One thing that you notice living in the countryside next to the sea is how passing motorists always wave to each other.
This can be a nod of the head, a one finger or even a wave.
I am lead to believe that if you don't reciprocate with a wave it means you are not local.
I don't know about that but it's good for people to be friendly.
I haven't done much walking recently in the countryside. We walked a lot when went to Tenerife in December. The sun always makes us feel like a saunter.
I always let on to fellow walkers with a 'good morning" or " afternoon". If they don't let on I hear myself say: "Please yourself".
I'm not Crocodile Dundee walking through the streets of New York saying " good day" to everyone. But I don't think there's anything wrong with saying "how you doing?" to your fellow human beings. Do you?
I always smile and nod and say "good morning" when I pass anyone out walking along the lanes but not usually in the street when out shopping unless I know them. Strange isn't it.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like me JayCee. Most walkers and cyclists speak when passing. I have been to airports and flown on my own and never spoke to a soul. I also find this to be so when travelling on trains or the Tube in Blighty. It doesn't cost anything to say "hello" does it?
ReplyDeleteI definitely say kalimera or yiassou to everyone I pass when out walking and give them a smile whether I know them or not, or give a car a wave. It would be weird to pass someone and say nothing.
ReplyDeleteIf we are walking downtown where there are lots of people, that's different. I'd definitely greet everyone I know though.
You're very much like JayCee and myself Linda. Perhaps that's why we write blogs? We like to talk to other people.
DeleteI live out in the sticks where it is common to greet everyone that you meet. A couple of years ago my Mum died and we had the job of clearing out her house in the big bad city. My poor husband was totally bemused when his friendly greetings were sometimes met with hostile stares suggesting that he was a serial killer about to pounce!
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy. I know what you mean. People can be offish in big towns and cities. Not all of them mind.
DeleteWhenever I have driven about the country lanes of rural Ireland I have often found myself using the two-fingered wave, accompanied by the traditional greeting, "Feck off ye fecking fecker!"
ReplyDeleteWherever you have travelled in rural Ireland 🇮🇪 you have obviously met lots of refined folk YP?
ReplyDeleteI met one refined fellow in "Vaughan's" in Kilfenora but it turns out that I was looking in a mirror next to the Gents.
DeleteCounty Clare is beautiful YP. Did the refined fellow speak with
Deletelots of nowts and summats?
Aye, that ee did an'all.
Delete" How do?"
DeleteNothing wrong in passing the time of day..whether verbally or a wave
ReplyDeleteTotally agree GZ. That's why I wish we had public transport near us. Chats are great.
ReplyDeleteOr you get the classic farmers passing the time if day...both in land rovers, elbow on the open window, having a chat and blocking the lane completely!!
DeleteYes farmers and mothers waiting at road crosses in their cars for the school bus.
DeleteIt is normal around here to acknowledge people on country roads and give way and general common good manners. Everybody does it. When people don't I conclude they are from another county. I also speak to people for instance when I leave my car for the station. It is a quiet area and sometimes I see people out for a walk. We always stop and speak.
ReplyDeleteYes Rachel you can communicate and not ignorant. I would stop and talk to anyone if the spoke first.
DeleteI remember the finger wave from when I was very young, people out for a Sunday drive would raise a finger from their steering wheel and dad would raise a finger too. If there were rutted or gravel sections ahead of us an oncoming driver would place a fist against his windshield to signal us to do the same in case a small piece of rock bounced up, apparently "firming" the windshield would prvent cracking of the glass. If we were driving close to towns the presence of "speed cops" was indicated by a quick flash of headlights so people knew to slow down and not get caught speeding.
ReplyDeleteYou often see passing motorists flashing their headlights when the guards are checking tax discs or for speeding River.
ReplyDeleteWaved greetings normal in rural NZ too (or were - I guess still are). It would seem odd not to greet people passed on unbusy footpaths, cycle ways etc. Motorcyclists always greet one another - here it is a raised finger or a handwave at knee level - in France they wave with a foot!
ReplyDeleteIt must be a rural thing Tigger's Mum? Feet waving made me smile.
ReplyDeleteIt is a rural thing here, and markedly so. You don't see it in town, or on any of the busy roads, but once you get on the dirt roads, everyone does it. Drivers raise their fingers from the steering wheel. Amish wave from their buggies. If you pass a yard in the summer time, people wave as well. Walking? I think everyone pretty much speaks in passing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Debby. It does sound a rural thing doesn't it? It sounds like you live in a great place.
ReplyDelete