Where have you been this year and what did it teach you?

markrosy - Great idea for a thread!! Can't wait to hear from lots of our Fodor's friends on this one.

Tanzania - I learned I am not so into safaris but that I love to travel where the people are as welcoming and warm as they are here. I also learned that sometimes something as simple as the color of the earth can stay in your heart long after your trip.

Rome - It is a lot better the second time around - in fall not summer, and with a lot less touring and more cappuccino and wine drinking.

Edinburgh - Alexander McCall Smith describes this city perfectly in his lovely stories and they have some darn good shortbread there. Surprisingly, it is hard to find a good cashmere sweater though.

Here's to the year and travels ahead!!!

gruezi

I've been to Rome and learned a few things. One was that despite many years of traveling, one can still get into a bad situation. A motorcycle rider grabbed my friend's small day bag, nothing of value in it, and drug her to the ground. He didn't get the bag, but it was shocking and painful and put us on notice that despite precautions, bad things do happen.
And I learned to eat when I was hungry, because restaurants there aren't always open to accommodate my US dining habits.
But the beauty and history of the city will bring me back again and again. I could never see all that is Rome.

I went to California and learned that 4 children, a dog, a python, a bearded dragon and absent parents can be fun and exhausting, if you live through it.

I went to Georgia and Alabama and saw amazing courage from my SIL in her fight with cancer. And I learned that good health should never be taken for granted.

On that same road trip a Fodorite I'd never met was kind enough to join me for dinner and good conversation, though brief. Heck, I've got family that wouldn't rearrange their schedules like that.

And on another road trip to Colorado, I was reminded of the vastness of our country and the beauty in what some call "flyover country": The Arch in St. Louis, the prairie with its endless gently rolling hills and flat lands, the windmills adorning the hillsides, and the friendliness of the people we encountered along the way.

And in Colorado I learned that you can have a great visit, even if it snows and is icy and you can't really do those things you had planned. Grandsons can keep one entertained in any circumstances. Even ones that are almost 15 and presumably not all that interested in visiting with old folks.

And most of all, I was reminded once again, how good it is to come home again.

I love this thread. Thank you for such beautifully expressed memories.

Seattle (January/July/November) - you can go home again, but life goes on without you. Family members get older and health goes bad. Young relatives grow up. Every third corner in your old neighborhood now sports a big honking condo development.

Europe (March) - Paris grows on me every time I visit. The first time I didn't care for it. The second time it was great. Third time was magic. London will always be one of my favorite places. Belgium is far more interesting than I would have thought.

We went to Cape Charles, Va; Pocomoke City, Md; Madrid, Barcelona, and Begur; and State College, Pa (with a stop in Tyrone, Pa.). I hadn't been to Cape Charles before. Cape Charles has a cool little public library with wi-fi in an old church. We had a good time everywhere. Spain cost a lot. Also, Spain was very sophisticated. Sorta like visiting New York City. I still like Tyrone, even though I've learned the Oip Restaurant is actually the Original Italian Pizza restaurant and it's a chain. One reason I liked Tyrone was I thought Oip was an interesting name for a restaurant.

I learned that it doesn't rain all the time in the Pacific Northwest. I also learned it is my favourite bit of the US (so far ).

I learned that a few days away, in our case a long weekend to Ireland, can be just a rewarding and enjoyable as four weeks away.

I learned, yet again, that I am a stranger in my own country now after a visit to the UK for a cousins reunion. I don't know where I belong anymore. Not here and not there.

Challiman - I too enjoyed "flyover country" in the US - all that vast emptiness and the friendly, welcoming people along the way. It's been a while since we drove it but it was lovely. Real America.

I went to Disney, and discovered that 6 people in a minivan is too many, but we had some great times. My next trip there will be somewhat different, however.

I went to Ireland, and learned a) that you really, really should not fall out of contact with your friends and relatives for 50 years and b)that I really like travelling overseas and have missed it. Not to mention the oddness of returning after 20 years to a place you used to live and haven't visited since.

The reason for bringing up the idea was simply that we questioned why we travel - for 10 years plus we have simply been getting on plans and enjoying ourselves - most of the trips have been to anglo saxon or European destinations (eg East Coast States/ Carribean - we realised that many of the trips hadn't actually widened our horizons.

We also realise that one of the other main motivations was to escape our weather which has to be nearly the worst in the world. Usually 2oC to 20oC and rain, rain rain.

Most of the trips have been as a couple. Since the arrival of our son, we also realise that travel becomes more complicted and their is another angle to all decisions. Sleep and eating patterns are far more important.

11 years ago we visited Luxor and the usual sites. It was absolutely exhausting and took months to physically recover. Stomach bugs etc. Since then our bets have been fairly safe.

