Most boring places you've visited

the beer revolu · 13-04-2021 04:24PM

Porklife wrote: »

This made me laugh and grimace at the same time. It's unbelievable how nobody bats an eyelid. I found San Diego worse than San Fran.
The homeless people in San Diego don't sit and beg they run around the streets off their heads screaming and stuff. I've never seen anything like it, very sad sight to behold and extremely dangerous.

Not so much boring as disappointing for me was Manchester. I love Britpop hence my username but i found it dirty, run down and just not what i was hoping for. That said, id like to go back and give it another shot.

First time in Manchester I hated it and found it beyond unfriendly.
Returned a few years later with the Mrs visiting friends and loved it. Cities can be funny like that.

13-04-2021 04:28PM

completedit wrote: »

Know a good few Bulgarians. All very good and fun people when you know them but not the warmest.

Russians are the same. Very unfriendly and quite hostile at times. There’s this saying that when you make a Russian friend you’ve made a friend for life. Why would you bother trying when it’s so difficult at the start, and they’ll probably be dead from alcoholism by their mid-40s?

jmayo · 13-04-2021 04:33PM

Porklife wrote: »

Yeah I loved the zoo, it was the highlight of my trip. I also got surf lessons and despite falling constantly and almost dying numerous times, i had loads of fun
It was more so in the evening time there was nothing to do and downtown is crawling with drug addicts and homeless people. Alot of the homeless people are on crack too so they walk in front of traffic and throw bottles etc.
We were shouted at and followed a few times.
The beaches are beautiful but outside of that or the stoner culture like weed cafes, I was bored alot of the time.
I can see how some people would love it though. I'm not a big beach person and i don't smoke weed but id say it's a wicked place if that's what you're into.

I think this is just how the US is going.

Watched interesting documentary the other night about the US and crystal meth.
And what happens, but they start talking about what some would see as good old homespun Nashville, the home of all those God fearing country stars.
Nashville would have a lot of pot grown in rural Tennessee usually by good old boys whose ancestors would have been the bootleggers of the 20s and even later.
They often sell it to struggling musicians and singers in Nashville who would push it on.
Now crystal meth backstreet labs are popping up all over the place and there are major drug gangs moving in to take over the lucrative action.

Things have taken a turn for the worse and the drug war is getting worse and worse.

Jeeze just found another place in the US for that poster not to risk visiting.

13-04-2021 04:33PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

First time in Manchester I hated it and found it beyond unfriendly.
Returned a few years later with the Mrs visiting friends and loved it. Cities can be funny like that.

I find it very different travelling to a city and staying in a hotel, compared with staying with friends or family in a proper home.

I returned to a city I used to live in and stayed in a hotel for the weekend. I just found it cold and disconnected from getting a real sense of the city, somehow. It's a subtle difference but very big at the same time. Kind of like going back to an old workplace, there's never the same connection to your old colleagues once you leave.

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 04:38PM

2lazytogetup wrote: »

sorry to go off topic, but in my self-righteousness (ive a problem)

lot of news about china slave labour working in soho. chained to kitchens. you have to ask yourself if the food costs 5euro how are they getting paid.

There is most likely trafficking alright but literally chained to the kitchen sounds a bit over the top. Metaphorically chained is most likely though.

Those all you can eat places do a lot of takeaway boxes too and having done a thai takeaway stall in London trust me you can make a killing off £6 boxes of rice and crap chicken

The Nal · 13-04-2021 04:59PM

Porklife wrote: »

This made me laugh and grimace at the same time. It's unbelievable how nobody bats an eyelid. I found San Diego worse than San Fran.
The homeless people in San Diego don't sit and beg they run around the streets off their heads screaming and stuff. I've never seen anything like it, very sad sight to behold and extremely dangerous.

Yep its insane. Imagine walking down Camden St and seeing someone naked from the waist up lying motionless and face down on the pavement in front of Tesco in the middle of the day and people just walking by.

Porklife wrote: »

Not so much boring as disappointing for me was Manchester. I love Britpop hence my username but i found it dirty, run down and just not what i was hoping for. That said, id like to go back and give it another shot.

