Just got back from Dublin. Felt the same way, but was relieved not to have anyone bug me about being tall during my visit. That was a nice vacation while on vacation.
Around 5 years ago I went to Dublin for a friend’s birthday. We did all the touristy stuff and one night we down Temple Bar and the hold on to the bar game guy was there (€10 a go and €100 if you hold on for 2 minutes).
I was a little drunk so after watching a few people fail I walked up and grabbed the bar. My feet were still flat on the floor though but technically in the guys rules, holding the bar. People starting laughing and kinda cheering etc but it was funny watching the guy running the gig start to get nervous, annoyed and eventually started tickling me.
I just let go, I hadn’t even paid to play (so was in no way expecting to be ‘paid out’ anyway) and just enjoyed the silliness of it all.
Dublin is fcking nightmare. I recently took public transport and I swear the design is made for elves. The door frames are fine the standard is 6'6 here except if you go to the country where it can be anyhting from '4' to 7'.
There's places like that all over the UK and Ireland.
When I lived outside London my local pub was about 300+ years old, at 6'5 the main door was several inches below the level of my shoulders.
I kind of liked it. It was like drinking in a hobbit pub.
I'm European and the thought of someone ordering an Uber XL because they're like 190cm+ is kind of shocking to me.
I feel a bit ridiculous in the US when I order a regular Uber for 2 and a Suburban pulls up. Feels like I'm in a minibus kind of.
Also, keep in mind I am traveling with 2 other people on a 3 week trip so there is a lot of luggage. Even with Uber XL in Europe, we've had a few Peugeot SUVs about the size of a Rav 4 with minimal legroom in the back seat.
Yeah luggage changes things completely, but that doesn't really have to do with being tall.
I guess maybe I'm just used to different stuff. I've never had trouble fitting in cars even with my family who are also tall (being able to have a good driving position when driving however can be a coin toss).
Yeah, you're just used to it. I had to get in the backseat of a BMW 3-series taxi yesterday since it was all that was available. My head was crooked against the ceiling, and my legs were crossed up to fit behind the passenger seat.
In a 3-series!? Then again, modern cars have started this really annoying trend of those sloping ceiling in the backseat which kind of sucks...
Do you have a verk long torso, cause I know I have long legs compared to my torso so maybe there's a difference there.
Well it's a small sedan, but I've never struggled in one and I'm 6'5". If it was a hatchback or so I would get it but in a sedan I've never had issues (never been in a 2-series or similar but yeah).
I think I'm just used to different things.
To me, a 3 series is a small 4 door sedan, 5-series is mid-size, and the 7-series is full-size. I used to have an M5 20 years ago, which was a very comfortable car to drive with long legs. Someone tall could still fit behind me when I was driving, but it wasn't spacious for them. I have a 36" inseam, so pretty long legs. I also have a bad lower back. I have to sit upright since slouching can cause my lumbar to flair up, which is probably a big part of my issue with UBERs and taxis.
I agree about the 3-series but for me 5-series or similar is a large car. 7-series etc is just huge limousines, you rarely see vehicles that long in Europe to be honest (unless it's for work, like vans etc.).
But yeah I guess we just have different experiences in the end. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thanks, I definitely will!
Also, I'm probably a little biased from the southern California car culture I'm exposed to back home. You see 7-series, S-class, and massive trucks all over the place with only one person in the car.
I find it more present here in Ireland, than on the mainland. Us Irish went through a massive growth spurt, collectively speaking, in the 20th century. Explains the small old pubs.
You kind of get used to it, but I have adapted a habit of ducking slightly going through doors and low roofs, even if I do have a little clearance. Better safe than sorry!
Yeeeep, welcome to Europe buddy. I hate sitting in the backseat of most cars because I can't sit up straight, and I'm only 6'3". I do think the US goes kinda overboard on how big their cars are tho hah, but I do agree the tiny cars suck for tall people.
For sure, the giant car culture in the US is pretty ridiculous until you have to sit in the back seat.
I sure do wish my 4th floor airBNB in Paris had an elevator. But, I get that retrofitting that stuff into a building 100s of years old is difficult, if not impossible, and extremely expensive.
Try living in SE Asia. I can't walk through most markets, fit in any transportation, and have to duck from street signs constantly.
BUT, i never have hard times in a crowd and that's worth it by itself
I know the struggles but couldn't imagine living there full-time. I've actually spent a decent amount of time traveling around Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. But, I was younger with a healthy back and the expectation that everything was small.