I think after our Sicily trip I definitely realise that I have become an anglo saxon insular - our local environment isn't multi-cultural and probably think that our lack of diverse travel has left me certainly a little less tolerant ie don't think it has taught me much.

Have had some great laughs with some immense characters in the Southern States and Carribean but their culture is so close to ours.

On a lighter note : also learned that the sea in Greece is very cold in May - don't jump in off the boat on the first morning without getting greased down first.

That one must go to a place and make up their own mind. Like most of us, I knew this and that's why we travel.

We went to Amsterdam this year. After reading about it I suppose I was expecting much more. We spent 4 nights there and if it weren't for side trips, I would have needed to get stoned to enjoy it.

Not a lot of people like Brussels but we spent 2 nights there and I could have spent more. Loved it.

Our big trip was China. Someplace so different than home or Europe. Someplace that I really felt I was away from home.

I learned that I really do appreciate living in the US and all that it gives us. I learned how much I appreciate the clean air and blue sky we have as it never showed it's face for two weeks through all the pollution. And, I appreciate, while few, the animal rights' laws we have in place.

I appreciate the freedom to travel and how it brings me to enjoy home so much more.

I learned that McDonald's in China tastes like McDonald's here. It's all mystery meat.

I learned that I can pack for two weeks in a carry on and tote bag. I'm very proud of myself for that. You would be, too, if you had traveled with me on my first trip to Paris and London.

**PersimmonDeb, when we went to Ireland I was surprised how many asked us what county our family was from and when we didn't know, they acted as if we had abandoned our first child. I learned that is info I should know before going back.

Outstanding thread idea! And I love the answers so far, esp. lennyba's comment on Seattle and not being able to go home again.

Venice: The magic can bring you back over and over again, but eventually you're done. I loved it, esp. seeing ballet rehearsal in Teatro La Fenice. But I'm done now.

Provence:

1. There's a lot to be said for an "integrated" itinerary, but hard to anticipate how to do it. Completely unintentionally, we went to many places that artists had painted (around Province and then Giverny near Paris) and then went to the museums that showed those artists' paintings. It turned out to be a richer experience than we could have guessed or planned.

2. The Romans really got around. And it struck us that we in the US are still playing out much of their values, from small-r republican political ideas to big-scale architecture and entertainment with a somewhat violent/gory agenda, to a fair amount of military-economic adventurism. As Rick Steves said, the first 300 yrs. were building their glory, the next 200 yrs. were the peak of their glory, and the last 300 yrs. were decline.

3. Navigating in the local language is rewarding and fun, but I don't speak French nearly as well as I thought I did.

London- it is more beautiful than I remember it in many prior visits with so many great neighborhoods. LOVED Jersey Boys. Did not know Rowan Atkinson was Mr. Bean till half way through the musical Oliver!.

Baltimore- the best biggest raw oysters are at Faidley's in the Lexington market. Priceline rocks! (Marriott waterfront).

Boise, Idaho- the drive through the mountains from Boise to Sun Valley/Ketchum is worth the 5 hours. The journey IS the destination and what a glorious journey....capped off with frolicking in the Kirkland (?) hot springs right off the mountain road (so glad I had gym clothes packed to change into).

Chicago- I still love the steel-cut oats at the Corner Bakery. There's no such thing as a free ****.....

We learned:

Lille: There is life outside of Paris. We spent a day and a night in Lille and enjoyed it. But, we still snuck a little trip into Paris a few months later.

Mosel Valley: England doesn't have a monopoly on Castles. But they do have the BEST ones!

It is better to travel with people to places that I don't already love. Experiencing it for the first time together was better than taking them to someplace that I already love and holding my breath to see if they love it too.

Seattle: You really can't go home again. Snow in Seattle sucks.

London: Still my favorite city in the whole world. It feels like the center of the universe.

Istanbul - I'm an old trout and this huge noisy dirty city
during Ramazan was just too much sensory overload for me.

Rural Turkey - amazing countryside; warm people - I learned
you can communicate without any common language.

I prefer to stay in places where even a drop of tap water
doesn't bring about a bout of misery. But I've learned the
wonder that is Imodium!

Greek island - do not spend weeks on a beach-centric island
when the season is ending plus you do not like beaches anyway.

I learned I totally p*ssed off DH with my baaaddd attitude
and whining ways.


Finally, I learned that you take your home-based worries with
you and they can have a negative impact on even the most
beautiful, intriguing, charming place.

And, Mark, if you didn't enjoy Sicily, you probably should
stay away from Turkey. Just a thought (and JMPO).

Where: Southern Italy
Learnt: Never travel with extended family.

Italy - it's one thing to read about pickpockets and another to try and deal with them.

Switzerland - don't miss the last godola down.

US - spend US dollars as fast as you can. They are worth less every day.

