THE KINDEST THING ANYONE SAID TO YOU WHILE ON VACATION
 

&lt;Thinking hard that this sweet topic could not possibly involk any hatred/abuse/racism etc.&gt;<BR><BR>While on a train from Naples to Sorrento, four boys about the age of 13-14 got on at the Pompeii stop. One boy asked if he could sit with me and my friends to practice his English that he was learning in school. Of course, what a treat for us! The boy turned to me and said "you look like Princess Diana". I don't think I've ever had such a compliment!!

Did you still have your wallet when he got off the train?

So Laura, you think the boy saying "you look like Princess Diana" was a compliment????????????<BR><BR>PC

Tough crowd hahahahahaha

Are you Christie Brinkley?

What the Greek sea captain sitting across from me on the train to York said: You were raised right -- you know that you don't have to fill every moment with talk to have an enjoyable conversation.

When someone told me my skirt was up in the back caught in my panties. So embarressing.

"But seriously, folks.." one of the kindest things for me was when we arrived at hotel in Paris and the desk clerk informed me my reservation was cancelled. The problem was caused by myself, b/c I had cancelled the credit card account along the way, so the hotel thought the resrv. was cancelled, too. She looked at my probably panicked face and said "Oh, do not worry, I will help you" and she did - she called another hotel, then a taxi, and she had the other hotel pay for the taxi upon arrival at the next hotel! The subsequent hotel was a 2** in the 15th, family-run, but neat as a pin and so I was introduced to the fact that one does not have to stay at large non-personal hotels to be comfortable and safe... and so far, just one of many examples why I do not think the French are 'rude'... :)

The kindest things ever said to me were from a private tour guide that I hired to show me the Jewish Ghetto in Prague. After spending a full day together sightseeing and having lunch, my guide, Sabina, said she would like to keep in touch with me. Besides guiding me through the Jewish Ghetto, being introduced to her rabbi, and getting a behind the scenes tour at the Spanish Synagogue, afterwards when I began to pay Sabina for her time, she refused my money and said that she had a great day with me. I paid her anyway. She also invited me to Sabbath services and dinner, unfortunately, I did not have the time to attend. Since then we communicate often by email, and in my last email I invited her and her boyfriend to meet me in Budapest for a weekend in March. Today, I got an email saying that they will be meeting me in Budapest and that they will both be in New York in May to visit her boyfriend's parents and would like to come to Boston to visit me on their trip to the US.

A very long time ago, over twenty years now, I was in London alone and walked into the Jewish Museum. I was the only one in the museum and a curator took the time to personally show me all around. He took great delight in showing me these ceromonial wedding rings and I can still remember the pleased look in his eyes as I pretended interest in the rings. Being a young girl, he assumed I adored the items. I've never like jewelery much and at the time had no interest in marriage. But, his personal attention brightened my London stay to the degree that I remember it to this day, and looking back, I can see that he was on to something.

Florence Italy - I Offered to take a picture of a family (British) who was travelling together - the husband/grandfather looked at me and said "you have the most gorgeous eyes." Made my day!<BR><BR>Second wonderful thing was this last trip to Paris in October, 2001 - woman in a small men's clothing shop near Rue de Paradis started speaking to me in French. She said that she felt that Americans were so courageous and how much she admired and liked us. Just made me feel wonderful as well as proud.

I was in a hotel in California and had just gotten up to leave, when some people at another table asked me if I was Jane Fonda:) that was pretty kind to me~

I was in Germany last summer and decided at the last minute to take a train from Heidelberg to Dusseldorf. I asked my taxi driver how I should go about asking for a fast train. We talked about it all the way to the train station. When we got there, he parked the car, walked me in, found the correct desk, talked to the cashier and made all the arrangements. I handed my credit card to the cashier and turned to the taxi driver. He was already walking away, smiling and waving. I ran to catch up and to pay him. He wouldn't accept any money for the taxi. He shook my hand and simply said Dusseldorf was his home town and was glad to see "such a pleasant and cute American" making the effort to go for just the day. Made me smile for the whole train trip up there.

"We have a suite on the concierge floor that we can upgrade you to." Now that was kind!