Manchester is a funny one. Been there a load of times and have had different experiences each time. Can be very rough and "grim up north", can be hipstery, can be very tacky, can be Britannia style old fashioned like a 1930s throwback but can also be a lot of fun.

Its not somewhere Id rush back to for a gig or whatever given the choice mind you.

Church on Tuesday · 13-04-2021 05:00PM

Porklife wrote: »

This made me laugh and grimace at the same time. It's unbelievable how nobody bats an eyelid. I found San Diego worse than San Fran.
The homeless people in San Diego don't sit and beg they run around the streets off their heads screaming and stuff. I've never seen anything like it, very sad sight to behold and extremely dangerous.

Not so much boring as disappointing for me was Manchester. I love Britpop hence my username but i found it dirty, run down and just not what i was hoping for. That said, id like to go back and give it another shot.

the beer revolu wrote: »

First time in Manchester I hated it and found it beyond unfriendly.
Returned a few years later with the Mrs visiting friends and loved it. Cities can be funny like that.

Manchester is great for a night out I found. Found the people friendly too. I will say it has a big homeless problem and there are the usual rough parts you get with big cities but that's to be expected.

Depends what you're looking for but I'd recommend the Comedy Store/ Deansgate Locks area to start off with.

Muahahaha · 13-04-2021 05:00PM

GT89 wrote: »

I've found the locals everywhere in France not just Paris a bit unwelcoming towards tourists. I get the feeling that compared to places like Spain and Italy the country doesn't really see tourism as a priority and it is only seen only a side industry.

Whereas in Italy and Spain they'd be very welcoming towards tourists in order to get as much money they possibly can.

yeah would definitely agree with that, Spain and Italy see tourism as a fundamental part of the economy, especially the south of Spain where there isnt much industry. Turkey and Thailand are in the same boat, tourism makes up a large part of their GDP.

France doesnt seem to push itself as hard but the ironic thing is it is literally the most touristed country in the world- 90 million annual visitors compared to Spain on 80m and the US around 75m a year. Its like it has happened more organically for France but they just shrug their shoulders and arent really all that bothered whether people go there or not. I dont think Ive ever seen a TV ad shown here promoting France as a holiday destination whereas you do see them now and again promoting visiting Spain, Turkey, Portugal, Thailand, etc.

Howard the Duck · 13-04-2021 05:07PM

Deleted User wrote: »

I also found Bulgarians to be quite abrupt and lacking in genuine friendliness. I got some money from bureau de change and the guy literally through the money under the window at me and called the next customer. Taxi driver also very rude. I just never encountered that in other countries and the memories really stuck with me.

We got in a taxi and asked him to bring us to a club. He brought us to a completely different place and said "this one is better" and wouldn't take us to where we wanted to go. Another time the hotel ordered us a taxi into town, we got in the taxi and after we set off they said "airport?" and we said no we just want to go to the city centre, they went mad saying they were told we were going to the airport.
He turned the taxi around went back to the hotel and argued with the hotel receptionist while leaving us in the taxi with the meter still running and charged us for it.
I had a good bit of Bulgarian money left over I was going to spend in the airport to buy some presents and the airport didn't take it, Must be the only airport in the world where they don't accept the country's currency, although that has probably changed.
It's a country I would never go back to. The only place I've been to where that i've actually disliked, everywhere else i've found something to like.

orangerhyme · 13-04-2021 05:12PM

jmayo wrote: »

I think this is just how the US is going.

Watched interesting documentary the other night about the US and crystal meth.
And what happens, but they start talking about what some would see as good old homespun Nashville, the home of all those God fearing country stars.
Nashville would have a lot of pot grown in rural Tennessee usually by good old boys whose ancestors would have been the bootleggers of the 20s and even later.
They often sell it to struggling musicians and singers in Nashville who would push it on.
Now crystal meth backstreet labs are popping up all over the place and there are major drug gangs moving in to take over the lucrative action.

Things have taken a turn for the worse and the drug war is getting worse and worse.

Jeeze just found another place in the US for that poster not to risk visiting.

