We’ve all heard the jokes and stories about “car drives” to Paris – Texas that is – and Rome – Georgia for that one – and a lot of other cities in the U.S. that took their names from some pretty famous European destinations.

We’ve scoured our atlas to find five cities in the U.S. that took their name from a more famous European city, but are nothing like their namesake. Check out some of these comparisons:

1. Vienna, New York / Vienna, Austria – Originally called Bengal and Orange, New York, Vienna is home to the Mayfair Campground, which was once a flourishing commercial center for harvesting Atlantic Salmon in Oneida Lake. Vienna, Austria, is known for its Wiener schnitzel and various types of sausages.

Moscow: The one in Russia or Idaho?

2. Liverpool, Texas / Liverpool, England – One of the smallest cities in Texas, Liverpool is home to just 404 people and is less than 0.9 square miles according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Liverpool, England, has a population of more than 400,000 and measures 43.2 square miles, which makes it the third largest city in England.

3. Berlin, Wisconsin / Berlin, Germany – Berlin, Wisconsin, was originally called Scott’s Landing and even after the change to Berlin, residents emphasized first syllable rather than the second because of the anti-German sentiment in the U.S. during World War 1.

4. Moscow, Idaho / Moscow, Russia – Moscow, Russia, is a major world city, which has consistently been named one of the world’s most expensive cities and is home to the world’s largest residential building. The city’s GDP is $181 billion. Moscow, Idaho, is a typical Midwestern city and is a commercial agriculture hub for the region.

5. Lisbon, Iowa / Lisbon, Portugal – Lisbon, Portugal, located near the opening of the Mediterranean Sea, is one of the most important business centers on the Iberian Peninsula. Lisbon, Iowa, is in the middle of Iowa and has no bodies of water in its area with a population of just fewer than 1,900, compared to the Portuguese city, which has just fewer than 3 million inhabitants.

What other cities in the U.S. don’t really represent the grandeur of their European namesakes? Do you know of any that are similar?

Let us know in the comments.

Photo Credit: atbaker on Flickr

Previously…Matt Damon kicked some ass across Europe in the “Bourne” trilogy.

Now let’s talk about why “Before Sunrise” is such a fantastic travel-inspiring movie.  In my opinion, what Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy experience could actually happen to anyone.

Quick recap: They meet on the train to Vienna. He’s heading there to catch a flight home the next morning and she’s a student visiting from France. They feel sparks and decide to spend all of their time together until sunrise, when they go their separate ways.

“Before Sunrise” reminds me how free and liberating it feels to travel in Europe, especially by train. You can completely plan out your trip like you would any other vacation, go with the wind and not plan a thing, or do a little bit of both. It’s the ultimate paradox of being in complete control while simultaneously completely relinquishing all control.

What’s more, locals take the trains every day so you could meet really interesting people at any point. What happens from there is up to you but as you’re watching the Italian, French, Swiss, Austrian, German, etc. countryside fly by, you could be having an amazing conversation with someone who just happened to sit in your car.

Traveling by train in Europe is amazing and exciting because it is up to you what countries you visit, how many days you travel and even if you would rather travel at night or during the day. If you arrive in one city and decide you’d really rather be in another, just find out which train you need and hop on.

The point of watching films is to help you escape reality for 2 hours. Set that film in a foreign location and you’re not only escaping reality, it’s like you’re also on vacation.

Photo Credit: Adam Sporka on Flickr

Our afternoon arrival in Vienna was made enchanting by a driving tour of the city and a visit to Schonbrunn, one of the grandiose and stunning residences of the Habsburg family.

After relaxing and exploring the Schunbrunn grounds, we ventured to the hotel to either put our things down and explore or crash for a nap before dinner. Following dinner, we fixed ourselves up (and what a fabulous-looking bunch those travelers make) to attend a concert with the music of Mozart and Strauss. The concert hall proved stunning, the music transcendent, and the dancing and vocals entertaining. Intermission provided sparkling wine and the most intensely colorful sunset I’ve seen in a while, after which I may or may not have accidentally charmed a young Viennese trumpet-player. [Ladies, you'll like this story.] Accidentally, you ask? Absolutely. All I did was smile in return to his hello, and the young fellow spent the rest of his time on stage craning his neck and back to smile at me in the back of the room. He even interrupted songs to tap fellow musicians and whisper in my direction. It was a most flattering and awkward exchange for a young lady who did not realize she was so mysterious (most likely because she’s not)!

The following day was spent with a lot of free time and people chose to bike, explore the cathedrals and churches (particularly St. Stephen’s and Karls Church), or wander the open-air markets (most notably the beloved Naschmarkt) to try the vast array of foods and shop for goods from far off lands. Then we all met up in the afternoon for one final day of outings, heading first to the Schnapps Museum for a delightful tour that enlightened us to the many variations of the famed Austrian liquor. The tour guide was absolutely hysterical, making sure to note things like: “If you have this type of schnapps, you will suddenly have the funniest party ever. Even if you’re the only one at the party… (mischievous giggle).” The tour was completed with the tasting of a vast array of tasty shots, from liquor with flakes of gold to absinthe to liqueurs that tasted like strawberries & cream.

Then it was off to Prater Park for some amusement park goodness, and boy was it fun! We all ran around like children, arms flailing and cotton candy staining our fingers. We played games, rode water rides and bumper cards, and spun through the air at 100mph on a ride that I can only describe as a massive circularly-moving slingshot that just happens to never let you go.

And after our glorious afternoon of schnapps and amusement-park rides, we had one last hearty Eastern European dinner in a dimly lit basement restaurant. There was plenty of reminiscing and good Austrian drink, and the night was finished with non-stop hugs, the exchange of e-mail addresses and sad goodbyes.

This means, ladies and gentlemen, that my European exploits have come to a close.

Where to next, you ask? China, baby. I’m about to board my plane to Hong Kong, and I’m overwhelmed with excitement. I can’t wait to send word from the East, so stay tuned!