Buyer

Bob, are you?

karin

No, I was fortunate to experience many cultures and countries due to my parent's work as international researchers. As an adult, I have followed my interest in languages and cultures to its logical conclusion: to travel as much as possible. I enjoy the anecdotes shared here, and tend to post more often in the Hawaii board, since I have made Hawaii my home for 25 years. I usually answer the more off-the-beaten-path questions and appreciate questions that indicate interest beyond which is the best hotel to stay in Waikiki. And, of course, the Europe board makes for much happy planning. Since I only manage to get there every three years or so, I welcome all the recent updates on restaurants, etc. <BR>Ciao, <BR>k

Thyra

I second the poster who said I wish I COULD make up all this stuff! What a career you could have in fiction writing. But sadly no, I am not that gifted, I have however been to Europe 10 times, and even lived in Ireland during my student days. I really enjoy helping people, and being helped in return and it has become a life goal of mine to go to as many places as I can before I die so that one day I can respond to many, many more questions or hopefully have many more to ask.

Dave

CJ - Have faith. This is a good travel site. <BR> <BR>Yes, there are some people who "stir the pot." But you have to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Nancy

I will be the first to confess. I do make things up, but not about travel. I have posted under at least 23 different names, as both men and women. I've said that I have lived in countries that I have only visited, or about experiences I have never had. I will also post a message arguing with something I posted earlier myself. But when it comes to details of traveling, such as hotels, restaurants, sites of interest, I only say what I know.

Topper

Nancy, yeah, we noticed....

I Lie

OK OK I confess! I lie about everything I post. I have never been outside of my home state (well once I went as far as the state line but was afraid to cross it). I just like to pretend that I have been all over and then I just lie, lie, lie. I even claim to have flown in a real airplane but I really have never flown. I saw an airplane one time but never have been in one. My last big trip was to the State Fair with my Aunt Meg. She won the Blue Ribbon for her Spam Delight dish. She is so neat and she has even been to NEW YORK once..but she didn't like it because the natives were so pushy. So there, I feel better by confessing. Forgive me and may Fodorites have mercy on my soul.

Bjorn Alvik

Hi, Bob. Your offending question surely has generated a lot of interesting stuff. <BR>Blame tho those who lies, roses to those who can tell and give hints without really having been travelling. <BR>The best travel is in fact at least three travels. First you plan, that includes listening and reading. Most often you are urged to cancel, and then start planning for another travel, and so on.But this fictious travel really qualifies you to talk about it. <BR>Then you travel, and the former objective travel fiction gets real, though subjective. Claiming that your real, subjective travel is the only truth is kind of lying. <BR>At last we have the memories, where facts and fiction merges. <BR>Isn't that marvellous? <BR>So go on, all contributors, fake travellers or not. But don't cheat!! <BR>Ha det' <BR>Bye <BR>Ciao <BR>Wiedersehn <BR>Au Rev <BR> <BR>Bjorn, Norway

Cindy

All right, all right. I, too, have been making it all up. Well, sort of. You know when I said I went to the newer sections of York? I really meant I went to New York. All that talk about my exploits in Italy? I was referring to Little Italy. <BR> <BR>But what's the difference? The way I figure it, staying right here in the U.S.ofA makes more sense. They accept good old American dollars everywhere here, everyone speaks perfect English, and people smell pretty good, too. And I haven't met even one pickpocket. <BR> <BR>Gotta go. I'm on my way to Paris. Paris, Texas, that is. Is that where they have the running of the bulls? I'll let you know!

lola

I have traveled to triple digit number of countries as I have to travel extensively to make my living. I love doing it, reading about it, sharing and helping. I never ever have steered anyone astray, and have years worth of info and anecdotes yet to share. I have stayed with this forum because of the level of discourse and wit--except for the one or two people who sometimes muck it up, esp. when school is out. This remains one of the best forums anywhere for travelers-- because we respect it and our fellow travel lovers.

Janice

I go to Europe 3 times a year - never on business - and I'm a secretary, i.e. I don't make mountains of money. But for those of us who value travel over virtually any other life experience, it's very possible to visit hundreds of places. One of the reasons we spend a lot of time on this forum is because we're relatively rare, and we love being able to share information with other people who travel, and to compare notes with other travel fanatics like us. You can't imagine how much money you can cut from your budget and allocate to travel until you really REALLY try...

Heather

Bob- <BR>I think the fact that you see the same people post all the time says something. Most of us don't have a whole lot of time. I know that I have never been a "web surfer," nor have I been a habitual poster on any other web site but this one. The fact that I visit this site as frequently as I do and the fact that I post says one thing: I love to travel. If someone has a piece of advice I haven't heard, then it's something for me to keep in mind the next time I travel abroad. If I can help someone out, then my travelling has counted for something. <BR> <BR>End of story.

jim

I'll tell you what's really funny about Bob's comments. Here's a guy with enough time on his hands to take the time to complain that "some people" have too much time on their hands.

Art

Cindy ([email protected]) You must of never left your house/apt/etc if you think that we all speak perfect english!! Americans are speaking worse english all of the time. I think it must be those who never travel!! <BR>

Katie

The "handful" of people that "actually reply" to messages here has all but vanished - due to folks such as yourself who have no appreciation for their tips and advice. They have undoubtedly determined that it's not a good idea to divulge insider tips and recommendations to those who are unthankful and others who question the validity of same. Too bad.