I'm always curious about drug problem in the states. There's countless documentaries on youtube about heroin/opiate/crack/meth problem in Fresno/Ohio/Cape Cod/Albuquerque etc.
It seems so widespread and pervasive.
Is it due to lack of social safety or inequality?
Here in Ireland drug addiction correlates strongly with poverty/deprivation/abusive background.
In the states it seems to affect middle class people.

JupiterKid · 13-04-2021 05:13PM

Widely travelled myself but rarely found a place boring. However, Peterborough in England, Essen in Germany, Calais in France and Toledo in Ohio, USA were extremely drab places with little to no atmosphere.

And then there are the Irish Midlands towns...

Tombo2001 · 13-04-2021 05:21PM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I think it all depends on your mindset. I thought Kuwait was the most boring place I ever visited, and I was telling a friend (big into recent history) about how terrible it is — nothing to do except go shopping, etc. And he looked kinda sad to hear that and started telling me about Saddam's invasion and how brave the Kuwaitis had been, and asked "are there no war museums?", but I hadn't gone out of my way to check — I would have liked those.

I'd just done the Top 5 things from my guidebook in the short time I had there, sort of expecting entertainment to fall into my lap. Reminds me of the truth of the saying "if you're bored, you're boring".

Sometimes when you visit a city, and you're tired, whatever that city is lacking is down to your own lapse of energy or your mindset. Amazing to see people here describe Paris or Budapest as boring places.

With a bit of enthusiasm, you probably wouldn't even be bored on a visit to a blanket bog in Mayo. But we are human and our mindsets are not very reliable. Don't blame the bogs, or Paris, or even Kuwait, for that.

Thats an interesting one - as if I looked at the Top 5 things to do in Dublin - yeah I might come away thinking its a boring place.

According to tripadvisor the Top 6 things are Jameson Distillery, Irish Whiskey Museum, Little Museum of Dublin,Irish Emigration Museum, Kilmainham Gaol and Teelings Distillery.

Would I advise a visitor with three days in the city to go to any of these?

No.

BonnieSituation · 13-04-2021 05:21PM

BanditLuke wrote: »

Ireland : Salthill

Europe : Stockholm

UK : Norwich

America : Buffalo

Australia : Perth

Asia : Osaka

silliussoddius wrote: »

Ah now Cottesloe

I lived in Cottesloe. Christ it's dull. I never understood the "famous Sunday session". It was bizarre the big deal made about it.

Didn't mind Perth as a whole.

And I loved Osaka.

jayjay2010 wrote: »

...I see what you did there

For me, Holyhead. Pretty sure we went there on a Sunday and everything was closed..... even the bloody beach!! Ended up sitting in a pub all day waiting for the return ferry to Ireland. Awful trip.

My other half would say Ottawa was boring. Personally, I liked it, absolutely spotless and pleasant to walk through. Not much going on there though. We did end up in a nice Irish bar in the end.

I've lived in Ottawa. I loved it.

Still do. It's such a pleasant place, but if you're going there to party and thinking it's MTL, you're in a for a shock. That being said, it's not hard to find the debauchery.

The Byward Market is a nice place to dander about as well as it happens.

---

Most boring place I have ever had the mis-pleasure of has to be Bradford.

orangerhyme · 13-04-2021 05:21PM

ToxicPaddy wrote: »

Forgot about Tralee, been there twice for sports events, won't be going back. Absolutely nothing going on.

The rest of Kerry is beautiful, dunno what happened to Tralee.

A friend if mine went to Tralee IT years ago, lasted about 4 months and has to leave as the town was so boring, even the student nights out were boring apparently

Tralee's not bad. Aesthetically it pales in comparison to other towns in Kerry but it has decent pubs and nightlife and some culture like Siamsa Tire.
The students and tourists elevate it a good bit.

Not a bad place to live with easy access to Killarney, Dingle, Listowel, Beaches etc.

It rains an awful lot though. Dublin has a better climate which helps

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 05:32PM

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Thats an interesting one - as if I looked at the Top 5 things to do in Dublin - yeah I might come away thinking its a boring place.

According to tripadvisor the Top 6 things are Jameson Distillery, Irish Whiskey Museum, Little Museum of Dublin,Irish Emigration Museum, Kilmainham Gaol and Teelings Distillery.

