Seasons Greetings... <BR>To Al and Ruth Clem, who did not get on that Egypt Air flight, and so who are with us today to share their extraordinary wisdom, written so delightfully well; <BR>To Hilary Fletcher, whose request for a “hand across the sea” launched an amazing outpouring of assistance, and one of the best trip reports ever written; <BR>To Wes Fowler, who is in his third year (that I know of) of offering up not only sound advice but of asking the kinds of questions that elicit memorable responses; <BR>To Helen in Australia, who a year ago posed the remarkable question, “Where Are You” that is still drawing responses today; <BR>To Francesca and those other lucky individuals who offer sensible tips for France from the viewpoint of residents (sigh); <BR>To Monica, who did the impossible and allowed us to put faces to the names and words that grace this site; <BR>To Ilisa, who was apparently providing first-rate guidance on Washington D.C. even as she was being rushed into the maternity ward; <BR>To Bob Brown, our very own voice of reason and maturity; <BR>To whomever originated the “Drunk Mom” thread, which brought out some of the most laughing-out-loud, hysterical humor I have ever seen; <BR>To Bob the Navigator, who turns out such well-crafted responses on every nook and cranny of Europe; <BR>To Dave Crane, who has provided such excellent travel advice both for Europe and the southwestern US; <BR>To Tony Hughes, aka Stellarossa who, while frequently infuriating, is always ultimately endearing; <BR>To Topper, whomever he or she is, for regularly finding and sending up the interesting threads; <BR>To the Fodors web staff, who must be truly amazed at what they have wrought; <BR>And even to Dr. Abate and Sam Hempell, because even rogues occasionally need to be wished well. <BR>And to all the other regular contributors who provide enlightenment, no-beating-around-the-bush travel commentary, and a general wealth of good advice to those seeking information; making this the most enjoyable of web sites.

Ditto the above, plus... <BR>To Neal, who may offer only One Traveller's Opinion, but it's a darned good one; <BR>To Elvira, my kind of uppity woman; <BR>To Brian in Atlanta, the world's best wandering banker; <BR>To Dan W, who *almost* makes Germany seem appealing; <BR>To DonnaBooks, as I think of her, for her knowledge of things French on both sides of the pond; <BR>To Christina, who knew how to deal with Ron; <BR>and to all the people who will have me slapping my forehead the minute I hit "post my reply." I meant to include you. Really. <BR>

And to One Traveler, whom you modestly left off, whose well-written, informative, and above all entertaining Opinions should qualify said author to have a weekly column in the Times Sunday Travel section.

To all of you out there, and especially to the many who wrote us directly upon hearing of the death of our daughter. Friends, this has to be the most difficult Christmas ever for us. But life moves on. We're off to prowl around the Aztec, Toltec, Mixtec, Zapotec, and Mayan ruins in a few weeks. You will be in our thoughts, and I assure you of a post-trip report upon our return. Please, Mr. Montezuma, no revenge...please.

To Ben Haines and Paulo, who seem to know the UK and Italy, respectively, as if they had created them themselves.

And to La Bella Dona who shows us all how to go first class and stay down to earth in Italy.

Greetings to you all, who have given me so many laughs, wonderful pieces of advice, and more than a few tears over this past year, and heartfelt thanks. The world is truly an amazing place, made so by people like you. I wish for each of you a healthy, happy, and wander-full holiday season and new year.

SEASON'S GREETINGS!!! <BR> <BR>First and foremost to THE FODOR'S STAFF, for maintaining, what has to be, one of the BEST travel forums on the Internet. <BR> <BR>TO ALL the wonderful contributors WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO HELP OUT!! <BR> <BR>...and this year Special Greetings to the European Contributors, Sheila, Ben, Paulo, Vincent, Mirriam, Denise (for the great thread "Where are you?"), and to newcomers Lola, Maribel, and Rex whose replies are a joy to read. <BR> <BR>SALUD!! CHEERS!! SALUTE!!

<BR>May I add my seasons greetings to all of you, with best wishes for first class travel figuratively, if not literally, in the new year for all Fodorites.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to all and ditto to all of the above. Finding this board with all of it's inhabitants and the good advise and stories they share has made the purchase of our computer and internet service worth every penny. <BR>God bless you all, happy travels now and in the comming year(s)(and remember to take a wash cloth and to post your trip reports upon return). <BR> <BR>MarkJ

Joyeux Noel Feliz Navidad Buon Natale frohe Weihnachten alegre christmas <BR> <BR>ad infinitum to the travelers who inhabit this forum because they can't be tromping up an Alp or trudging through a museum or squirming in a too-tight airplane seat - so they camp out here until the next mind-boggling, bone-jarring, stomach-churning, Montezuma-revenging adventure has them in its grip. Here's to you all and may the road always rise to greet you (unless you're on a bicycle tour, in which case you'd want it flat but that's a different sentiment so we'll postpone that until another time) <BR> <BR>

My season's wishes for everyone: <BR> <BR>that everywhere you go - - <BR>- - there are scaffolds - - removed yesterday - - <BR> <BR>that you get the "E" seat on a 747 configured AB CDEFG HI - - and that no one shows up to take seats C,D,F or G - - <BR> <BR>that no one comes up with the idea to put up J-365,235 avant l'an 3000 - - sixteen days from now! <BR> <BR>that you wake up earlier than you planned on your first full morning there - - because of the intoxicating aromas coming from the bakeries right outside your hotel room window! <BR> <BR>that Juliette Binoche is right there when you - - oh, never mind - - <BR> <BR>Have a great millennium everybody - - or at least a milli-millennium! <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

What a charming thread! I've not fodored for awhile due to business travel -- Chicago, College Station, Wichita -- and I have missed all of you. So let me just take this opportunity to thank you all for a year of fun and travel-related mental frolic and also to wish you all a millennium-turning that is glitch free and travel rich, probably AFTER January 2, 2000! <BR>Joy to all!~

As a newcomer here, I can only say how much I've enjoyed this past year and how lucky I am to have found you... <BR> <BR>I wish you all a peaceful and healthy holiday and coming year, with travel to all of your favorite places... and if you can't get there yourself, at least being able to share it with a friend online... <BR> <BR>Neal, this is a wonderful posting - and so indicative of the generous, caring, and "witty" folks I've met here. <BR> <BR>Happy Holidays to you all!

Thank you all for a year of wonderful <BR>travel memories via this amazing medium. <BR>I find myself eager each day to visit <BR>this forum to discover what delights <BR>my cyber friends hath wrought. We really <BR>need to think about trying to get at <BR>least a group of us together in Europe. <BR>I will be thinking about that and get <BR>back with a plan. HAPPY HOLIDAYS !

Part of the fun of this Forum, aside from helping others with their plans, is the feeling of "taking a trip" when you are really just sitting at home or at the office. Since we can't all travel all of the time it gives us a chance to re-live the good times and look forward to the next trip as well. There is also nothing like reading a crazy thread about washclothes to brighten up an otherwise dull day! I've made some friends via this Forum and I know others have as well, and I hope everyone has a wonderful (and safe) holiday.

UP

Happiest of holidays to all--friends that I now check on daily (some days more than once). And especially to Al and Ruth and their Angel, all of whom I think about every day. I've learned a great deal from all of you and am waiting for the day I can stop printing and filing your good advice, and just go! <BR>

Happy Holidays and have a safe 2000 travelling wherever your dreams may bring you and your loved ones. Thanks to all who helped to make this Europeans's trips throughout Europe more memorable. <BR>Cathy

My ditto to all comments. We had a great travel year and owe a lot of the fun and lack of hassles to advice on Fodors. Here's to another great year of exploring in 2000.