In Arcachon, France I learned you NEVER stash all your belongings, including passports, money, credit cards and phone under the seat of the car, even just for a few minutes.

Too bad we can't follow up with sidebar conversations that would not disrupt the flow. I get the sense from here and elsewhere that BG247 was not crazy about China (which I loved) and Immimi's comments on Turkey are interesting. As are everyone's. Sorry for the interuption.

cold, overall I enjoyed my experience in China. Food, history, the total commotion daily known as 'rush hour'. It, too, was sensory overload. But, there were many things about it I did not enjoy (such as young children pooping and peeing on the sidewalks).

Sorry for the interruption, too.

My only trip this year was to Romania and that taught me to appreciate efficient service, which isn't easy to find in the former Soviet block. Otherwise it was a wonderful trip and I'm very glad I went.

The trip that taught me the most was my trip to the hospital for a week in September 2009. I gained a new appreciation for life as well as for the Fodorites. You were behind me all the way and I really felt the love and support from this board. This was the best lesson I learned in 2009.

Last interruption - BeachGirl, sensory overload was why I was also interested in Immimi's comments about Turkey. My wife gets to a point where she wants to tell everyone to slow down, shut up and quit getting in her face.

We now allow for that in our planning.

New York City in October:

I learned I can fall in love over and over again with a place! There are pockets of NY still to be discovered while the abiding objects of my affection(good pastrami,blintzes and pizza) continue to be objects of my affection.

That I adore New Yawkers and all their kindness, humor and relative lack of pretense.

The Berkshires(same trip):

That snow flurries are not the same as snow despite what I report to relatives on the West Coast

That a lackluster year of color in New England (to the natives) is one fantastic one to me.

That without the daily grind, my spouse and I can spend 24/7 together for weeks on end and really enjoy one another.

And perhaps the most important lesson learned this year:
That time is a balm erasing front line memories of pain and disability. That I could go through hell and recover despite my doubts.

cold - at one memorable point in the Spice Market I was
literally carried along by the crowd - I couldn't escape
from the surging tide of intent and spicy humanity. And I
was head and shoulders above most of the shoppers (and not
a lightweight!). Not at all like Whole Foods in the Park
Royal Village.

I went to Wales and learned that you can't trust the people in tourist info booths when they tell you something is a 'short walk' away, and that little kids speaking Welsh sound really cute especially when it's along the lines of 'welsh welsh welsh Bob the Builder welsh welsh welsh.

I went to hospital and leaned that the best people to talk to for information are not the doctors, but the nurses and other medical specialists like occupational therapists.

Paris--I was reminded how wonderful the pharmacists there are and what great remedies they have. I learned that knees can be fragile things

Where did I travel this year: Nowhere.

What did I learn: There is no way I can afford to travel anymore. There is this little thing called a Recession!

What else did I learn: Some people somehow still have enough money to travel!

I've been to Chicago: learned to quit fighting and like it.
Been to Boston; got stuck on the Tube, learned that I don't like it, missed meeting mimi.

I've been to New Jersey: learned that my dear friend there is sad.

Been to Portugal: Still love it.
Been to California: Sonoma is a fun town
Been to New Mexico: grand kid needs a spanking, sister is dying
Been to Victoria, BC....too many tourists
Been to Santa Cruz, lovely forests abound

Mostly what I learn is that people are pretty much the same the world over.

Grace Bay, Turks & Caicos in March-----after 20 years of searching the Caribbean and liking different islands for different things, we returned to Provo for the 2nd time and we learned that it is the perfect island for us. We will return again in 2010.

Paris in September-----need I say more! It was our 7th trip there and it still holds all the charm of our first. On this trip we learned that if we could afford to live anywhere in the world with no worry about cost it would be Paris.

Went to London for some REAL football...learned that guys who are missing teeth, with scared faces and noses off to the side really like to taunt the losers on the way out of the stadium!

It was so much fun.

thereyet

immimi- loved your comments in Greece, and thereafter. Laudable that you can say that about yourself, lol.... most whiny, bad attitude people would never recognize it. You must not have been too far gone.

We did not leave the good old USA this year, but we did visit family in northern and southern Cal. We had a blast seeing them.

We re-discovered how wonderful it is to live in the U.S. of A.!

I just returned from Amelia Island yesterday, I learned that I should, indeed, live @ the beach...

P.S. We also discovered, we can't afford to buy all the real estate we fall in love with. Like a home at the beach!

<>I learned that I should, indeed, live @ the beach...<<

SAnParis2, join the club. I feel the same way when I return from a beach trip. Most recently was Great Exuma this past summer. Stunning, deserted beaches with the clearest, turquoise waters. Pure heaven.

I learned that although travel is wonderful, there's no better feeling than coming home to your own little nest and realizing how fortunate our life has been.

