Tim

On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 14:20:10 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
wrote:

    > "Mark Hewitt" wrote:
    >> "Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
    >> news:[email protected]...
    >>> "Alec" wrote:
    >>> >
    >>> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    >>> to ask for water in restaurants.
    >> Resaurants don't want to give you water! They want you to pay for your
    >> drinks.
    > I know, I know. But if I buy a meal and some wine, I would like them
    > to bring the water brought unasked.
    > Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    > likely to get my repeat business.

It could be worse, you could live in Austria where they put bread and rolls
on the table unasked - but you have to pay extra for every one you eat.
Tim.

Paradise Island Barchap

On Wed, 11 Jun 2003, Padraig Breathnach wrote:

    > "Mark Hewitt" wrote:
    > >
    > >"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
    > >news:[email protected]...
    > >> "Alec" wrote:
    > >> >
    > >> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    > >> to ask for water in restaurants.
    > >
    > >Resaurants don't want to give you water! They want you to pay for your
    > >drinks.
    > >
    > I know, I know. But if I buy a meal and some wine, I would like them
    > to bring the water brought unasked.
    > Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    > likely to get my repeat business.

Couldn't agree more. It needn't cost them a fortune, but would win them an
awful lot of goodwill. I'm thinking mostly of the UK where they never
automatically put water on the table either, except perhaps in the most
expensive places. We import so many flakey ideas from the US :-) but water
on the table is one simple one that I really wish we would adopt. I
suppose it's the additional labour costs (giving out and gathering in and
washing up the glasses, etc) that they are trying to save.

--
[email protected]

Alec

"Paradise Island Barchap" wrote in message
news:Pine.WNT.4.51.0306111502590.190...s.CIS.rl.ac.uk...
    > On Wed, 11 Jun 2003, Padraig Breathnach wrote:
    > > "Mark Hewitt" wrote:
    > >
    > > >
    > > >"Padraig Breathnach" wrote in message
    > > >news:[email protected]...
    > > >> "Alec" wrote:
    > > >> >
    > > >> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    > > >> to ask for water in restaurants.
    > > >
    > > >Resaurants don't want to give you water! They want you to pay for your
    > > >drinks.
    > > >
    > > I know, I know. But if I buy a meal and some wine, I would like them
    > > to bring the water brought unasked.
    > >
    > > Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    > > likely to get my repeat business.
    > Couldn't agree more. It needn't cost them a fortune, but would win them an
    > awful lot of goodwill. I'm thinking mostly of the UK where they never
    > automatically put water on the table either, except perhaps in the most
    > expensive places. We import so many flakey ideas from the US :-) but water
    > on the table is one simple one that I really wish we would adopt. I
    > suppose it's the additional labour costs (giving out and gathering in and
    > washing up the glasses, etc) that they are trying to save.
Rather, they want you to order overpriced bottled mineral water, often at £3
for a small bottle.

Alec

Padraig Breathnach

Tim wrote:

    >On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 14:20:10 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
    >wrote:
    >> Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    >> likely to get my repeat business.
    >It could be worse, you could live in Austria where they put bread and rolls
    >on the table unasked - but you have to pay extra for every one you eat.
I'm glad you mentioned that: Vienna is on the current list of proposed
visits.

It has happened to me in Rome and I felt hard done by, especially as I
did not greatly like the bread. I prefer the French approach, and
their bread.

PB

Tim

On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 15:20:52 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
wrote:

    > Tim wrote:
    >> On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 14:20:10 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
    >> wrote:
    >>> Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    >>> likely to get my repeat business.
    >> It could be worse, you could live in Austria where they put bread and
    >> rolls on the table unasked - but you have to pay extra for every one you
    >> eat.
    > I'm glad you mentioned that: Vienna is on the current list of proposed
    > visits.
    > It has happened to me in Rome and I felt hard done by, especially as I
    > did not greatly like the bread. I prefer the French approach, and
    > their bread.

