Countries and cultures

14 Jun 2007

Quote by buckingfabe
Ever hear of the White Australia Policy wineman? Years ago there was definitely an immigration policy that only allowed white people in. However if you want to visit a true classless society with even more than Aussie has to offer try New Zealand, my homeland, much better than aus anytime :happy:

Sadly I never did although I was that way twice first time I could not change my plans and second time It was go to NZ or or do something else and looking back I made the wrong choice but thats life :cry:

Quote by Sassy-Seren
This was the main reason our cruise ship kept to the itinerary of stopping off at Grenada. The island was so devastated, the locals needed to see the return of tourists and I for one was more than happy to spend my money at the local shops and markets

Another regret I went to Grenada as last big holiday before kids came along and we saw several of the big cruise ships come in. We always said we would wander around and spend time on the island but we went on one of those all inclusive holidays so we never had to leave, and as we spent all our money on that we never had any spare. Looking back we should have done it.

14 Jun 2007

Really surprised to hear you found no culture in the Canaries..
That can only mean you have visited One island.. Teneriffe!! Maybe even limited to Las Veronicas and Playa lol.. Try Lanzerote instead.. Totally different, very cultured. Artwork on every island colourful friendly and Cezar Manriques (forgive the spelling) old house built into 3 lava flows is a peach, sounds boring maybe but unbelievable they have more art and culture than most if not all the Spanish put together.
Been to many many places..
Mexico.. Dull ok a few monuments but they are only used as a carrott to get our money.
Thailand.. Fantastic away from the main places. Culture coming from every orfic lol..
Malaysia.. Wow! Diverse and cultural.
Egypt.. Mmm Good for diving and is full of culture.
USA.. Yeah ok.. Culture grows everywhere. Some good stuff but on the whole nahhhh.
Italy.. Well only Milan so far but wow.. I was one of the few who said why would I ever want to go.. Well having been to Milan its made me want more. Duomo Square is just culture central..
There are more but it will go on lol..
There is Culture everywhere if you look hard enough.
Mike xx

14 Jun 2007

Yes it was Tenerife :giggle: my mum had a place there we went about 4 years on the trot. We travelled all over the island if you go in winter you can almost get all four seasons depending where you are. Loved the drive through the forest which runs the spine of the island then go up north all twisty moutain roads with rolling mist.

14 Jun 2007

Quote by Ukwineman
Yes it was Tenerife :giggle: my mum had a place there we went about 4 years on the trot. We travelled all over the island if you go in winter you can almost get all four seasons depending where you are. Loved the drive through the forest which runs the spine of the island then go up north all twisty moutain roads with rolling mist.

Those Pine forests are famed throughout the world.. If not mistaken there is one tree there that takes 18 people hand to hand to ring it.. Either that or its a big doggers spot!!
The landscape at the top of the mount teidi was used for the film Planet of the apes.. How much more culture do you need lol???
Mike

14 Jun 2007

Quote by mdr2000
Yes it was Tenerife :giggle: my mum had a place there we went about 4 years on the trot. We travelled all over the island if you go in winter you can almost get all four seasons depending where you are. Loved the drive through the forest which runs the spine of the island then go up north all twisty moutain roads with rolling mist.

Those Pine forests are famed throughout the world.. If not mistaken there is one tree there that takes 18 people hand to hand to ring it.. Either that or its a big doggers spot!!
The landscape at the top of the mount teidi was used for the film Planet of the apes.. How much more culture do you need lol???
Mike
and Moonraker but its culture as in the people i think was the topic smile

15 Jun 2007

Quote by jaymar
OMG I suddenly feel afraid of Egypt! I'm dark, green eyed and 37 Posh so I reckon I should be safe lol although one of my daughters is blonde
...

There is no need to be afraid of Egypt. Yes they will rip you off, if they can. That is all. You will be in no real danger.

15 Jun 2007

Quote by keeno
splendid wrote
"
I am sure that the Aboriginal people would disagree with you on that."
that was then, and this is now, doesn`t make it right, but no civilisation lasts forever,or we would still be celts or whatever was before them, having none of the advances that the romans brought, even though that came at a cost to the natives ,who were still painting themselves blue .

