Greetings of the Season
 

Greetings of the Season… <BR> <BR>To Elvira, who sees the humor in travel and expresses it so well, <BR>To Wes Fowler, whose voice of sanity and knowledge of so many places is astounding, <BR>To Dr. Betty Fordor, whose puns are shameless (and we should all be so gifted), <BR>To Sheila Ritchie, who knows the UK like her back yard because it is her back yard, <BR>To Ben Haines, Fodors’ resident connoisseur, <BR>To Stellarossa, who is showing America their own country through keenly observant eyes, <BR>To Howard Ravis and Owen O’Neill, without whom countless to visitors to New York would miss the best of that city, <BR>To Bob Brown, whose southern charm and gentility shine through with every post, <BR>To Miriam, a.k.a. Berk, who can navigate lost souls through Germany with ease, <BR>To Clara, Herb, Simba, Nigel, et. al., (and their alter egos) for keeping us entertained through the fall, <BR>To Santa Chiara, whether she be in Italy or Texas, for her continuing good counsel, <BR>To Topper, for always being there when you need him (her?), <BR>To Al Clem, our very own and very much appreciated eminence gris, <BR>To Bob the Navigator, whom Fodors would have had to invent if he didn’t already exist, <BR>To Chris, Aisling, Dave, Danny, and the rest of the Fodors.com squad, for putting up with us, <BR>And to the hundreds whom I haven’t have named, for being there when a traveler needs a helping hand… <BR> <BR>The best of this joyous season. <BR> <BR>

Thanks, Neal--I needed that. I looked up "eminence gris"--sorry, I am an eminence blanc! But we codgers, Ruth and I, send our very best to all on this network of Fodorphiles. Not letting the years get the best of us, we will soon be off to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Look for a report upon our return!

And let me (us) say, <BR>God rest you Merry Gentlemen and Ladies. <BR>Wishing all of you the merriest of holiday seasons, regardless of which holiday you celebrate. <BR> <BR>I (we) hope you all had a good year of travels in 2000 and many good trips lie ahead in 2001. <BR> <BR>Happy New Year.

Thank YOU Neal for your eagerly-awaited, always valuable One Traveller's Opinions as well as your own wisdom, insight, and humor in replying to others... <BR> <BR>And thank you to all those mentioned by Neal (and others); this is quite a special "place..." <BR> <BR>Happiest of holidays to everyone... <BR>

I love you Neal really I do.

Neal, <BR> <BR>Thank you for well wishes and I would like to wish everyone the same as well. <BR> <BR>It's certainly fun to come here and share information, tales and laughter with all of you. <BR> <BR>Have a safe and happy holiday with good health, one and all!

Thanks Neal... right back at you, and on a personal note... Paulo who actually gave me courage to drive in Greece, Elivra, Ben and Art... who's BBQ in So.Cal, I had to work though, to all the great Fodorites, who make travel that much better, I wish a happy, safe, fun and prosperous holiday season and New Year....you guys are the best!

Dearest Sweet Neal, <BR> <BR>Thank you so much for thinking of me during the holiday season. Heaven knows I certainly spend a great deal of time thinking about you. <BR> <BR>I thought your holiday greeting to the kind contributors here at Fodors was really wonderful. Well, mostly wonderful. You left out a few people, but I am sure it was just that you were peering through your bifocals at a tiny laptop when you were typing, and we all know how impossible those little laptop buttons are. Anyway, let's just assume you sent best wishes along to Simba and Scar and the pups and leave it at that. OK, now I'll go get Herb so he can say hello . . . <BR> <BR>HERB. HERB! HERB, PUT THAT DOWN AND GET OVER HERE!!! THAT NICE NEAL SANDERS FELLOW SENT YOU A MESSAGE. REALLY! HE DID. COME SAY HELLO, WILL YOU? <BR> <BR>Hi Neal. This is Herb. Thanks for the message, even though you are a complete stranger to me. I'm pleased to learn that you have found the living hell that is my pathetic excuse for a so-called existence to be sufficiently entertaining in the few moments you have to spare from your life of fine dining, travel, and pedicures. Thanks for caring.

