Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Stereotypes When Traveling

This is all based on my personal experiences while traveling, and mostly through Eastern Europe in the late '80s.

1: Americans are loud obnoxious pricks.
We are. If you're a normally vociferous person (like me), everyone will hear you coming. Chatting is fine, but keeping it barely audible is best. Think museum-level voices, but everywhere. If you hear someone speaking English but can't see them, they're probably a block away and American. Or hooligans.

2: Stay away from hooligans.
Seriously. You'll just end up dead, broken, or with more knowledge of the Spanish penal system than you'd like.

3: Tourists attract pickpockets.
This applies anywhere you travel. The best thing you can do is have good situational awareness, and keep your important documents in the safest pockets you have.

4: Bring toilet paper.
This is more of an Eastern European recommendation because those commies sure don't like their cornholes. Most of their tp could double as sandpaper. You may find yourself using a public toilet, wondering how did I get here without any toilet paper, and then you'll be sorry.

5: Bring cash.
Credit cards aren't as useful in Europe. This is changing, but slowly. My burser on my last trip only paid for hotel rooms and some train tickets with a credit card, everything else was cash. You can get foreign currency from your bank if you give them enough notice, you can usually get a decent rate, or a better rate than you'll get from a cambio overseas.

6: McDonald's is worse in Europe.
Ok, so the last time I went to a McD's in another country was Turkey in 1987, but still it was horrible. Fucking coffee flavored milkshakes instead of chocolate. No wonder they lost the war.

7: If your flight lands in the morning, stay awake until night.
Best way to get over jet-lag, no matter what hypochondriac punkbitches say about melatonin or seratonin pills.

8: Bring American condoms.
You know your favorite brand, you trust it, so why use some commie condom from a former Soviet republic? Those things probably wouldn't stop a cold, and you wouldn't know the good local brand anyway.

9: Frommer's.
Good enough for Eurotrip, good enough for you.

10: A few words about swimsuits.
It's Europe, you don't need a top, baby.

9 comments:

mdh said...

bad toilet paper discourages over-use.

Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey said...

We stand firmly behind our product. Coffee-flavored shakes are one of our most popular items at our McDonalds American-Style Dining Restuarants.

Best Regards,

-Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey, Istanbul

dontEATnachos said...

You know, I did a google search on Sadi Fansa and that name is actually listed as the actual head of the manager of McDonad's Turkey operations.

Apparently they don't take too kindly to you insulting their coffee flavored shakes.

Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey, Istanbul said...

No we do not. No one has ever meddled with McDonalds Turkey and lived to tell the tale.

Best regards,

-Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey, Istanbul

Dandrobium said...

I already have 96 socks!

Chuckles said...

Looks like The Genius is about to get fried.

Jenny said...

OMG, I bloody LOATHE most Americans when I travel! Last week in Sydney I passed a couple who were complaining about how nothing they'd experienced so far was like what they were used to in the States.

ISN'T THAT THE WHOLE POINT OF TRAVELLING??!!!

Ugh!

8-)

mdh said...

Sadi Fansa, I will visit your store. I cannot say just when, but I will go there, and drink your milkshake, as you have mine.

-Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey, Istanbul said...

Haha, careful now! We are not legally entitled to refer to them as "milkshakes". The item's official name is "Coffee-Flavored Shake".

We appreciate your business.

Best Regards,

-Sadi Fansa, Regional Manager, McDonalds Turkey, Istanbul