And the best tourists in the world are...

LONDON (Reuters) - The best tourists in the world are the Japanese, followed by Americans and the Swiss, a survey based on views from hoteliers across Europe said Wednesday.

Japanese tourists stood out for being polite and tidy, securing 35 percent more votes than the Americans who came second.

Swiss tourists were commended for being quiet and considerate, unlike the Britons who were judged to be the fifth worst tourists because of rude behavior, noise and a miserly attitude to tipping.

But despite their faults, hoteliers do look favorably upon British spending habits voting them the third biggest holiday spenders after Americans and Russians.

Based on responses from 15,000 European hoteliers, the survey carried out on behalf of travel Web site Expedia showed that the worst tourist nation was France, followed by India, China and Russia.

Britain was second in the worst-dressed tourist table which was headed by the Americans, and fifth in the least-generous table which was headed by the Germans.

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VA•CA•TION -- noun.

1. A period of time devoted to pleasure, rest, or relaxation, especially one with pay granted to an employee.

2. A period in which activity or work is suspended.

Walk/Bike to Work Day

National Walk to Work Day is held the first Friday of April in the USA, beginning in 2004. National Walk to Work Day is promoted by Prevention magazine and endorsed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the American Podiatric Medical Association.

 

Bike/Walk to Work Day is held in mid-May in the USA, sponsored by the League of American Bicyclists.

 

Australian Walk to Work Day is held in October.

sorghum: a golden foaming syrup

This sorghum was produced in a small community in the rolling hills of southern Kentucky, by 12 or more families . Working hard from spring till fall, plowing, planting, cultivating, hoeing. Then finally in September comes the harvesting. Taking the leaves off and cutting the cane all hand labor. The stalks are hauled in to the horse drawn mill, where they go around and around squeezing the juice out of the stalks. The juice is boiled down on a wood fired evaporator, as the impurities are dipped off in a green scum. The foam boils up in a pure white, and finally comes down to a golden foaming syrup. This syrup can be used in many different ways, but what is better than hot bisquits, butter and sorghum on a cool fall morning?