Biggest regret???
Jun 15th, 2006, 08:53 AM
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Biggest regret???
Throughout your travels abroad or in the states what is your biggest regret?? It could be not going somewhere, spending too much or not enough time in a place, not seeing a site, or being too cheap to pay the 10 euro to go to the top of the arc de triumph??
Mine would have to be only spending two night in florence on a two week italy trip a couple of years ago. We did not go to academia to see david only the uffizi. We also did not go into the duomo. At the time I was satisfied at our experience in florence, we had a amazing time. But as I returned home I read more about the city and its history with art and such and am now kicking myself. I am torn to go back.
Mine would have to be only spending two night in florence on a two week italy trip a couple of years ago. We did not go to academia to see david only the uffizi. We also did not go into the duomo. At the time I was satisfied at our experience in florence, we had a amazing time. But as I returned home I read more about the city and its history with art and such and am now kicking myself. I am torn to go back.
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:02 AM
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I'm sure I'll come up with more later, but for now the only regret that comes to mind is from my trip to London in April. I was running short on time so I chose the Tower Bridge tour over the Cabinet War Rooms. The view was nice from the Tower Bridge, but I REALLY regret missing the Cabinet War Rooms.
But that's OK, this gives me yet another reason to return to London!!
But that's OK, this gives me yet another reason to return to London!!
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:16 AM
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A couple:
-I regret getting to the Westminster Abbey only 30 minutes before closing;
-I regret spending only 10 minutes on top of the Eiffel Tower as I got nervous;
-I regret not going to Barcelona when I was a student in southern France b/c I was dating a boy there who didn't want to go.
-I regret not taking some days off from french school to go to Ireland with some other students b/c I was afraid to miss classes.
-I regret getting to the Westminster Abbey only 30 minutes before closing;
-I regret spending only 10 minutes on top of the Eiffel Tower as I got nervous;
-I regret not going to Barcelona when I was a student in southern France b/c I was dating a boy there who didn't want to go.
-I regret not taking some days off from french school to go to Ireland with some other students b/c I was afraid to miss classes.
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:19 AM
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Not staying at a more posh hotel in Napa Valley.
Other than that, my biggest regrets always seem to be centered around not buying something when I should have. Like the inlaid wood table in Sorrento that I still think about.
Other than that, my biggest regrets always seem to be centered around not buying something when I should have. Like the inlaid wood table in Sorrento that I still think about.
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:27 AM
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CheBird, you're right - I still regret not buying the lovely provencial tableclothes, clothe napkins, etc. when I was in Provence. I bought some for my mom but none for myself as I was still a college student then but I sure wish I had it now! I also did the same faux pas when dh and I went to Paris and didn't buy any in Montmartre - dumb, dumb, dumb!
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:30 AM
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1981- our honeymoon to the Grand Canyon. We spent two nights on the Hopi Reservation and became friendly with one of the tribal members. We were invited to attend the Hopi Snake Dance Ritual but it would have meant rescheduling our plane reservations and a missed day at work. Didn't stay - have regretted it since. A rare opportunity missed.
Jun 15th, 2006, 09:38 AM
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Jun 15th, 2006, 09:59 AM
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No. I haven't. I didn't know they wouldn't ship. I discovered on the website that they have a shop in Harrod's London. I wonder if they will ship?
It was a thrill to stumble upon the Laduree Bonaparte store without expecting one there. What a delight!
It was a thrill to stumble upon the Laduree Bonaparte store without expecting one there. What a delight!
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:14 AM
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Two regrets -
1) Not spending more time in Venice
2) Due to a head cold, not being able to cook a planned dinner for the owners of Pensione Ferretti in Florence.
But both of these will be remedied in October. Spending 3 nights in Venice and I have been invited to Luciano and Susys' farmhouse to cook said dinner.
Tom
1) Not spending more time in Venice
2) Due to a head cold, not being able to cook a planned dinner for the owners of Pensione Ferretti in Florence.
But both of these will be remedied in October. Spending 3 nights in Venice and I have been invited to Luciano and Susys' farmhouse to cook said dinner.
Tom
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:18 AM
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I regret not buying a wax jacket in Wicklow, Ireland, for a very good price because I thought it was too expensive and I didn't have the money (poor student).
I also regret not being able to stay in touch with all the cool people I met on that trip because I accidentally threw out the notebook that had everyone's address.
I regret not spending a night at the Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley on the spur of the moment when DH and I stumbled upon it, because all our contact lens stuff was in our hotel room in Vegas.
I also regret not being able to stay in touch with all the cool people I met on that trip because I accidentally threw out the notebook that had everyone's address.
I regret not spending a night at the Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley on the spur of the moment when DH and I stumbled upon it, because all our contact lens stuff was in our hotel room in Vegas.
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:20 AM
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My biggest regret while traveling usually revolves around not "living in the moment" to savor every bit of the experience. Letting minor snafus stay on my nerves after the problem is resolved.
In practical terms, trying to see too many places in a short time period. My husband, especially, prefers a leisurely pace. He likes to spend at least 5 nights in one spot, even if it doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions. I've come over to that way of thinking as well. When we plan a three week vacation, we stay overnight in three places, tops. And no drives longer than 5 hours between them. And we probably only see about half the things we plan to see. But a long relaxing walk with the dog in the countryside followed by some wine at a cafe more than compensates for missing a few paintings, monuments, castles.
In practical terms, trying to see too many places in a short time period. My husband, especially, prefers a leisurely pace. He likes to spend at least 5 nights in one spot, even if it doesn't have a lot of tourist attractions. I've come over to that way of thinking as well. When we plan a three week vacation, we stay overnight in three places, tops. And no drives longer than 5 hours between them. And we probably only see about half the things we plan to see. But a long relaxing walk with the dog in the countryside followed by some wine at a cafe more than compensates for missing a few paintings, monuments, castles.
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:25 AM
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This really resonates because I just posted an installment on my trip report on cities in Italy that describe how I missed seeing the Sistine Chapel in Rome because I was feeling ill (mostly jet lag, I think). I read the book Michaelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling and then did not get to see it!
Vera
Vera
Jun 15th, 2006, 10:55 AM
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Btilke - you took the words right out of my mouth. Does your DH know my DH?!
But here is a story of an opportunity not missed. My mom and dad went to Rome with a tour group as the price was good. The tour included a orientation bus tour of the city that included a brief stop at the Vatican. My dad was a cop so naturally he wants to talk to the cops on duty there. One of them told him to stick around and to attend the Mass that was starting in 20 minutes. That meant leaving the tour group and bus and figuring their own way back to the hotel. But my dad took the cop's advice, stayed for the Mass that incredibly was in honor of all policemen world wide (unknown to my dad until it started) and that was said by Pope John Paul II himself. My parents were given seats on the aisle and the Pope passed within inches of them. They could have taken the easy route and gotten back on that bus but what an opportunity they would have missed.
But here is a story of an opportunity not missed. My mom and dad went to Rome with a tour group as the price was good. The tour included a orientation bus tour of the city that included a brief stop at the Vatican. My dad was a cop so naturally he wants to talk to the cops on duty there. One of them told him to stick around and to attend the Mass that was starting in 20 minutes. That meant leaving the tour group and bus and figuring their own way back to the hotel. But my dad took the cop's advice, stayed for the Mass that incredibly was in honor of all policemen world wide (unknown to my dad until it started) and that was said by Pope John Paul II himself. My parents were given seats on the aisle and the Pope passed within inches of them. They could have taken the easy route and gotten back on that bus but what an opportunity they would have missed.
