People who have never left Ireland, EVER!

ongarboy

Balmed Out wrote: »

The notion that travel broadens your mind is nonsense. Some of my most traveled friends have the least open minds / taste buds etc etc while the opposite also holds through.

I think it broadens the mind for a lot of people but not everyone. If you are someone who goes to loads of different countries but choose to immerse yourself only in the Irish communities over there, only drink and socialise in the irish pubs and only eats in McDonalds/Burger King/KFC while abroad etc then you are less likely to be exposed to cultural differences that aid the broadening of minds.

Nothing wrong with doing any of the above of course but personally, I wouldn't have any interest in going abroad if I was only going to replicate what I do in Ireland. The appeal for me is all the differences in foreign countries (the food, the nightlife, the people, the society and way of doing things) and yes, it does make me see things differently and with less tunnel vision.

Balmed Out

Ive been to about 50 countries, seen a lot of some and little of others. I travel to enjoy a different type of lifestyle and see different sights. There isnt so much that your going to learn that you cant discover in a multiple of different ways from books to movies to listening during conversations.

Sick to death of people who are smug about having travelled and then insist on banging on about their time in thailand, peru or oz and the places they went to that are nearly all ways the same as 99% of their fellow tourists.

shane9689

fishy fishy wrote: »

Also you can travel to any place in the world and not experience their culture either - and I bet if you ask any of these so called "well travelled ones who cannot understand older people not traveling" their travels include heading to majorca or lanzarote to sit by a pool and then go to the local bar and get langered while staying in a tourist area for the "craic".

its usually those people who fail to see the appeal...

darkdubh

My father in law is in his late 70's and has never been outside Ireland.Some years ago my fiance booked himself and her mother for a trip to Scotland and he decided not to go at the last minuite.He found the thought of the whole thing all too much.

shane9689

Mike 1972 wrote: »

Do you live next door to an airport and If so which European cities have the best park benches ?

hitchhiking and counchsurfing solve those issues for you

kippy

shane9689 wrote: »

hitchhiking and counchsurfing solve those issues for you

Two activities that suit everyone.....

Fluorescence

kippy wrote: »

Two activities that suit everyone.....

Anyone can find a barrier to travel if they look hard enough. Doesn't stop people doing it though.

kippy

Fluorescence wrote: »

Anyone can find a barrier to travel if they look hard enough. Doesn't stop people doing it though.

Point I am making is that not everyone is comfortable with either of those pyrsuits for obvious reasons.
The lack of empathy and being able to see things from another point of view on this thread is staggering.
Travelling is not for everyone for any one or many of numerous reasons. It doesnt broaden the mind any more than reading a good book and if you want to find yourself, you're better off looking inside your own head.

Fluorescence

kippy wrote: »

Point I am making is that not everyone is comfortable with either of those pyrsuits for obvious reasons.
The lack of empathy and being able to see things from another point of view on this thread is staggering.
Travelling is not for everyone for any one or many of numerous reasons. It doesnt broaden the mind any more than reading a good book and if you want to find yourself, you're better off looking inside your own head.

Oh I totally get how daunting it is for some people - especially the longer you leave it the more of a huge deal it becomes. It's quite sad really. It certainly makes me feel fortunate indeed that I don't find such relatively trivial things so difficult.

I stand by my point though. Sometimes people are just looking for excuses not to do something they might really really enjoy. I would argue that reading a book isn't the same experience as actually visiting somewhere. Then again you really need to be living somewhere a while to get a full picture of what a place and culture are like.

There are many ways to broaden the mind. Traveling is definitely one. However carefully looking at your own home and culture with a critical eye is just as important. There's a lot of things we take for granted and societal wrongness that we overlook because it's always been that way. Challenging yourself to really reexamine your own cultural assumptions is certainly a very useful way to broaden the mind.

Er, that came out a bit rambly but I hope ye get the jist :pac:

Micky Dolenz

I didn't leave Ireland
until I was 19. In fact I never landed in a plane until I was 19.

I did a parachute jump at 18, so I took off on a plane but never landed in one. Have travelled to 50 plus countries since and have spent most of my adult life outside Ireland, mainly due to work.