So what did the Romans ever do for us ,,eh! wink

Did anybody see the Terry Jones series The Barbarians? What did the Romans do for us? Basicaly that made sure Europe was plunged back into the dark ages. The committed genocide in Rummania, they destroyed the religions in Britain because of human sacrifices despite killing people in the Collisium for entertainment........Think I'd better stop now I'm beginning to , NO ,NO the killing in the Collisium and all the other arenas around the Epire was not just for entertainment.
The gladiators where there to perform a religious rite, to honour the dead.
The killing of criminal was a deterrent to others not to commit crime. It may reduce prison populations. There could be a case to have a new TV channel for that.
The mock hunts, poor taste, who said Romans had taste?

15 Jun 2007

Quote by keeno
I guess the truth is that by going anywhere as a tourist you are spoiling that country. It is hard to complain about there is a tourist industry in a country if you have visited that country as a tourist.
Do they need our money? Almost certainly.
Do they get it? Probably not.
The hotels we stay in are owned by multi-nationals. We travel in planes owned by multi-nationals. I would think only a tiny percentage of what you spend on a holiday is put into the local economy.
Where ever we go we leave a foot print. And this footprint is commercialism.

The very act of observing changes what we observe.

15 Jun 2007

Quote by buckingfabe
I have been there as you now many times and that island has no culture of its own its a holiday island and always will be, my ex loved it even said she would love to live there, but no love to live else where but not there.
I have been to many countries and have to say the best culture I found was in Australia, they are so laid back.
They work hard (well some do) but play hard to the hospitality i recieved was second to none, my house is your house.
Dare I say it theres no class system out there which breaks down so many barriers. The only culture i really want to sample at the moment is italian.

Ever hear of the White Australia Policy wineman? Years ago there was definitely an immigration policy that only allowed white people in. However if you want to visit a true classless society with even more than Aussie has to offer try New Zealand, my homeland, much better than aus anytime :happy:NZ, great place, I would go back tomorrow if I could, I may retire there.

15 Jun 2007

Quote by Ukwineman
The only culture i really want to sample at the moment is italian.

GT and myself just arrived back from a lovely week on the Tuscany Coast, a small town called Marina Di Pietrasanta, near Viareggio and is only about 18 miles north of Pisa...
Gorgeous area, lovely and helpful people and great food and wine...
I've decided that I love the Siesta way of life... up early, work, have a huge lunch, sleep and do whatever else takes your fancy in bed... back to work, eat late, wander round the town talking with old friends and making new ones and so to bed (again)... repeat daily... smile

We both highly recommend that area and not many Brits seem to go there...

15 Jun 2007

Quote by mdr2000
Really surprised to hear you found no culture in the Canaries..
That can only mean you have visited One island.. Teneriffe!! Maybe even limited to Las Veronicas and Playa lol..

You got it in one!.... don't get me wrong, beautiful island, but other than tapas bars and the odd mojo sauce with canarian potatoes, we didn't find any authentic restaurants around, everywhere we walked there were restaurants saying "just like home, good old british fish n chips!" ffs, if I want good old british I'd stay at home with the rain! lol

15 Jun 2007

Quote by jaymar
Really surprised to hear you found no culture in the Canaries..
That can only mean you have visited One island.. Teneriffe!! Maybe even limited to Las Veronicas and Playa lol..

You got it in one!.... don't get me wrong, beautiful island, but other than tapas bars and the odd mojo sauce with canarian potatoes, we didn't find any authentic restaurants around, everywhere we walked there were restaurants saying "just like home, good old british fish n chips!" ffs, if I want good old british I'd stay at home with the rain! lol

Did you go to the north of the island? Away from the touristy bits?
Okay, it's a holiday island but if you hop on a bus you can go to some lovely little towns. Local fresh food. Nice people. biggrin

15 Jun 2007

I have been to Canada a few times in the last ten years. Vancouver and the Pacific North West. As a child I also spent a few years in French Canada. Generally they are likeable people but quite conservative. There's definately a point in a conversation where you need to think twice about you say, as it may cause offence or worry to the average Canadian.