Cold - We could definitely travel together... I like the spots you pick. And, I would never, ever let you miss the last gondola down. Trust me on this. Like your wife, I also need a bit of quiet down time every afternoon at about 3:30. I have learned to schedule it in.

Pam - you made me homesick for NYC and New England!!

Count me in with the living at the beach group... Well, I just need to see the water actually and be close enough to walk to the beach...

Such a fun thread - keep em coming.

gruezi

Gruezi - with my wife the pressure builds through the holiday, not each day. So after Japan, South Korea and into China, she was getting a wee bit frustrated with having to use a lot of sign language. She speaks flawless English and French and quite a bit of Spanish so she is open to different languages.

But in China we could see the pressure gauge rising. She started to speak English to people who she had to know had no idea what she was saying. And when they didn't understand, she would repeat it in English, just m.. o.. r.. e s.. l.. o.. w.. l.. y and MORE LOUDLY.

It was right out of a Steve Martin skit.

That story is very funny, cold!

I have been to Cabo San Lucas Mexico and to Honolulu Hawaii. It taught me that I am a happier person when I'm somewhere sunny with palm trees.

Oh yea, but I already knew that

beachgirl247 - trips to the Bahamas teach me that we are on the verge of screwing it all up - if you visit the coast in say Miami or Southern Spain you just admit defeat and acknowledge that "we" screwed it up.

Go to The Out Islands and you convince youself that we can live with wildlife. Then you home home look at the website for the real estate agent for those cays and realise that ever single inch of every single cay is up for sale waiting for the heighest bidder.

How long before there is nothing more out there .... one more economic boom or two?

Great thread~

NYC - I love to be in the city in the fall ~

Philly -I do not really love the city I was born in ~

DC - learned I want to go back and spend more time

Paris - Fell in the love with the city on my second visit and would love to go again with a different cast of characters.

San Diego - Such a fondness for the city I lived in most of my life.

San Francisco - unlike most, I realized I do not love SF and do not really have a strong desire to go back - it made me sort of sad to realize this.

Hawaii - oh sweet Hawaii... what did I learn? That dh and I are great on vacation alone together. Magical.

southeastern - you clearly live in a much nicer corner of the world than I do!

Went to several places and learned the place I really want to be is Paris!

It taught me to bring a warm jacket when I travel to Paris in October.My grandaughter and I were freezing when we landed in Paris coming from Rome.

Other than that I love Paris..I have been there numerous, numerous times since I was 18.

Sniffle -- didn't get to go nearly anywhere considering I had a baby late last year. Taught me that I REALLY miss travelling. (Also taught me that a 1 year old blowing his first little kiss at you can make up for nearly anything you might have seen travelling). Ah, I'll get back out there once he's a little older...

Oh yes I visited the Bay Area as well this year but not downtown SF this time, rather out in Oakland, Walnut Creek, etc. with friends.

That Kauai is paradise, and the more you "do" the less time you have to "be". Next time, less trips/tours/entrance fees, more quiet lunches, walks on the beach, afternoons on the lanai, etc. You get the picture.

Italy: That scraping the fender of a rental car against a medieval wall doesn't have to ruin the day.

St. Louis MO: According to one of our waiters St. Louis is a drinking town with a baseball problem...or was it the other way around?

Minneapolis: I'm adventurous enough to try eating deep-fried chicken feet. And, waiters sometimes are lying when they recommend something.

Cross-country road trip! What I learned: South Dakota is beautiful; Chicago is amazing; NYC is great but too hot and sticky and crowded in the summertime; gas is cheaper in the East but wow are those toll roads expensive; Yellowstone and Mackinac Island are beautiful but probably best visited off-season.

Mostly I learned that driving across the US is a not-to-be-missed experience. I am so happy I got a chance to do this.

I have not traveled this year, but have been on an interesting journey. I am still on this journey which I am embracing.

Being the incredible glued woman (my back is like a craft project) has taught me that I can tolerate lots of physical pain - more than I thought possible. And, I discovered, in my case anyway, that brain surgery was a breeze compared to having my vertebrae glued back together again.

I also learned how much I missed traveling. In less than a month, we will be in NoVA to visit our son. If we're fortunate, we will be able to go to Paris in June (as soon as school ends). "All's well that ends well."

Apart from trips to NYC and Baltimore, I think South Dakota was my only trip in 2009. I learned that places right here in the USA can be every bit as exotic and different as places on faraway continents. Really, I think I wandered around SD with my eyes bugged out almost as much as they did in India. It felt just impossibly foreign.

I took 3 trips to Europe this year: Vienna/Budapest; Berlin/Dresden; and Barcelona.

