Boating Culture and Booze

[Matt Meltzer]

So I was out at Paloma Beach near Monaco today, at this huge boat tie-up with maybe 100 of the nicer boats you'll see all out for the afternoon. It was very serene, very quiet. Lots of pretty girls out tanning - some topless - and an all around great scene.

But I couldn't help but thinking: If this were in the US, EVERYONE here would be shitfaced. Like I've never been to a huge boat gathering that dind't somehow resemble a frat party mixed with a tailgate.

So why is it that in the US when we have giant boat parties, the de rigeur is that everyone consume as much alcohol as possible, but the Europeans don't seem to require the afternoon to be alcohol-soaked. Is that part of the reason we're so fat?

My friend I'm here visiting says "Americans drink to get drunk, and eat to get fat." Not sure how I feel about that....

[Blackford Oakes]

So glad for you.

I'd say Euro's don't work on getting shit-faced till tha AM hrs. Time just moves slower there.

Hey ! ... since you're close to the real Nikki Beach, if you make it there, a nice contrast and compare might be a good story.

A good friend was there just day's ago.... here's a snap of his ...
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[Jess]

See Matt, this is why I'm so glad you're in Europe. Seeing another way people live. Yes, American culture is all about alcohol. Going to bars. Drinking in the day. Any occasion requires a drink. And in Europe it's not about that. Having a glass of wine at dinner is to help taste the food, not drink a bottle before carrying on your night.

Americans drink to get drunk and it is accepted as part of the culture. Now, English do too a lot of the time, but Italy, France, Spain, not so much.

Glad you are enjoying your trip!

[Blackford Oakes]

Americans drink to get drunk and it is accepted as part of the culture. Now, English do too a lot of the time, but Italy, France, Spain, not so much

Romanticism for you.

[Ingrid]

Sounds like you're hanging around a nice crowd with a laid-back way of living. A slower pace than the rate at which Americans go at it. What's the rush? It seems like in the US it's all about instant gratification, without giving things, or life, a chance to unfold slowly and enjoyably. Seems like Americans have less time. Eating fast to get full quickly and not be hungry anymore (fast food). Drinking alcohol just for the sake of being drunk already.

Maybe it's got something to do with the level of sophistication. When I was in Spain, you'd have red wine with, it seemed, everything, starting at lunch time. I was buzzed at 12:30 in the day. I also remember the impression of them living their lives to the fullest. Indulgance with a little help of stimulants. Wine, coffee, cigarettes with/ after every meal.

I was going out with this little group my age. They were rich kids, the family businesses a parfurmery and a movie theater in the center of Madrid. I stayed over at their apartment, and saw how their day unfolded: Starting work at 9, then you go for lunch (we went to a mussels bar, "Mejilloneria", where you eat standing up). Then you go for siesta AKA day nap, a long break from everything while the city closes all their shops and lays dormant for a couple of hours. Then back to work til 7-8. After dinner, you do something like bar hopping. Nothing like totally getting drunk or anything like that. You just have a drink or two, a good conversation and a few good laughs.

As I recall, the emphasis wasn't so much on getting wasted and knock yourself out until you felt like puking. It was more about seeing familiar faces, having the best fun and taking a real good bite out of life.

On the weekend, you do the same rounds at the bars plus maybe dancing at clubs, but you'd stay up until 6-7 in the morning because you're waiting for the bakery to open to have breakfast... before you finally go to bed and sleep until the late afternoon.

So, lucky you, how's your jet-lag?

[fredgarvin]

Matt,

You know how you talk about visitors or new residents and their romance period with Miami?

Well you're just having that period with Monaco and Nice. Throw in a soccer game or a gran prix race.... and.........mon dieux!!!!!

Go out to Nixon Beach, you will find people rafted together, etc, not just getting s-faced.

Dont forget about sampling error.

[GandJ]

Go out to Nixon Beach, you will find people rafted together, etc, not just getting s-faced.

Yes. There are lots of places that boaters go to relax. As Fred mentioned, the Nixon sandbar off Key Biscayne is one of them. Sure, there are a couple crazy boat parties during the year, but most weekends you'll find boaters just chilling out.
The noteworthy crazy boat parties in South Florida are on Columbus Day weekend off Elliott Key, and the Monday and Tuesday after Mothers Day, when there is a bartenders/service inductry party down at the Islamorada sand bar. On most other weekends, "most" of the boaters are pretty chilled out.



Glenn

[Matt Meltzer]

I'm not saying I'm embracing European culture here. I still am all about things being done as quickly as possible and efficiency and speed being the ultimate goal. I'm just saying it was funny to see a big boat tie up where it seemed nobody was tanked.

Yes, i understand the binge drinking in the US is our British influence. Mayhaps that's it, I'm not sure. But I will say I'm enjoying not being drunk/hungover half the time.

[Mario]

Hmm, I've encountered too many drunk Euros on the beach, so I'm not sure if they don't drink just to get drunk. Maybe those folks where Matt is hanging, own their boats and go out frequently hence, being out on the water is not rare, unlike here during Columbus Day, when everyone is desperately looking for a friend with a boat so go out and get trashed.

