Christina, I'd be curious to know exactly where -- in Steves' Postcards from Europe book -- you read about him advising women to go to an Italian bar or restaurant where, you claim, he knew the owner would physically grab or touch them uninvited and, you also claim, he didn't seem to even care or think what this guy was doing was wrong. <BR><BR>I read the book and don't recall anything of that nature at all so if you can point it out to me I'd appreciate it. On the other hand, if you can't point it out to me, and others, I don't think you should be making such claims. <BR>____________________<BR><BR>On another note, I just looked at Steves' Italy book for 2002, which we used. In the Introduction, he has a section on "Recommended Guidebooks" where he mentions people may want to look at and/or bring the following: <BR><BR>. Lonely Planet's Italy <BR>. Rough Guide to Italy<BR>. Let's Go: Italy <BR>. Eyewitness guides<BR>. Michelin guides <BR>. Cadogan guides<BR><BR>As for the language issue, I know from eleven trips to Europe that one does not have to be fluent in a European language in order to have an enjoyable trip. And this is all that Steves essentially says. I have always seen him point out, however, that it's to one's benefit to know and speak *some* of any language, especially words and phrases of courtesy.

Author: language deficient ([email protected])<BR>Date: 07/25/2002, 07:49 pm<BR>Message: Uncle Sam~~ your posts are always amazingly stupid. Glad you didn't let me down. The point is: Rick's entire travel philosophy is about getting to know the locals, doing things off the beaten path, so obviously knowing at least 1 second language would be helpful in this pursuit. And again (you really aren't as clever as you think) Spanish or French would be the obvious choices<BR><BR>LD,<BR><BR>You really aren't being very nice, now are you.<BR><BR>I understood your point but he is obviously a huge success wihtout learning a second language.<BR><BR>I mean who do you htink that he is writing for....Americand get it...and we speak English..unless of course you include those that speak Spanish and are here illegally!<BR><BR>And BTW, why French or Spanish...I'll bet there are more German speakers in Europe than either French or spanish....not so obvious a choice now is it?<BR><BR>BTW ...care to palce a bet on that "intelligence deficient"?<BR><BR>US

<BR><BR>ATTENTION "FACTS" AND "MORE FACTS" <BR><BR>while i dont really care for grammar lessons i think YALL should know that i couldnt care less how yall spell anything <BR><BR>i post here to interact with the nice fun people around here not for smart butts like yous guys <BR><BR>keep the fun nice people coming !!

ATTE STEVE'S WIFE <BR><BR>REMEMBER THAT <BR><BR>"FASHION IS WHAT ONE WEARS, UNFASHIONABLE IS WHAT OTHER PEOPLE WEAR" <BR><BR>80'S SHIRTS MUST BE COOL IN YOUR HUSBAND'S BOOK

I waanted to post a reply but my goodness so many responses. Someone said that it dosen't mater wether they talk good or bad as long as they talk. You Go Rick!!!

Uncle Sam... NO there are NOT more German speakers in Europe than French or Spanish. "I'll bet" and "not so obvious a choice now" are vague and bumbling opinions & arguments of yours, not fact-based in any way, shape, or form.

Hey guys, Rick is a guide, not a GOD...if you don't like him, take your own road....nuff said..

ATTENTION, NOWHERE...<BR><BR>My point exactly. I thought it silly that that "facts" corrected you in the first place. So I made my own facetious correction. <BR><BR>My apologies that the joke wasn't so clear.<BR><BR>So y'all come back now, y'hear?

So, Eleven trips, you think you don't have to speak the language, eh? Well, I suggest that if you did your experience would have been enhanced 100-fold. Just my experience (I speak 5 languages, can get by in another dozen. Speaking the languages opens doors you can't imagine, if you're flying by on high school French, it won't fly). Good luck, brother...

Bilingual,<BR><BR>care to prove your point?<BR><BR>German is spoken in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Northern Italy, far Western edges of France, parts of Belgium.<BR><BR>Spanish is spoken in Spain....and...<BR><BR>French is spoken in France, Switzerland...and...<BR><BR>Close call, and I'll concede if you have the #'s<BR><BR>US

Bilingual,<BR><BR>According to my old Atlas dated 1989 the following population numbers are given:<BR><BR>West Germany...61.6 million<BR>East Germany...16.7 million<BR>Austria...7.5 million<BR><BR>total...85.8 million probable German speakers<BR><BR><BR>Spain...37.4 million<BR><BR>France...53.8 million<BR><BR>I doubt that there has been that much of a change in the past 12 years.<BR><BR>Looks like German would be the one.<BR><BR>US

ATTE "MORE FACTS" <BR><BR>thank you <BR><BR>i get it now .....<BR><BR>must forgive the SLOW by birth <BR><BR>=0)<BR><BR>u cool in my book

Uncle Spam, you included Austria in your numbers for German speakers, but conveniently left out Luxembourg and Belgium for the French speakers. Not to mention the Arabs in Europe, for most of whom French is the second language after Arabic.<BR>Also, Germany has one of the fastest declining populations in Europe.

XXX,<BR><BR>I only included the areas where I thought the language was spoken exclusively.<BR><BR>Besides you cannnot include Belgium in the French camp as they also speak Walloon and German. I'll concede Luexmbourg, but regardless it seems that there would have to have been a huge increase in French and a huge decrease in German to overcome the difference.<BR><BR>US

Thanks for all the publicity. Very few topics on this forum get this much response. I guess I will make a few more mil. this year, take a few more trips and buy some more shirts (from my own company since I can afford it). Keep traveling, reading my books and watching my shows!!!!

Uncle Sam, the Walloons ARE the French speakers of Belgium. I think you meant the Flemish. German is spoken primarily at the German border (obviously), i.e., in the Ardennes and towns like Eupen that once actually were German.

Btilke,<BR><BR>Thank you for the correct information. I clearly had them reversed.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>US

I'd pay money to see Lang. Deficient and US in a mud wrestling match.<BR><BR>These postings are great. Rick is our American nerd - let's just claim him our own and be over with it. Sure we can't dress him or keep his head in a train but then if he did, what would we talk about - real European travel tips? Perish the thought. I watch Rick's shows because I will use any excuse to drool at European settings. I have had several set backs over the last 15 yrs for my first trip to France but will finally make it next year. Please God, Allah, etc. answer my prayers and have Rick meet me in Versailles!!!

OK Uncle Sam... so LEARN German... if that floats your boat.<BR><BR>But getting back to the original point, DO learn a 2nd language for ease and enjoyment when traveling.<BR><BR><BR>

<BR>Uncle Sam:<BR>Here's an amazing fact for you: the country that has the most French speakers outside of France is...<BR><BR>CANADA! Your next door neighbour! <BR><BR>You are so ignorant!