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1. FUN FACTS AND STUFF ABOUT WESTERN EUROPE

   WESTERN EUROPE

2. PORTUGAL Won independence from the Moors in 1143 About the size of Indiana Portuguese is the official language of 9 countries. It is illegal to kill a bull in Portuguese bullfighting Primarily Catholic Oldest alliance is the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance: 1373. The first public sale of African slaves took place in Lagos in 1444.
3. SPAIN Produces 44% of the world’s olive oil 5 times the size of United Kingdom, but only 2/3 the population. Bats are the most prevalent animal: one type eats birds!! Hot chocolate in Spain is like drinking pudding. Each household buys fresh bread EVERY DAY~! Spain has a Tooth Mouse (NOT FAIRY) named Ratoncito Perez Bullfighting is an art and all major cities and outlying areas have bullrings. There are more than 4,800 miles of beaches. BUT!!! There is only 2978 miles of coastline??? Madrid is located directly in the center of the country. Largest foodfight happens every August in Buñol “La Tomatina” began in 1944 and starts by freeing a ham from the top of a greased pole. The tomatoes used are not for eating: grown for this festival.
4. ITALY Larger than the state of Arizona 40 million visitors per year. More hotel rooms than any other European Nation. Most Italian-Americans trace their roots to Naples. Surrounded by 5 seas and 6 countries. Ciao means hello and goodbye (at your service). In Ivrea, they celebrate Lent by throwing oranges at each other. 60% of the world’s art treasures are in Italy In Lazio, the police drive Lamborghini’s The word “Trivia” means the intersection of 3 roads. Lowest birthrate in all Europe Eat 66 pounds of pasta per year.
5. GERMANY Most densely populated country in the world. 31% of the country is covered with forests. 150 castles: most are restaurants, hotels or ruins. 300 kinds of bread. To ask for 1 show your thumb. Showing your index finger means 2!! They answer the phone with their last name instead of “Hello” School finishes at 1 PM and kids are left alone. Dogs are treated like kings. they go anywhere they want. Unfinished apartment means NOTHING Not even a toilet! They have an artist who turns cow manure into wall clocks and small sculptures. Hitler helped create the VW Beetle. Work week includes Saturday. No tipping for service– it is an insult. US Troops stationed there since 1945.
6. FRANCE Size of Texas 3000 miles of shoreline Wine is free with most meals. Home to Euro-Disney The Tour de France covers 2100 miles in 23 days. The Statue of Liberty was made in France. Modeled after Eugene Boyer, wife of Isaac Singer (Singer sewing machines). Gifted to the US for our Centennial in 1886. April Fool’s Day began here in 1564 when they changed calendars. Home to the fastest train in the world at 357 MPH. In 2007 they had 81.9 million tourists; more than their population! Blue jeans originated in France. 1000 different cheeses can be bought in stores. Normandy was the site of the D-Day invasion, 6 June 1944 .
7. BELGIUM Produces 247,500 tons of chocolate per year. Biggest selling point for chocolate in the world is Brussels Airport. Invented French Fries (chips) and each town has its own chips seller. 3 main types of Belgian waffles: Liege (most common), Brussels (rectangular and served with toppings), and galettes (breakfast) One of the lowest proportion of McDonald’s per inhabitant in the Developed World! 0.062 per 100,000 people. Highest income tax in Europe. A Belgian founded New York City. Brussels palace is bigger than Buckingham Palace. French-speaking Belgium is the world’s biggest producer of comics. The Belgian motorway system is the only man-made structure visible from the moon. 97% of households get cable TV Charles Martel and Charlemagne were born in Belgium. Tournai was the first capital of the Frankish Empire (France) From 458-508 AD Home of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
8. THE NETHERLANDS 3RD HIGHEST POPULATION DENSITY IN THE WORLD. NETHERLANDS MEANS LOW COUNTRY IN DUTCH. ½ OF THE SURFACE AREA IS LESS THAN 3 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL. DUTCH PEOPLE ARE THE TALLEST IN THE WORLD. RANKED AS THE BEST COUNTRY FOR CHILDREN TO LIVE IN THE WORLD. FIRST EUROPEANS TO DISCOVER AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND. AUSTRALIA WAS CALLED NEW HOLLAND NEW ZEALAND WAS NAMED AFTER THE PROVINCE OF ZEELAND. 2 CAPITALS: AMSTERDAM AND THE HAGUE 1180 WINDMILLS KEUKNEHOF PARK IS THE LARGEST FLOWER GARDEN IN THE WORLD. THE DUTCH COMPANY “PHILIPS” INVENTED THE AUDIO TAPE, VIDEO TAPE, THE CD AND THE CD-ROM. KLM IS THE LONGEST RUNNING NATIONAL AIRLINE IN THE WORLD (1919). HOME TO THE NARROWEST HOUSE IN THE WORLD (3.5 FT WIDE).
