Minority Travelers' Forum: 2003
Have any guidebooks been particularly helpful? Are there any places in Europe you'd discourage other minorities from visiting? How do you deal with stares or "special" treatment in areas that rarely see a minority or mixed-race couple? Please share your minority-related European travel tips and anecdotes here.
Don't be afraid to expand your horizons
I am an African Ameican woman in my early 40's. Over the last seven years,
I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to travel to
several different countries. Here are brief accounts of my trips and the
impressions of the countries that I visited.
Holland: I enjoyed the time that I spent traveling around Holland. I stayed in the town of Haarlem with an American girlfriend who moved over there with her fiance. Never experienced any form of racism. There were quite a few interracial couples walking around too. No one seemed to pay them any attention. I even recall sitting at a bus stop and observing a perfume ad depicting a nude interracial couple (BM/WF) embracing each other. I almost missed the bus because I was so busy gaping at the picture! You'd never see something like that here in the States!
London: I spent a week traveling around London. I found the English to be friendly and helpful. On more than one occasion, I met people who gave me their address and phone numbers, and asked me to keep in contact with them. During my visit, I only met a couple of people who seemed to have prejudiced attitudes towards me. Overall, the trip was very enjoyable, and I would not hesitate to return.
Germany: My first trip to Germany was a complete culture shock! It was hard for me to engage in converstation...mainly because I did not speak the language. I also found the Germans to be somewhat cold and unfriendly. While walking through the village of Rudeshiem on the Rhine, some young German boys yelled, "Der Schwarzen!" I simply glared at them and kept walking. One evening, while walking through Titisee, in the black forest, a German man let his dog out to chase me away because he thought that I wanted to rent a room at his hotel. Germans also have a tendancy to stare-- which made me very uncomfortable. After meeting Germans online, I have since returned to Germany twice to visit my online friends. I had a wonderful time and was treated just like family!! Over the years, they have also come to visit me. One set of friends will be visiting me during the 2003 Christmas holidays. This will be their first trip to L.A. and I am looking foward to showing them around. BTW: I visited Rothenburg with my German friends and I didn't have any problems whatsoever. I would go back there in a heartbeat.
France and Luxemborg: Loved the beautiful European villages and stunning architecture!! Didn't encounter any problems whatsoever. I met a wonderful Italian gentleman in Luxembourg. He was the owner of a cafe that my girlfriend and I stopped at. He engaged us in conversation and offered us wine on the house. He also kept kissing my hand. On our way back to our hotel, my girlfriend, who was white, complained to me because he didn't kiss hers.
Switzerland: Beautiful country!! I stayed near Lucerne with some Swiss friends--whom I met on the internet. They did not speak very good English. Nor did I speak very good German! But we had a great time laughing, joking around, and communicating with each other the best that we could.
Canada: Very very clean and beautiful country. The Canadians that I met were very friendly. I visted both Eastern and Western Canada and had a wonderful time. My only regret is that I could not have stayed longer in Vancouver.
I think that when traveling
abroad, it is important to have an open mind. Intolerance exists all over
the world in some form or another. However, one must not allow racism/terrorism,
or the fear of racism/terrorism, to hinder them from leaving the U.S.
and venturing out into the rest of the world. Happy Travels!
Regina
Los Angeles, CA USA Wed 12/24/2003
Italy
My husband and I just came back from Italy. We are an interacial couple
(he is african american and I am white) and were concerned about our reception
in Italy but we had absolutely no problems. My husband didn't feel uncomfortable
at all. Flying to Venice from NYC we had to change planes in Frankfurt.
On our plane from Frankurt to Venice there was a school group from Sweden
(they were 15, 16 years old). My husband struck up a conversation with one
of the kids on the flight. On the return flight the group of kids where
on the same flight again. I stepped away for a few minutes and when I came
back the kids were all sitting around my husband talking to him about America
and his life here. At first he was a bit taken back but then said no harm
was meant and that the kids were curious and that interactions like this
were important. I am sure there were people who stared at us with disapproval
but we had more trouble in the city of Boston than we had in Europe.
DS
New York, NY USA Wed 12/03/2003
Italia
We spent 8 days in Italy at the end of May this year and had a lovely time.
I am African American and my old college/travel buddy is Chinese/African
American. We experienced the staring that was mentioned on earlier posts
especially in the smaller towns/cities like Monterosso al Mare and Venice.
But we met alot of people that way, too. Several locals became our unofficial
tour guide of places to eat and see. We found the Italians very friendly,
helpful, and flirtacious. We had groups of children (under 8) stare and
point and call out "Nero" I didn't take offense because I know that they
have never seen a person of color before. Don't take offense to the staring,
make a new friend. You'll enjoy your experience that much more.
Sherry
Baltimore, MD USA Wed 11/05/2003
Other web resources for non-European travel
This board is for European travel, not travel to Africa (Egypt), India,
and the Middle East (UAE). If you want to know more about travel to these
countries go to www.ugogurl.com. It is a great site for the African American
female traveler, to read experiences from other travelers. There is also
an excellent write up about Egypt there, too. Another site for African American
travelers is www.geocities.com/travelingwhileblack.
Reality Check
USA Mon 10/27/2003
Ireland is OK for African-Americans!
I am African-American and I recently traveled to Ireland for a co-worker's
wedding. I stayed in Dublin for one night and then stayed in the country
at Cabra Castle for three days. I did some sightseeing in a local town,
Carrickmacross. I found the Irish people to be extremely friendly and helpful.
I did not feel out of place, nor did I feel I was treated differently. What
is more is my boyfriend is white. I thought for sure we'd endure stares
and rude comments and there were NONE!!! We felt very warm and welcomed
by strangers and friends alike. I am eager to return to Ireland and tour
as much of the country as possible. I say go and have a marvelous time and
take advantage of the Irish hospitality and friendliness.
Mocha
Phoenix, AZ USA Sun 10/26/2003
England, France and Italy
I visited about 40 cities during my England-France-Italy vacation last summer
and I have to say I was treated very well everywhere I went. The English
weren't reserved, the Parisians weren't rude and the Italians were extremely
helpful and friendly and talkative. I would have to say that as an Black
American Female, the only time I felt as though I was being discrimated
against was toward the end of my three month trip when I was in Napoli (Naples).
People would say "Merda" to me as I walked by them. I asked a Italian who
worked at the Hostel I was staying at what that word meant and he said it
meant sh-t, specifically black sh-t. So I left Napoli earlier than I had
initially planned and took by black money with me and went back to Roma
(Rome) before returning back to England and then eventually home. All in
all, I had a very good time and I would encourage all people regardless
of race to travel. I met so many cool people that I still keep in touch
with.
S. Wilson
Chicago, IL USA Wed 09/24/2003
Eastern Europe
The past 4 years I have traveled around Europe, and particularly in the
past two years, Eastern Europe. I have never experienced any problems, except
the occasional stare, which I find funny. I grew past this, as I figured
that many of them have never/rarely seen somebody who looks like me. In
fact, last summer I really connected with a lot of Czech people and found
them to be the absolute warmest, nicest, and polite human beings I've ever
met. This summer I'll be going back, as well to Bulgaria and will not be
expecting any problems. One must realize that during the Communist regimes,
many couldn't trust anybody- that's why they come off as being extremely
cold. However, as soon as you get past this (a simple "hello" in the language
will do), they will bombard you with their warm and charming personalities!!
MI USA Tue 07/01/2003
Holland and Belgium
I'm African-American and my wife is Cuban-American and we recently
returned from a trip to Holland (6 nights) and Brussels, Belgium (1 night)
and we had a wonderful time. It was my second trip to Holland and my wife's
first. I love the Dutch and their way of progressive thinking and they were
very nice to us our whole trip. Now with the exception of our one night
in Brussels, we were in Amsterdam the whole time and we never felt any racism
at all. I was sorry to read about a racist expereince a couple had in Holland
that was mentioned below but for us we only received love and good vibes
from everyone in Amsterdam and for the record everone was nice in Brussels
also. Peace and Love!
Loranzo
North Miami, FL USA Sun 06/22/2003
minority travel
I am a 51-year-old black American spending time in Paris with my husband
and teen son. This is my 7th time in Europe. What I have enjoyed is getting
appreciative looks from men. Regardless of one's color or the men's color,
the Parisians do have an eye for the ladies, and it's nice to get that kind
of attention at my age.
We had a wonderful experience our first night when we were eating out with a black American acquaintance. A black American woman here, who lives in Paris and is a well known performer here, was so happy to see other black Americans that she introduced herself to us. We had a great time talking, and then went to her show later in the week, which was excellent. We had exchanged numbers, and talked to her a couple of times then ran into her near her apartment. We went to a coffee shop, and she invited her manager, who is Lebanese and formerly worked for Motown, to join us. After that delightful afternoon, they invited us to dinner -- at a wonderful (and fairly pricey) Parisian Lebanese restaurant. He introduced us to his homeland specialties and then picked up the bill.
I think that being African American in Paris can open some extra doors particularly with African American expats. None of us has ever experienced any negativity as a result of our race here. We get the same consideration that others get.
