Forums of Filth

Yeah, I used the word "abroad" and mispelled "travelled".


Those of you who've travelled to Spain, France and maybe some Balkan states, tell me... how hard is it to get around with no knowledge of local languages?

I've heard English is pretty much the universal language everywhere. But realistically, all I know is English and I'm hoping to not be hampered by a lack of communication.

well I am not an expert, and you may want to double check up on this, but I think in Spain they speak Spanish, and in France they speak French. Now the Balkin states, maybe they speak Balkin or something, not real sure on that one.

Hope this helps!

Moved around Amsterdam with just the polite jargon, most speak English. Alot of other nationalities move thru so its not just alot of locals unless you go out to the less traveled roads.

LIVE FO RETSINIM wrote:well I am not an expert.

Hope this helps!

Yes it helps. But if you didn't type perfect American, I wouldn't have been able to read what you said.

Sprechen sie dick?

Yeah, Germany is one place I'm not going. Unless it's to exact revenge for the chosen people (me).

Before I went to the Czech Republic I had heard that many people there spoke english, as the country was looking to become more "European" instead of "Eastern European." This was not true. I had a hard time even getting food some of the time. If you speak to someone of school age, however, they likely have taken English classes all their life. So, talk to the kids if you want to know something.

In ‘Western’ Europe you will have little difficulty travelling without speaking the local language if you stay close to the larger metropolitan areas. Once you start off of the beaten path you will find fewer people who speak English. That is not to say that no one will, just that you are less likely to be able to speak English at every place you visit. Many European nations teach English in their public schools so many have at least a rudimentary grasp of English. Kind of like the people who pass us in the streets here. Cities like Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Nice, Milan, Florence, Rome, Vienna I found to be easy to get around in. The Balkan states get trickier. Macedonia, Croatia, Bosnia, etc... use the Cyrillic language. Suddenly nothing makes sense to look at. Albania uses the roman alphabet so you can make a guess at what they are trying to say. I can tell you from experience that there are not many strong English speakers in Albania (or at least when I visited there). If you want a feel for the third world in Europe then go to Albania by all means. I was in an auto collision with both a goat and a horse and buggy (I was not the driver of either). All of the stolen cars of Europe ended up in Albania for awhile so they had very fine Taksis. They also had coal burning cars, one lane roads of death, and no traffic laws. Macedonia (Ohrid) was difficult for me in terms of finding English speakers. Have you heard of the expression that “it is all Greek to me”? In Greece they say that “it is all Chinese to me.” Thessaloniki (Greece) had plenty of English speakers. Travel is fun. Get over there and then come back to the best region in the world (IMO)!

Awesome! That's exactly what I was looking for.

I'm curious as to whether Albania requires a goat-driving license.

soundguy wrote:I'm curious as to whether Albania requires a goat-driving license.

I only saw the goats walking themselves (being herded) or actually riding on humans piggyback style.

Ireland has droves of sheep. Be warned that they color code them.

Taste the rainbow!

Ciaran wrote:Ireland has droves of sheep. Be warned that they color code them.