I've never had that happen to me in Italy (although I rarely go further
south than Génova), France, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia or Croatia.
Maybe it's just the sleazy places you hang out in ? ;-)
Tim.

Padraig Breathnach

Tim wrote:

    >On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 15:20:52 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
    >wrote:
    >> Tim wrote:
    >>> On Wed, 11 Jun 2003 14:20:10 +0100, Padraig Breathnach
    >>> wrote:
    >>>> Restaurants which take that little bit of extra trouble are more
    >>>> likely to get my repeat business.
    >>> It could be worse, you could live in Austria where they put bread and
    >>> rolls on the table unasked - but you have to pay extra for every one you
    >>> eat.
    >> I'm glad you mentioned that: Vienna is on the current list of proposed
    >> visits.
    >> It has happened to me in Rome and I felt hard done by, especially as I
    >> did not greatly like the bread. I prefer the French approach, and
    >> their bread.
    >I've never had that happen to me in Italy (although I rarely go further
    >south than Génova), France, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia or Croatia.
    >Maybe it's just the sleazy places you hang out in ? ;-)
Are you suggesting that I am not a well-bread person?

And why are you giving me grief when I am neither French nor American?

PB

Jeroen

In article ,
[email protected] says...
    > When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > require an attendant to fill up the tank?
    >
Gas stations with attendants have been dying out, at least in western
europe, steadily the last 30 years. There's still some around but they
seem to be limited to the most remote locations. The ones I still see
are tiny independent stations.

I did see a Shell with an attendant but that was in the mountains of
corsica.

    > Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > please feel free to reply.
Very, very few places in western europe will offer you a free refill on
your soda. Even for coffee and tea this is rare.

--
Met vriendelijke groeten/Best regards
Jeroen Wijnands
http://spam.pagina.nl

Congokid

In article , The Reid
writes
    >Following up to Tim
    >>>> And they
    >>>> don't bring you water or coffee as soon as you sit down.
    >>Which is good if you want a cup of tea.
    >personally I prefer coffee at the end of the meal.

When I waited at tables at a pancake restaurant in Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina, the first thing I did when a group sat at one of my tables was
to bring a fresh glass of iced water for each person. Then I'd ask how
many coffees were required, and bring those. Then take their food order.

I'm usually happy to order mineral water in the UK, even if it's
exorbitantly priced. The thought of tap water doesn't always appeal,
though I drink plenty at home.

--
congokid
Eating out in London? Read my tips...
http://congokid.com

Eric

Wow! One day and already 20 replies! I like traveling but I hate
being a clueless tourist and all this info helps greatly.

Thanks again!


[email protected] (Eric) wrote in message news:...
    > Hello all,
    >
    > I'll be traveling to Ireland soon and I've got travel books and read
    > newsgroup messages and visited countless websites. I haven't found an
    > answer to my one burning question though ---
    >
    > When you gas up the car, are the gas stations self-service or do they
    > require an attendant to fill up the tank?
    >
    > Ok, it's a weird question, but I'd seriously like to know the answer.
    > Also, if anyone has any other words of wisdom on everyday stuff we
    > take for granted (e.g. are there free refills on sodas during a meal?)
    > please feel free to reply.
    >
    > Thanks,
    > Eric

Padraig Breathnach

[email protected] (Eric) wrote:

    >Wow! One day and already 20 replies! I like traveling but I hate
    >being a clueless tourist and all this info helps greatly.
Some of them even relevant! But ask yourself: can you take the word of
strangers?

PB

Jimmie Barnes

    > > >> >
    > > >> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I have
    > > >> to ask for water in restaurants.