Should any people wish to connect with other black Americans while in
Paris, do an Internet search on Paris soirees. A local black American,
Patricia Laplant Collins, holds weekly dinners on Sunday evenings for
20 Euros. They are open to anyone, and people of all races and ages come.
There's great food. Great conversation (in English). It's wonderful intellectual
stimulation and a good way to connect with the local community, including
American and European blacks.
Aziza
Florida, USA Sat 06/21/2003
Loving Western Europe
I am a forty something, Black American female. I have traveled throughout
most of Western Europe, and I have lived in England and Ireland. My most
hostile experiences thus far in Europe have been stares, and a Dublin bus
driver who would not stop for me. He only stopped the bus when some locals
waved him down. Still I love Western Europe-especially London, and later
this year I will be moving back to London to attend graduate school. I would
love to hear from other Black Americans studying or working in Europe.
Debra
Chicago, IL USA Fri 06/13/2003
Warmly Welcomed in Greece
I am a thirtysomething black woman who is a travel junkie. I just spent
a week in Athens, and 4 days on the island of Syros and I had a great time.
Everyone was quite nice to me and I didn't experience any blatant discrimination
or hostility. In Athens there is a good sized population of African immigrants.
While I did see a few who looked professional (business suits, cell phones,
atc.), the majority I saw were street vendors. And the section of Athens
I stayed in was a few blocks away from the Chinese/South Asian neighborhood.
The entire time I was in Syros I did not see another person of color, asians included. Yet I was treated warmly and guys were real quick to talk to me or wink. What was funny about Syros was I was all set to try out my Greek phrases as I thought there would be fewer people who know English. But whenever I approached someone they immediately spoke to me in English, as if they assumed (correctly) that I wasn't Greek. I got too much of a chuckle out of that to take offense.
In all I had a great time in Greece, and I definitely want to go to a
few more of the islands. To the poster who didn't like being stared at,
I definitely know where you're coming from as in I wouldn't tolerate that
behavior here in the States. But on the other hand, a lot of Europeans
who stare have rarely (or never) seen a person of color in the flesh and
they can't help themselves (I got my share of stares in Syros). It's more
curiosity on their part than anything, so try not to take it personally.
Michele
Cherry Hill, NJ USA Mon 06/09/2003
African American and Catholic in Paris
My daughter and I visited Paris in August 2003, and it was a magical trip.
I'm African American, she is Chicana/African American (or Blaxican as she
and her brothers call themselves). We encountered nothing but helpfulness,
friendliness, and respect, even when practicing my very rusty French. (More)
often when I was alone, I was mistaken for French by both other tourists
and Parisians alike. One thing we loved--we went to Mass about every other
day in Paris, in the loveliest historic churches. There was always at least
one black priest at the altar and the congregations were always at least
a third "of color"--very different from the U.S.!
lily bart
colorado springs, co USA Sun 06/08/2003
African American in Scotland
I've been wanting to go to Scotland for many years (since 7th grade) and
finally went last summer on my first organized tour with my 17-year-old
son. We are both African American, and we had a wonderful time. I was most
wary of my fellow tourists--we were the only African Americans, but that
was dispelled in the first 15 seconds during the welcome reception. Although
most of the Americans were Southerners and came from a range of backgrounds,
everyone was genuinely friendly and welcoming to us and each other.
Glasgow was much more multi-cultural than I had anticipated. In even the smallest villages and islands people were friendly--whether we were solo or with the tour. The Scottish girls found my 6 foot, Essence-cover son irresistable, and he got plenty of attention and various invitations (as well as mother-son talks on respect and responsibility).
The only racially "sensitive" moment was at a small pub outside of Wick, where the performer asked at the end how many of those in our group had Scottish blood. I didn't tell him that my maiden name is Ferguson, for all the usual awful American history reasons, so I was the only person in the room who didn't raise his/her hand. The performer said, "Well, one never knows. Livingstone (or Stanley, I've forgottten) was a Scotsman, and African women can be very charming." Racist, sexist, etc. but he was attempting to be inclusive, and given the overall friendliness of all we met, this single remark didn't count for much.
Even on the Orkneys (my favorite part of the trip, after the deeply spiritual
experience of visiting the Isle of Iona) everyone from the Cathedral docent
to the ladies in the tea rooms were warm, respectful, and helpful. I guess
that these places get so many tourists, that African Americans don't raise
any eyebrows, even on the remotest islands on the tourist circuit.
lily bart
colorado springs, co USA Sun 06/08/2003
Italy feedback
My husband and I are African American, and we just returned from a 2 week
vacation in Italy. We had a great time, and met great people along the way.
We got complimented on being an attractive couple. I also noticed people
staring at us, and I got hit on by men in different cities (some more aggressive
than others). I felt annoyed by the staring, but that's just me (I think
that it's rude, especially if you're not going to initiate conversation).
