Most boring places you've visited

GT89 · 13-04-2021 07:51PM

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.

The walks around Howth are certainly lovely and are probably the most beautiful coastal walks close to Dublin. However my main complaint about Howth is the village itself which seems to be quite dirty and has a bit of a rundown look to it a lot of the cafes and restaurants in the village look unappealing the main food options seem to be only fish and chips.

I think places on the Southside like Dun Laoghaire, Glasthule and Dalkey have made a better effort in making their areas appealing to tourists. But it has been a couple of years since I was last in Howth so it may have changed.

13-04-2021 07:56PM

Howths lovely. Pleasantly surprised to find a castle there the weekend.

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 08:01PM

Amelia White Lightning wrote: »

Howths lovely. Pleasantly surprised to find a castle there the weekend.

Ide take all the "intimidating" people that some here are scared of around Europe over the crowd from Howth. Good scenery or not leafy suburbs and enclaves are usually very boring

humberklog · 13-04-2021 08:14PM

GT89 wrote: »

The walks around Howth are certainly lovely and are probably the most beautiful coastal walks close to Dublin. However my main complaint about Howth is the village itself which seems to be quite dirty and has a bit of a rundown look to it a lot of the cafes and restaurants in the village look unappealing the main food options seem to be only fish and chips.

I think places on the Southside like Dun Laoghaire, Glasthule and Dalkey have made a better effort in making their areas appealing to tourists. But it has been a couple of years since I was last in Howth so it may have changed.

There's nine separate restaurants on the West Pier alone with indoor/outdoor seating and whilst a lot a fish based (but not exclusively) their not chippers.

Beechwoodspark · 13-04-2021 08:15PM

humberklog wrote: »

There's nine separate restaurants on the West Pier alone with indoor/outdoor seating and whilst a lot a fish based (but not exclusively) their not chippers.

Most of the options are variations on fish and chips

saabsaab · 13-04-2021 08:29PM

GT89 wrote: »

The walks around Howth are certainly lovely and are probably the most beautiful coastal walks close to Dublin. However my main complaint about Howth is the village itself which seems to be quite dirty and has a bit of a rundown look to it a lot of the cafes and restaurants in the village look unappealing the main food options seem to be only fish and chips.

I think places on the Southside like Dun Laoghaire, Glasthule and Dalkey have made a better effort in making their areas appealing to tourists. But it has been a couple of years since I was last in Howth so it may have changed.

I found these a bit run down too.

13-04-2021 08:40PM

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Most of the options are variations on fish and chips

To paraphrase Blues Brothers: We have two types of food around here........fish.......and chips.

13-04-2021 08:42PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ide take all the "intimidating" people that some here are scared of around Europe over the crowd from Howth. Good scenery or not leafy suburbs and enclaves are usually very boring

The people that hang around train stations in Paris are a different kettle of fish from your Howth poshos.

breezy1985 · 13-04-2021 09:05PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The people that hang around train stations in Paris are a different kettle of fish from your Howth poshos.

Its a few lads and ya it's intimidating but once you are past them the areas are fine.

Howth on the other hand there is no escaping them and there are definitely a few thieves and robbers in Howth they just dont hang round stations

GT89 · 13-04-2021 09:17PM

saabsaab wrote: »

I found these a bit run down too.

I was more talking about the seafront part of Dun Laoghaire the town centre is quite rundown but completely different to Howth. Dalkey Village is probably more comparable to Howth Village and I would say is less rundown.

GT89 · 13-04-2021 09:28PM

humberklog wrote: »

There's nine separate restaurants on the West Pier alone with indoor/outdoor seating and whilst a lot a fish based (but not exclusively) their not chippers.

Yeah true but nearly all the food options seem to be some kind of fancy evening restaurants or fish and chips not much in the middle. For example I thought Howth lacked any decent coffee places when I was there. A lot of the places looked like kind of tourist traps.

I think the rough element in Howth more come in from the likes of Darndale, Kilbarrack and Donaghmede. I know the Dart has had it's fair share of anti social behaviour in these areas.

BonnieSituation · 13-04-2021 09:30PM

Cody montana wrote: »

Bypassed it for Geraldton.