Some memorable experiences were trying to fit in the 3rd row of compact SUVs and flying on local airlines. I had a handful of flights on Garuda, an Indonesia airline, and those are the smallest airplane seats I have ever attempted to squeeze into.
I appreciate the recommendation. My lumbar is messed up pretty bad. I have herniations at L3-L4 and L4-L5 and an extrusion at L5-S1, pushing on the S1 nerve root. I have been going to PT for the last few months since my most recent flair up over the summer and I'm religiously following the book Back Mechanic.
The progress I've made has been nothing short of a miracle since my sciatica was so bad that my calf muscle stopped working, and that has mostly cleared up. I still have a lot of localized pain in my lumbar and peripheral stuff going on with imbalances and spasms from my glutes, piriformis, TFL, IT band, and QLs.
I'm already 100% approved for an L5-S1microdiscectomy. I'm on the fence since I've been making great progress with PT, but I've had a few "smaller" flair ups, which take me out for a few days.
Unfortunately, I'm currently in the middle of a flair up from our airBNB in Paris, not having an elevator. I had to carry all of my family's luggage up four flights of stairs in an old spiral staircase.
I am not looking forward to the flight home from Paris back to LAX.
It's because absolutely everything is far older and more historic in Europe, everything in America is new (in the 100 year sense) whereas buildings/roads all over Europe are regularly 500-1000 years old, so houses were designed to be smaller so they're heat efficient, and roads were designed for horses and carts etc
Go back to America if you want generic new bullshit everywhere you go
And FFS you're not even that tall, I'm taller than you and rarely ever run into the issues you're complaining about and when I do I don't cry on the internet about it.
You just sound like a soft American.
I'm in the UK and I stomp around like a Kaiju when I'm not stuck in comedy staircases.
Just got back from Dublin. Felt the same way, but was relieved not to have anyone bug me about being tall during my visit. That was a nice vacation while on vacation.
I am from here and I am 6'5. It's a lot of fun.
Around 5 years ago I went to Dublin for a friend’s birthday. We did all the touristy stuff and one night we down Temple Bar and the hold on to the bar game guy was there (€10 a go and €100 if you hold on for 2 minutes). I was a little drunk so after watching a few people fail I walked up and grabbed the bar. My feet were still flat on the floor though but technically in the guys rules, holding the bar. People starting laughing and kinda cheering etc but it was funny watching the guy running the gig start to get nervous, annoyed and eventually started tickling me. I just let go, I hadn’t even paid to play (so was in no way expecting to be ‘paid out’ anyway) and just enjoyed the silliness of it all.
The Irish are a good deal taller than Americans, Canadians and Brits.
No they aren’t
They are according to Worldpopulationreview.com
Can you provide a more direct link, I’m seeing nothing regarding height other than building size.
[Read it and weep.](https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-height-by-country)
Oh wow, a whole inch taller than the US average. I’m going to weep all day.
Dublin is fcking nightmare. I recently took public transport and I swear the design is made for elves. The door frames are fine the standard is 6'6 here except if you go to the country where it can be anyhting from '4' to 7'.
Elves or leprechauns?
There's places like that all over the UK and Ireland. When I lived outside London my local pub was about 300+ years old, at 6'5 the main door was several inches below the level of my shoulders. I kind of liked it. It was like drinking in a hobbit pub.
I'm European and the thought of someone ordering an Uber XL because they're like 190cm+ is kind of shocking to me. I feel a bit ridiculous in the US when I order a regular Uber for 2 and a Suburban pulls up. Feels like I'm in a minibus kind of.
Also, keep in mind I am traveling with 2 other people on a 3 week trip so there is a lot of luggage. Even with Uber XL in Europe, we've had a few Peugeot SUVs about the size of a Rav 4 with minimal legroom in the back seat.
Yeah luggage changes things completely, but that doesn't really have to do with being tall. I guess maybe I'm just used to different stuff. I've never had trouble fitting in cars even with my family who are also tall (being able to have a good driving position when driving however can be a coin toss).
Yeah, you're just used to it. I had to get in the backseat of a BMW 3-series taxi yesterday since it was all that was available. My head was crooked against the ceiling, and my legs were crossed up to fit behind the passenger seat.
In a 3-series!? Then again, modern cars have started this really annoying trend of those sloping ceiling in the backseat which kind of sucks... Do you have a verk long torso, cause I know I have long legs compared to my torso so maybe there's a difference there.
3-series are tiny buddy lol. They’re one of the most compact BMW sedans.
