, these fountains have often saved me! 😂
Restaurants are the main issue (though we don’t see many free drinking fountains here in Vienna; or, the ones that they do have, mostly seem to be broken).
We went out for supper and paid almost $10 for a small bottle of water which wasn’t nearly enough for all 4 of us, but I REFUSED to spend more on water. We did ask for tap water, but maybe they aren’t legally allowed to serve it everywhere? Last week we went out and got 1 euro cold tap water and I was thrilled.
The big open-air food market in Munich had multiple drinking fountains and that really enhanced the experience there for me because we could buy food from the vendors, but refill our own water bottles for free.
It’s crazy that I spent a good bit of time in Europe (mostly Germany) THIRTY YEARS AGO and it sounds like some things haven’t changed at all. THE SMOKING, yuck. And the scratchy toilet paper. And- everything closed on Sundays. Like you, I agree in theory. People shouldn’t have to work on Sundays. But it’s hard to get used to for us, living with 24/7 convenience stores.
Reading Catrina’s comment above- I remember those fountains in Zurich, but I don’t remember them anywhere else. I think it’s just a Swiss thing.
The smoking culture is alive and well, Jenny!! Yuck, indeed. I respect the right for people to smoke, but to do it smack dab in the middle of crowds is not cool 🙁
There were some great fountains at one spot in Munich and I’ve *seen* them in Vienna, but not a single one has worked for me yet 🙁
I second the pedestrian friendly roads! The ease and normalcy of walking places was one of the things I loved when visiting England!
Definitely designed for people to explore on foot, which is exactly what we enjoy doing 🙂
I lived in Frankfurt Germany while my Dad was stationed there from 1989-1992. My parents spoke a little German and we did lots of traveling on our own (mostly by car…maybe because we had one? Or schlepping 3 small children was just too much?). I remember the toilet situation! I don’t remember the water but I don’t think we were drinking as much water back then like we do now, ha! Probably would notice more today! I am rarely around smoking now so I’m sure it would be a shock and annoyance to have it so prevelant!
I now live in the opposite of Europe: A semi-rural area!
Top 5:
– A small neighborhood my kids can bike and visit friends in
– Surrounded by farmland so we have big beautiful sunrises/sunsets and feel a connection to the changing seasons and the crops
– My husband has lived here his whole life (as has his Dad and Grandparents) so we have lots of extended family and people he’s known his whole life
– Can get to most major chain stores within 10 minutes
– A small K-12 public school that my kids will attend all 13 years and feel such a history and connection to
Bottom 5:
– Rural = you have to drive everywhere. My kids can’t get themselves to school or soccer etc on their own, even biking on county roads can be dangerous
– Sometimes knowing people your whole life can be a hard thing. Cliques can live for generations!
– No public transportation
– A conservative community that we struggle to find people who share our beliefs/values
– Our area has seen an influx of wealth so we have to constantly practice contentment and refrain from comparison to our wealthy neighbors
It definitely sounds like the “top” outweigh the bottom, but I feel you on the “having to drive everywhere.” It takes… a lot of time!!!
I can’t believe that they still wont just give you a glass of tap water at a restaurant in Europe in 2026! And there is still that much smoking! Those were things that annoyed me in the early 2000s, but you would imagine with environmental/health awareness that would have changed – apparently not. For my region on Sunshine Coast, Australia:
Top 5:
1. The nature – there are so many beautiful birds, animals, forests, beaches, waterfalls, the list goes on.
2. Mild, sunny winters – the best!
3. The lack of traffic (mostly), driving is actually fun not a battle
4. The history in our region – both our First Nations and colonial, I find it fascinating.
5. Our local neighbourhood and kids school – lovely community feel and not too big.
Bottom 5:
1. Cafes/restaurants close early! Like many cafes are closed by 2.30 pm, and restaurants by 9pm.
2. Hot, humid summers. They can be so sweaty and unpleasant.
3. Lack of diversity – both in culture, cuisine etc. I grew up in a city that was so diverse, and I miss it!
4. Lack of public transport! We are on a train line which connects us with Brisbane, luckily, but its hard to get to the rest of our region except by car.
5. Lack of footpaths on some streets – this is very much a country town thing, but I like to walk on the footpath, not the road, or grassy verge!