Would I advise a visitor with three days in the city to go to any of these?

No.

At least it doesn't list the awful James gate. Went years ago and enjoyed it but it was quiet. Packed when I went back 2 years ago and the place has been changed to facilitate the crowd. You are just herded round in circles all day. Best thing about it is the old roads through the brewery.

Collins Barracks is a great spot and I am gonna see Kilmainham for the first time on my next visit to Dublin

Strumms · 13-04-2021 06:00PM

Howard the Duck wrote: »

Lisbon is probably my favourite city. It's like a mini Rome with less tourists. it's a little run down but it is the second oldest city in Europe I believe. The people offering you drugs can be annoying but the locals are very friendly. Bario Alto has great nightlife.

Amsterdam is another favourite. I don't smoke weed but I love the small pubs that serve Belgium beers. And the nightlife there is crazy without feeling dangerous. Also I love walking around the city looking all the buildings and stopping for coffee. They have a great selection of museums too.

My most boring place is Sophia in Bulgaria. Not much to see or do and the locals were constantly trying to rip us off and were mostly very unfriendly.

Lisbon, i like a lot, but I was there in late October once for work and also started a cruise from there mid April and found it very quiet after about 9pm... I was trying to find a decent pub to watch a match and even that was tough.

humberklog · 13-04-2021 06:01PM

Howth's got a few mentions and I don't get the thinking. Firstly- it's just a suburb, a nice affluent suburd. It's never styled itself like Salthill, Tramore or Bray.

Where it does fit nicely tourist wise though is with city breakers.
So you come in from an inland EU city and you're staying in Dublin City for a few days you can pop onto a commuter train, see the 'burbs and be out at the sea in 30 minutes for €3(?), then you're in a small operational fishing town, get a bag of fish and chips, or food in the Market and feed the seals, do some walks on the pier or up to Howth Head, you can go out on a boat fishing or to wander around Ireland's Eye, go down the Burrows beach and see Larry Mullins and Phil Lynott's gaffs then pop in and have a pint for under a fiver and some food and watch a match or live music...and all this on a Sunday! Or any day of the week.

It's easy to take these things for granted and for most Irish people we'd know Howth is just suburb with a few bells on but I've often been in European cities and would have appreciated a destination like Howth just to break a long weekend up a bit.

I've a shop in Howth and so I'd be chatting to tourists and visitors and they all love going out there for the day, they get what they expect from a coastal suburban town. That and more.

13-04-2021 06:13PM

Cleveland, Ohio.

Athy is Disney World in comparison.

Cody montana · 13-04-2021 06:13PM

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I lived in Cottesloe. Christ it's dull. I never understood the "famous Sunday session". It was bizarre the big deal made about it.

Didn't mind Perth as a whole.

And I loved Osaka.

I've lived in Ottawa. I loved it.

Still do. It's such a pleasant place, but if you're going there to party and thinking it's MTL, you're in a for a shock. That being said, it's not hard to find the debauchery.

The Byward Market is a nice place to dander about as well as it happens.

---

Most boring place I have ever had the mis-pleasure of has to be Bradford.

Fremantle was the best place to live.
Perth is just a small city.

EmmetSpiceland · 13-04-2021 06:15PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Cleveland, Ohio.

Athy is Disney World in comparison.

Strange, I heard it rocks?

BonnieSituation · 13-04-2021 06:20PM

Cody montana wrote: »

Fremantle was the best place to live.
Perth is just a small city.

It might have been. I ended up in Lancelin. :0

Strumms · 13-04-2021 06:20PM

humberklog wrote: »

Howth's got a few mentions and I don't get the thinking. Firstly- it's just a suburb, a nice affluent suburd. It's never styled itself like Salthill, Tramore or Bray.

Where it does fit nicely tourist wise though is with city breakers.
So you come in from an inland EU city and you're staying in Dublin City for a few days you can pop onto a commuter train, see the 'burbs and be out at the sea in 30 minutes for €3(?), then you're in a small operational fishing town, get a bag of fish and chips, or food in the Market and feed the seals, do some walks on the pier or up to Howth Head, you can go out on a boat fishing or to wander around Ireland's Eye, go down the Burrows beach and see Larry Mullins and Phil Lynott's gaffs then pop in and have a pint for under a fiver and some food and watch a match or live music...and all this on a Sunday! Or any day of the week.