9. ENGLAND 59 times smaller than Australiabut 2.5 times More people. Drink more tea than any other country in the world. British police only carry guns in emergencies. The Star Spangled Banner was composed by an Englishman. The oldest public zoo was opened in London in 1828. Oxford University once had a rule that forbade Students from bringing bows and arrows to class. Public schools in England are expensive private Schools. Ordinary schools are free, called state schools. French was the official language from 1066-1362. English class system is based on background, not money. Windsor castle is the largest and oldest royal residence still in use and the largest house in the world. (484,000 Sq Ft). Hyde Park was originally a private hunting ground for Henry VIII.
10. scotland About the size of Maine 3 languages: English, Scots, and Scottish Gaelic. 790 islands, 130 inhabited. 6 US Presidents were of Scottish descent. John Paul Jones, father of the American Navy Thomas Edison. 5 million inhabitants; 5 million Americans have Scottish ancestry. Last names are either Gaelic (Mac or Mc) and Germanic. Edinburgh was the first city in the world with its own fire-brigade (fire department). The most complete Neolithic village in Europe is on the island of Orkney, dating from 3100 BC. Scotland was independent until 1603 when the King of Scotland became the King of England! The Bank of Scotland (1695) is the oldest surviving bank in UK.
11. WALES The land of King Arthur. Wales comes from the Germanic word Walha, meaning stranger. George Everest (Mt. Everest), Monty Python, Anthony Hopkins, Laura Ashley (designer). The language, Welsh Gaelic is spoken by 750,000 people. 3 million people live there. About the size of New Jersey. Since 1301, the Crown Prince of England is also known as the Prince of Wales.
12. NORTHERN IRELAND Famous for The Giant’s Causeway: 40,000 Interlocking basalt columns. HMS Titanic was built in Belfast. 5,459 square miles, about the size of Connecticut. Became part of UK in 1921 after 120 years of Rebellion by Ireland. Famous people: CS Lewis (writer), William Burke (Grave robber and murderer).
13. IRELAND 3 MOST FAMOUS SYMBOLS: Harp, Shamrock, and Celtic Cross. 4.4 million people. A little smaller than the state of South Carolina. World leader in pop music Many Irish names begin with Mac or O which means son of and Grandson of 34 million Americans report Irish ancestry, #2 after German. ½ Australia’s population claim Irish descent. 88% are Roman Catholic and boasts one of the highest rates of church attendance in the Western world. 80 million people of Irish descent live outside Ireland: 14 times the combined population of Ireland and Northern Ireland. 25% of Europe’s computers are made here.
14. SWITZERLAND 4 OFFICIAL LANGUAGES: Swiss German, French, Italian, and Romansh. 32 mountain peaks above 4333 feet. Only country with a people’s rights system of government called direct democracy. The International Red Cross was founded in Geneva in 1863. The flag of the Red Cross is the flag of Switzerland (inverted colors). Zurich has the highest quality of life in the world. Geneva is #2. Long tradition of watchmaking. Invented the wristwatch in 1868. Long tradition of military and political neutrality. Independent since 1499 (occupied by France: 1798-1815. The longest tunnel in the world, slicing through the Swiss Alps: 35.4 miles was completed on October 5, 2010. Cost each Swiss voter $1300. Cost $10 Billion. Opens for rail traffic in 2017.
15. AUSTRIA Oldest design of a flag in use today (1191). Oldest zoological garden in the world Established in Vienna in 1752. 62% is covered by the Alps Krimml Falls are the tallest waterfall in Europe At 1235 feet. (411 yards). Only continental EU country not in NATO. 50% of the men are overweight, but only 20% of women. Founded in 803 AD, Haslauer is the oldest inn/restaurant in the world and the oldest company in Europe. Famous composers: Haydn, Mozart, Schubert, Liszt, Strauss, and Bruckner. Founder of the sports car Porsche and designer of the VW: Ferdinand Porsche. Sewing machine invented here. Vienna’s cemetery has 2.5 million tombs: more than the city’s live population. World’s largest emerald is displayed in the Imperial Treasury of the Hofburg. Work longest of any Europeans, 45 hours per week. Slightly smaller than Maine. 8 million people.
16. GREECE 80% IS MOUNTAINS, 50% IS COVERED BY FORESTS. 7,000 LIMESTONE CAVES FORMING 14,400 MILES OF UNDERGROUND ROADWAYS. Greek men and women have the highest rate of obesity in Europe. The Minoan civilization appeared in Greece around 3650 BC, 1000 years before the first Chinese civilization. Greek history and mythology have inspired Western culture and Hollywood films. World famous Belgian pralines, Leonidas, were named after the 5th Century King of Sparta. About the same size as Alabama. Lowest number of fatal traffic accidents in the European Union. The Greek-owned shipping fleet is the largest in the world. Aristotle Onassis, who married Jackie Kennedy, was the most famous shipping magnate of the 20th century. Men do not work part-time. 85% of Greeks own their own homes.