How not to blow your cover as a guiri

[Janet]

A useful guide HERE ... 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Oh, the sangria one got me.  Had to drink some when ordered by friends in from the UK last year and felt quite conspicuous. 

[Perikles]

Greet complete strangers in lifts: There's no need to get to know them inside out, but saying buenos dias or buenas tardes in these kind of situations is considered good manners in Spain. If you give them the cold elevator shoulder, they'll probably guess you're a guiri.

I think this one highlights how Brits differ from the rest of the universe. I've never been to a country other than Britain where the presence of a stranger in such a situation is not acknowledged somehow.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

True, in Europe at least.

[Nova]

But why would you want to communicate with somebody just because you happen to be leaving the same floor at the same time?    Even the Spanish don't greet everybody as they get on a bus or an aeroplane.  Same thing, it's a mode of transport.

[cinnamon]

But why would you want to communicate with somebody just because you happen to be leaving the same floor at the same time?    Even the Spanish don't greet everybody as they get on a bus or an aeroplane.  Same thing, it's a mode of transport.

why not trying one of those 

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

But why would you want to communicate with somebody just because you happen to be leaving the same floor at the same time?    Even the Spanish don't greet everybody as they get on a bus or an aeroplane.  Same thing, it's a mode of transport.

Because it is polite.  Have you never been in a restaurant or hotel dining room where people walk in and say buenas noches, or leave saying same?  I have come to regard it as a mark of civilisation and always do it in an upmarket place, where I find it most common.  That said, it happens in cafeterías and ferreterías as well and I go with the flow.

In South Africa, people of all colours, creeds, and all the rest of the diversity-crap-categories wish one another a good morning, afternoon, evening and so forth.  If I am out running and happen upon some field workers, the only polite thing is to greet.  Or maids, unemployed people, "pool boys" or what have you.  Personally, I think it's a mark of belonging to humankind. 

[NAH]

We even nod and say Hola! to the guy that sweeps the roads round the Golf when we're out walking.

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

We even nod and say Hola! to the guy that sweeps the roads round the Golf when we're out walking.

Because that's polite, and that's what you do.  We do the same with the street sweepers in our town.  Just the done thing.

[Nova]

I do say hello to the street sweepers I pass going to work, but only if they make eye contact.  If there's no eye contact I don't bother