I am glad you told us that as we always try to learn at least a phrase or two when travailling to different countries, even if good day , afternoon or night , it always goes down well with the locals even if it is prononced badly.

can rise a smile and break the ice.
it is the same as drinking local brews and eating local food. Somehow I feel it is just polite to do so. Even if a bit of home cooking goes down well ,when abroad , but normally we keep that for when we are in our rented flat.
Also it keeps the local traders happy and the area better off.
Now with the euro going down I cannot think it due to the cost that the brits stick to fish & chips....lol