I have a close mate who would hate my lifestyle and loves being at home with the nice house and garden and constant routine. I don't think less of him becuase of it. Not a bit.

Daveysil15

ongarboy wrote: »

I think it broadens the mind for a lot of people but not everyone. If you are someone who goes to loads of different countries but choose to immerse yourself only in the Irish communities over there, only drink and socialise in the irish pubs and only eats in McDonalds/Burger King/KFC while abroad etc then you are less likely to be exposed to cultural differences that aid the broadening of minds.

Nothing wrong with doing any of the above of course but personally, I wouldn't have any interest in going abroad if I was only going to replicate what I do in Ireland. The appeal for me is all the differences in foreign countries (the food, the nightlife, the people, the society and way of doing things) and yes, it does make me see things differently and with less tunnel vision.

TBH, most of the best nightlife I've experienced abroad has been in Irish pubs. I find them a lot different to the pubs here and you'll usually meet people of all nationalities. I recently visited an Irish pub in Amsterdam and I met so many different people from all parts of the world.

beks101

Balmed Out wrote: »

Sick to death of people who are smug about having travelled and then insist on banging on about their time in thailand, peru or oz and the places they went to that are nearly all ways the same as 99% of their fellow tourists.

In the same fashion, I'm sick of the absolute judgement, cynicism and begrudgery directed towards people who HAVE invested their money in getting off their arse and seeing a bit of the world, only to be greeted by this old "sure aren't you great *rolls eyes*".

As if they 'know better' about what that person has seen, done or heard and as if, just because a destination, tour or route is popular among tourists, it's not worth doing or seeing for yourself.

I've been living in Canada three years now, and one of my favourite traits of the people here is that they love hearing about each other's travels, sharing pictures, giving advice, making recommendations, listening to anecdotes, etc etc and it's a breath of fresh air. How narrow-minded do you have to be, to not even be able to open your mind and your ears to all that and just think, "ya went to "South East Asia" did ya, yeah? Yeah you and the rest of the world :rolleyes::rolleyes:"

Love2u

oppenheimer1 wrote: »

Not everyone has the luxury of foreign holidays and at 19 while it may be unusual, I wouldn't consider it odd

I know many who have the money to travel and won't period. They have no interest in leaving Ireland. Personally I think it's good getting to see different countries and see the all the bright colours and culture. I wouldn't be happy if I stayed in Ireland all my life, after all it's grey and dull most of the time. We have to spend most if our time indoors with the weather and it makes people cranky.

chrissb8

I know someone who has never been to Dublin nor a different country. I think travelling is something everyone should do. Go see and do as much as you can. Broaden your cultural mindset. Person I mentioned does not know what he's missing. Going out blowing a 100 euro a saturday night in a small town. It just isn't right. Ireland is a small spec of nothing really and if one is content in staying here then I think they are settling for less. Funnily enough I find that alot of people who label people as foreigners as if they're aliens haven't travelled all that much either.

Love2u

Daveysil15 wrote: »

TBH, most of the best nightlife I've experienced abroad has been in Irish pubs. I find them a lot different to the pubs here and you'll usually meet people of all nationalities. I recently visited an Irish pub in Amsterdam and I met so many different people from all parts of the world.

I avoid Irish pubs when i travel, I travel to get away from that scene altogether. I'm sometimes embarrassed to say I'm Irish when I see and hear the carry on of "some" Irish people when they leave the Irish soil :-/.

Sinfonia

cupcake83 wrote: »

Are you kidding? I live in the US and know people who have never been out of their home state! Lol

Most of which are larger than Ireland in fairness :P


I wouldn't look down on anyone who didn't want to travel, but it's one of the best things I've ever done, and I just want to do more of it now.
Didn't really do any as a teen or younger, and through the first half of my twenties I did some around Europe (even that's amazing, for example just seeing Rome in person is such a strange psychological experience even if - in fact especially if - you've seen it a lot on TV or in pictures etc.)
I'm just after spending a few months travelling all over the US and Canada before settling in Vancouver: seeing Manhattan at night after just arriving, or seeing the desert in Nevada with my own eyes gave me shivers. Again, pictures etc. just can't convey the feeling.

