We have noticed that many places we visit (usually in more tropical areas) seem to run on "local time" - that is that everything seems to take a lot longer. Ask for a cup of coffee and it takes 3 people and way too long to achieve that task. At first we grumble to ourselves about the "bad service", but then realize that this is just the culture of the area and everything runs at a much more relaxed pace and maybe we should to - do we actually NEED our coffee instantly. Even public transportation schedules seem to operate on a much looser concept of time than we are used to in the US. Comments? Do you find this infuriating, difficult to adjust to, part of the atmosphere, useful in helping you relax? (I know this is not strictly a US board question, but could not figure out where else to post it where it would get a response.)

I think of it as part of the vacation experience - and we two really anal types are generally the souls of laid-back-ness when we're at our vacation destination. Don't sweat the small stuff, eh.
ja

We go with the flow, though sometimes we have to remind ourselves to do so. This doesn't apply only to vacations, however. My husband and I formerly were big-city dwellers, and we occasionally have to remind ourselves that, for example, sitting for a 1/2 hour longer than planned when getting our oil changed is the small price we pay for living in a region that's treasured for the more relaxed lifestyles we residents (generally) lead.

I left the US and now live on "island time." I have come to prefer it, and it certainly beats the rat race I was formerly accustomed to. However, it can get on your nerves at times, I must agree.

I guess any Starbuck's you go to is on local time!

The implication is that "local" time is what departs from some norm of speed and efficiency. To some people, however, the impersonal brusqueness of places that just throw coffee at you and run away is a weird "local custom" of YOUR town, Gail.

New Orleans. Maybe it was just the weekend we were there, but the shuttle from the airport was late - they kept saying one of the shuttles broke down and another would be along soon, but soon was an hour and a half.

Then when we tried to ride the streetcar to the Garden District, one of the cars was in an accident. Another car and three buses came by, each assuring us that a streetcar would be along soon. We gave up after an hour.

Most of our meals were great, but we waited over an hour for breakfast one morning, and only got it when we asked to pay for the coffee so we could leave.

I agree with the poster who said you get used to it, and I liked that we weren't rushed through meals. But I really wish we could have gone on the streetcar ride.

Laura, ha! We had the slowest taxi ride in the world in New Orleans! Our driver never went over 35 mph, even on the freeway, but he was so interesting and told us great stories the whole way there. Lucky for us we had a little extra time for the trip. Those New Orleaneans certainly love to talk and do move slowly! (Is there some coorelation between NO and Hawaii? Aloha time and talking story?)

Local time is fine as long as the people accept that inefficency usually equals poverty and then does not ask the USA to give them foreign aid.

Once, after 3 days on Hilton Head, I found myself actually driving the (35 mph) speed limit and not minding it!

Ahhhh....island time

Isn't (or shouldn't that?) be the whole point of a vacation.....to take things slow, experience a different way of seeing/doing things and so on? If someone needs their coffee quick as a flash, go through the drive through at Mickey-Ds.

The places I've visited that seem to run on local time are the Outer Banks of NC, upper peninsula of MI and really, any small town. I enjoyed it and missed it after getting back to the hustle and bustle of city life.

"local time" or so anecdote - while in Puerto Vallarta in '96, we'd hired a taxi to take us to Mismaloya, so we could wander about and explore a bit. There was a huge traffic accident on the road on the way, bringing traffic in both directions to a standstill. Our txi driver trudged to the accident scene to find out how long the delay would be; we made the acquaintance of an expat American lady, and then, wandering into the field beside the road, were surrounded by clouds of Monarch (and other) butterflies! It was so cool that we didn't want to go back to the taxi! We finally agreed on a fair price for the taxi driver to take us back to our hotel, as we'd had a wonderful adventure with the butterflies and didn't feel the need to go farther that day.
ja

You've got it backwards, Harry. Poverty breeds inefficiency.