Joanna

Well Bob, some of us live to travel - I have been for the past fifteen years, travelling to Europe (usually, though sometimes the Middle East or Asia) for 2 months every 2 years (using 2 years worth of holidays, i.e. 4 weeks/year). One gets a lot of experience from that. I'm not yet 38, so can you imagine the wealth of experience of some of our older posters. Don't knock it, it's valuable info and its FREE!

April

Personally, Bob, if I ask a question I don't really care whether people give first hand information or not. They can tell me what they read, heard about, or even their impressions from 30 years ago. It's all information and that's fine with me. <BR>

D.B.

Making it up? Yes, absolutely. If you want reality, Bob, go visit a porn site (or maybe just your imagination). <BR> <BR>But sarcasm aside, I once had a history teacher that was always telling stories about things he did and the people and events he was involved in. It was true, but sometimes difficult to believe that so many things could happen to just one person rather than ten (anyone remember Commander McBrag?). But, that can be an inspiration to push onward into the whirling vortex of life. So, Bob, consider throwing together a few pesos and going to Mexico, or Nuevo York, or take a boat ride to Catalina, or a walk across the street -- you might discover it can happen to you. <BR>

Becky

<BR>I think Bob got what he wanted! Lots of enthusiasm and information!

Bob

Why make it up? The fun is getting off your duff and seeing a little of the world. I was very fortunate during the Viet Nam war to be drafted and sent to protect Stuttgart, Germany. My wife and I took advantage ot this and traveled Europe for the 18 months we were there. We fell in love with the area and get back there any way we can as many times as we can. I enjoy reading the comments on Fodors for places we have been or are planning to go. Bob: I doubt you find anyone winging it here. They are all too bust planning the next trip. We head to Italy in September. Just returned from the Caribbean and Cabo San Lucas plus a weekend in the Napa valley and Phoenix Az. Yes, I work and some is business. Sure beats hanging around home and we live in the San Francisco Bay Area...another great travel destination that is always great to return to with the Golden Gate Bridge waiting for us. Go for it Bob! Travel a little and then tell us all about it. <BR>

Cheryl Z.

<BR>Hi Bob - as a frequent poster for nearly two years now, I can assure you I don't have the imagination or the time to be making these things up. As mentioned above, I live to travel, and loooove to talk about it too. And I especially love to help others get over those first-time jitters. I don't always get the exact name of a restaurant, or street number either, but I always know that someone else with a better memory or better notes will immediately try to get the correct info out to better help all of you enjoy traveling as much as the rest of us do.

Cheryl Z.

<BR>Hi Bob - as a frequent poster <BR>for nearly two years now, I can <BR>assure you I don't have the <BR>imagination or the time to be <BR>making these things up. As <BR>mentioned above, I live to <BR>travel, and loooove to talk <BR>about it too. And I especially <BR>love to help others get over <BR>those first-time jitters. I <BR>don't always get the exact name <BR>of a restaurant, or street <BR>number either, but I always know <BR>that someone else with a better <BR>memory or better notes will <BR>immediately try to get the <BR>correct info out to better help <BR>all of you enjoy traveling as <BR>much as the rest of us do.

Cheryl Z.

<BR>Hi Bob - as a frequent poster <BR>for nearly two years now, I can <BR>assure you I don't have the <BR>imagination or the time to be <BR>making these things up. As <BR>mentioned above, I live to <BR>travel, and loooove to talk <BR>about it too. And I especially <BR>love to help others get over <BR>those first-time jitters. I <BR>don't always get the exact name <BR>of a restaurant, or street <BR>number either, but I always know <BR>that someone else with a better <BR>memory or better notes will <BR>immediately try to get the <BR>correct info out to better help <BR>all of you enjoy traveling as <BR>much as the rest of us do.

elvira

John: caught me flat-footed. Excellent. <BR>Bobbobbobbobbob: you're terrific. You've got everybody involved. And, hell, I wish I COULD make up some of this stuff (if Wes, Ben, Tony, Al, Elaine, ad infinitum are making up stuff, their fantasy world is the same as mine)

Linda DuPuy

Hello, Bob. As someone who was never in a financial or personal situation to be able to travel, I can understand your reluctance to believe that there are people like these Fodorites who have actually been where they say they have been, can actually remember the minutiae of the trip, and have a passion about sharing it with others. I might have shared your feelings until I began to plan my first ever adventure about 9 months ago. My Dutch friend told me half the fun was in the planning of the trip. I discoved Fodor's and fell in love! My 28-day-trip-of-a lifetime took me to Holland; (sidetrip)Morocco, Africa; Belgium; France; Italy; Slovenia; and Dachau in Germany. I was immersed in history, culture, culinary arts, language, politics and visual delights to last a lifetime. Bob, once you taste the joy of sharing in the world in this way, you will forever be changed and you will forever understand the desire to share your journey with others. May your journey begin soon. Linda DuPuy

