If you had a magic wand. . . .
 

. . . what one thing would you change about any city, country or region in the world that would improve or enhance your travels? Remember, you only get one wave of the magic wand. <BR> <BR>Personally, I would use the opportunity to make all firearms disappear from the United States. As it stands, there has been a tremendous loss of personal security here, and most people would agree that it is related to some extent to the ready availability of firearms. But if no one had them, no one would really need them, and I could walk down the street at night with fewer worries. That would greatly enhance my enjoyment of major cities in the United States. <BR> <BR>How about you?

I totally agree. That is what we loved so much about being in the UK. We didn't have to worry about being shot! I love the US, but feel that if I could magicly make guns disappear it would be wonderful.I teach school and with all the school shootings, I sometimes worry about that happening in our school. My son lives in the city and I worry about him being shot. Anyway, the UK was such a pleasure.

If I had a magic wand I would make some of our United States senators -- starting with Jesse Helms -- be required to spend half of their time traveling abroad. True, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink -- and I suppose this applies to donkeys as well. But this overseas exposure surely would (I hope) open their eyes to the cultures of other nations and stop acting like yahoos, rednecks, and ignorant chauvinists.

Not in the same league as gun control, but I would wave a magic wand and make ice machines available in every hotel in which I stay.

With my magic wand I would make this Forum a European travel discussion group and not a US gun control or a personal political agenda forum. Honestly what's next abortion, school prayer, taxes, Gore vs. Bush etc. We have to remember this is an *international* forum about Europe and not a personal agenda forum about US problems and politics. Although Meg has a good wish:-) and honestly no flames were intended, just my opinion. David <BR>

Cindy: <BR> <BR>In Florence, a network of streets that are just for pedestrians, to wend their way from the train station to the Ponte Vechio. I would keep Venice just the way it is, no traffic (other than pedestrians, but they are much easier to negotiate around compared to vespas) and a myriad of passage ways to explore. Then of course there is the floating on those cannals. <BR> <BR>I wouldn't want to change to much to "enhance my travels" because the whole point is to adapt to and appreciate what's already there. <BR> <BR>Anne

I would wish that Los Angeles had a functioning, effecient and cost effective publice transportation system that served all areas of the city equally well. (However, I think we are more likely to see all the guns disappear before that ever happens, and we know how likely that is.)

.....i wish that people would not spend so much time asking/answering questions not specificially traveled related and that do nothing but spout off their moralistic, overly opinionated views

I'd wave a magic wand and create a transporter beam a la Star Trek.

Yip I go with the beam me up Scottie option, wouldn't it be wonderful never to have to take a long cramped flight again : )

<BR>Dear xxx: The title of this post clearly indicates that it is not specifically travel related. If these posts/questions/answers peeve you so much, then why do you even read them, let alone post your own comments (not, of course, to be construed as your own overly opinionated view)?

... I'd restore and bring up to date a complete railroad system that covered all of the US equal to (of better than) that covering Europe. On time, covering all major and minor cities in all states, with decent accommodations and food.

I would move Australia and New Zealand closer to N. America or Europe. Two fabulous countries that are just too far away!! This makes airfare expensive, and makes for a very very very long plane ride!!

I think the number one most important thing to wish for would be that all animal suffering would stop. Certain countries are worse than others, Spain and Mexico do horribly cruel things to animals for the pleasure of the public. I've seen them light a bull's horns on fire then stand behind gates and cheer. Let's not even talk about Asia, animals have no voice at all on that continent. Ghandi said that "you can judge a country by how it treats it's animals". Truer words have never been spoken.

Yes, you can judge a country by how it treats its animals. Just look at England. It has much stricter animal protection laws than child protection laws. The society that promotes the protection of animals was in existence for some 60 years before anyone thought to form a similar group for children. <BR> <BR>Maybe that's why the English continue to occupy Northern Ireland--to make sure its animals, rather than its children, grow up safely.

Libby: It's irrational to be angry about what you perceive as more protection for animals than children. Humans are not the only creatures on this planet, although with attitudes like yours, it's easy to see why they act they way. Animals, believe it or not, care for their young as well {you won't see the kind of abuse in the animal world that you see in the human one}. And they deserve to be protected from the ignorant, cruel and selfish ways of people. There are many groups out there dedicated to protecting children as well. Animals and children are the only true innocents in this world, but children are not slaughtered for food, skinned for pelts, and have their habitats destroyed to make way for overbreeding people. We belong to the earth, not the other way around.

Well, I hate to get into this discussion but I have to say that treating animals well goes hand in hand with treating children (and all humans) well. One does not have to exclude the other. And the bull fighting is wrong- I don't care how long they have been doing it. Bullriding in the U.S. is a much kinder sport- at least they have respect for the bulls. The only one in danger in bullriding is the cowboy (although I have issues with other rodeo activites- I just make this comparison to show that there are compromises that can be made to protect the animals from harm).