It's easy to take these things for granted and for most Irish people we'd know Howth is just suburb with a few bells on but I've often been in European cities and would have appreciated a destination like Howth just to break a long weekend up a bit.

I've a shop in Howth and so I'd be chatting to tourists and visitors and they all love going out there for the day, they get what they expect from a coastal suburban town. That and more.

I love Howth, feels like and is a nice break away from the city and the claustrophobia of the city and suburbs. Loads of great pubs, eateries, walks... i like just heading up to the summit too for 20, parking up, taking in the view..

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 06:23PM

Strumms wrote: »

Lisbon, i like a lot, but I was there in late October once for work and also started a cruise from there mid April and found it very quiet after about 9pm... I was trying to find a decent pub to watch a match and even that was tough.

Pubs showing sports doesn't seem to be that big a thing in Europe outside Ireland. Even most London pubs are not bothered

Cody montana · 13-04-2021 06:29PM

BonnieSituation wrote: »

It might have been. I ended up in Lancelin. :0

Bypassed it for Geraldton.

Yurt2 · 13-04-2021 06:41PM

orangerhyme wrote: »

I'm always curious about drug problem in the states. There's countless documentaries on youtube about heroin/opiate/crack/meth problem in Fresno/Ohio/Cape Cod/Albuquerque etc.
It seems so widespread and pervasive.
Is it due to lack of social safety or inequality?
Here in Ireland drug addiction correlates strongly with poverty/deprivation/abusive background.
In the states it seems to affect middle class people.

Plenty of substance abuse among the middle classes in Ireland. They're not sticking a needle in their arm but they're fond of sticking stuff up their noses, alcohol abuse, codeine and painkillers. Addiction permeates every class and Ireland is no different.

Strumms · 13-04-2021 06:49PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

Pubs showing sports doesn't seem to be that big a thing in Europe outside Ireland. Even most London pubs are not bothered

True, but it’s on the rise.. you even see in France, Paris in particular , the locals now hitting Irish bars to see PSG games.. Corcorans in St. Micheal is like an unofficial fan base, used be only United and Liverpool fans. Not a great fan of the london pub scene, bit weird there.

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 06:59PM

Strumms wrote: »

True, but it’s on the rise.. you even see in France, Paris in particular , the locals now hitting Irish bars to see PSG games.. Corcorans in St. Micheal is like an unofficial fan base, used be only United and Liverpool fans. Not a great fan of the london pub scene, bit weird there.

After 10 years there are only a few pubs in London that I am mad to get back to and most of them while not being irish pubs are run by Irish landlords. Decor, lighting and ambiance are all better understood by the Irish compared to the English.

It's the restaurants I miss. You would be hard pressed to find a country in the world not represented with a restaurant in London

Strumms · 13-04-2021 07:10PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

After 10 years there are only a few pubs in London that I am mad to get back to and most of them while not being irish pubs are run by Irish landlords. Decor, lighting and ambiance are all better understood by the Irish compared to the English.

It's the restaurants I miss. You would be hard pressed to find a country in the world not represented with a restaurant in London

I find the chain pubs there boring, Weatherspoons, Yates etc....

Always liked the Ten Bells in Spitalfields and the Hawley Arms in Camden.

evil_seed · 13-04-2021 07:18PM

2lazytogetup wrote: »

i found loads to do in prague - decent football team, great zoo. modern art musuem, cheap beer and food. nice walk by the river and the park.

Yeah Prague is great. The place we stopped I’d call the Tuam of Czechia

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 07:35PM

Strumms wrote: »

I find the chain pubs there boring, Weatherspoons, Yates etc....

Always liked the Ten Bells in Spitalfields and the Hawley Arms in Camden.

Ten Bells is nice when its quiet but Spitalfields gets too busy for my liking.

The Nell Gwynne by Charing Cross was my favorite straight up pub

Most boring places you've visited

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