Well, if you went to Spain to the Castilles/Aragon, specially to the Serranía Celtibérica area, you would find the same rural emptiness of the US. And, in Asturias/Cantabria/Palencia, at "Picos de Europa", you woudn't believe that these spikey, rough mountains with hard winters belong to Spain.
Basically had culture shock driving down a wide north american road.
It's not just the colors. It's the emptiness.
The clearance of everything in north america is insane. It's just so boring.