Mr_Spaceman

Love2u wrote: »

I avoid Irish pubs when i travel, I travel to get away from that scene altogether. I'm sometimes embarrassed to say I'm Irish when I see and hear the carry on of "some" Irish people when they leave the Irish soil :-/.

I love Irish pubs... in Ireland.

You might as well save a few hundred bucks by staying at home if all you're going to do is hang out in Irish pubs in different parts of the world.

Actually, most "Irish" pubs abroad pander to awful stereotypes which might impress foreigners - but, they are, in reality, about as Irish as a kangaroo.

Personally, I've travelled all over the world but would never think less of someone who isn't interested. Not at all.

Travelling isn't for everyone, but far too many people here have trouble, bizarrely, accepting that.

In fact, the hectoring tone of some on this thread reminds me of the archetypal travel bore I'd always aim to avoid in hostels, in transit etc.

Live and let live, FFS.

mikom

Me and my friends have been too busy sunbathing off the southern coast of St. Barts with spider monkeys for the past two weeks, tripping on acid. Changed our whole perspective on shit.

cupcake83

Sinfonia wrote: »

Most of which are larger than Ireland in fairness :P


I wouldn't look down on anyone who didn't want to travel, but it's one of the best things I've ever done, and I just want to do more of it now.
Didn't really do any as a teen or younger, and through the first half of my twenties I did some around Europe (even that's amazing, for example just seeing Rome in person is such a strange psychological experience even if - in fact especially if - you've seen it a lot on TV or in pictures etc.)
I'm just after spending a few months travelling all over the US and Canada before settling in Vancouver: seeing Manhattan at night after just arriving, or seeing the desert in Nevada with my own eyes gave me shivers. Again, pictures etc. just can't convey the feeling.

If you want to see an amazing state I suggest Alaska . I lived there for a couple years! I'm a traveling girl myself but I am madly in love with Ireland and Scotland. I've seen the majority of my own country too there is a lot to see over here for sure . I notice that the majority of Americans aren't nearly as into the traveling abroad as the Irish are though just from seeing friends chat and reading forums. I didn't travel out of the US until my 20s and that was to Canada !

Micky Dolenz

Love2u wrote: »

I avoid Irish pubs when i travel, I travel to get away from that scene altogether. I'm sometimes embarrassed to say I'm Irish when I see and hear the carry on of "some" Irish people when they leave the Irish soil :-/.

I nearly always seek out an Irish bar when in a foreign country. You can't beat local knowledge and a 20 minute chat with Irish bar staff normally is 20 minutes well spent.

I have never once been embarrassed of my nationality. If someone wants to judge me on other people's actions, that's their problem not me.

Balmed Out

beks101 wrote: »

I've been living in Canada three years now, and one of my favourite traits of the people here is that they love hearing about each other's travels, sharing pictures, giving advice, making recommendations, listening to anecdotes, etc etc and it's a breath of fresh air. How narrow-minded do you have to be, to not even be able to open your mind and your ears to all that and just think, "ya went to "South East Asia" did ya, yeah? Yeah you and the rest of the world :rolleyes::rolleyes:"

meeow
Everyone enjoys hearing about travels etc to a degree. What I was referring to are the very dull people who think others really really enjoy every conversation being interrupted with "in Canada ........".
How dull do you have to be to endlessly interrupt conversations with the same anecdotes that werent all that interesting in the first place.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I nearly always seek out an Irish bar when in a foreign country. You can't beat local knowledge and a 20 minute chat with Irish bar staff normally is 20 minutes well spent.

I have never once been embarrassed of my nationality. If someone wants to judge me on other people's actions, that's their problem not me.

... except the prics are usually double. The only thing "Irish" about some bars is the prices.

Micky Dolenz

Princess Consuela Bananahammock wrote: »

... except the prics are usually double. The only thing "Irish" about some bars is the prices.

Irish pubs, Irish prices. I wouldn't frequent them often and only venture inside if there is a game I want to watch.