What I've learned:
1) Renting a vacation apartment is the way to go! So much nicer/cheaper than staying at hotels
2) Visitng each of these places prompted me to read about the history of the city and its people.
3) I find out that I really love Art Nouveau
4) Fodorites are the best - not only they give great advice, there are also some who would go out of their way to help you even if they have never met you before (eg, Ingo in Dresden)

I also took a couple of trips within the US:
1) LA - there's so much more to LA than just Hollywood and Disneyland
2) NYC - I can spend a lifetime there and still won't be able to see everything
3) Hudson River Valley - what a lovely area; can't wait to return next year!
4) Concord, MA - I live just a few miles from there, but visiting it makes me interested in reading more about Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Thoreau - all of whom lived in Concord for some time.

markrosy, I completely agree with you. I LOVE the Out Islands for that very reason. No one has completely screwed it up...yet.

I have friends with puzzled faces when I tell them where I am going in the Bahamas. They respond with "you mean Nassau"? No, I'm not going to Disneyland on an island. I'm going to the Out Islands while they are still have some soul left in them.

BeachGirl, that's funny! Of course, I know what county we're from, but trying to explain to my father's relatives why he hadn't spoken to ANY of them since 1965, and hadn't been in touch with most of them since the late '40's was a little awkward.

You have undertake a challenging journey ParisonmyMind2 and I hope that you will be able to travel to Paris next June.. Also Your attitude is just Remarkable!!

A lot of miles this year, much learned, and much revealed.

In numerous trips to southern California last winter, I learned again that our dearest possessions are our family and the memories we take from knowing and loving them. When they pass, even at peace and at a great age, we have to learn how to cope with the loss.

In February (between the trips to California mentioned above) I learned (a) never put your backpack on the floor in cafes in Buenos Aires; (b) penguins in quantity smell like penguins in quantity, and sound like them too; (c) you can have sunny days at Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego, and (d) don't expect an empty beach at Vina del Mar or Concon on a summer Sunday. http://gardyloo.us/Donde%20esta%20Waldo.jpg

In April I learned that you don't want to look anything like a crustacean at an all-you-can-eat crab buffet at the Tokyo airport Holiday Inn. How do you say "frenzy" in Japanese?

In May I learned that my wife's grandparents' village in the Rhineland actually has a Jewish cemetery that survived the dark years, and that memories of those terrible times last not just one, but several lifetimes.

From late September to now I learned - or maybe I should say I re-discovered - the great heart that abides in my wife. Following a trip to Kenya she returned home committed to doing her part to fight a nasty - but treatable - form of cancer affecting children in equatorial Africa. She's raising funds, working with volunteer doctors, lawyers, NGOs and government people… and it's starting to click. She's tireless and persuasive.

Do not tell me how educated you are. Tell me how much you have traveled.
- Mohamed

Love that quote,Gardyloo!

Things I learned this year from traveling-
Since I fly overseas everyweek for work, I learned that it is still fun to hear about other's trips and dreams at 37,000 feet at 430am over the "pond" in the back galley.

I learned how proud I am of the USA troops when I am taking them over to the action in the Middle EAst and how grateful I am that they are safe when they come home for their R and R's!

I learned that I must be getting old because I don't think that everyone's child is adorable on the plane and that their parents don't supervise them enough.

I am still amazed at the number of people who go to Italy or Greece for cruises and don't know what cities they are going to see.

I had my first trips to Senegal and South Africa for work this year which taught me that I am very blessed with the riches and people in my life. I also learned that Africa is an amazing country with many different tapestries to unwind.

I took my darling daughter to graduate school in the UK after several trips to check out the school and find an apartment. I learned that shipping 9 duffel bags between 4 people traveling with her is STILL not enough to live over there!AND that Ikea really needs to improve their predrilled holes in their furniture? There really are major differences in all English speaking countries.

I vacationed in Cape Town and the Western Cape in August with my two grown kids. While there I learned that they are just as amazing and fun in their twenties as they were when they were two.
And that traveling around one of your" bucket list" countries makes you appreciate it all the more.

I learned that when your mom goes on her own final journey by herself it really is very difficult to not be with her!

Great thread! Here's to more travel in the upcoming year!

Taiwan (Jan, Feb, Mar): it is worth giving everything a second (in my case, a fifth) chance, especially when you know that you will be tied to it for the rest of your life. Sometimes, you have to get over things that you could not control (mean & abusive relatives), but as an adult, you can (ignore them!).

St. Thomas & St. Maarten (July): scenes from The Birds can happen if you leave your disabled mother in a wheelchair alone with food while you go and get her drinks. By the same token, strangers will come to your rescue so you will not be harmed. That my mother and I can pack for a 1 week cruise in a single carry on (a Godsend since I had to wheel my mother around in a wheelchair). Also, you can spend a whole week alone with your mother and not tell your mother something you want to tell her, which would make her happy (maybe).