15 Jun 2007

Quote by keeno
Really surprised to hear you found no culture in the Canaries..
That can only mean you have visited One island.. Teneriffe!! Maybe even limited to Las Veronicas and Playa lol..

You got it in one!.... don't get me wrong, beautiful island, but other than tapas bars and the odd mojo sauce with canarian potatoes, we didn't find any authentic restaurants around, everywhere we walked there were restaurants saying "just like home, good old british fish n chips!" ffs, if I want good old british I'd stay at home with the rain! lol

Did you go to the north of the island? Away from the touristy bits?
Okay, it's a holiday island but if you hop on a bus you can go to some lovely little towns. Local fresh food. Nice people. biggrin

Yeah, we did go on a mountain trip up Mount Teide and a cable car ride up the volcano (something in the atmosphere up there made us rather horny.. - had to find a bush afterwards cool

), and yes we stopped off a few times and had liquour tasting and fig eating sessions :lickface:
oh and keeno... nice chest you have there, I'm quite partial to a hairy chest smile

16 Jun 2007

The best holiday we have had was a last minute trip to the Dominican Republic to a crappy all inclusive hotel!
Anyway, we got chatting with the local ex pat lady who ran the dive school in the town. She was married to a dominican and had adopted his 3 children! We spent many happy hours at their house, eating fantastic local dishes (beef stew with bananas instead of potatos :shock: , sounds horrible but it really was yum!), meeting the local people.
The Carwash in the town turns into a locals nightclub most evenings - someone brings along some music, lights go off and everyone dances until the wee hours! fantastic!
The supermarket (run by dive ladys hubby), is also a sort of bar/restaurant/club too!. Its set up was similar to Arkwrights in open all hours! you hand your shopping list over and they get it all for you! while your doing that you crack open a beer, pull up a stool, make yourself a sarnie and chill out! On an evening The music is cranked up and there is dancing and mayhem in the shop! One evening we found ourselves dancing with the local coppers! The two of them had to share a moped! lol

Even better they decided to arrest two girls who were having a proper bitch fight over some guy and had to borrow someone elses moped so they could take them back to the station! Now can you imagine anyone in this country allowing themselves to be arrested, and having to hold onto the copper cos your riding pillion on the moped?
Drink driving isnt illegal out there (neither is it legal), but the general concensus is that you drive with your hazzard lights on if youve been drinking!.
Taxis come in the form of mopeds! We regularly saw 5 or more people on one, and a Cannister of water balanced on the handle bars! :shock:
If its been raining you dont drive as the BIG land crabs come out, and then its like driving over the biggest uneven and crunchy speedbumps!
We had some of the best meals outside of our hotel for practically peanuts! The best steak i have ever had, lobster fresh from the sea, wonderful fish dishes. On one particular evening us and another couple ordered one of everything from the menue (a mexican restaurant), two bottles of wine and beer, the grand total spend was £15!!!!!
Anyway, we really got to see some of the local life out there on that holiday, a big difference from my pervious trip to a big all inclusive complex with no local towns or villages nearby. Well worth it!

16 Jun 2007

Quote by VelvetTigers
The best holiday we have had was a last minute trip to the Dominican Republic to a crappy all inclusive hotel!
Anyway, we really got to see some of the local life out there on that holiday, a big difference from my pervious trip to a big all inclusive complex with no local towns or villages nearby. Well worth it!

Sounds great velvet, especially when normally people are warned they can't go out of the complexes.

23 Jun 2007

If you just visit the coasts of Canary Islands then the resorts are commercially for the majority of island visitors. If you visit by flight only and take "gua-guas" (local buses )to interior small villages and stay B&B in these with a bit of Spanish then you will find a quite different Tenerife!
The small farmers and agric. workers in the little local bars in these villages are a different world from the commecial coast. Food is of "papas bonitas" served as "papas arregudas" - these are potatoes of local varieties grown above 6000 feet. Hard to find the dishes based on this on the costas (I have seen and ordered but found they used "papas blancas" standard Euro varieties not at all the same!)
Local festivals - ege San Andre November 30th is a wildn noise fest of locals in the village of that name.
Needless to say accom and food and drink is much cheaper than in concrete and glass package deals on the costas.

