2025 - Our Rides in Words, Photos, Maps and Videos

[Stefan Mikes]

The languages of Europe.
When as an Englishman I get the,' you English are so lazy, you never learn another language', I reply 'oh yeah, hows your simple slavic polish?'

When Im feeling arsy, I say ' you only speak English cos we made it compulsary'.

Its not a friendly joke

You are not really correct English has become the world language since the end of WW2 when the United States gained the worldwide leadership. At the peak of the power of the British Empire, the European elites spoke... French. That era ended in 1939.

Take my discipline, process engineering. It was all invented by Americans! Craft beer? Americans. Electric and bass guitar, rock'n'roll? Americans. The automotive industry? Americans

An anecdote: As we stopped by the beautiful Orthodox shrine in Werstok, Marek mentioned: 'It is the church of Muscovy'. I looked at him and said: 'You must be wrong. Says here The Autocephalic Orthodox Church of Poland. Meaning, this church is independent. And look at the inscription at the front of the church: it is all Greek, not Cyryllic!'

 

[Chargeride]

I think it really became the world language when the internet took hold and that prerty well ended any chance of chinese languages taking hold because keyboards.

 

[Chargeride]

. At the peak of the power of the British Empire, the European elites spoke... French

Yes they did, so did our Royalty, and to this day manu of the French have a chip on their shoulders the size of Luxembourg about the rise of the common language.
When I say I get called lazy, I will admit its almost entirely the French and they will stand there purposely pretending not to understand your English or French in shops , railway stations and bars because they are doing their bit to regain the French honour in the most French way possible, petty dummy throwing.

You have to be English to understand it, and we dont even reciprocate the misery, French people in England are met with smiles and succesful attempts to understand poor English.

Can I av ay boor of sop?..
A bar of soap, sure third aisle.

In France ..
Do you sell soap?
Shrug
Soap, clean, start mimicking someone washing under their arms.
Looks at other ship assistant like theyve met someone from Pluto.
Soap..noh
So-ap
You go and find the soap and put it on the counter.
Ahhhhh....soap.
Smug smile like theyve just helped Napolean crush Wellington.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

It is a lot of truth in what you just said, Chris. I only had a very short stay in France but was met with the attitude of not speaking English by local people. However, the French travellers abroad suddenly realise they can speak English Let me tell you a lovely story from my past.

It was 1990. I was travelling to then West Germany for scientific work. My whole English knowledge was what I learned in the school and at the University. Yes, I had an episode of speaking with an American during the riots of 1982 in Warsaw but I was completely blocked on the speaking side when travelling by train. Also, I had an aching tooth (it was fixed in Germany soon) so I was absolutely reluctant to speak!

It was the West Berlin Zoo station. An American by name Kyle and his French girlfriend (cannot remember her name) entered my compartment and greeted me. I was silent and appeared rude.

-- Sind Sie ein Russ? -- she asked
-- GOD FORBID! -- I raised from the bunk, insulted -- I'm Polish!

Enough to say we didn't sleep that night: all the night spent talking! Needless to say, the French girl spoke perfect English The couple managed to unblock me totally! When I reached Duisburg, I could speak pretty good English and even started learning some German
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Come to Poland. Many people, especially the young ones will speak good English.
Come to Hungary. Nobody will speak English. They will help you with gestures and smiles.
Come to Italy. People do not speak languages there except some.

P.S. I listen to your English in your videos; we would have no issue to communicate. London? They do not speak English I learned at school!

 

[Chargeride]

I would like to add that I love the French, they have the most incredible country, a fantastic attitude to work and life, they do take pragmatism all the way to letting the Germans walk in, but it all works out for them.
They stick together, embrace love, pain and sorrow in a way we Brits wouldnt dare, but just stop being so miserabul.

 

[JGcycle]

A pic from the turn around point of today's 23km ride: