Netcelt

I posted this within a thread but I wasn't sure everyone had seen it and feel it is important enough to mention again. In the republic of Ireland smoking has been banned in any place where someone is employed. This means all restaruants and pubs. This is wonderful for non-smokers as we can now enjoy some good pub grub without having to smell the smoke and reek of it afterwards. It is certainly of great benefit to cycle tourers as they can now get a really enjoyable meal in any little village pub. Other countries in Europe are now looking at Ireland's model. Hope they follow the example.

BostonFixed

Italy just went no-smoking, except in places where there are separate ventilated smoking rooms and in private houses.

Schumius

sounds fantastic, i hate cigarettes, near vomited once after noticed the smell on my cloth.

Guest

I was in shock when my friend called me from Italy and told me about the no smoking. I mean, damn! EVERYONE SMOKES IN ITALY! Well, almost everyone. I don't know what is going to happen, but I'm curious to see how people react when I return (I don't smoke, btw.). When I went to the aerobics convention in Rimini, they gave out smoke breaks between classes because so many aerobics instructors smoke.

I'm looking forward to returning to a smoke-free Italy this summer.

Koffee

Schumius

is europe the heavist smoking place on earth? in spain, everyone smokes, my roommates, my friends, my professors, everyone. whatīs the good with smoking anyway? except for that you can cut a few pounds, but it doesnīt compensate IMHO, i would rather be fat than getting a cancer or something.

Guest

I don't know if all of Europe is bad, but on a trip to Japan a few years ago, they allowed people to smoke in coach. EVERYONE smoked, and I was nearly mad enough to open the door and jump out! I flew that airline twice, then never flew with them again. That was the flight from hell.

Sweden is always good- rarely did I go into a restaurant or coffeehouse and have to deal with a ton of smoke. Switzerland was like that too.

Koffee

BostonFixed

I think that there are pretty hefty fines for people caught smoking in banned places.
For individuals: $36-$363, depending on circumstances, etc.
For owners of bars, restaraunts, etc. up to $2904

Guest

Yow!

I wonder what they do for the aerobics convention?




Koffee

Schumius

isnīt it ironic that aerobics instructors smoke? i mean, well, in my opinion you do aerobics because you want to be healthy (or to be just in good shape?) and then you smoke to screw up your lungs and mouth.

Guest

I couldn't believe it myself. Instructors were SMOKING. It was gross, man.

As a side note, I've never seen an aerobics instructor in the USA smoking... and there were NO smoke breaks at conventions in the USA. I also went to a few conventions in Sweden, and there were no smokers there either.

Koffee

alanbikehouston

In the photo histories of the Tour de France are lots of photos of the "old time" champs smoking...some of them smoking while riding. When I was in college, the language department hired a couple of students from France to work as "accent" tutors. One was very likeable, but her hair and clothes smelled so awful it was unpleasant to get within ten feet of her. She also had the French aversion to baths and showers...perhaps fifteen feet was a safer distance. Perhaps Europeans have no sense of smell.

Schumius

i wonder where that aversion came from? i heard that the use of perfume is to cover the stench.

i canīt imagine myself coated with a thick layer of chemical aroma after a day of cycling.

axolotl

The above posts reminded me that on a few occasions, I have encountered touring cyclists who smoke. Off the top of my head, I can recall meeting at least 3 German cyclists who smoked, 2 British cyclists who smoked, and 3 Canadians. Some of these guys (and they were all guys) I ran into many years ago. I'm curious if any of you have run into any, and what their nationality was. I'm talking specifically about touring cyclists, not random cyclists on the street.

Guest

I don't think that people who smoke realize the stink it creates. When it gets into your clothes, your hair and your skin and you're smoking it, I'm sure they don't even realize there's a smell after they've been smoking for a while.

Koffee

Schumius

axolotl good to see you here. schwamie in TT

i think they just get used to the smell, and think that itīs their body scent, arrgh horrible. thank god it doesnīt pass onto their children.