Want to meet the locals? Try the bars.
Oct 20th, 2016, 01:18 AM
#1
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Want to meet the locals? Try the bars.
Very few folks here talk about hitting up the local as an option when planning a European vacation but IMO more should - especially those who want to meet and mix with the locals - something that is almost assured to happen while drinking at a bar.
Oct 20th, 2016, 04:30 AM
#6
There have been quite a few people asking here about good bars to meet locals and good pubs in the UK. And I have read answers from locals both in France and the UK saying that you shouldn't expect any locals to talk to you.
This has run counter to my own experience. People do talk to each other.
I am curious to see the responses you will get to this post.
This has run counter to my own experience. People do talk to each other.
I am curious to see the responses you will get to this post.
Oct 20th, 2016, 06:35 AM
#8
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The explosion of microbreweries and craft beer pubs in North America has made conversation even easier. Just ask the person on the next bar stool what's in the mug; anyone interested in the subject will be happy to talk about it. The Europeans have taken their beers for granted but even in France there is an awakening interest in small beers. The language barrier is a different subject but your high school French comes back as the drinks go down (or at least you think it does.)
Oct 20th, 2016, 07:00 AM
#9
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Mrs Woin hardly ever goes to bars but we talk in restaurants in the queues for attractions or at airports etc etc.
We once talked with Japanese in Tokyo. They spoke Japanese and U.S. English and nobody understood anything.
Great fun though.
We once talked with Japanese in Tokyo. They spoke Japanese and U.S. English and nobody understood anything.
Great fun though.
Oct 20th, 2016, 07:01 AM
#11
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I don't think it's a secret that you can go to bars and meet people. YOung people in particular may go and "meet" the locals. Not sure what you mean about "hitting up the local" but it may be the other way around.
Oct 20th, 2016, 07:05 AM
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We went to a small bar in Paris that a forum friend was bartending at.. he invited us down for the evening.. and we sat at the bar and chatted with him.. however.. we also came down the next night and sat outside at a table, it was very crowded so we shared a table with two young men who were French.. but had grown up in the countryside.. and had just moved to Paris the year before. They seemed to really enjoy chatting to us about their impressions of Paris.. ( what it was like for them just having moved there) and living in France in general.. one spoke some rough English. the other not so much. but we all had our cameras out and were looking at each others pictures of "back home".. it was a lot of fun. We always make sure we have some shots on our camera of our house, town and friends and family to show others we meet along the way.
I find a few drinks improves everyones ability to communicate in a foreign language.. you stop caring if you sound like an idiot and just go for it.. lol
I find a few drinks improves everyones ability to communicate in a foreign language.. you stop caring if you sound like an idiot and just go for it.. lol
Oct 20th, 2016, 07:43 AM
#13
Our best bar in Dublin was a local. We went for the game, Dublin vs Mayo and had the best night. They insisted we eat BBQ with them, danced, sang, one got a proposal and the drinks were cheaper. They said they were the riff raff of Dublin but we had a blast. We have had some great times in pubs with locals. Better than camping.
Oct 20th, 2016, 07:57 AM
#14
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<i>Not sure what you mean about "hitting up the local" but it may be the other way around.</i>
The local = the local bar that the neighborhood residents go to, as opposed to the bar in the square or the bar in the hotel or the bar beside the train station or the bar in the restaurant that is a tourist trap.
The local = the local bar that the neighborhood residents go to, as opposed to the bar in the square or the bar in the hotel or the bar beside the train station or the bar in the restaurant that is a tourist trap.
Oct 20th, 2016, 09:36 AM
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Last real local bar I went to was in braine l alleud (where the battle of Waterloo took place).
At 7 am.
Interesting.
One local bookkeeper drinking dark beer alone.
2 women drinking pils with a young girl of about 10.
One guy in a marcel (toptank?) so local that he went behind the bar to refill.
Next time I'll take Zola's book ' l assomoir '.
At 7 am.
Interesting.
One local bookkeeper drinking dark beer alone.
2 women drinking pils with a young girl of about 10.
One guy in a marcel (toptank?) so local that he went behind the bar to refill.
Next time I'll take Zola's book ' l assomoir '.
