Brendan Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I?ve just read this story about peoples that the Lonely Planet considers friendly:http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/travelog/2007/10/is_ireland_the_worlds_most_fri.htmlThere is quite an interesting summary at the bottom.Where is the friendliest place you have visited? I am inclined to agree with them to a certain extent about the Irish and the Turks. I don?t agree about Malawi as when I went there I got robbed which I consider to be very unfriendly indeed. Anyway in my experience ED is by far the friendliest suburb in London and I have lived in a few. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 The United States is friendly, though perhaps more formally polite than cheery and matey in some places. Northern England and Scotland are friendly too, in the give-strangers-a-Polo-at-the-busstop kind of way. Nero Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48294 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozzyloz Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I've always found Kenya a friendly welcoming place and Jamaica as long as you're outside of Kingston and other big towns and tourist traps. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48330 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nero Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 South Africa was friendly and scary at the same time. Nero Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48332 Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeanMacGabhann Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I am sooo going to be slated but I have always found France ( and Corsica) to be extremely friendly Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48337 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share Posted October 17, 2007 lozzyloz Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> I've always found Kenya a friendly welcoming placeSo did I. Then I got robbed (yes in Kenya too. perhaps it is me.) and had a near death experience with a taxi driver from hell. He was friendly though but psycho. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48342 Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozzyloz Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Sorry to hear that Brendan. Reminds me of a mate from Jo'burg who had never been robbed, kidnapped etc. Came to London and was mugged at gunpoint in Soho within days!Generally I think country's are friendly as long as you're out of the metropolis and you're not at war with them. Some friends of mine just got back from Syria and said that it was the most unbelievably friendly and welcoming place they'd ever visited. Perhaps it could be said because they had different expectations.Most unfriendly place? Lagos without a doubt, although the music and bars kind've made up for it. I half agree with Sean's comments on France, Robbed twice in Paris (not violently) but have always found the rest of the country, even Le Penn territory most welcoming except possibly in the Basque region near the Spanish border. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48363 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmora Man Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 Denmark was amazingly friendly - with Copenhagen being the best part. USA, particualrly S. Carolina and southwards was briliant - was invited to Thanksgiving, with 8 friends just because we were visiting over that weekend. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48366 Share on other sites More sharing options...
downsouth Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 SeanMacGabhann Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> I am sooo going to be slated but I have always> found France ( and Corsica) to be extremely> friendlyI agree about France too. Egypt was really friendly as well. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48375 Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeckhamRose Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I agree about USA - they hear the accent and come over to me in the shops or restaurants and just want to hear you - assume we're all highly intelligent educated people. And many times specially in the west people come up and beg me to believe that they hate Bush and did not vote him in and disagree with the war. Complete strangers being so friendly and wanting to tell you this. New Zealand is incredibly friendly too. Such a laid back culture. Interesting to read your thoughts on our European cousins though too. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48379 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peckhamgatecrasher Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I found Liverpool v. friendly. [well oop north is another country] Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48389 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ant Posted October 17, 2007 Share Posted October 17, 2007 I've always found France friendly. Helps that I can speak French, of course.Norn Iron is very friendly. I'm sure it's the same down in the ROI, but I've never actually been so can't say. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48405 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendan Posted October 17, 2007 Author Share Posted October 17, 2007 lozzyloz Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Sorry to hear that Brendan. Reminds me of a mate> from Jo'burg who had never been robbed, kidnapped> etc. Came to London and was mugged at gunpoint in> Soho within days!I?ve been robbed in Jo?burg too.And in London for that matter.I?m starting to think it is just me. :-SNero Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> South Africa was friendly and scary at the same> time. NeroReally? That?s nice to know. (well except for the scary bit but I fully understand you on that) As a South African I have never thought we are particularly friendly. Very hospitable but not necessarily friendly I think there is a difference. I have also found the French quite friendly but I have only visited rural areas of France. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48412 Share on other sites More sharing options...
blinder999 Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Since we had kids, I've found Italy particularly friendly - they just love the little ones.Same in France really - we had a week in the Basque country this summer, everyone was very friendly, from the hotel owner to the deckchair attendant. Definitely helps if you speak the language though. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48424 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mockney piers Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I'd have to go with Portugal as the friendliest place I've been to.France outside of Paris is great. I've found Ireland a mixed bag, very like the UK in that respect I guess.Spain is strange, they (we?) can be quite antipathetic on the surface, but make the effort to speak the lingo and be gregarious yourself and you'll soon win them over, at which point they're as good as it gets. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48434 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Palaeologus Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Thailand - friendly except the pushy tuck-tuk drivers and the pain in the arse bell-boys who kept phoning me in the middle of the night wanting to know if I "wanted a lady"France - friendly except the shop-keeper who accused me of shoplifting and wouldnt apologise when I shoved the receipt under his noseGhana - friendlyEthiopia - scary with big gunsBangladesh - friendlyPakistan - friendly from what I could tell, I wasnt allowed out of the hotelNepal - friendly to foreigners, not too each otherNetherlands - ever so friendlyEstonia - friendly, except the tosser who nicked my walletGreece - ever so friendlyBarbados - friendly with nice beachesItaly - friendly except on the auto-strada where they turn into homicidal maniacsGermany - surprisingly friendlyBelgium - ever so friendly and with added beer and chocolateSpain - friendlyCanada - ever so friendly with big hugs, especially in Quebec if you make the effort to speak FrenchUSA - friendly with big portions Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48439 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Max Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 "The Chinese, a great bunch of lads."//Father Ted// Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48440 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mockney piers Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Oh yeah Canada, never a bad word spoken in that country.A big shout for Argentina too, especially the ones that killed a kid* and made the best empanadas in the world in our honour.*that's a small goat people...lighten up!! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48445 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keef Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Lithuania - Really really lovely and friendly, but that was before the invasion of thuggish stag dos. Not sure they're so trusting now!France - Bordeaux is really friendly! (just make at least SOME effort to speak their language!) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48585 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorky Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Albanians + Moldovans - in situ - I find are very friendly Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48598 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Dale Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 You have been to Albania Snorky? Did you get the ferry from Italy?Was meaning to go in search of the next big thing. Albania is the new Montenegro apparently. Did you spot any investment property bargains? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48631 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorky Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 been a few times - both overland from Kosovo, macedonia and Montenegro, also bari => durres ferrygreat place - it really isProperty - the infrastructure is iffy - power cuts/ drainage non existant ion some areas / filth and dumped stuff everywhere - there are some interesting places on the coast but its still a bit of a basket case and hard to change 50+ yeard of mismanagementgo across and have a sniff about to make up yer own mind - dont take any preconceptions about the Albs all being gangsters and drug runners etc I know albs in Londion who are buying beach properties back home, so thats a good sign I suppose Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48640 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Dale Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 Thanks. Maybe one day.Seems it's the last remaining affordable stretch of Adriatic coast. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48644 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snorky Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 go now.its a lovely crisp time to be in Albryanair to bari - ferry to durres/ train to Tirana ot whatever - will cost very little Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48650 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mockney piers Posted October 18, 2007 Share Posted October 18, 2007 I looked into buying property in Bosnia back in 2000 when it was still unspoilt (by tourists anyway), but was warned against it by a mate who's (expat bosnian) uncle had tried to do the same and found the whole thing a kafkaesque nightmare paved with corruption.Should it ever become better regulated I'd still love to.Ooh yes, Bosnians are a pretty nice bunch too, in fact all the exFRYs in my experience. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/1735-friendly-countries/#findComment-48655 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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