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Original poster

To feel a bit like everyone hates me when I'm a British tourist in Europe now

341 replies

Everythingisnumbersnow · 17/01/2025 16:23

I try with the language, I try not to get in people's way, I tip and I don't complain.

But everything still feels much more hostile than it used to.

OP posts:
Applecharm25 · 18/01/2025 16:31

Hipalong · 18/01/2025 16:30

You've confused racism with xenophobia

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No she hasn't. Look up racism
It includes country of origin.

Applecharm25 · 18/01/2025 16:30

I do agree that the English are not liked around Europe.
England has the reputation as being the nasty coloniser that invaded everywhere.

It's weird because Germany has caused much more destruction, and colonised countries much more recently round Europe.

Yet Germans don't have the reputations as "the colonisers". England has that reputation. It doesn't really make sense.

Hipalong · 18/01/2025 16:30

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:29

Disliking someone for their national or ethnic origin is racism. The south of Europe is particularly racist about "gringos".

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You've confused racism with xenophobia

Hipalong · 18/01/2025 16:30

We've always found that now and again people are unfriendly/imply/hostile thinking we're British and then are much nicer to us when they realise we're Irish. But that's always been the case and I haven't noticed any change in the last few years.

Snakeoilmaks · 18/01/2025 16:29

Alaimo · 18/01/2025 16:27

Do you think residents of Magaluf consider Brits to be overly formal, overly polite, too reserved and insular?

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That’s how the Spanish perceive the English.

That we are too formal and don’t get to the point when asking for things.

And that we are too concerned about timekeeping.

Original poster
Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:29

pimplebum · 18/01/2025 16:26

What do you mean by racism ? Are you black / brown?

if so it could be that ??

what reason do european have to hate us ? we didn’t colonise most if them ( recently anyway) and can’t see why they would be that fussed about brexit ?

Disliking someone for their national or ethnic origin is racism. The south of Europe is particularly racist about "gringos".

OP posts:
Alaimo · 18/01/2025 16:27

Snakeoilmaks · 18/01/2025 12:57

Around the world, the English are not well liked.

Seen as fussy, overly formal, overly polite, too reserved and insular.

Do you think residents of Magaluf consider Brits to be overly formal, overly polite, too reserved and insular?

pimplebum · 18/01/2025 16:26

What do you mean by racism ? Are you black / brown?

if so it could be that ??

what reason do european have to hate us ? we didn’t colonise most if them ( recently anyway) and can’t see why they would be that fussed about brexit ?

Original poster
Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:26

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 16:20

Andalusia is not delighted to have us now?
Really? I don't think it helps to generalise to the extent you're attributing a personality to an entire region. I've had amazing holidays in Andalusia, and felt most welcome.

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Do you just ignore all the tourist go home graffiti or what?

OP posts:
Original poster
Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:26

ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 18/01/2025 16:22

Just wondering where your favourite places are that you will be sad not to be able to return to?

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Top favourite is Seville.

OP posts:
ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea · 18/01/2025 16:22

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 15:58

I feel sad about not really being able to visit Spain again. Feels the world in general is changing a lot

Just wondering where your favourite places are that you will be sad not to be able to return to?

KarminaBurana · 18/01/2025 16:20

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:08

Yes Catalonia has always felt a bit that way (I remember a waiter once telling me he couldn't speak Spanish so it would have to be Catalan or English 🤣).

Andalusia is not delighted to have us now either though. I found similar in Valencia where a woman in a bar moved away from us as though disgusted by our presence.

I know mean girls and dickheads exist everywhere but the point is when you fit in you don't catch their eye so much.

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Andalusia is not delighted to have us now?
Really? I don't think it helps to generalise to the extent you're attributing a personality to an entire region. I've had amazing holidays in Andalusia, and felt most welcome.

Greyish2025 · 18/01/2025 16:19

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 15:58

I feel sad about not really being able to visit Spain again. Feels the world in general is changing a lot

Why can’t you visit Spain again?

Original poster
Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 16:08

Applecharm25 · 18/01/2025 16:05

I found other parts of spain to be fine.

I just felt the hatred in Barcelona.

But they've always been a little bit like that. (Hating outsiders).

