An Irish pub born in the Dark Ages

I spent some time in Dublin back in the 90’s

Oh, just remembered... That was in the midst of "The Troubles," wasn't it? Must've be a little sketchy, huh? Were any of the old, old pubs blown up that you know of?

No, but the Gardai were very much on guard. I recall some Irish-American had gone to the trouble of having his Olds Cutlass shipped over to drive around while they were there, left it parked right beside the hotel for too long and the bomb squad descended upon it. You just didn’t leave vehicles unattended within a certain periphery of a large hotel like that.

Funny story. I was once in a British pub with some American friends. We were in a booth by the front windows and two of us needed a refill. I looked towards the bar, trying to get the bar tender’s attention, as it was crowded and loud in there.

I finally get him to see me and I throw him a hand signal with two fingers held up, so he can see that we need two refills. Next thing I know, the guy’s face turns angry and he moves to jump over the bar towards me.

Just then, the owner grabs him by the shirt tail and stops him. They have a couple of words and the bar tender calms right down.

When the owner brings our drinks he explains to me that holding up two fingers with the knuckles facing outward, is the British hand sign for FU.

Germany has a similar hand signal problem, though with far better results. Germans count off to 5 starting with their thumb first. In the US we start with our index finger. Thus, if you hold up your index finger to order another beer, you get TWO.

Germans also mark each glass with a line indicating the proper level for the glass being full. One early evening, two co-workers and I were the only customers in a German bar. We each ordered a local beer from the only barmaid there. A few minutes later we still hadn't been served and noticed the barmaid was sitting in the corner reading a book. It took what seemed like another ten minutes before she finally delivered the beers. After finishing them, we ordered refills. Again, for the first dozen minutes, or so, she sat in the same place reading her book. We finally found out that the beers we ordered were prone to a large head. In order to meet the law, the barmaid had to top them off several times in order for the liquid level to reach the 'full' line, and, of course, had to wait between the fills.

We finally found out that the beers we ordered were prone to a large head. In order to meet the law, the barmaid had to top them off several times in order for the liquid level to reach the 'full' line, and, of course, had to wait between the fills.

Wow. If you and your party hadn't been patient, level headed Normals, that scene could have gone completely sideways.

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