[christianmann]

> It seemed to me that credit cards were supposed to be fast and convenient, but if you're choreographed for cash, it ain't so.

This is very apparent in (many parts of) Europe. Cash is so much faster there than in America, for a few reasons. The primary cause, I think, is the fact that the prices are generally round numbers, with tax included. This means that you can, in most cases, pay with a small number of coins or bills. In the USA you'd be wrestling with pennies.

[lorenzhs]

Euro notes also have different colours and sizes, making it much easier to get the correct ones right away. I find Euro coins more useful, too (highest commonly used denomination is 2€ vs 25¢). I'm annoyed by the 1 and 2 cent coins, though, and am in favour of abolishing them. They only clog wallets.