Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2018 10:58:30 GMT
I wouldn't have minded being delayed in Australia. For about 40 years, say.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2018 16:32:55 GMT
Can't say I love Australia. I find it to be a nation of Car Park Attendants.
I find a massive difference in personality between the Australians who travel, two of my best friends here are Australian, and the Australians who remain in country.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2018 8:00:55 GMT
Each to their own of course. I came across a little of the insularity you speak of. We stopped in a one-horse town during one loooooong drive, for a cup of tea and a snack at this “town’s” only café. The people were the usual friendly, cheery Aussie types, but the lady who served us asked where we had driven from, and she’d never heard of Hervey Bay when I told her where we’d originated a couple of days before. It is a well known resort town in Australia, famous for whale watching, and Fraser island – again a very famous attraction. When I elaborated and said “It’s in Queensland”, she emitted a long and surprised “Oooooooo, that’s a long way”. Ok, yes, it was about 900 miles away but this is Australia we’re talking about which isn’t exactly densely packed with millions of settlements. Then she proceed to remark on my accent, saying “You’re German, aren’t’ you?”, which came as a bit of a surprise given that I speak with that particularly boring, flat home counties accent.
Correction: just checked google maps, it's 831 miles. Wasn't far off. |
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 5, 2018 10:44:28 GMT
Visited Strasbourg for the day yesterday. Pretty and interesting place. Had a trip out to look at the European parliament building (whilst I still feel some sense of ownership). Came away feeling very sad.
As it happens we got a prime example of EU cooperation. We stayed in Kehl on the German side of the river. Free movement and an integrated tram system across the Franco-German border made it all very easy.
Did have a moment when I suddenly thought it might have been sensible to carry passports, though. 🤔
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 5, 2018 10:50:18 GMT
Flammenküchen?
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 5, 2018 13:57:21 GMT
Tarte flambée if you’re west of the Rhine.
Had the same thought about passports as we criss-crossed the border last month. Didn’t bother. Every time I’ve been asked for an Ausweis or a pièce d’identité in either country, my GB driving licence has been happily accepted.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 5, 2018 21:37:52 GMT
I know someone who was holidaying in the US and were at Niagra Falls. They decided to drive over to Canada... without passports. They soon realised it was a problem and asked could they just turn around and go back. No was the answer. Their planned shirt trip took them a lot longer and were questioned for a while. Eventually allowed to cross back.
Same person was entering US (San Francisco airport this time) taking fruit out of their backpack and eating it waiting for immigration. That could have turned out problematic for them too but got away with it.
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 5, 2018 22:10:49 GMT
Well, yes. You don’t hear about the ‘passport-free North America Free Trade Area’, do you?
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 6, 2018 6:56:27 GMT
Every time I’ve been asked for an Ausweis or a pièce d’identité in either country, my GB driving licence has been happily accepted. ..given that my driving licence was in the same place as my passport, they'd have had to make do with my bus pass... 😁 |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 6, 2018 10:00:30 GMT
Ah. Aren’t you supposed to have your licence in the vehicle if you’re driving it? It’s only the UK that gives you the 5-day option.
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Post by tyrednexited on Sept 6, 2018 12:53:29 GMT
Ah. Aren’t you supposed to have your licence in the vehicle if you’re driving it? It’s only the UK that gives you the 5-day option. You are, and it was, along with the passport ( in a safe), but I was on the cross-border tram (which I wasn't driving) 😉 |
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WDB
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Post by WDB on Sept 6, 2018 13:01:53 GMT
Sorry, so you were. 😊
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2018 14:52:10 GMT
I moved my driving licence from my wallet to a card slit in my phone case. It has become very handy and saves a huge amount of time and inconvenience being far easier to whip out when required. With very few exceptions, everyone seems to accept it as formal ID in place of a passport.
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Sept 6, 2018 19:40:09 GMT
How often do you need to show a form of ID? I only need to when collecting parcels and so use my driving licence.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 8, 2018 20:39:17 GMT
Frequently in Israel. For large purchases they sometimes want ID with the credit card.
But mainly if I am inspecting security sensitive property; e.g. banks and the like. I always have to go through an ID process and the Driving Licence is perfect for that. Even none sensitive property, I am frequently not allowed into the non-customer/non-public areas without first arranging the inspection and then showing ID when I arrive. This is far more prevelant than it used to be, but with good reason.
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