Europe (Sept): My dad needs more luggage than my mother and me combined. There's nothing like seeing the Eiffel Tower with your parents, no matter how many times you've seen the Eiffel Tower (alone, or with one parent). That spending time with your parents is something to be treasured, and I'm glad I have them with me so I can take them slowly around the world (which is a dream of theirs).

My mom wants to go back to Italy next year. I'm sure I'll relearn that when in Florence, my mother and I will sneak out of the hotel, sans dad, for scoop of strawberry gelato (or milkshake) and a walk to Piazza della Signoria.

It's been a slow travel year for us.

I've been to Syracuse three times this year, where I learned to cherish some new found relationships. I also learned that I have done an outstanding job raising an amazing kid.

I also went to Maui, where I learned that after 22 years of marriage, DH and I are still in love. I also reaffirmed how much I love nature and the outdoors.

All in all, a pretty good year!

How many people actually reduced their travel due finances and travelled closer to home only to find that what is on your doorstep frequently beats what you pay an arm and a leg to see.

We discovered South West Scotland which is a micro version of BC, Canada. Its 2 hours drive a very very quiet anyone out there travelling between England and Scotland should try a half hour detour to Dumfries.

In my travels this year I learned that you should never order poullain and expect something to do with chicken. As the lovely rustic waitress would only tell me after I'd finished, it's "Ha,ha! Pony!" Tasted good though.
I learned that the French part of Switzerland is slightly more French in some ways than Swiss. Meaning you can sometimes get French service. The Trois Couronnes in Vevey was lovely. My wife and I soon got used to the luxury. We nearly complained when they didn't turn down the bed one evening. Hubris.

beachgirl247

me too - but its worse in the UK - they know about Atlantis but most people think of Miami Vice and the 80s. Friends just think we go with cases full of cash and come back with 30 kilos (excess baggage charge paid of course!)

We also learned that there is no need to save euros for duty free at Preveza airport - its an airforce base that has been tarted up! More Army than Armani.

Other lessons - when in Sicily don't try and enter the real playstation Gran Turismo 2009. Your hire car will not keep up and you haven't got the shades of insanity to keep up. Sicilians win every time game. Game Over!

More lessons : Sicily respects Sunday - if you really want to pay fuel refill surcharges remember to forget to fill the hire car up on Saturday night.

More, more lessons : Frikes, Ithaca is beautiful and very friendly but it's the windiest place on earth. If you want a good nights sleep moor up in Kioni.

More, more, more... in rural Greece they think credit cards are something you send through the post on your mothers birthday. Take lots of cash or you will be washing up all week.

God its been a stressful year.

Well we took a trip to Bermuda because of great deals being offered. I have been before, but it is quite a beautiful little country.
We were on one beach that is quite popular for cruise ships to drop off and my one DD asked me why everyone looks like John Travolta in the saturday night fever movie. Yes we thought we were in Bermuda, but it could have been Brooklyn with a good view

We also went to a beach right here in Virginia. We liked it so much, we bought land there to build a summer house in the future.

One note was last summer 08 when we went to Europe, we learned a lot about family and traveling with others. We visited Austria, Munich and Paris. While in Austria, we traveled with a cousin from Austria (he was our tour guide) and my MIL and an american cousin and my family of four. Well, first it is hard to travel and accomodate everyone's wishes. I became a go with the flow person and it was much easier. My MIL who is originally from Austria changed our itinerary hourly.
I also learned that most people in Europe don't have a/c and seem to think it is almost evil. I missed my a/c. I am not sure if I missed the coolness or the hum blocking out noises or BOTH! When someone says it is cool in Austria, they lie! If it is 85 degrees during the day,then it is not so cool at night!
Food is also different and my kids had to learn to expand their horizons or eat lots of bread. They were good troopers and ate more than I thought they would of unrecognizable foods.
I also learned my girls liked to shop. Never before did they, but show them some cool european jeans and they were trying on everything!
The Austrian relatives were extremely welcoming and hosted us for a few days. Lots of big meals (lots of meats served!) and people came from 50 miles to see us. They live a simpler life than we do and are very happy to do so.

Oh and we did like Paris which was nice since I was afraid as Americans we would not. I found the people to be very friendly and helpful. I also saw some of the scams you read about, but avoided trouble. It was a very beautiful city with so much history. I would love to back and really see it.

I have never been anywhere too exotic....yet. But I look forward to trying new places in the future.

A "lesson" people keep learning that isn't really a lesson: If something bad happens to you in a place, you reach the conclusion that it's the place you don't like.

Worth trying to remember that just because you got lost, missed a connection, didn't get the last ferry, had something stolen, got food poisoning, that doesn't mean the place you were is across-the-board a lousy place. I don't always manage to keep that in mind myself . . . just sayin'

>Where have you been this year and what did it teach you? <

France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Savannah, GA.

