“You grew up here. You’re used to it. For us, everything is new. It’s exciting, sometimes charming, often thought-provoking. To us, cobblestones in the street are a revelation.”

            “You Americans are so shallow. You think you know everything. Then you come here and find out just how old really old is. We’re the great great great great great great grandparents of the baby you. We’re your backstory.”

“Then why can’t you just admit that we’re the new now, and rule the world by right of succession?”

“You’ve got a lot to learn, like adolescents. You think you invented hamburgers.”

“No more than spaghetti comes from China.”

            “Let’s not fight over history. We both worked on democracy. We wrestled with it, you put it into words, we chopped off heads, you wrote a Constitution.”

“But we’re the best. You should know that by now.”

            “We do wish you weren’t so typical. We can tell you’re American by the way you look, talk, eat…”

“We can tell you’re European by the way you don’t.”

            “You don’t understand Democracy!”

“You still have Kings and Queens!”

            “You dabbled with democracy, tried it, gave it up! The now you is the new you, and you’re getting rid of everything!”

“You’re a haven of discontents! You judge a country by its individuals!”

            “I’m glad you said that! Look at yourself!”

“I don’t need to!”

            “We want your tourist money but not your patronage. Let’s take a break and have lunch.”

“Good idea. I guess we have more in common than we realized.”

            “Hold that thought. Welcome to the club. You’re paying.”