Excellent point. If you have a flag that the people it is supposed to represent dislike or dont want to represented by that flag, its a major problem. If the remainder of the UK in general, after a Scottish independence vote, no longer chooses to acknowledge the old flag, then it no longer represents them or their interests.

I don`t had put the swiss flag on the car, to avoid that the locals think we are from the red cross or an doctor :innocent:

But after the trip we did this:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icUpZvIcMg...schriftung.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n7mEn5b92c...tung-Seite.jpg

We hope that they don't look that surprised when we drive through checkpoint just saying "diplomatic" :innocent: Now we wait for the timeframe for the next trip (what is very hard)...

Surfy

Flags are extremely symbolic
 

Sure thing.
Throughout history, peoples have rallied to flags, soldiers have fought, and died, to defend the colours, etc etc.

In demonstrations around the world flags are burnt in order to make a statement, which is as good a reason as any for travellers to be aware of what it is that they are displaying.
There are other symbols of course, such as music; here in Britain, the authorities used to ban the playing of bagpipes (I think they were considered to be a weapon) and the wearing of the kilt.

It's all about the Celts
 

Thanks for the Wiki link - as you say, about half way down that article it explains what my Breton fellow was telling me all those years ago. I am not clear how that earlier Arms became the current Breton flag which is very different although it retains the basic colours.
I think he was hoping that his radio broadcasts in the Breton dialect would be heard across the channel in Cornwall, but that was before the internet, and associated digital broadcasting, had developed to their current state of pervasiveness.

How about this for a "cut and paste mess":-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Co...ic_nations.svg
That brings Galicia into the frame.

For a new England flag, we could bring back the Fleur de Lys (from earlier royal standards) to be displayed along with the 3 lions passant (as displayed on the England football teams as well as in cricket) so that our claims on parts of the territory of modern day France are not forgotten. :innocent:

I flagged front and back withUJ. Was asked many times if i was American:confused:

sent with tapatalk.

exactly ... kinda makes it a waste of time doesnt it.

As I mentioned earlier ... I am shocked how unknown the Union Flag really is in the wider world.

M8, I was in northern Montana in a line in a Post Office, dressed to the max in my riding gear and carrying my helmet. The only bike in the car park was mine(and it had the Aussie flag).

She asked me, was that my bike (yes), and was I Canadian?????????

I dropped my jaw and told her in no uncertain words, that no, I am an Aussie, and if she really has no idea of the flag of her northern neighbor, then maybe she needs to expand her local knowledge ;)

Cheers
TS

Like mentioned before, it all depends on what nationality you are, how you like it and if you want to show it (off) or not.

Last trip (this year) we didn't had any flag on the bikes, had a Belgian one on my chest on my vest but like Colebatch said, everybody asks you anyway where you're from. If they try to guess we are always germans, so doh

Next trip (next year) we'll try to take a flag, but not from where we are but where we go, as we will leave our home to go and live abroad and in a tribute to our new home we'll take that flag. (but first making a few detours around the world) And that will also be interesting as I'm pretty sure almost nobody will know from where it is so it will start conversations...

http://www.theflagshop.co.uk/ekmps/s...lag-6609-p.jpg

If I would be US or UK I personally wouldn't show it, certainly not in some parts of the world. But then I don't know if it's a good idea to show the Belgian flag in DRC either... ;-)

Confusion is rife regardless.

People in southern England will ask if my white rose with YORKSHIRE written underneath is from Lancashire (theirs is red). Maybe now they've dug Dirty Dick out from under that carpark in Leicester I'll get this less but I doubt it.

If you feel the urge to learn basic Scouse ask the owner of a Liverpool shirt if he likes Manchester United (both red).

New Zealanders love that their red stars get confused with the Australian white ones.

You either want those conversations and wear the badge or don't IMHO.

Andy

I personally wouldn't worry about what flag you display or not. In the places you visit the locals, if they "get your country wrong", they're either uneducated/ stupid/ just want to start a conversation (ideally the first or 3rd option) that whatever stickers you display make no difference.

In Ethiopia they thought I was French, in South America: German and in the US: Australian (all three non Engish speaking regions...:D), despite a union flag and a GB sticker on the bike.

If someone wants to do you harm, whatever sticker/no sticker will not make the slightest bit of difference. If AQ are going to kidnap you in Mali, then having a UK/US/Israeli passport will be very hazardous. Think of the poor Edwin Dyer who was in an Austrian tour group, spoke Austrian-German but carried a UK passport.

I just cracked the following route this year with a Union jack on the Left side of my fuel tank, a union jack and GB sticker on the right side of my fuel tank and on my rear number plate instead of the "EU" logo i had a small union jack

1-England
2-France
3-Belgium
4-Luxembourg
5-France
6-Germany
7-Czech Republic
8-Slovakia (Tatras mountains)
9-Poland
10-Ukraine (Carpathian mountains)
11-Romania (Carpathian mountains)
12-Republic of Moldova
13-Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR)
14-Ukraine
15-Russia

Russian Caucasus Republics
16-The Republic of Adygea
17-The Republic of North Ossetia
18-The Republic of Ingushetia
19-The Republic of Chechnya

20-Georgia
21-Kazakhstan
22-Kyrgyzstan
23-Tajikistan

The following Russian republics had these travel warnings (So dont belive most travel warnings you read and mainly follow local advice on current information/situations regarding areas you want to travel to and if it is safe to do so)

The Republic of Ingushetia
WARNING: Ingushtetia is presently a war zone is most emphatically NOT a tourist destination. Visitors are in fear of murders and kidnappings by government forces, high-profile crimes, periodic civil disorders and bombings. Travellers should consult to their embassy and request expert information before travelling to the region.


The Republic of Chechnya
WARNING Chechnya is most emphatically not a tourist destination and not safe for independent travel or sightseeing. Most foreign governments advise against non-essential travel. Those visiting for business, research, or international aid purposes should consult with their organization and seek expert guidance before planning a trip.



I agree with what Chris says "If someone wants to do you harm, whatever sticker/no sticker will not make the slightest bit of difference"

Once you leave Europe a over-lander stands out as a foreigner regardless of sticker or not.

I think people in general judge you for who you are when they talk to you, with the likes of me being from the UK i have a union jack on my bike but this is just to show where i have traveled from and does not mean i am putting it there because i agree to all my government's policies ect ect

I never had no issues with regards to the the stickers i had on and if anything putting the stickers on worked in my favor as it was a talking point and on numerous times i was invited back to peoples houses to stay over or for dinner. in Chechnya they saw i was from the UK due to my stickers and i even got invited to the famous mosque in the capital Grozny (largest in Europe)

Basically you have to ask your self this....... if you are afraid to put a flag of the country you from on your bike then should you really be travelling in that country in the first place??


Unless you are going to the likes of Afghanistan, Iraq, the areas in Syria (where the non Syrian "rebels" are operating), Somalia, Algeria, Libya and other such like countries which have some slight problems then maybe putting a flag is not such a good idea......

Below are pictures of my bike on my trip and also the famous mosque in the capital Grozny,Chechnya i was invited to

I dont know what all the fuss is about?
 

:mchappy:
BTW, in 3 years of travelling in Argentina I have never had a negative comment, on the contrary.

http://i1161.photobucket.com/albums/...psa7ca8562.jpg