Monica

<BR> Bob, did you ever stir up a hornets nest! I have been posting and reading messages here for over 2 years now. I have been to Europe 7 times since 1990 and lived in many places because of my Dad's job. I've had the travel bug in me since I was a kid. People are here to help others travel, to tell their experiences, and to find information for their next trip. I love to travel so much that I'm now considering quitting my job with the Federal Government (just made 15 years!) and find a job which I can travel sometimes and help others with their travels! (even if I have a big cut in pay). I can talk about traveling all day. It gives me great satisfaction to know my experiences can be passed on to others who in turn have a great time with their travels. It never bothers me when I read a question that I have answered before (or others that have). I answer again as if it was the first time the question came up. <BR> <BR>And, with this travel forum, I had the great opportunity to meet 8 others in Paris this past May. Now that was fun! <BR> <BR>So Bob, you can learn a lot here and make new friends with the same interests. <BR>

dan woodlief

Bob, I haven't been to Europe as many times as some of the people on this forum, but I have had some very encompassing trips there, and I have been to several other parts of the world as well. In addition, a lot of my knowledge comes from a background in European history and a constant occupation with learning about the world. I tend to stick to specifics with only those places I have been, but I will comment on other places if I feel like I know enough about them. For example, I might suggest that Colmar is a good daytrip from Freiburg, even though I have not been to the former. I can tell you how long it takes to get from Berlin to Rome by train, even though I have not been to either yet, by using the Internet resources with which I am familiar. However, you will not find me saying that Florence is one of my favorite cities because I have not experienced it in person yet. I think the hardest questions on this forum are the comparative ones. Example: What is the best daytrip from Paris? I can tell you what is the best one that I have taken, but how can I judge it fully compared to those you have not taken? That is when it pays to have so many informed readers giving you there own responses to these questions, so you can compare answers and decide for yourself.

KDJ

Bob, <BR> <BR>You didn't move here from Trip.com by any chance, did you?

debbie

MAKING IT UP? Wes, Elvira, Martha B, Monica, John and many others who've HELPED me to plan my trip and change some things due to their first-hand word. Most folks in this forum are well-read, intelligent, kind, giving folks with one thing in common- the LOVE OF TRAVELING. Many reply and I am most thankful for their honest first-hand information or their advise on how to access the information. (Check my posting in Ireland for my Mom trying to get golf course info. It's been there since mid May w/ NO RESPONSES until tonight when I said how unresponsive the Ireland forum was!) To the younger or more mature travelers, I thank you all!

Kay

To Monica, congratulations on completing 15 years federal gov. service. If that lets you go do travel/travel-related stuff full time, go for it! Good for you. <BR> <BR>To all other European travel junkies, thank you so much for making me feel normal. I used to think there was something wrong with me, wanting to put all my money into as much travel as I could, and now I know I am not alone, it is wonderful! When I can't be traveling, now I can go fodoring and it extends the pleasure of travel and its wonderful memories. Thank you all. <BR> <BR>So, Bob, perhaps you just aren't yet a travel junky so you can't comprehend this consuming passion...yet.

Leo

<BR>34 reactions to his stupid remark!!! <BR>He got what he wanted!!!!!!!!!! <BR>

susan

I for one am a travelaholic. I don't respond to anything unless I've been there. It's an expensive habit but I don't mind. <BR>

topper

Are you....? <BR> <BR>The Good Topper

CJ

Since this is the first day I've visited this site, I was excited to find this forum. I have travelled quite a bit and felt I could share some experiences. However, after posting a question of my own and getting the types of responses I did, as well as reading a few other topic strings, I can't say that I'm really impressed so far. While I do feel there are a lot of people who have good information to share, I also think there are a lot of people here with too much time on their hands who want to do nothing more than "stir the pot". People like that should go chat on a site with other people who have too much time on their hands.

Bob

How did this thread pop up again? I just read my response to this on May 8, 1999.(See above) Interesting. Since that response, we did the trip to Italy in 99. Also have been to Tokyo, Orlando, Las Vegas twice, Tahoe, Napa twice, La Jolla, Chicago, France and Italy again in July 2000, and now heading for Danube cruise in October. Some business, mostly pleasure. Ya gotta get out and see the world. TV has dumbed down and fattened up America. Video games are turning kids to mush. If you find yourself discussing a TV sitcom with friends that is God's way of telling you that your life is in a rut. Travel and see the real stuff!