We were in Ireland in April. All the hotels served iced water with dinner.
Perhaps it was because they knew we were Americans and were used to having
it.
Jimmie

Darkginger

Jimmie Barnes wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > > > >> >
    > > > >> What really vexes me -- and I live in Ireland -- is how often I
have
    > > > >> to ask for water in restaurants.
    > We were in Ireland in April. All the hotels served iced water with
dinner.
    > Perhaps it was because they knew we were Americans and were used to having
    > it.
    > Jimmie

To diverge a little bit, but still on the subject of ice (and indeed
Ireland), I've noticed there's an increasing tendency, here in Ireland, to
add ice to all drinks automatically. I know this, 'cos I'm forever having to
specify 'no ice' when ordering drinks in pubs. Not in Guinness, as yet
(though there is that 'Ice Cold' stuff around), but in cider (specifically
Bulmer's, probably because of their advertising campaign, which involved
serving a pint over ice), in lager (erk!), and most of all in mixed drinks
like whiskey and coke (which I know is an abuse of good whiskey, but I
happen to like it). I really don't like ice in drinks - it dilutes them,
makes them less flavourful, and hurts my oh-too-European teeth!

Oh, and another hint re visiting Ireland - I was happily sat in my (very
rural) local a couple of weeks ago, when a two American ladies came in,
asked the barman 'do you have Coors Lite?' (we're a bit unsophisticated
around here, and this was greeted by a general pub silence not unlike that
in the 'Slaughtered Lamb' at the beginning of 'American Werewolf in London',
but without the hostility!), accepted his offer of a substitute, drank it,
then returned the glasses to the bar (a courteous thing to do, and always
appreciated by busy barstaff), together with a 1 Euro tip, which Joe, the
barman, looked at with some bemusement - I don't think he'd ever been tipped
in such a fashion before! We don't usually tip in pubs, and when we do, it's
customary to say to the barperson 'and one for yourself?' when ordering your
drink. He/she may or may not accept (don't be offended if they don't), and
if they do, are more likely to add the cost of a cheap drink to your 'round'
than to actually take a drink. This helps to keep them sober! (Unlike many
of their customers - you may be surprised by the level of drunkenness you
experience in Irish country pubs! Government moves are afoot to change our
drinking culture...)

Whilst I'm on the subject of drinking in Ireland, I'd add a small guide to
terminology - a 'glass' is what's called a 'half' in the UK (ie, half a
pint). A 'half' is a measure of spirits (as in 'half a Jimmy's, ie, a
measure of Jameson's). Ordering a 'beer' will usually get you a pint of
Smithwick's (at least outside Dublin, it will). A pint of 'mixed' is half
Guinness, half Smithwick's, a 'special' is a Smithwick's with a Guinness top
(and is the devil to pour - hated being asked for that when I worked behind
a bar!). As an alternative to an Irish Coffee, if you're looking for a warm
alcoholic drink, try a Hot Whiskey (great on cold, wet days, or if you have
a cold) which is a meaure of whiskey, sugar, a lemon stuuded with cloves,
and boiling water. Oh, and 'red' (as in 'a Jimmy's and red') is red
lemonade. A Rock Shandy is half Club Orange and half Club Lemon (now sold
ready mixed in bottles). These are the important things to know when
travelling, I feel

Jo

Mark Hewitt

"Eric" wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
    > Wow! One day and already 20 replies! I like traveling but I hate
    > being a clueless tourist and all this info helps greatly.

No worries. I find it's also useful for us 'locals' to know what particular
aspects of our culture may be different.

The Reid

Following up to Darkginger

    > These are the important things to know when
    >travelling, I feel

and noted with interest, must rebook the Climbers Inn.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Hillwalking, landscape prints, London & the Thames path "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" (see web for email)

The Reid

Following up to congokid

    > Then I'd ask how
    >many coffees were required, and bring those. Then take their food order.

That seems really strange to me, from a UK perspective.
--
Mike Reid
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth" P.Picasso
Hillwalking, landscape prints, London & the Thames path "http://www.fellwalk.co.uk"
Spain, food and walking "http://www.fell-walker.co.uk" (see web for email)