Other than that, I didn't feel discriminated against, or mistreated. I must
say that I saw very few AAs. The Italians were friendly, outgoing, and appreciative
of our efforts to communicate with them in their language. We had a great
time overall.
LWC
San Francisco, CA USA Sat 06/07/2003
Munich and Salzburg
We're a Filipino-American family of 4 that just returned from a trip that
took us into Munich and Salzburg. Absolutely no problem whatsoever. Everytime
my 8 year old attempted to speak German, (a simple Danke schon or Bitte
schon) brought a smile to the locals face. We kept a low profile because
of the war and always made an attempt to speak German from our phrase book.
Courtesy always works!!
Marie
San Diego, CA USA Sat 04/19/2003
Berlin, Germany
I'm an African-American woman who just returned from a week in Berlin, Germany.
I loved Berlin. I stayed in the eastern part of the city at the Circus Hostel
in the Mitte district. Contrary to what I've read on other websites, Mitte
and the neighboring Prenzlauer Berg were very diverse racially. I felt very
comfortable there. Not many people in the east speak much English, so if
you don't know German, brush up. Even small attempts at the language are
appreciated. Both neighborhoods are largely working class and, like most
of Berlin, are undergoing renovation. Prissy people would probably do better
in the western part of the city.
Michelle M
Wilmington, DE USA Wed 04/02/2003
paris
i am a tall mexican-american who recently visited paris and amsterdam. I
was a little concerned because i thought that i would look like an algerian,
who i understand are not liked by the french. i have to say that my experiences
were great. i made every effort to speak their language and they helped
me tremendously. one little old lady shared her umbrella with me when it
was raining (a complete stranger, i don't know if this would happen stateside)
One thing that i appreciated is that they saw me as an american whereas
in the states i am viewed more as a hyphenated american that some whites
may not mix easily with. It was an eye opening experience to the racism
of my own country. I'd love to go back again soon.
eddie cruz
los angeles calif., ca USA Sun 03/02/2003
Belgium
Just returned from Belgium. I was a bit apprehensive after reading a previous
comment, but it was wonderful. There are so many minorities there, even
saw many interacial couples. The white folks do look at you hard at first,
but when they find out you are from the US they are quite friendly. We were
warned not to go in the area of the North Station at night as it is an area
of prostitution. We took the train to Ghent, Antwerp, and Bruges with no
problems. The people do not speak much English, but we managed. Buy the
10 trip pass for the train if traveling with a few people to those three
cities. There is also the metro, tram and bus. Take the Airport Express
train from the airport as a taxi is very expensive (best if your hotel is
within walking distance of a train or metro stop). Restaurants are expensive
but they do have fast food places.
Jennifer
W Bloomfield, MI USA Sat 03/01/2003
Rimini, Italy
I am a black American woman living in Germany. My fiance is German. We are
a mixed couple, which is not such a big deal in general in Europe. But,
in Rimini, Italy, it was another story. We recently went to Rimini for a
international drink fair (which, by the way, had areas that sold Nazi-type
labeled drinks). I noticed immediately that people stared at us the whole
time we were there. I didn?t really see any other blacks attending this
fair. I also didn?t see any blacks working in hospitality or at shops in
the town. I only noticed blacks working in very low end occupations, such
as bathroom attendants or selling watches on the side of the road. I found
the whole atmosphere somewhat discouraging.
I would say Rimini is a very racist town. The shopkeepers in general were very helpful but, in my opinion, Italians in this town see black people as "persona non grata." I would suggest black travelers wear their best clothing at all times in Rimini as the women stare you down from head to toe.
As we returned to our car (a Mercedes) I noticed an Italian looking surprised.
I think people should learn "to not judge a book by its cover." I will
never travel to Rimini again. and refuse to spend any more money there.
Leslie S.
Stuttgart Germany, Mon 02/03/2003
Racism in Spain
I'm Spanish/Asian, and experienced quite a bit of racism while I was in
Spain, especially in Salamanca (where I went to school), and Madrid. A few
people actually spit at me, and in Madrid, someone pretended to put a gun
to my head. I will not let this get in my way of enjoying what Europe has
to offer, and hope to explore Northern europe in the spring/summer. I am
planning a trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen.
J.
Los Angeles, CA USA Sat 01/25/2003
Spain
Don't get too caught up in the internet news stories. I was almost petrified
of going to Spain because I read about incidents of racism. I can honestly
say that I didn't experience any of it over there. It was very pleasant.
No attacks by racist groups, no stares, no police officers harassing me,
no shop owners behaving rudely. It was amazing. If anything, I was treated
like some type of celebrity. It was quite refreshing.
Milana
Grand Rapids, MI USA Thu 01/02/2003