Can you truly say that you live in a place with friendly people?

Pepper said:
My very near by neighbors are very friendly, but usually in a different language. Despite what a bartender once told @grahamg NYC is loaded with friendly people, and since I am friendly too all is well.
Have had many a lovely, memorable one time conversations with total strangers.
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I'll accept what you're saying "of course", especially as my old boss, when told how much better folks from Yorkshire, UK were than the rest of the population of our country, (him being a southerner, from the London area), "People are the same wherever they come from", and he sent them away with a flea in their ears, particularly one salesperson I remember, who thought he might ingratiate himself to potential buyers by praising Yorkshire folk. :giggle:
 
Alligatorob said:
Most of my neighbors are quite friendly, typical of much of Utah.

I grew up in Dunedin, just across the bay. Lived there from the mid 50s to 68. We also lived in Tarpon Springs for a while. I always found folks friendly. As an adult I lived in Franklin county, south of Tallahassee for a long time, people there were even friendlier. Never lived in South Florida.
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Yes, I'm quite familiar with Dunedin. Great little town. And I used to love going to the Greek Festivals in Tarpon Springs. Pappas' Restaurant had some great Greek salads.

I loved growing up on the west coast of Florida but was offered an opportunity to transfer to Miami with my company back in the 80's. That was Miami's heyday (and mine) and I enjoyed every minute of it. By the time I got into my 40's and was settled down it just became a hassle.
 
dseag2 said:
Pappas' Restaurant had some great Greek salads.
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Is it still there, in some semblance of its original form, with the great Greek salads? Do you know?

If it was I would make a trip there next time I am in Florida, a great place. Although we ate more often at Hermes, a smaller and less expensive Greek place. Kind of doubt its still there.
dseag2 said:
Dunedin. Great little town
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It was, we used to ride the train from downtown to St Pete, the old track is now a rails to trails thing. Lived on Scotland St just 3 blocks from the station.

The old downtown looks superficially much the same, but the hardware and normal clothing shops now seem to be upscale restaurants, yogurt shops, breweries, and the like. Progress I guess.
 
Alligatorob said:
Is it still there, in some semblance of its original form, with the great Greek salads? Do you know?

If it was I would make a trip there next time I am in Florida, a great place. Although we ate more often at Hermes, a smaller and less expensive Greek place. Kind of doubt its still there.

It was, we used to ride the train from downtown to St Pete, the old track is now a rails to trails thing. Lived on Scotland St just 3 blocks from the station.

The old downtown looks superficially much the same, but the hardware and normal clothing shops now seem to be upscale restaurants, yogurt shops, breweries, and the like. Progress I guess.
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No, sadly it closed in 2005. :(

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2005/09/13/pappas-restaurant-calls-it-quits/
 
CindyLouWho said:
@Alligatorob, The original Pappas' Restaurant in Tarpon Springs closed several years ago, but there are several smaller Louis Pappas' franchised restaurants in Clearwater, and Tampa......Best Greek salads ever, love em'.
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Thanks, I looked it up and plan to be in the area in March, will try to find one. https://www.louispappas.com/

One of my favorite area restaurants that I believe still exists is the Columbia House in Ybor City. https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ I get there about once every 10 years or so.
 
Alligatorob said:
Thanks, I looked it up and plan to be in the area in March, will try to find one. https://www.louispappas.com/

One of my favorite area restaurants that I believe still exists is the Columbia House in Ybor City. https://www.columbiarestaurant.com/ I get there about once every 10 years or so.
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The Columbia Restaurant, yes! The "1905" salad, the Spanish Bean Soup and Sangria (my fave) is to die for....just a long wait to get in, but worth it.
There is also the Columbia Restaurant Cafe located in the Tampa Bay History Center, near Amalie Arena, downtown.
So, used to go there before a Lightning hockey game, concert.....
 
CindyLouWho said:
The Columbia Restaurant, yes! The "1905" salad, the Spanish Bean Soup and Sangria (my fave) is to die for....just a long wait to get in, but worth it.
There is also the Columbia Restaurant Cafe located in the Tampa Bay History Center, near Amalie Arena, downtown.
So, used to go there before a Lightning hockey game, concert.....
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Oh, yes. I remember that Sangria! And the Pompano Papilla, as it was called in the old days. The fish baked in paper! Thanks for bringing back some great memories!

https://www.facebook.com/ColumbiaRe...columbias-signature-recipe/10160708097830106/
 
CindyLouWho said:
The Columbia Restaurant, yes! The "1905" salad, the Spanish Bean Soup and Sangria (my fave) is to die for....just a long wait to get in, but worth it.
There is also the Columbia Restaurant Cafe located in the Tampa Bay History Center, near Amalie Arena, downtown.
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I always try to book a reservation so I can see the Flamenco dancing. Do they have that at the newer spinoffs?

