Hello everyone, my name is Anne and I,m from Scotland, The Western Isles (Outer Hebrides)to be more specific. I'm 34 years old and am interested in genealogy. I have traced my family back to the 1700's still living in the same part of these islands. If anyone is planning a trip to this part of Scotland or shares my interest in their hebridean roots then please e-mail me directly <BR>Happy travelling!

Kavey .... you dont happen to know my sister , do you? She also works for Thomson, has done since 1994, and was on an IT course in London a few months back. <BR> <BR>Goes by the name of Carol-Anne Hughes. <BR> <BR>Please give her a promotion, she is good. <BR> <BR>regards

Denise, <BR>Another Australian for the numbers. We now live in Brisbane after previous stints in NSW (Newcastle, Taree, Bathurst) and Melbourne. I missed your post around the new year as we were in the process of moving from Melbourne to Brisbane. <BR>We love this forum (we being me, Vanessa and 5 week old Thomas). I am 32 and in the finance industry. That industry has shown us the country, so as unstabe as it is we have been happy. We did travel around Australia in 1989 in a combie (you known what that is) van and had a great time. <BR>Why do we read this forum once a week or so?...I first went to europe as a 12 year old in 1978. Went to school in Reading for 15 months. dad was working there. We did 2 trips...one to Poland where we stayed for six weeks. To go behind the iron curtain in those days is something I will never forget. The second trip was to Finland which opened my eyes to Scandanavia...since then I've been back three times, 1987, 1994 &1996...we love it and plan many more trips...its along way as you know but well worth it!!

Hi, <BR>I´m Miriam from Germany. I love this Forum since I´m tired of reading the same stuff all the time in the guidebooks you can buy, I prefer first-hand information from people who´ve actually visited places I´d like to go or live there. I´m 30 and I´m working with one of the biggest consultancy companies in the executive search, which means I´m a "headhunter", especially for Telecommunications. I live in Frankfurt which, with it´s big airport, is a pretty good place to get around all over Europe. But my favourite country to travel is the U.S. and there I love the East Coast and the South. I always try to help people on the German Forum although I´m not an expert when it comes to Bavarian castles.. <BR>So go on with your questions I look forward to search my travelguides and call our company travel agent for you.. <BR> <BR>Miriam

What a sight! This is a great idea Denise. Unlike most of you, I've just discovered this forum yesterday and am already hooked! I love to travel, especially Europe. I live in suburban Chicago, Illinois with my husband and two teenage daughters, but work in the "loop". I am a senior team manager for a company that publishes data on mutual funds. My company gives us a six week sabbatical every four years (with full pay too). I took this opportunity in October of 1997 to experience Europe for a month. It left me speechless. I now spend much of my time planning my next trips. This is a great site that I plan to visit regularly. <BR>

Hi, everyone! I am originally from Baltimore, MD. My family moved to Jacksonville, FL, about 7 years ago. I recently graduated from Penn State University and will soon turn 22 (in four days!) My degree is in Public Relations, but unfortunately I am still unemployed. (This really puts a damper in all my travel plans. No job means no money!) So I am looking for a job that will hopefully allow me to travel. <BR> <BR>So far, my travels have taken me to Italy, France, Scotland and Egypt, as well as around these fine United States. Travelling is my passion, and I am constantly cooking up ideas for vacations. I, too, am hooked on this forum and enjoy reading advice about world travel. Hopefully, my next trip will be back to Italy. But my dream vacation is a trip to New Zealand. For some reason, I am just fascinated by this country and have made it a life goal to visit it! <BR> <BR>I always say that my favorite thing about travelling is the people I meet along the way. Thank you, Denise and all other posters, for giving me a chance to "meet" you!!