Good for you. Lancelin was the heroin capital of WA.

It was a crayfish town so they used to bring in all sorts as well.

silverharp · 13-04-2021 10:30PM

saabsaab wrote: »

I found these a bit run down too.

Dalkey is nice without being overly manicured , Dun Loaghaire on the other hand, nothing that a tactical nuke couldnt sort

Strumms · 13-04-2021 10:33PM

breezy1985 wrote: »

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

Found that too about the Ten Bells, barely enough room to hold your pint after 5.30 pm say..A favorite for post work pints. liked it for an after shopping pint in the afternoon, really good staff and the place has character. A unique establishment....

GT89 · 14-04-2021 01:27AM

silverharp wrote: »

Dalkey is nice without being overly manicured , Dun Loaghaire on the other hand, nothing that a tactical nuke couldnt sort

Dun Laoghaire seafront is lovely the council have put a lot of money into it. The rest of the town has it's problems.

Sgt Hartman · 14-04-2021 06:38AM

GT89 wrote: »

I thought Howth lacked any decent coffee places when I was there. A lot of the places looked like kind of tourist traps.

I quite like The Dog House though. It's a place you can just relax with a cappuccino, a slice of cake and a good book for an hour.

qm1bv4p8i92aoj · 14-04-2021 07:58AM

Hulk Hands wrote: »

Grand so. Il be back again after your next 100 posts complaining about the place to ask why you have such an odd obsession with it and where you come from yourself

Looks like he's from Athlone.

Imagine being from Athlone and ragging on Galway about anything.

Was unfortunate enough to have to spend some time in Athlone through work a couple of years ago. Boring as fook. And a typical garrison town as it's very rough in large parts with a big scumbag element.

All in all a bit of a shíthole tbh. Would not visit again.

2lazytogetup · 14-04-2021 08:27AM

Strumms wrote: »

Found that too about the Ten Bells, barely enough room to hold your pint after 5.30 pm say..A favorite for post work pints. liked it for an after shopping pint in the afternoon, really good staff and the place has character. A unique establishment....

i found on average the pubs in london to be much nicer that ireland. in ireland alot of pubs are kips as the landlord doesnt make an effort as he knows he will get the business anyway.

in london, they spend more money decking them out to be more comfortable. the food is usually better and the london pubs usually stock the local brewary beer. though irish pubs have gotten better with selection.

the sam smyths pubs in england are great but the wetherspoons are awful with their flashing slot machines and i always feel such sympathy for the down and out alcoholics that can be seen in wetherspoons during the day.

Beechwoodspark · 14-04-2021 08:41AM

Bodega does great coffee in Howth. Worth a try next time.

Ash.J.Williams · 14-04-2021 08:46AM

How is Howth even mentioned here it’s an awesome place

cgcsb · 14-04-2021 10:18AM

CALGARY!!

I literally forgot I was even there on a short trip (don't ask) till this moment. Most of urban Canada is quite dull anyway, as a country it's mostly about the scenery, but Calgary is a real biscuit taker. There is no reason for this place to exist. That being said people there talked about Edmonton being worse, I never ventured.

breezy1985 · 14-04-2021 10:23AM

2lazytogetup wrote: »

i found on average the pubs in london to be much nicer that ireland. in ireland alot of pubs are kips as the landlord doesnt make an effort as he knows he will get the business anyway.

in london, they spend more money decking them out to be more comfortable. the food is usually better and the london pubs usually stock the local brewary beer. though irish pubs have gotten better with selection.

the sam smyths pubs in england are great but the wetherspoons are awful with their flashing slot machines and i always feel such sympathy for the down and out alcoholics that can be seen in wetherspoons during the day.

This is because the breweries often own the pubs in London rather than being independent. Ya they are better kept but the problem is they are all the same. Every Nicholsons will have the same black decor same beer and same menu and same for Youngs, Fullers etc.100s of identical pubs.
Sam Smiths were the only chain I made an exception for cause I loved the wheat beer and the prices

Ash.J.Williams · 14-04-2021 10:36AM

cgcsb wrote: »

CALGARY!!