The Columbia House has an interesting history. In the 50s and 60s Ybor City was a rough neighborhood, but if you went there to go the the Columbia House your safety was assured. It was the only place the family felt safe visiting in Ybor City then. This kind of explains why.
https://tampamafia.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F56608255254
 
Alligatorob said:
I always try to book a reservation so I can see the Flamenco dancing. Do they have that at the newer spinoffs?

The Columbia House has an interesting history. In the 50s and 60s Ybor City was a rough neighborhood, but if you went there to go the the Columbia House your safety was assured. It was the only place the family felt safe visiting in Ybor City then. This kind of explains why.
https://tampamafia.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F56608255254
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No, as far as I know, just the main Ybor location has the Flamenco dancers and yes....quite an interesting history for sure.
 
It seems that pleasant rather than friendly would be a better descriptor for interactions with people I meet while on my walks. We nod, smile and say hi. Always an extra hi if they have their dog. Good manners and (covid) separation while passing each other. Polite but no conversations with strangers in the grocery store; I think we’re all there to get the job done.

Texas is incredibly friendly. We spent some time there one winter.

Actually Americans in general are friendly.
 
I live in the North of England, and people are generally very friendly. Doesn't mean they are nice people, just happy to chat to strangers while waiting for a bus etc.
 
Packerjohn said:
I'm not surprised about Florida as places that are touristy or "tourist traps" are usually pretty unfriendly. Sorry but that's the way the cookie crumbles!
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Yes, rightly so. That also applies to any other places that attract a lot of tourists. I just think that most people these days don't take "When in Rome..." to heart and just do whatever they please. It seems worse in Florida because, just like us, old folks don't have either the time or the mental capacity to put up with their :poop:.
 
feywon said:
Yes, small town. Most locals friendly and helpful, but not intrusive.

For some of us the toughest part of the pandemic has been not being able to hug each other. We've still held doors for each other at post office and stores, greet each other and sometimes chat. I realized the other day that while masks hide the smiles, if you're attentive you see the crinkling around the eyes that accompanies a smile and some folks you can see a the pleasantness in their eyes.
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I haven't tried them, but there are masks that don't hide smiles. Or any other faces:
shield

MEIJOY 6810 Non-medical, Anti-fogging ,Ultra-Lightweight ,EZ-Adjuste,Safety Clear Face Mask (S20.6x13.1cm)
 
I hardly see any of my neighbors. I see them more in the summertime outside and we usually speak but not for very long. Some are friendlier than others. I'm not a real sociable person actually so it doesn't bother me that people are not that friendly around here.

I am glad though to have made acquaintances with a few people here and we talk on occasion and that's good enough for me right now.
 
Many, many years ago, in a different life, I used to go out with the sister of the mayor of Banff, Alberta, a real tourist hot spot in Canada. All summer the place was full of Asian and American tourists. Yup! Good for business owners who sold them tourist junk made in China. However, not good for the locals that actually lived in the town of Banff. According to research almost all tourists see only the main street of the town of Banff and do not venture actually into the park. According to the mayor, he used side streets when he needed to go for groceries or meet someone over coffee. Couldn't stand walking on the main street with the throngs of ga, ga, tourists. I fully understand his view point. It must be the same for people that live where those monster cruise ships come in gorging out 5,000 ga, ga tourists.
 
Packerjohn said:
Many, many years ago, in a different life, I used to go out with the sister of the mayor of Banff, Alberta, a real tourist hot spot in Canada. All summer the place was full of Asian and American tourists. Yup! Good for business owners who sold them tourist junk made in China. However, not good for the locals that actually lived in the town of Banff. According to research almost all tourists see only the main street of the town of Banff and do not venture actually into the park. According to the mayor, he used side streets when he needed to go for groceries or meet someone over coffee. Couldn't stand walking on the main street with the throngs of ga, ga, tourists. I fully understand his view point. It must be the same for people that live where those monster cruise ships come in gorging out 5,000 ga, ga tourists.
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I have friends who live in Las Vegas. They never go on the strip unless entertaining out of town guests who want to see the lights and casinos.
 
I live in a very small TX town and when I first came here from California, I was treated badly by the females. People at the church I went to were insulting and clique minded. It never mattered what I said, I was always wrong and dismissed. I left that church and went to another, it was better, however, one senior member of the church was rude, condescending and disparaging. I left. Now I watch videos by my favorite, nonjudgmental pastor and have learned more about Christ than I ever did at any local church.
The worst experience was at my doctor's office when a worker blustered and berated me and told me to go elsewhere. I did. They are now out of business and the doctor retired. Karma is good. :)
 
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