I've also noticed, Irish bars with Irish surnames as the name are best avoided.

Sinfonia

cupcake83 wrote: »

If you want to see an amazing state I suggest Alaska .

Actually it wouldn't have been on my radar at all, except a friend I met while travelling just moved to Anchorage, the photos are incredible!

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

I nearly always seek out an Irish bar when in a foreign country. You can't beat local knowledge and a 20 minute chat with Irish bar staff normally is 20 minutes well spent.

Yeah, I was travelling alone through US/Canada and I generally found that chatting to an Irish (or British for that matter) barman on a quiet afternoon would often end up with some tips & info, and a free pint here and there!

I also found that lots of locals would go to Irish & British bars, not for any kitschy faux-Irish nonsense, but because they tended to bring in live musicians more (in various genres), refrain from charging a cover, and honestly were bit more rowdy and less poser-ish than other places. I wouldn't have had much of an intention to go to Irish bars, pretty much for the reasons others have stated above, but to be honest, sometimes they're the best option.

Caonima

I have been living in Shanghai for the last few years and avoid the Irish bars here like the plague; there's nothing Irish about them, nor even 'Oirish'. Just full of fat, flatulent Americans and terrible Guinness that's usually overpriced (most expensive pint of the black stuff here, in an Irish bar, is about RMB 75, which works out at around e9.10).

Have way more fun in either the English bars and the other regular bars. The English places are toned down, more or less, so you don't have to contend with union jacks up your arse and lairy drunks giving it the "oi, paddy" business. In face, most of my best friends here are English. Sadly, I don't have even one Irish friend here, as pretty much every person I've met from back home has some kind of baggage or is just unpleasant to be around.

dr strangelove

My Grandad got to travel all over the world when he was in his teens, and that was in the early forties.
He got all his travel and accommodation paid for, and he got to shoot at people!

Those were the good old days i tell ya!

cupcake83

Sinfonia wrote: »

Actually it wouldn't have been on my radar at all, except a friend I met while travelling just moved to Anchorage, the photos are incredible!

Yeah, I was travelling alone through US/Canada and I generally found that chatting to an Irish (or British for that matter) barman on a quiet afternoon would often end up with some tips & info, and a free pint here and there!

I also found that lots of locals would go to Irish & British bars, not for any kitschy faux-Irish nonsense, but because they tended to bring in live musicians more (in various genres), refrain from charging a cover, and honestly were bit more rowdy and less poser-ish than other places. I wouldn't have had much of an intention to go to Irish bars, pretty much for the reasons others have stated above, but to be honest, sometimes they're the best option.

You have to see it! I would move back in a heartbeat! I'm not necessarily a major outdoorsy woman but exploring Alaska was a life changing experience for me! Yes the pictures are breathtaking and do not do it justice!

Ray Palmer

Micky Dolenz wrote: »

Irish pubs, Irish prices. I wouldn't frequent them often and only venture inside if there is a game I want to watch.

I've also noticed, Irish bars with Irish surnames as the name are best avoided.

In New York the Irish bars are actually cheaper than the other bars. They are old tenants so don't pay as much rent. They are also not generally an Irish themed bar but just a bar set-up decades ago by Irish people. They have a different feel to them and are actually just a different type of bar.

I certainly avoid the Irish themed bars but I also avoid them here too. During the boom times so many bars got interior designers in and made fake Irish bars here. Very few original pubs left in Dublin now

Balmed Out

Ray Palmer wrote: »

In New York the Irish bars are actually cheaper than the other bars. They are old tenants so don't pay as much rent. They are also not generally an Irish themed bar but just a bar set-up decades ago by Irish people. They have a different feel to them and are actually just a different type of bar.

I certainly avoid the Irish themed bars but I also avoid them here too. During the boom times so many bars got interior designers in and made fake Irish bars here. Very few original pubs left in Dublin now

Ive been in New York several times and didnt even realise they had non Irish bars

Freddy Smelly

AngryBollix wrote: »

I went to portlaoise for the first time last weekend.

It was grim

visiting or incarcerated?