[GandJ]

Hmm, I've encountered too many drunk Euros on the beach, so I'm not sure if they don't drink just to get drunk. Maybe those folks where Matt is hanging, own their boats and go out frequently hence, being out on the water is not rare, unlike here during Columbus Day, when everyone is desperately looking for a friend with a boat so go out and get trashed.

Mario -

I think you are spot-on correct about the boat stuff. The ones going out often aren't making it a giant party every time they go boating.



Glenn

[Jess]

Mario -

I think you are spot-on correct about the boat stuff. The ones going out often aren't making it a giant party every time they go boating.

I disagree. I go to Monument Island quite a lot these days, the small island you can only reach by boat (or in my case, kayak) and all it is is Miami locals who own their own boats getting trashed. It is actually quite upsetting, last time I was there they left all their trash on the island, and one guy actually threw his beer bottle into the ocean. I went in and picked it up. People who own their own boats here are definitely making it a big party and think they're the big stuff.

[dylan]

I think it is A the English influence, and B the pirate movies we have seen. It is in our mind that pirates are always hammered so we might as well be too. Also Matt maybe they just don't get hammered til late night and they space out their drinks in the afternoon. To me boating is an escape from work and chores and all that. And a lot of people view drinking as a similar escape so it does not surprise me the go hand in hand.

@ Jess that sucks about the litter bugs. That really bothers me watching people pollute the water ways or a beach, or a place like Monument Island. It is almost like they don't deserve to be out there.

[Christy]

I agree with Mario and Glenn. I don't think it was a boat party..I think it's the equivalent of lying on the beach for them, so it's not really a "party". I'm sure they'll all be drinking later. I do think in Europe the portion sizes of everything is smaller, including drinks. Matt, I bet something like Wet Willies doesn't even exist there. Please post some pics!

[GandJ]

I disagree. I go to Monument Island quite a lot these days, the small island you can only reach by boat (or in my case, kayak) and all it is is Miami locals who own their own boats getting trashed. It is actually quite upsetting, last time I was there they left all their trash on the island, and one guy actually threw his beer bottle into the ocean. I went in and picked it up. People who own their own boats here are definitely making it a big party and think they're the big stuff.

Jess –

The FlaglerMonument Island is one small sampling of one particular area of Biscayne Bay. Biscayne Bay is 35 miles long and 428 square miles in area. Monument Island seems to be the exception to the rule. It’s also the place where they shot the porno a couple years back. It seems to be getting quite a reputation.
It would be great if you could see other areas of the bay, especially the areas a littlesouth of the city, such as Stiltsville, Nixon sandbar, Boca Chita, Sands Key,Elliott Key, and Adams Key, and other places that boaters like to go. There are also fun places to the north such as the sandbar just inside Baker’s Haulover Inlet.
Tentatively,we plan to bring the boat back to SoFL in the fall, and the invitation is open to join us for a day of boating. I wish you could have joined us last time, butI think your parents were visiting.

Gus,Michelle, Meltzer, Carlos, and Maria have gone with us a few times, and can vouch that it is not like Monument Island at all. Islands we have gone to such as Boca Chita and Adams Key are not like Monument Island at all. They’re as clean as a convent.

Here are afew shots of our trip to Boca Chita with Gus and Michelle:

[GandJ]

Hmmm. Looks like I'm having photo posting issues. I'll tryu soemthing different.




Glenn

[fredgarvin]

Hmmm.


Glenn

Hmmm indeed!

[GandJ]

Hmmm indeed!

I'll try posting pics later. Don't have time to deal with the bug now. Some reason my PhotoBucket acount is acting up.

I'll play with it later.


Glenn

[Matt Meltzer]

I don't really take many pictures when I'm out. But I'll post what I have from the marina in Monaco when I'm back.

That said, part of it may be the inherent trashiness of a good number of Miami locals, and as such why Monument Island is such a shit show. Like when I used to work at Finnegan's river and all the Miami trash came in on boats (they owned, not the ones they took to get here). It's those folks, I'm guessing. The Hialeah-Kendall crowd. They afford boats by living at home until they're 40. CLASS-Y

And now that I've gone out a few times here in Monaco, I can safely say people aren't getting trashed at the clubs either. Like I saw no fights, nobody stumbling out, nobody being carried down the streets by his or her friends. Oh, I'm sure it happens, but it's just a difference in the culture. That may be why bottle service started here: If you're not trying to get drunk it almost makes sense.

[fake_sunglasses]

I think part of the reason you may not see Europeans smashed like you would see Americans goes back to culture. The flip side of being efficient, fast, and super productive (Miami, I'm generally not speaking to you) in the United States, is that it creates a culture of people who need an outlet for their pent up stress, i.e. drinking. So, while the greater part of Europe is taking it easy, we are in offices 12 hours a day. Come time to cut loose, Americans get after it...to the extreme. Just a thought.

[Jess]

Very good point. We have strict laws about working hours, vacation days etc. I miss my 5 weeks vacation time each year, plus holidays.