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Old 08-23-2003, 03:06 AM   #1
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hey all (or where i come from y'all)

i am posting this as a question and an explination, for lack of a better word.

i am right now travelling in eastern europe, started in london and then went to czech rep. and now on to poland. and i am confused about people who love to drink, growing up in a house with alcoholic parents i have seen the destruction alcohol can do, and now on the road i see it every day almost. i run across alot of people who are just travelling as an excuse to get drunk, or generally refered to as pissed or f-up. why?

don't get me wrong, i enjoy a drink now and then, but that is not my main motivation in life, and definitely not my motivation to travel. now i am all for going out to a bar and buying some beer with the locals as a sociological experiment in the human nature of stupidity and all. but, there is a line you must draw, you are in somone elses country and in a small way a representitive of your own. not to mention the fact it gets expensive realy damm fast, no matter where you are.

but, this leaves me in a pickle. i really like to meet women, lots of them and do nasty things with them, as all men do. without the bar in the picture, i find it harder and harder to meet people who are interest in talking, haveing a good time. any suggestion on meeting people without haveing to get sloshed and kill brain cells?
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Old 08-23-2003, 06:15 AM   #2
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Hey cabbie, I think the reason people put excesive drinking and travel togeather is a way to cope with being away from your home country, stress relief, and a way to loose'n up to meet new people. I hate to admit it but i used to be that guy, the guy who was mister social after on to many beverages. I made a fool of myself on more than one occasion , and also got laid because of what a nice guy I was.

I am not that guy anymore, my work prevents me from drink to excess, and when I do get that rare oppertunity to drink a little to much, it is on my front porch with friends, not at a club or bar like the ol' days.

Maybe it is an age thing? In Canada the drinking age is 19, but it is easly available at about 17, it the US its 21? is that a reason youth trav'las drink to the limlits? maybe, this could be the first time some people have been away from under the thumb of mommy and daddy.

I would never judge anyone for what they do, but if it becomes a problem i would be the first to say to that person that there was one. If the person became abusive to him/her self after drinking, or towards others thats not cool at all. To drink at night in a social setting, i think is ok, but ya gotta know when to call it quits.

As a budget trav'la, drinking is the most expencive thing you will do, in london your admission into a club could be 10P and it 7P for every drink after that...5,6, or 7 drinks later and that was 2 nights stay in a private room hostel. So make sure you know what your doing and that you can afford it.

Just becareful folks, and I know I must sound like I am preaching, but I have woken up in my share of back alleyways because I could not find or afford a cab home.
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Old 08-23-2003, 07:59 AM   #3
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Interesting post! As my name stands for "Traveling Under Influence" I must admit...I do tend to experience a fair share of drinking while I travel, but I wouldnt say its a bad thing...Im never obliverated to where I cant talk and make myself look like an ass standing in line for the London eye yelling at the operator to spin it faster! No I just like the social scene, I like to plop down on a stool after a long hot day of sites and commence drinking with fellow travelers. I have heard some of the best tales ever over a beer and I probably would have never met half the people I know if I didnt drink! Am I saying I need to drink to meet people? No! Im just saying that it tends to be a very relaxing way for travelers to hang out and enjoy life! Yes it can be a problem for some people who cant control it, but not all have that problem!
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Old 08-23-2003, 06:13 PM   #4
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I don't even know how to answer this because i drink all the time when i'm travelling (way more than at home) It's totally not the soul purpose though. I'm not into travelling for the parties or the frat drinking behaviour. But at night i like to go out and sample the nightlife. Most european cities/countries have a drinking culture. Ireland/germany/sangria in spain etc...So i just feel like i'm around alot more alchohal when travellilng than at home. ANd besides i'm on vacation.As long as you have a perfect balance i think it's fine. ie. make sure you don't spend most of your money on booze!
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Old 08-23-2003, 07:07 PM   #5
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It´s been a while since I got "blasted" while going out with friends. I hate it when I get to that point where you can´t even walk straight, yer barfing, and you´re slurrrrrring all over the damn place. You actually become a hassle to your friends because now they have to contain you. Then, you´re rewarded with an excrutiating headache the next morning and bar receipts with astronomical amounts . For me, those days are over........I think(I still have yet to party with the TPunk crew :D ).

