Old intown neighborhoods, which were built in that "European" or "village" style, attract suburbanites weary of long commutes.

CNN: Gridlock drives developers to design wiser cities

In 1996, the year after PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn opened its doors, Intrawest, the Canadian ski resort company, bought the 13-acre Squaw base area and started construction on a European-style pedestrian village.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In 1996, the year after PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn opened its doors, Intrawest (nyse: IDR - news - people ), the Canadian ski resort company, bought the 13-acre Squaw base area and started construction on a European-style pedestrian village.

FORBES: To Ski Or Not To Ski

It was reported that a migratory bird - a common European bee-eater - caused alarm in a village in south-eastern Turkey after it was found dead in a field with a metal ring around its leg stamped "Israel".

BBC: Quiz of the week's news

Facebook may have its European headquarters in Dublin but the social networking site has wiped a small Irish village off the map because its name is deemed obscene.

FORBES: You Can't Say Effin on Facebook

"To be a king in an African village or some places like this, it's not like European queens where everything is on a silver platter for them, " she says.

CNN: January 31, 2013 -- Updated 1444 GMT (2244 HKT)

The European Commission says it wants the debate on Europe's future to be held in every town and village across the continent.

BBC: EU launches democratic drive