I learned that folks in Western Europe eat far better than we do at the same or lower price. OTOH, gasoline is much more expensive.

This is a great thread, and I thank markrosy for starting it, and all the contributors for giving me food for thought.

This year, I learned once again, in a trip to The Netherlands and Southwestern Germany, that the International friendships you make can be so rewarding over the years.

We met our Dutch friends in Seattle (far from our Hudson Valley home) where I attended a conference in 1991, when my husband "picked up" the wife in the lunch line!! She and another attendee were asked by DH to join us for lunch when they only had a table for four.

That was the start of a very long friendship with visits back and forth between countries, and trips to Rome, to the Caribbean, and other places together.

This also happened to us with our dear English friends, who we met in a bar in Ireland in 1979 - and that friendship too has gone on and on.

I've learned it is so important to have an international view of life -- that might be the best thing I learn from traveling.

I came to this forum just recently for the first time (I'm a longtime European forum poster) and learned that it's a great place. This thread is probably one of the best I've ever seen on this site.

I can't help commenting on the very thoughtful posts of the OP. I share your reactions to Sicily and your concern about being an insular European traveler. My son is continually trying to get us to go to China or other Asian destinations and I may have to get serious soon about taking him up on his challenge. We do intend to do more US travel in the coming year, but I know we'll be back to Europe as often as we can. For one thing we just last year discovered Scandinavia and the Baltics and returning to them will certainly be in our plans in the years ahead.

During 2009 we also traveled to:

Barcelona--where we learned that we're not apartment people. We like the convenience of a hotel with a concierge or front desk person to answer our questions, call us taxis to the airport and make us dining reservations. I also learned there never to leave a purse unattended and always to have info on your prescription meds available in case they get stolen in your purse.

Our old home in Minnesota--where we keep learning how important it is to plan ahead but pace yourself or you'll go nuts trying to see everyone.

Brussels--where I learned (after thinking it was wonderful when we were there many years ago) why so many people on the European forum find it a less than acceptable destination

Venice--where I learned that it's still possible to get cheap fares every now and again if you are just prepared to jump on them ($469 round trip from Ft. Lauderdale--a price I hadn't seen in 5 to 8 years for European travel)

DC--where I learned once again that it's such a fantastic capitol city with so much greenery and so many things to do.

Nice--where I learned that sometimes it's a good idea to go back and spend some real time in a place you've previously glossed over.

Piemonte--where I found an area that I think is on its way to becoming the new Tuscany, i.e. the next new thing. Let's hope it doesn't get over run.

Overall--I learned that I schedule travel differently now than I used to when we lived in Minnesota. Now I look for cool places to go to get out of the Florida summer heat (which means flight prices are generally higher) when I used to look for warm places to go to get away from the cold Minnesota winters.

I also learned that even bad things can have their good travel upsides. I have acquired an arch problem that makes it necessary for me to wear a brace which only fits into a very limited type of shoes. Being able only to find and wear one or two pairs of shoes certainly opens up space in a suitcase that once had to hold 5 or 6 different styles and colors.

ttt to read later.

Chile- It is in Pristine Zone and the fruit, vegetables an seafood were the fresheth we have evr eaten.
Argentina- Although we are not beef eaters we had to try a steak in Argentina. We found they are not as tender as in the US but the flavor reminded of the way beef tasted in the US when we were children and our mothers served us steak,much more favorful than we get today at home.
Argentina- We couldn't believe our VISA bill when we returned home. It was so much lower than we expected, much different than after our trips to Europe.
Norway and Sweden- We were so impressed with the high quality of public transportation and the cleanliness in these countries.The trains from the airports to the city centers were especially good.

Julie - Piemonte is everywhere - it's very strange as on Saturday waved goodbye to our Italian friends who have lived in the UK for 4 years and who are from Turin. Our sons have grown up together since being 3 weeks old.

We went over to Turin for the first time 4 weeks ago to look at their new house. The city IMO is the best small city in Europe. The setting is tunning, the food diverse and the people very welcoming. We didn't get out into the countryside which it would appear is Tuscany without the tourists.

where did I travel to this year?

Seattle, WA - I never realized how brown Los Angeles is until the flight home & wished for rain.

New Zealand - I learned how clean a country can be if everyone cares to be conscience of it's surroundings & that 2-button flush toilets should be sold in the U.S. The concept of "free-range" abounds and there is somewhere in the world where the water straight out of the tap tastes good!

Melbourne/Great Ocean Road, Australia - 1) How old/intolerant I've become while in a hostel's common room w/ 6 girls singing along to the music blaring out of their laptop. 2) Every public restroom in the U.S. should have a Dyson hand dryer. 3) I wish I lived there.