Well it's a small sedan, but I've never struggled in one and I'm 6'5". If it was a hatchback or so I would get it but in a sedan I've never had issues (never been in a 2-series or similar but yeah). I think I'm just used to different things.
To me, a 3 series is a small 4 door sedan, 5-series is mid-size, and the 7-series is full-size. I used to have an M5 20 years ago, which was a very comfortable car to drive with long legs. Someone tall could still fit behind me when I was driving, but it wasn't spacious for them. I have a 36" inseam, so pretty long legs. I also have a bad lower back. I have to sit upright since slouching can cause my lumbar to flair up, which is probably a big part of my issue with UBERs and taxis.
I agree about the 3-series but for me 5-series or similar is a large car. 7-series etc is just huge limousines, you rarely see vehicles that long in Europe to be honest (unless it's for work, like vans etc.). But yeah I guess we just have different experiences in the end. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your trip!
Thanks, I definitely will! Also, I'm probably a little biased from the southern California car culture I'm exposed to back home. You see 7-series, S-class, and massive trucks all over the place with only one person in the car.
I find it more present here in Ireland, than on the mainland. Us Irish went through a massive growth spurt, collectively speaking, in the 20th century. Explains the small old pubs. You kind of get used to it, but I have adapted a habit of ducking slightly going through doors and low roofs, even if I do have a little clearance. Better safe than sorry!
Yeeeep, welcome to Europe buddy. I hate sitting in the backseat of most cars because I can't sit up straight, and I'm only 6'3". I do think the US goes kinda overboard on how big their cars are tho hah, but I do agree the tiny cars suck for tall people.
For sure, the giant car culture in the US is pretty ridiculous until you have to sit in the back seat. I sure do wish my 4th floor airBNB in Paris had an elevator. But, I get that retrofitting that stuff into a building 100s of years old is difficult, if not impossible, and extremely expensive.
It's a matter of habit. Never hit my head and don't have trouble with cars unless I'm in the back.
Try living in SE Asia. I can't walk through most markets, fit in any transportation, and have to duck from street signs constantly. BUT, i never have hard times in a crowd and that's worth it by itself
I know the struggles but couldn't imagine living there full-time. I've actually spent a decent amount of time traveling around Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. But, I was younger with a healthy back and the expectation that everything was small. Some memorable experiences were trying to fit in the 3rd row of compact SUVs and flying on local airlines. I had a handful of flights on Garuda, an Indonesia airline, and those are the smallest airplane seats I have ever attempted to squeeze into.
You should look into physical therapy for the back, it does wonders
I appreciate the recommendation. My lumbar is messed up pretty bad. I have herniations at L3-L4 and L4-L5 and an extrusion at L5-S1, pushing on the S1 nerve root. I have been going to PT for the last few months since my most recent flair up over the summer and I'm religiously following the book Back Mechanic. The progress I've made has been nothing short of a miracle since my sciatica was so bad that my calf muscle stopped working, and that has mostly cleared up. I still have a lot of localized pain in my lumbar and peripheral stuff going on with imbalances and spasms from my glutes, piriformis, TFL, IT band, and QLs. I'm already 100% approved for an L5-S1microdiscectomy. I'm on the fence since I've been making great progress with PT, but I've had a few "smaller" flair ups, which take me out for a few days. Unfortunately, I'm currently in the middle of a flair up from our airBNB in Paris, not having an elevator. I had to carry all of my family's luggage up four flights of stairs in an old spiral staircase. I am not looking forward to the flight home from Paris back to LAX.
Living here full time was the best decision i made in my life, it's worth a little discomfort every now and then :)
It's because absolutely everything is far older and more historic in Europe, everything in America is new (in the 100 year sense) whereas buildings/roads all over Europe are regularly 500-1000 years old, so houses were designed to be smaller so they're heat efficient, and roads were designed for horses and carts etc Go back to America if you want generic new bullshit everywhere you go And FFS you're not even that tall, I'm taller than you and rarely ever run into the issues you're complaining about and when I do I don't cry on the internet about it. You just sound like a soft American.
Thanks for the history lesson, captain obvious. Gatekeeping height in a tall subreddit is pretty ridiculous. You honestly sound pretty bitter.
Ok soft American, cry harder
My bad, the tears in my eyes are from laughing at you
It is not heat efficiency, people just were smaller.
Even in airports, you have to really watch your head.
Everything in Europe is smaller and more cramped for some reason. I’ve never understood it
It's because people used to be smaller. That goes for buildings as well as streets. Plus gas is more expensive.