I am so, so jealous of your winter weather!
2:30 pm closures?? What??? I am so confused by that.
While I’m jealous of your winters, I am NOT jealous of your summers.
Ok, yes in restaurants it’s more complicated. It may depend on the country and knowing how to ask for it. In France, if you order a carafe de l’eau you will get tap water, but if you just ask for water it will be bottled. In other countries, it’s not the done thing in restaurants. I agree the price is ridiculous, especially when compared to the same in a supermarket.
Btw, on Sundays there are always shops open in the train stations and gas stations in case of emergencies.
In some places, the cost of using the toilet is reimbursed when you buy something. Of course, I discovered that after eating and had no need to buy anything.
Yes, I’ve gotten a coupon a few times after paying for the bathroom (but then you have to go seek out the bathroom first to figure out if you’ll get a coupon on not). I’ve seen so many frustrated people trying to get into bathrooms where the payment system isn’t working, either. So they’re tapping their credit card or putting in cash and the turnstile won’t work.
Good to know about ordering a carafe!!
The smoking stuff would drive me bonkers! YUCK! Also, toilet paper is never something you think about, until you have the crappy (!) kind, right?
I only have HIGHS regarding the area I’m currently in, aside from ONE thing: Dust/Dirt. We’re in Georgia, the house is complete, but the outside is still being worked on (irrigation, landscaping, etc), and since there’s been no rain, it’s dry and dusty.
I hope you continue to find more Highs than Lows while enjoying all the sights. XO
So true: toilet paper is just toilet paper until it’s awful!
I cannot wait to see more pictures from the house in Georgia and I’m so glad it’s complete! That’s amazing! What a long road to get to this point and now you can settle in and enjoy it!
This was so fun to read! I love that you included the kids and husband’s opinions as well. When I was an exchange student in France over 30 years ago, I was shocked that the university students would stand around smoking in the hallways, throw the butts on the floor, and stomp on them. It was disgusting! On another note, you had to watch for dog poop wherever you walked, even on sidewalks. However, the good food made up for all the flaws! The pain au chocolate, French bread, brioche, etc. were amazing.
In France, there were dog turds EVERYWHERE. No one picked up after their dog. Here, I almost never see dog poop. We’ve remarked on the stark contrast between France.
The smoking situation hasn’t improved much, unfortunately.
Also, HOW DID I NOT KNOW YOU DID AN EXCHANGE TO FRANCE! I want to know more, Michelle!!!
Ugh. Smoking. It’s so awful. I feel like NYC smells terribly of pot. I don’t notice smoking tobacco as much anymore. It just reeks of pot which is a smell I abhor! Yuck! I am glad you’ve found so much to love, though! I would miss easy access to bathrooms and tap water, too!
Top 5 for Minneapolis:
– our wonderful parks and running/walking paths!
– our community is quite progressive in terms of environmental friendliness. Every house in Minneapolis can get a compost bin and you can put anything in it (that is compostable obv) like commercially compostable take out containers, napkins, paper towels, bones from a chicken, etc. It really cuts down on our trash.
– we are civic minded and have a very high voter turnout.
– we have a wonderful library system with lots of branches that have a different look and feel.
– our restaurant at scene is amazing.
Bottom 5:
– the weather. Ugh. We are probably going to get a wintery mix and snow in the coming days. It’s Easter for crying out loud!
– people joke that there are 2 seasons – winter and road construction. They are both horrible.
– it can be a hard city to break into as people tend to go away for college and then come back.
– the weather
– the weather
lol. besides the weather, I don’t have many complaints!
YES! NYC smells so badly of pot and that is something that hasn’t been an issue here at all. Just the smoking.
Your weather does seem… brutal! 🙁
Ha, I love Belle’s answer about the sandwiches. That would have been my answer at her age, too! (Okay, maybe still today.)
The water/drinking as a whole situation in Europe is difficult for me. I love my ice cold drinks, but you always have to ask for ice! Such a different world for me, haha.
I didn’t realize you had to pay for restrooms in Europe! I don’t think I’ve ever encountered that – probably since I’m not traveling with children!
Thankfully, I’m okay with room temperature drinks but I do miss ice!