They call themselves a closed culture. They don't like the rest of spain either

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Yes Catalonia has always felt a bit that way (I remember a waiter once telling me he couldn't speak Spanish so it would have to be Catalan or English 🤣).

Andalusia is not delighted to have us now either though. I found similar in Valencia where a woman in a bar moved away from us as though disgusted by our presence.

I know mean girls and dickheads exist everywhere but the point is when you fit in you don't catch their eye so much.

OP posts:
Applecharm25 · 18/01/2025 16:05

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 15:58

I feel sad about not really being able to visit Spain again. Feels the world in general is changing a lot

I found other parts of spain to be fine.

I just felt the hatred in Barcelona.

But they've always been a little bit like that. (Hating outsiders).

They call themselves a closed culture. They don't like the rest of spain either

Original poster
Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/01/2025 15:58

I feel sad about not really being able to visit Spain again. Feels the world in general is changing a lot

OP posts:
GabriellaMontez · 18/01/2025 15:51

Last year I found about 1 in a 100 Europeans were (unecessarily) rude/unpleasant.

Which is roughly the same experience as I have here in the UK.

HRTQueen · 18/01/2025 15:00

Yes I think many places are getting tired of having so many tourists

we have been moaning about it for a good 30 years too many bloody tourist standing on the wrong side of the escalator is probably the number 1 moan about tourists in London

we polity ask them to step aside in a strained voice but other Brits can see we are absolutely seething 😡

Notimeforaname · 18/01/2025 14:40

worrisomeasset · 18/01/2025 11:12

While on holiday in Spain last year, DH and I went to a restaurant on our first night there. DH’s beer belly and flip-flops must have alerted the staff to the fact that we were British as they shouted “fuck off home, you English bastards” at us and then started squirting us with water pistols. I pointed out that we were actually Scottish, and they immediately put away their water pistols and garlanded us with flowers instead. The same thing happened to us at every restaurant we visited.

Can't stop laughing 😂

Applecharm25 · 18/01/2025 14:38

I think parta of spain hate all tourists now.

I went to Barcelona give years ago. I found it to be a very friendly place.

I went to Barcelona last year and it was totally different. I really felt hatred radiating towards me.

You can really feel the hate.

I got chatting to an Irish man at an international meetup. He told me he had moved to Barcelona to work there. I said "how's it going"

He said "I really feel like they hate me. I can feel hatred coming at me".

I felt that too. It's like they really don't want any foreigners there.

HRTQueen · 18/01/2025 14:31

I have always found that people are interested in taking to me about one thing in particular when they find out I am British because we are still central to something the global religion of football

even in the US on my recent trips people want to talk to me about football

I don’t even particularly like football or follow a team and I’m not wearing anything that suggests I am a supporter

Tcsha · 18/01/2025 14:27

I don’t think I’ve travelled particularly off the beaten track, but in the last two years I’ve been to Spanish islands, mainland Spain, Italy (3 times), Germany, France (about 6 times!), Sweden, and I’ve not come across anyone being rude, the opposite. Some gentle ribbing over sports, but no hostility, excellent service.

You sound a bit rude not saying hello as you walk into a shop, do you do this at home? Perhaps if it’s happening everywhere you go, it might not be a problem with other people and you might need to look closer to home?

Goldenbear · 18/01/2025 14:23

Everythingisnumbersnow · 17/01/2025 18:13

Big round face, constant mild rosacea flush, pale and pink and a fan of floral frocks. A big tum relative to the rest of me. A constantly anxious "God I'm so sorry" facial expression. There's probably more I don't realise.

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So you are Scottish, I wouldn't describe that as a typical English look, it depends where you are in the country. In the south east of England I don't think that is 'typical' at all.

Goldenbear · 18/01/2025 14:18

Goldenbear · 18/01/2025 14:16

No it's not, I have Scandinavian family and friends and that's not how the British are perceived by them.

How would you possibly know what everyone person in every country thinks.

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That's not how the English are perceived I should add.

Goldenbear · 18/01/2025 14:16

Snakeoilmaks · 18/01/2025 13:55

It’s universal.

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No it's not, I have Scandinavian family and friends and that's not how the British are perceived by them.

How would you possibly know what everyone person in every country thinks.