I learned that D.C. is such an interesting, classy city. The fact that so many museums are free make it that much more appealing.

Unlike some of you, I have no desire to live on a beach (unless it was in a more northern climate), but I discovered that I enjoy beaches on cloudy, windy days- diving through the big waves is loads of fun.

markrosy- yes, Sicily is an interesting place. I watched a pickpocket go to work first-hand on a bus. (No pun intended.)

gruezi- I'm curious to know how and why you discovered that you weren't into safaris.

P_M- your comments about appreciating the support of Fodorites were touching.

jorr- amusing post!

NeoPatrick and colduphere- thanks for those funny visuals!

LHS- did they serve the deep-fried chicken feet to you on a stick? We went to the Minneapolis State Fair this fall, and they serve just about everything on a stick!

parisonmymind- you sound like a real trooper. I sincerely hope you're able to travel again soon.

oliverg- your post reminded me of the time I mistakenly ordered 'tripe' instead of 'truffles' one year in Normandie.

LABruin- I always hear good things about New Zealand. I'm curious- what is a "2-button flush toilet"?

This has been a great thread, and though I only responded to some, I've enjoyed every single post.

Ireland - there truly are 40 shades of green

Scotland - don't drink Rusty Nails and then have to catch an early morning flight home!

USA: I must stop knocking TX and go to Austin more often. And the South West is truly spectacular.

Egypt:
(1) Egyptians now top my list of the most friendly and welcoming people I've ever met.
(2) Sometimes, Immodium is not enough.

Air Travel:
(1) I never want to fly in the back of the plane again.

boots08, toilets down under have 2 flushing options, for #1 or #2. #1 uses less water...

Plenty of trips this year to Puerto Rico, Vieques, Miami, Anguilla, etc and I've learnt that my kids are growing up.

Yes, I knew this but it's abundantly more obvious when you're together 24/7 especially if all 4 of us shared a room (one night in NJ when enroute to my son's college).

We've also taken a couple of trips without my son to Santa Fe and Mexico and I'm learning what it means to be a family of 3 and also I've been thinking about when it'll eventually be just the two of us when DD grows up.

So it's all very introspective and the destinations have almost been irrelevant but the trips have taught me to savour what we have.

>>toilets down under have 2 flushing options, for #1 or #2. #1 uses less water...

I'll resist the urge to make a bad pun here and just say nifty!

Regarding the two flushing option toilets, when were in Denmark last May I was impressed by that feature. I had never seen it before and then noticed in other European countries as well. Upon our return home I was in Costco and there they were! I purchased one for our cottage which we were renovating. It works great!

We have one kid in college and the other at home and, like sassy, trips have changed. It's true for us too about travel being alot about the family being together, being introspective, about destinations becoming less important. I remember trips to Cape Charles Va and Tyrone Pa as fondly as trips to Spain. Maybe destinations will become more important for us when (sniff) both kids leave.

santamonica, maybe we'll end up visiting our kids! I hope one of mine decides to live in Hawaii!

We started out the year in North Carolina for spring break. We learned that bad weather seems to follow us!

Then took 30 high school kids to Greece, Italy and Spain for 2 weeks...even after 4 years of doing this, we learn something each time. Unfortunately this year it was don't let the kids keep their own passports! After missing out on our trip to Morocco due to passport issues, we ended up in Portugal for 3 days by ourselves and realized we missed all the kids!

Colorado-Here I learned that camping with no itenerary is a wonderful thing!

Las Vegas-I learned that heels aren't good for walking the strip and that if you don't gamble, maybe it's better to do Vegas in the summer when there's a pool

"...And I learned to eat when I was hungry, because restaurants there aren't always open to accommodate my US dining habits."


It's tough not being a slave to food in this day and age, but something I'm working on.

One of my early travel gurus used to say how he did not eat for 2 days as they could not bring down any game on their treks through Africa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Selous

Sometimes we get too caught up in eating every few hours. The average human can go for 3 or 4 weeks without food before succumbing.

"...11 years ago we visited Luxor and the usual sites. It was absolutely exhausting and took months to physically recover. Stomach bugs etc. Since then our bets have been fairly safe."


I got IBS and have to cook everywhere I go. Have done tons of cooking on top of toilets with my hot plates in Europe and all over. Lock up cooking equip in luggage. The first time in Paris the maid confiscated it. Leaned my lesson after that.

Of course, had to scale back on the weight once airlines started with the 'money for luggage' requirements, but I can cook as lite as I like. Take alcohol burners and use denatured alcohol with titanium backpacking cook pots that weigh nothing if I like.

(BTW, even if you rinse the dirty rice from India a dozen times - it still stinks of burlap from the sack it comes in.)