Good topic.<BR>We were on a 25th anniversary trip to Bermuda, and had dinner in the hotel dining room just about every night -- and so we were greeted by the same maitre d' every night, too.<BR><BR>About the 3d night, he wandered over to our table while we were in the middle of dinner and said, "Can I ask you a question?" We said "sure."<BR><BR>He went on: "I've been doing this for 30 years, and I like to think I can size people up pretty quicky by observing them -- whether they're married, happy, sad, etc. And I think I have you two figured out."<BR><BR>Really, we said. So tell us what you see.<BR><BR>"I'm wagering that you're on your honeymoon," he said.<BR><BR>We explained that we hadn't been on a honeymoon in 25 years.<BR><BR>"All I know is what I see," he said.<BR><BR>Now maybe he says that to every couple who comes in the place -- who knows? But it sure didn't hurt.

Years ago on a cruise (when cruising was fun)we were very fond of our room steward. When I gave him his envelope I thanked him for being so nice to us. He replied, "Signora, you're easy to be nice to." Brought tears to my eyes.<BR><BR>j

I am a spanish native married to an american and living in Seville, but I feel at least half american, too.<BR>My brother in law and his fiance&eacute; came to visit this past summer, it was a great vacation until Sept. 11 came along in their last few days with us.<BR>We went to Madrid to wait for the airports to reopen so they could fly home, and on Sept.13, when we were having tapas at a bar crowded with locals, a middle aged spanish gentleman aproached us and in very basic english asked us if we were americans, and then said he was very sorry for our loss and for the horrible attack on our country, and shook my husband and brother in law´s hands, in a very emotional way.<BR>Needless to say, we all got tears in our eyes.<BR>We got similar comments from several people the following days, and this was very moving to us.

Olga, my sentiments, as well. We were in Britain in September, and many people who overheard our American accent quietly told us how sorry they were about the attacks. And, of course, they had many losses too.

This reminds me of another one.<BR><BR>My Mom, Step-father and I were eating in a restaurant in Frankfurt 5 years ago. An elderly couple approached my parents, grabbed their hands and said "thank you very much for what you did in the war" (WWII). My po-dunk parents were completly amazed...as was I. My step-father did serve in WWII but in Guam as a cook, a total vacation to him! He died 4 months after that vacation. Very kind but very sad at the same time, it's probably time to let go.

"I will call directory assistance for you". Really. She was incredibly kind and I was desperate. Have you ever tried to call directory assistance in Paris? Frankly, I'm not sure that they speaking French!

While in Ireland we were dining in a five star restaurant with our 10 year old daughter. A very proper British gentleman who was seated next to us came over and complimented us on our daughter's manners. It's nice to have your parenting validated!

As an American traveling in Italy with my husband after the 911 incident, while we were shopping in Sorrento at a corner market a young Englishman came up to me and asked if I was from America. Indicating that I was, he proceeded to offer his personal regrets and that of his country for the tragedy that had occurred in New York and Washington DC. He had done this while holding my hands with both of his and the emotion in his voice could not be mistaken. The gesture was a pure demonstration of love for your fellow man.

Topping for KINDNESS

As an American growing up, my friends and I used to drool over foreign accents, specifically Australian (remember Robert from General Hospital in the early '80s and INXS?), English (regular and cockney), Irish, French, Scottish, etc., etc., and we would wonder if outsiders thought an American accent was cool. We decided, nah, it sounds too harsh, too unschooled.<BR><BR>But, I got the loveliest shock of my life last March while standing in line at the KFC at Gatwick Airport (they served sandwiches with fish & chicken together on it-weird). The gentleman next to me (I think he was a pilot) turned to me and said "You have a WONDERFUL American accent!". Needless to say, I was thrilled now that our question was answered!! I thought it was the kindest thing.<BR><BR>Two other "kindest things" spring to mind: the English couple, who were obviously on a date, in the Tower Bridge area who WALKED, not pointed, me to my destination (Let me see if I can help you) and the lovely French gentleman on the RER who helped me get to the other side of the platform (he could barely speak any English) as I was going in the wrong direction. Extremely kind people!! : )<BR><BR>Next?

"You have a beautiful and intelligent face" and "I'll bet your students love you"...plus a few other things (from an Israeli in Jerusalem, whose face was definitely beautiful)<BR>This is one of those naughty anonymous posts because I'm embarrassed, but it really made my day!

While staying at a great Irish country house, the estate shepard paid me a wonderful compliment. He had just pulled into the stable yard, and let his sheepdogs out of the car. The dogs ran over to me, and stayed for several minutes while I played with them. The shepard commented that I must have a way with dogs, as his dogs didn't usually take to strangers....made my day, and I got a 'puppy fix'!