Now, if I want to get wasted, I just uncork a bottle of cheap red wine, from Trader Joes, boot up my PC and double click on the Internet Explorer icon. I like to reason with myself that the red wine(the whole bottle) is good for my heart(I have high cholesterol ).

I, too, think that the reason people drink so much when they are traveling is because they are out of their normal comfort zone. The drinking age is 21 yrs in the US and many backpackers head to Europe before their 21st bday.
As far as bars, clubs, parties, social gatherings or what not, alcohol is the legendary un-inhibitor and many people depend on it to open themselves up and or to give them the confidence that they need to walk up to that girl/guy that they´ve been checking out from across the way.

Raise your hands if you´ve been to a museum or a park and have seen some fine single ladies strolling about. These are great places to meet people, you just have to try a bit harder
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Old 08-24-2003, 12:24 AM   #6
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Hey cabbie, I also grew up in a household where alcohol was consumed way too frequently for my parents health and my mental health and as such must admit to finding drunken men intimidating and not "nasty things" potential. I am more than happy to have one or two drinks with mates and have been known on the odd occasion to get written off in the comfort of my or close friends homes. To be overseas in a strange place with really noone for suppport is to me ruining an amazing chance. You will find people like me laying on the grass in a park going wow at the sky, some buildings or trees. Or cruising a second hand bookshop loking for Dr Seuss classics. We are out there i can guarentee it, just have to look under the right tree!
Take care. B)
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Old 08-24-2003, 12:31 AM   #7
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Drink, drunk - The difference is U.


* Slogan from a NSW anti drink-driving campaign.
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Old 08-24-2003, 02:45 PM   #8
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I love house music. It's basically my life and one of the main reasons that I am travelling. Sometimes it's even more fun to let loose...

As the song (that you all probably don't know - yet) goes...

"Sex, Drugs and Techno"

B)
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Old 08-24-2003, 02:53 PM   #9
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whoa now peeps! I didnt say I dont enjoy the sites! In fact I am also a huge fan of finding a spot in the park somewhere and people watch or just look at life in general! I make it a point to spend a lot of my traveling time doing this! Please dont think that those of us who enjoy a night out on the drink dont like to slow down and enjoy life without it!
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Old 08-24-2003, 08:27 PM   #10
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oooohhh Tui, did not mean that for a moment. I think as long as you get out of life what you need then that is super. I know myself that growing up in a house where alcohol was abused that sometimes it can get really scary and I have developed a healthy respect for it and what it can do to people that is all. Did not mean to offend at all. I am not really one for the nightclub scene but defantly sitting with a great group of people having a beer and sharing stories is a highlight but at the same time I think it is possible to have an equally amazing time with out it. ummmm errrrr, hopethat makes sence?!
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Old 08-25-2003, 08:13 AM   #11
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:P I wasnt offended! its damn near impossible to offend me...I just wanted to make sure ya know that alcohol is not the sole reason I travel. I sometimes I sound like it, but thats just because Ive had some really great times overseas after a pint or two of the good stuff. nuff said :D
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Old 08-25-2003, 09:36 AM   #12
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And I thought, I was the only one ! Well, I usually don't hang out with backpackers because of the alcohlo factor. I do agree that most backpackers spend way too much time drinking ! They get up often late, visit the place for 1-2 hours, then start eating and drinking... Not my cup of tea !

I do like sometimes to have more than my share of local beers, wine or cherry alcohol :-) , it's a great experience for example if you're invited to a wedding banquet or some event with the natives. Just as long it's no habit or regular "activity"...

I think we just lack imagination ! Maybe alcohol and pleasure are so much linked in people's minds, that they simply don't know what else to do in oder to enjoy themselves ?! Some kind of conditioning...
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Old 08-26-2003, 10:05 AM   #13
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I myself when I travel I like to have a drink or two. I have met so many people through traveling and going to bars, that I will not change it at all. Its a great ice breaker, and great story maker for people to share.