I care, Herb! <BR>At least YOU and Simba (a dog of all things!) were mentioned! <BR> <BR>And Clara, what's your hangup, babe? I thought Simba (and Scar?) were goners! (Must admit though, things do get awfully confusing in here sometimes, and you HAVE been quite the busy beaver lately...) <BR> <BR>So, guess I'll strive to be ever more informed, intelligent and witty over the coming new year so that Neal will love me too. (sniff, sniff) <BR> <BR>I WILL deem myself worthy of the bright lights NEXT Christmas! <BR> <BR>Merry Holidays, ALL!

Thanks mate. Now if everyone could just agree to buy the book for next christmas I would be eternally grateful. <BR> <BR>Cheers.

Yes, Sharon, things did get confusing there for a while. I should be more clear. The ORIGINAL Scar and Simba met with a horrible, twitching death from chocolate poisoning. But a couple of the puppies managed to survive because they were too small to wedge themselves into the box of candy and get their fair share of sweets. I have named them Simba 1 and Scar 1, and through extensive counseling and appropriate drug therapy, I have learned to carry on and be strong for them. <BR> <BR>Unfortunately, even these two wee pets did not survive the conflagration entirely unscathed. It was touch and go there for a while, and they are, sadly to say, worse for the wear. <BR> <BR>Poor Simba 1 really took the brunt of the explosion. You should have seen the house -- fur was positively everywhere! She has been in rehab since, and her specialists tell me that she is unlikely to regain full control over her, um, normal bodily functions. This has created quite a mess at times (well actually, it is only a problem if both Herb and I are away from home for more than about 30 minutes). But Herb has pitched in to clean up after Simba 1 whenever I remind him. His attitude is just great. He nicknamed Simba 1 his "incontinental bitch" because he would love to take her on our next trip. That's really sweet. <BR> <BR>Scar 1, too, has become a bit of a burden after the accident. I learned that if a dog only has three legs, it is much harder for him to get around. And when he marks his territory, he usually topples right over, unless Herb is there to support him. What a guy! <BR>

Sad; so sad!<BR><BR>But happy everything Neal. That was so nice of you.<BR><BR>Incidentally I'm useless in the UK outside<BR>1. Scotland<BR>2. Party conference venues<BR>3. Stratford on Avon and the North Cotswalds. But,like my friend Helen says, I know everyone in Scotland.<BR><BR>Fodorite meeting here, during the Festival, anyone?

Sounds like a plan, Sheila....we will be in Edinburgh on Aug.9-14.....staying at Tailor's Hall, FYI, Judy :-) Tony, Frank?

This is it? You have nothing more to say to Neal?

Topette, Neal isn't trolling for on-line Christmas cards. Rather, it's his way of wishing everyone on the site a very joyous holiday. He starts with a couple of people who are very well known to everyone on the Board for their wit and wisdom, then broadens it out to a general greeting. <BR> <BR>What he hopes is that others will pick up the thread and offer their own best wishes to everyone. In past years, that's exactly what has happened. If they don't, then the thread sinks to the bottom; no harm, no foul.

Hi, I am a relative newcomer to both the forum and European travel. However, I would like to send Holiday Greetings and a big “Thank you” to all the Fodorites who have helped. Aside from buying tickets for David in advance, having a wonderful free map of Chianti in advance, I now know what nocciola gelato is!! <BR> <BR>I would like to particularly thank three contributors who have helped the most: <BR> <BR>Elvira – whose wit and humor make me laugh – it probably IS the best medicine! <BR> <BR> Elaine – for her prodigious work in assembling her “travel notes” – (now that I is certainly a misnomer) and for sharing them <BR> <BR> Paulo – the living travel encyclopedia <BR> <BR>Thanks again to all and a very Happy (read traveling) New Year <BR>

Memories on the making!

Neal, <BR>Do you have a brother that I could marry, as you are already taken? Seriously, you need to write a book! <BR> <BR>I've been reading this site for about two years now and I just absolutely love it. Everyone is so knowledgable and interesting! <BR> <BR>All the best of 2001 to all of you! <BR>Best Wishes and Be Safe!

up top for Christmas 2000!

Merry Christmas etc. all. I am off now until Jan 3 so won't be around to surf while pretending to work. I know, I am the last person in the world to get wired at home, but the price of a decent computer looks too much like two tickets to Europe. I am envious of those getting together this holiday in Paris while I curl up in a corner at my outlaws with my Fromers France.