I used to be a cynic. When I think back to the last time I travelled abroad, I remember being disgusted and annoyed by all the couples I saw. I had just gotten out of a relationship at that time and felt as if each couple was a slap in the face. It didn't help anything that one of the cities I visited on that trip was Paris: love capital of the world. Park benches, city streets, and dark cafes alike - couples were everywhere, taunting me with their impossible romance. I hated it.
This time is different. I'm in a committed relationship and thus I feel slightly more optimistic about the existence of love. Now when I see the cozy booths in a cafe in which couples are cuddled, I don't glare angrily at their happiness, but rather wish I could have the same experience as them. I dream of a day when I can come back to this place with someone I love instead of just witnessing the romance of a European city from the outside.
That being said, it does seem as if the rules of PDA are different in Europe. We haven't seen this quite as much in Rhodes since it's so quiet around the island, but Athens certainly compared to Paris and Rome in terms of the affection couples display toward one another. While in America you may get dirty looks for a quick peck on the mouth in public, Europeans don't seem to mind public displays of affection. It's strange to see couples be so free without considering who might be judging them. It does make sense, though, when I consider the more easy going attitude Greeks seem to exude. In general, it seems as if people here are much more relaxed about a lot of things, even romance.
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