Another great place I have met people while traveling was on the overnight trains. You might want to try that one.
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Old 08-26-2003, 03:22 PM   #14
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I second that llemus B)
In Spain, it´s common to have 2 or 3 cañas(glasses of cerveza) with lunch and then at dinner too. It´s just normal. A custom that I had no problem adapting to
In my earlier post, I wasn´t trying to say that I don´t drink when I´m traveling. No, no, no... I have to say that, overall, I´m the same as Dio. I drink way more when I´m traveling than I do at home. I just don´t get sloshed all the time.
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Old 02-25-2004, 11:58 AM   #15
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I think that if you're having trouble finding people that don't drink to excess in foreign conutries it's probably because you're not at the right places. You are, because it's a lot easier to meet people at bars, but I think you should find the right ones. The places where the least number of foreigners are at are always best because they're the most authentic. Plus, the locals go there normally, not to meet drunk americans, or whatever, but because it's a part of their week and life.

People in Europe look at drinking differently than people in the USA do, at least in my humble opinion. It's not taboo when they're young so they tend to treat it with more moderation. Plus, they have a totally different university system and culture and since most people live within city limits, drinking doesn't take on that "escape" feeling it can here, where everyone is isolated in the suburbs. I don't know...does anyone agree?
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Old 02-26-2004, 06:10 AM   #16
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I agree. The culture and concept of drinking socially in Europe is totally different than here. I didn't observe that Europeans feel the necessity to overdo their drinking so much as a requisite to loosen up and have fun. What I observed was that they actually like to 'enjoy' their drink, not drink mindlessly... if that makes any sense.

I love to meet people when I travel, but personally, bars, I should say, backpacker loaded bars, is not my favorite way of meeting people. It's just that they tend to be packed w/ drunk people. Not that I don't have fun getting tipsy now and then too, but those places tend to be full of people who use that as their main form of entertainment... It's fun now and then, but I like to meet people other ways too...

I've met people in all different ways, hostel, museum, walking in the street, cafe/restaurant, sitting in the park, I guess at the end too, I'm not really looking for people per se. I'm having a great time hanging out on my own when I'm traveling alone, but I'm also open. So that must give off a good, confident vibe, b/c I still meet people in pleasantly unexpected ways. And that's one of the best surprises of travel for me.
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Old 02-26-2004, 08:59 AM   #17
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great point, carisia. you don't have to be in a bar to meet lots of people. head out to the park, or wherever the locals hang out, i'll bet a different accent than theirs will strike their attention and some great conversation!

i always find that when i am in a bar, i usually stick to the core group of friends i came with. i would feel so cheezy walking up to some guy saying "hey baby, come here often?" lol.

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Old 02-26-2004, 04:44 PM   #18
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i travel to people watch, i guess that's it... i rarely drink because i just don't have the stomach for it... although, i do plan to sit on the beach and sip a few mai tais when i get to thailand...

you'll never see me trashed though - i have zero respect for sloppy slurring drunks... which will make for an interesting situation this summer - considering - the girlfriend i'll be travelling with LOVES to drink and dude....
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Old 02-26-2004, 05:45 PM   #19
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Not drink? what would be the point of going?! lol, just kidding, I for one however could be called a beer conasuer (sp?) I love the stuff and would be lying if i said trying the brews of each particular region I visit is not a part of my motivation for this trip. And it is not just trying the beer, i'd like to get a bit tipsey with some locals should I ever have the right chance!
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Old 02-27-2004, 02:23 AM   #20
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As far as meeting the locals... im hoping to hook into some uni bars. Im sure that i would not look suss if i just strolled through the parks of universities around the world and drunk their cheap beer, and rubbed shoulders with the undergrads (dont even know what undergrads are, lol) Im sure this will cater for "meeting the locals"

I wonder if i could get away with attending a few lectures. How would ppl know i was just an aimless backpacker. I could pick up a cap, and a vest from the uni surplus store...

Ahhh, im just a dreamer is all... The closest i got was when i was strolling through kings college in cambridge, and watching all the students try and knock each other out of the punts in the river that runs through the back of the college. That was the best, just standing on a little bridge, watching them all drink wine and have fun... Next time ill join in... too easy!

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