Why do people who don't speak English go on vacations to countries whose language they don't know?

[MikeH]

this kind of thing happens all the time. i do wonder why people don't bother to at least learn a few simple words and phrases when travelling, a little effort can go a long way.

I always try and do that. At least be able to say please thank you and order a beer. It was stunningly successful in places like Budapest and Prague where the best value places to eat and drink weren't the tourist places. And so few tourists bother to even try the locals really appreciate the effort. We got great service, and great tips about places to go from the locals...

Although we did find out that quite a lot of the waiting staff weren't Hungarian/Czech.

[MikeH]

There are lots of deeply "cultural" things that are also incredibly stupid, and I'm not going to hold back my criticism of them because they are "cultural".

Does anyone want to do the joke about the incredibly stupid thing that isn't cultural?

[molly bloom]

Our tourists are still more popular than yours.

In Lebanon ? Nicaragua ? Venezuela ?


When an acquaintance of mine explained in South America she wasn't a Yanqui, she was treated very well indeed.

[MikeH]

See also, any Canadian who's ever been abroad.

[molly bloom]

See also, any Canadian who's ever been abroad.

I'll be honest- whenever I hear an English accent when I go abroad, I tend to try to look as Irish as possible. It stems partly from horrible memories of childhood trips to Spain and arriving in Tangiers on the same plane as some lager louts, who were already steaming drunk when they decanted onto Moroccan soil.

On the other hand, my received pronunciation worked wonders in California, Washington State and Nevada.

[MikeH]

That's partly why I make a big effort with the language.

[Hauldren Collider]

In Lebanon ? Nicaragua ? Venezuela ?


When an acquaintance of mine explained in South America she wasn't a Yanqui, she was treated very well indeed.

Who the hell wants to go to any of those places?

[C0ckney]

I always try and do that. At least be able to say please thank you and order a beer. It was stunningly successful in places like Budapest and Prague where the best value places to eat and drink weren't the tourist places. And so few tourists bother to even try the locals really appreciate the effort. We got great service, and great tips about places to go from the locals...

yep, even a small effort can improve your experience immensely.

[molly bloom]

Who the hell wants to go to any of those places?

Anyone with a sense of adventure, or an interest in travel. Or a brain.

Travel is said to broaden the mind.


I take it you haven't been far afield....


Nicaragua:

Archaeologists have discovered what they describe as a previously unknown ancient civilisation in Central America.


A picture has emerged after several years' research
The site, near the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua, dates from before the Mayan era, and relics include what appears to be a centre for mass production of ceremonial columns.
Researchers have been working on the site at El Cascal de Flor de Pino, near the town of Kukra Hill for six years.

They've found evidence of an ancient town and several outlying villages, which developed around 2,700 years ago and lasted for a thousand years.

There are monuments, petroglyphs (rock carvings) and pottery, and most remarkably, an area where many huge columns were formed out of rock - columns which may have been used at burial sites.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3035113.stm

The scenery:

For those who like moderate hiking and diverse nature watching experiences this is an ideal one week trip of immersion in Nicaragua's unique flora and fauna. From the comfort of the classic cities of León and Granada, as well as two nights in the cozy cabins of a private mountain nature reserve, we explore with our naturalist guide and select local experts some of Nicaragua's finest nature reserves. First stop is the Pacific coast estuary wildlife refuge known as Juan Venado Island, home to numerous reptiles and rich bird life which we explore in kayak or motorboat, depending on your preference. The Montibelli Private Nature Reserve is tucked in the mountains between Managua and Masaya, a tropical dry forest that offers excellent birding and a spectacular array of butterflies. The Masaya Volcano National Park is home to white tail deer, white face monkeys and Pacific green parakeets that defy science by nesting in the hyper-toxic walls of the active Santiago Crater. We also visit the narrow canyon reserve of Chocoyero, home to more than 800 pairs of nesting parakeets, howler monkeys and agouti. To add to this diverse menu of tropical nature we hike the upper reaches of the unique cloud forest reserve on the summit of the Mombacho Volcano, a forest which is home to several species of flora and fauna found nowhere else on the planet.

http://www.latinamericanescapes.com/Trip201.htm

Lebanon:

At the center of the often tumultuous eastern Mediterranean, Lebanon has preserved its ancient history, cultivated an acclaimed wine industry, and brought once glamorous Beirut out of the rubble of war.

Ancient cities like Tyre are replete with ruins, including this preserved Roman road and arch. In Roman times, Tyre was known for a precious purple dye—made from murex sea snails—that became the color of royalty

http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/lebanon-photos/

The food:

http://www.habeeb.com/lebanon.photos.10.lebanese.food.html

Venezuela- the Angel Falls:

The Angel Falls Venezuela may be one of the most popular tourist attractions of nature lovers in all the world. The Angel Falls is the largest waterfall in the world with a free falling drop of 3,212 feet home in the Canaima National Park in the region of Bolivar State a remote area.

Of course with all wonders of the world you will hear a variety of tales of their discover and Angel Falls is no different. One tale is that Sir Walter Raleigh was the first to discover this magnificent waterfall, however, other names have also been mentioned when discussing their discover which are Ernesto Sanchez La Cruz a Venezuelan explorer in 1912 and James Crawford Angel an American aviator in 1933. The falls received their name when James Angel along with his wife and three other guests tried to land a small plane near the falls. The plane did land; however, the wheels sank into the swamp ground and could not take flight. No one was injured during the landing, and in honor of the man that publicized the find of the largest waterfall in the world took on his name, which we all know today as Angel Falls

http://www.destination360.com/south-america/venezuela/angel-falls

The culture:

The Calypso as music and Carnival in Venezuela as collective party, have increasingly become a true symbol of the culture of El Callao and the entire state of Bolivar. The attraction of Callao exerted by gold mining and the possibility of rapid wealth, Callao became the scene of the mixing of different cultures, among which with residents of local origin, a group of English and significant number of people originally from the British West Indies and French. That mix has emerged a rich traditions, which have been pre-eminence afroantillano input, including calypso and carnival.


Carnival, based in the gay bars of the Calypso, meets for several days at the costumes and troupes of dancers performing long processions chanting songs to the accompaniment of the crowd that thousands flock to the celebrations of King Momo as it is called traditionally in El Callao

http://www.tourisminvenezuela.com/2010/05/08/el-callao-venezuela-calypso-carnival-in-the-bolivar-state-photos-information/

[Barnabas]

Who the hell wants to go to any of those places?

[MRT144]

the greeks are fairly good about knowing english, so that puts them leagues ahead of many other european countries.

[Fake Boris]

There are lots of deeply "cultural" things that are also incredibly stupid, and I'm not going to hold back my criticism of them because they are "cultural".

The point that has been made is that it's even more stupid not to learn simple phrases, and to expect the whole world to adapt to your tastes.

[MikeH]

the greeks are fairly good about knowing english, so that puts them leagues ahead of many other european countries.

They are quite mid table. Probably disproportionate in touristy areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:English_foreign_and_second_language_EU.jpg

[MRT144]

They are quite mid table. Probably disproportionate in touristy areas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:En...anguage_EU.jpg

Most everyone in the food biz speaks a bit of English, which is all I care about.

[Provost Harrison]

In Lebanon ? Nicaragua ? Venezuela ?


When an acquaintance of mine explained in South America she wasn't a Yanqui, she was treated very well indeed.

This was common, especially in Mexico City. When locals figured out I wasn't American they were really cool and friendly...before that they weren't rude but certainly treated you with suspicion.