25 Jun 2007

I came to the conclusion last week that the Greeks do not go to the toilet.
No, really, hear me out.
Tavernas with 120+ covers, in which people spend many hours consuming much food & drink, and theres only one loo :shock:
Then of course youre faced with the fact that they put loo roll in the bin! Eugh! In that heat!
You'd have thought that people as famed for their place in the birth of the civilized world as we know it could sort their fecking plumbing out! rolleyes

That said, despite the fact that they clearly don't defacate- what a wonderful, warm & welcoming bunch they turned out to be :inlove:

25 Jun 2007

Quote by winchwench
I came to the conclusion last week that the Greeks do not go to the toilet.
No, really, hear me out.
Tavernas with 120+ covers, in which people spend many hours consuming much food & drink, and theres only one loo :shock:
Then of course youre faced with the fact that they put loo roll in the bin! Eugh! In that heat!
You'd have thought that people as famed for their place in the birth of the civilized world as we know it could sort their fecking plumbing out!
That said, despite the fact that they clearly don't defacate- what a wonderful, warm & welcoming bunch they turned out to be :inlove:

Im with you on that one!!! every bar or resturant we went into had 1 toilet 2 at the most.
Loved crete but hated using the toilet.

25 Jun 2007

The Swiss seem to have a different approach.
I was in Geneva and needed a wee, I popped into a pub did the deed and flushed the chain.
Next thing I knew the toilet seat was slowly rotating, being cleaned by some mechanism attached to the wall. :shock:
Then again this was the same place that carpeted the pillars and walls of the multi-storey car-park so you didn't scratch your car!!

25 Jun 2007

Quote by lyns
I came to the conclusion last week that the Greeks do not go to the toilet.
No, really, hear me out.
Tavernas with 120+ covers, in which people spend many hours consuming much food & drink, and theres only one loo :shock:
Then of course youre faced with the fact that they put loo roll in the bin! Eugh! In that heat!
You'd have thought that people as famed for their place in the birth of the civilized world as we know it could sort their fecking plumbing out!
That said, despite the fact that they clearly don't defacate- what a wonderful, warm & welcoming bunch they turned out to be :inlove:

Im with you on that one!!! every bar or resturant we went into had 1 toilet 2 at the most.
Loved crete but hated using the toilet.
Lets hear it for British plumbing :happy: Flushed with success for so many years cool

25 Jun 2007

Quote by keeno
I came to the conclusion last week that the Greeks do not go to the toilet.
No, really, hear me out.
Tavernas with 120+ covers, in which people spend many hours consuming much food & drink, and theres only one loo :shock:
Then of course youre faced with the fact that they put loo roll in the bin! Eugh! In that heat!
You'd have thought that people as famed for their place in the birth of the civilized world as we know it could sort their fecking plumbing out!
That said, despite the fact that they clearly don't defacate- what a wonderful, warm & welcoming bunch they turned out to be :inlove:

Im with you on that one!!! every bar or resturant we went into had 1 toilet 2 at the most.
Loved crete but hated using the toilet.
Lets hear it for British plumbing :happy: Flushed with success for so many years cool

:thumbup:

26 Jun 2007

Quote by winchwench
I came to the conclusion last week that the Greeks do not go to the toilet.
No, really, hear me out.
Tavernas with 120+ covers, in which people spend many hours consuming much food & drink, and theres only one loo :shock:
Then of course youre faced with the fact that they put loo roll in the bin! Eugh! In that heat!
You'd have thought that people as famed for their place in the birth of the civilized world as we know it could sort their fecking plumbing out!
That said, despite the fact that they clearly don't defacate- what a wonderful, warm & welcoming bunch they turned out to be :inlove:

lol thank god for nappy sacks I say, I wouldn't go without them! lol

glad you've enjoyed your hol petal xx