the amount of europeans in center city this weekend was astounding

**John Goodman** · 05-21-2012, 08:26 AM

anyone else notice this?

never seen so many europeans in the city in my life. looks like philly is really turning into an international tourist destination.

**GraduateFamily** · 05-21-2012, 08:50 AM

It was due to the opening of the Barnes. Expect many, many more!!!

**Naveen** · 05-21-2012, 10:05 AM

Yeah. We got all their paintings and now they have to come here to see them.

**FMT** · 05-21-2012, 10:12 AM

I noticed and remarked the same thing. We sat down with our daughter and took a couple breaks on our walk on Saturday, once in Rittenhouse, once at the new Sister Cities Park (which is a great addition to the city) and once along Kelly Drive and I heard just as much foreign language as English. Some Spanish, some French, and some Portuguese.

**thoth** · 05-21-2012, 02:28 PM

Not to mention tax free clothing on Walnut st...

**mixiboi** · 05-21-2012, 02:35 PM

Yeah, and they were confused by that...I was in H&M and two women ask the person behind the counter that if the prices was with tax already included(As most other countries put the full tax price on the tags).

**Dayman** · 05-21-2012, 03:28 PM

Any Italian who has run into me these last few days has immediately booked flight to Philadelphia based on my awesomeness. Prego.

**BarryG** · 05-21-2012, 09:18 PM

Yep I was asked to take the picture of a couple Frenchies at the Kimmel Center.

**ShoshTrvls** · 05-21-2012, 09:33 PM

How could it be the Barnes? I thought only members are getting tickets this week; how many Germans do you think bought memberships?

**mixiboi** · 05-21-2012, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by ShoshTrvls

How could it be the Barnes? I thought only members are getting tickets this week; how many Germans do you think bought memberships?

Membership isn't that expensive, so I could see them going that route to be the first to see it debut(Since the old way was so restrictive).

**Gladys** · 05-21-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Yep I was asked to take the picture of a couple Frenchies at the Kimmel Center.

could have been for dutoit

**BarryG** · 05-21-2012, 10:41 PM

Originally Posted by Gladys

could have been for dutoit

A lot of people were there for Dutiot but what's the French connection?

**Gladys** · 05-21-2012, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

A lot of people were there for Dutiot but what's the French connection?

um ... because he was born in switzerland, has a french heritage and for all intensive purposes is french?

**BarryG** · 05-22-2012, 12:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

um ... because he was born in switzerland, has a french heritage and for all intensive purposes is french?

Knew he was Swiss, didn't know he identified as French, makes sense I guess though wasn't most of his high profile career in Canada?

**Gladys** · 05-22-2012, 12:32 AM

he may not but the public does... look the point is it was a HUGE deal concert of Ravel even without Dutoit i would not be surprised to find french people there. Yes he was in Montreal for a while.

**BarryG** · 05-22-2012, 12:50 AM

Originally Posted by Gladys

he may not but the public does... look the point is it was a HUGE deal concert of Ravel even without Dutoit i would not be surprised to find french people there. Yes he was in Montreal for a while.

The Ravel was awesome... glad I saw it though don't think I would travel 3,000 miles for it. Is the full ballet not often performed?

**Lakey** · 05-22-2012, 04:29 PM

I noticed it on Sunday as well. It's possible that the AACE (endocrinologists) meeting was a contributing factor. AACE is at the convention center this week. I've never attended it, but if it is like other US medical meetings there should be a decent number of European attendees.

**Gladys** · 05-22-2012, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

The Ravel was awesome... glad I saw it though don't think I would travel 3,000 miles for it. Is the full ballet not often performed?

no but if you were here anyway.

I couldn't resist posting this.

Legally Blonde the musical-Gay or European - YouTube

**John Goodman** · 08-03-2012, 10:07 AM

the only evidence i have is anecdotal but...

i really think european tourism to philly is booming. tons of euros here this summer

i wonder if europeans are coming directly to philly or stopping here between ny and dc. i imagine starting at ny then going to philly then dc would be a nice tour of america for a foreign tourist

**RainboTeabagger** · 08-03-2012, 01:44 PM

Ummm this is nothing new. If you spend anytime in the historic area you'll realize Philadelphia gets a lot of European tourists year round. Again nothing new.

What this thread should really be about is the increase in Chinese vistors. Vistors from south east Asia, in particular China, have greatly increased recently.