Doesn't it just make your heart soar to see all the wonderful places of the world, the same places you have heard and read about all of your life? <BR>Isn't it wonderful to have the health, time and means to travel? <BR>We all really have to appreciate our travel experiences!

I'm topping this post because having the "health, time and means to travel" are more than most people in this world ever have. It's important to remember and appreciate that. (Believe it or not, we were just having this conversation in our household about an hour ago and we truly do appreciate the difference that travel has made in our lives.) A lot of us here on this board are living in a world that we see in a profoundly different way than most of the people we come in contact with every day as a result of our experiences. I agree with you 100 percent, Nance.

Ditto!! Love to travel and spend every spare penny doing it.Have been to France 6 times-driving all over the country,meeting great people and seeing wonderful sights. Yippee!

Yes. Consider less than a quarter of world population are able to travel freely without the major difficulty of obtaining visas.

Being able to enjoy any beauty life deals you is a pleasure. Me, I'm always held in check by reality.<BR><BR>http://www.bread.org/hungerbasics/international.html

We are exceptionally fortunate, as Americans, to be able to travel! Many of us take that for granted.<BR><BR>It is disappointing, however, that we are not able to freely (legally) travel to Cuba. I would love to go and explore that island, but the legal risks prevent me. Maybe the next administration will re-think this outdated and failed policy.<BR><BR>I would LOVE to visit the middle-east as well, but we aren't really "free" to do that right now either. Hopefully, there will be peace there one day and we will be able to travel there again.<BR><BR>Travel on!

What's being American have to do with this!!! Here we go again...!!

Well, Lazzer: Does YOUR government allow you to visit Cuba? Ours (US) does not!<BR> That's what being an American has to do with it. That freedom isn't there yet!

Now, now, don't turn this lovely thread and it's ideas dwindle down to politics. <BR>Be grateful you can travel at all XoX and Duane, Cuba or whereever will be there for a long time. <BR>A friend of mine was just diagonised with a deadly disease and he may not see any other country again. Don't dwell on what you can't do, go someplace else.

Sorry for the typos, but I got teary thinking of my friend's situation.<BR>Just live life while you can all of you travel lovers!

Nance, it surely is! I love traveling, I'm always planning my next trip and I often tell my friends that my trips are my boyfriendsNothing can give me more pleausure!

Well said, Nance! I completely agree.<BR><BR>My travel philosophy sounds a bit trite, but I genuinely believe it. I think that the world is SO big, and so wonderfully diverse, with so many amazing cultural treasures, that it’s a shame (for me) not to see as much of it as I can.<BR><BR>I’m an American, and have been fortunate enough to live in Geneva and Paris, and have been in Shanghai for the past 3 years. Literally, not a week goes by that I don’t experience a rush of thankfulness and feeling of luck for being able to live in such an exciting and different part of the world, that few people like me will even have a chance to SEE, let alone experience by living here (which I obviously enjoy, even though I know it’s not for everyone).<BR><BR>When I travel, and am looking at the magnificent ruins of Angkor, or a soaring cathedral in Italy, it makes me sad to think that my dad will never see these types of wonders. For him, it’s just because he doesn’t particularly WANT to travel. Nevertheless, it makes me sad to think that he’ll never see so many of the wonderful things that the world has to offer. Of course, I sympathize even more for people who would love to travel but can’t because of financial reasons or worse, political reasons (like the Chinese).<BR><BR>So, yes, it is wonderful to be able to travel, and thank you for starting this great thread to remind us all to be thankful!<BR>

For Duane: If you are really interested in going to Cuba, one way, legally, as an American, would be to team up with an educational group. Universities and other educational groups are permitted in, for courses and study purposes. Check with a college or university near you to see if they're offering any international travel classes.

Nance:<BR>What a great thread for me to read first thing in the morning! It is so true. I am in my 30s, and I have been lucky enough to travel to a variety of places in Europe, the Caribbean, and the US/Hawaii. I am now planning a winter trip to England, and my boyfriend just announced that we are going for a long weekend to the Bahamas next month! <BR><BR>I love seeing new places, learning history and cultures - it's a great privilege and a wonderful way to grow as a person.

Yes it is wonderful to travel, and I agree that it does change the way we live afterwards. The educational benefits are so vast. <BR><BR>People often say to me, "It must be nice to be rich enough to travel." Well you know what, I am not rich, I make it a priority in my life. I find ways to make travelling affordable so I can do it. <BR><BR>I never forget how important health is and want to experience as much of this world as I can while I can.

Wouldnt it be wonderful if EVERYONE in the world was free to travel and explore this beautiful planet. If we were able to visit each others country and learn about their cultures and see them in their element we may be able to understand them more. Lets all pray that all of us will live in a world where everyone is treated the same and every has the same value. That is my hope...

Lucy,<BR>It is even more regretful if it is yourself who can no longer travel because of the health. Yes, I have money and time but only enough to cover trips as a healthy person. Oh, perhaps if I have enough money to cover entourage of support staff and equipment to go with me like Dr. Stephen Hawkin, then I can still travel, until then, I just read about the other people's trips. Oh yes, I am an American who cannot travel.<BR><BR>When I read things like whether one can save few Euros by taking a Paris Shuttle instead of a Taxi, I want to say, count your blessing if it only takes 10eu more to solve your problem.