I literally forgot I was even there on a short trip (don't ask) till this moment. Most of urban Canada is quite dull anyway, as a country it's mostly about the scenery, but Calgary is a real biscuit taker. There is no reason for this place to exist. That being said people there talked about Edmonton being worse, I never ventured.

I worked with a Canadian chap in Dublin and he kept pointing out how crap things are here but he failed to notice because everything is perfect where he comes from it ****1NG BORING

completedit · 14-04-2021 10:47AM

breezy1985 wrote: »

This is because the breweries often own the pubs in London rather than being independent. Ya they are better kept but the problem is they are all the same. Every Nicholsons will have the same black decor same beer and same menu and same for Youngs, Fullers etc.100s of identical pubs.
Sam Smiths were the only chain I made an exception for cause I loved the wheat beer and the prices

Every Irish pub has the same beer.

breezy1985 · 14-04-2021 10:55AM

completedit wrote: »

Every Irish pub has the same beer.

Ya it's something I really hate about rocking up somewhere new in Ireland to find the same 4 beers as every other pub. Thankfully it is changing in some parts of the country at least

14-04-2021 11:06AM

blackwhite wrote: »

Port Talbot in Wales - horrendously run down. Stayed a night there on the way to Cardiff for a rugby match. The town is basically a dormitory for the massive steel plant.
Nothing in it except a grotty 1980s shopping centre, dodgy greasy spoon cafes, the grimmest beach in Wales and it's one saving grace - the train station to get you the hell out of there. Hotel breakfast looked like a poor offering, so thought we'd get something in the town. Didn't take long to realise that Greggs was the best option.

Port Talbot makes Holyhead look like Cannes

It’s dire, but a remarkable number of successful people came from Port Talbot for some reason.

Ash.J.Williams · 14-04-2021 11:09AM

Deleted User wrote: »

It’s dire, but a remarkable number of successful people came from Port Talbot for some reason.

Sign of a **** town when you go down the whole “well at least ya know what your gettin in burger king “

jmayo · 14-04-2021 11:11AM

Amelia White Lightning wrote: »

Howths lovely. Pleasantly surprised to find a castle there the weekend.

The castle is there everyday.

Sorry I just couldn't resist.

Lola Teeny Storeroom wrote: »

Looks like he's from Athlone.

Imagine being from Athlone and ragging on Galway about anything.

Was unfortunate enough to have to spend some time in Athlone through work a couple of years ago. Boring as fook. And a typical garrison town as it's very rough in large parts with a big scumbag element.

All in all a bit of a shíthole tbh. Would not visit again.

As Galway people used to say back in the day.
"What's the best thing about Athlone ?

THE BYPASS !"

cgcsb wrote: »

CALGARY!!

I literally forgot I was even there on a short trip (don't ask) till this moment. Most of urban Canada is quite dull anyway, as a country it's mostly about the scenery, but Calgary is a real biscuit taker. There is no reason for this place to exist. That being said people there talked about Edmonton being worse, I never ventured.

Galgary has fantastic military museum for anyone that is interested in militaria.

Galgary is the centre of Canada's oil and gas industry.
Alberta I think is Canada's richest province.
You will often find oil and gas platforms dotted all over the place.
Before that it was all about cattle.

It is interesting if you look it up, it ranks very highly as one of the most livable cities in North America.

Have to say the drive from Galgary towards Canmore and onto Banff is absolutely brilliant as the hills are getting bigger and the mighty Rockies are looming on the horizon.

PS Edmonton's claim to fame was it having the biggest shopping centre with a wave pool.
I think some Gulf state took that away from them?

Ash.J.Williams · 14-04-2021 11:16AM

How do you get 50 Canadians out of a swimming pool?

Say excuse me guys can you get out of the pool

Lofidelity · 14-04-2021 11:16AM

breezy1985 wrote: »

Ya it's something I really hate about rocking up somewhere new in Ireland to find the same 4 beers as every other pub. Thankfully it is changing in some parts of the country at least

Some people find it reassuring to get their usual beer that they enjoy, despite being somewhere new.
Most pubs will have a choice of bottles if there's nothing exciting on tap.

Most boring places you've visited

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