I've just been reading this site since February, preparing for a trip to the UK and France. Although it'll take a while to get enough frequent flier miles to take our family to Europe again, we can't wait to go back. Until then, I'll keep browsing this site. I love all the generosity in sharing info and especially the humor. <BR>I am a travel junkie. Did the whole Europe on $5.00 a day, backtrip thing in the late 60s. Trips to Greece as a couple. Corporate trips to Japan and around the States. <BR>I'm a lifelong S.F. Bay Area resident, and gave up the corporate world for life as a domestic goddess. I also have the distinction of being "the only mother in the world" who who doesn't let her teenagers do what "everyone else" is doing. This, and Fodor's Forum are the main reason I get up each day. <BR>My interests are painting, reading, fiber arts, American folk art and embarrassing my kids in front of their friends. <BR>Although my kids would describe me as a nerd, I consider myself hipper than Elvis and cuter than the Queen Mother.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only travel addict. My husband and I are fortunate to be able to take a least a dozen trips a year, both for business and pleasure. My full time job is planning for our trips. We have been to Europe 17 times, and have traveled by car, train, taken a Rhone river cruise, a Mediterranean cruise, rented a villa in the south of France with five other couples, and are currently planning a self-drive barge cruise in the south of France (still waiting to hear from others who have done this). Each trip has distinct memories, and I wish I had kept a journal of our early trips, as I now do. <BR> <BR>When we travel by ourselves, we do two carryons each and go off season, and usually stay in little out of the way places. <BR> <BR>We live in Clearwater, Florida. When we are not traveling Europe, we do long weekends in the US. I cannot wait for my husband to retire. Then we will really have time to travel.

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Up.

Hi Denise! <BR> <BR>im from Dublin, Ireland and i mostly like to travel too Europe and sometimes to North Africa. I was last in Tunisia which I did not like. I hope to Travel to Singapore, Japan and Australia early next year. Ive always wanted to go to Japan for some reason. I really like Europe but it can get very boaring, I like to go countries that are totally diferent to the western world

Greetings from New Orleans! My husband and I were both born and raised in Mississippi. After we got married, we realized that in order to be content living in Mississippi, we would have to travel often, which we do - to Europe, Asia, the Caribbean - anywhere that interests us. Last year, his job brought us to New Orleans. We live in the heart of the French Quarter and just love it. We haven't travelled much this year but are enjoying exploring our new city. Our next trip is in just a few weeks when we will be going to the Netherlands and Belgium. Next spring, we will be in Thailand and Nepal. Some of our friends ask "Why do you want to go to Nepal?" Our response is always, "Why not?" I've enjoyed reading everyone's posts. It's nice to know that such a broad spectrum of travel advice is only a mouse click away!

Hi Folks, I've been away from this forum for a few months now, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this one still going. Thank you all, I will keep an eye on it, and be back full time soon, planning the next European trip. Lovely to see people, newcomers and older posters, still introducing themselves. Thank you Denise <BR>

Hi- I'm new to the forum. I've managed to combine my love of travel with writing--as a freelance travel writer. I've written many guidebooks, for several major publishers, and you just may have read my work if you travel alot, and I just may have helped (Lola is a pseudonym). I've been fortunate to have traveled to over 100 countries--and hope to keep it up. You guys are great, and most knowledgeable. Both books and sites like this one are the way to go!

Dear Denise, Yet another Aussie for your collection. My husband Mac and I live in Blaxland in the beautiful Blue Mountains west of Sydney NSW. I have become totally addicted to this forum since my recent conversion from Luddite to Technophile. Also addicted to travel, preferably Britain and Europe, tho I LOVED Alaska and the Canadian Rockies. Heading back to the UK to escape the Olympics next year (yes I know - heresy!) I haven't had to ask any questions here yet because I find lots of people do it for me.Keep up the good info, I see I am not the only one who checks in here every day!

I just started to contribute to this forum. My first trip to Europe was 20 years ago. Mylast trip was this past June/July. Before that 2 years before. <BR>Favorite forms of travel are by train. Have slept on trains (sleepers) and don't get the best night's sleep. We'll reduce that type of night travel to max. 1 per trip. <BR>Next trip hopefully next spring to Spain. Never been there. Trying to decide if I should try to fit in Barcelona. All the way over there. Also, can't decide about train, car, etc. <BR>Oh, yes. Originally from Montreal, Canada now live in Ft Lauderdale, Florida.

Hi Denise, <BR> <BR>I don't know how I missed this post over the months. I love the thread on this topic! <BR> <BR>For myself, I am a 35yo. now single female with no kids- 6 cats. I am a dental hygientist living in the Tampa, Fl area. I am originally from the Detroit area.I moved to Tampa in 1985. To picture me, I am 5'4, 120lbs. and have long brown hair. <BR>The trips I refer to before 1996 also include my ex-hubby who tolerated travelling. My trips in 1998 forward include my boyfriend who also loves travelling. <BR>I live for travelling. I save up all year to afford my trips. That is why I log onto this base many times a month/week. <BR> <BR>Kittie <BR> <BR> <BR>

Another Australian, though I live in the UK with my English husband. Henley-on-Thames to be precise, a genteel, historic English town, well worth a visit! <BR>We've been here for 8 months, which is the longest time we've stayed in one place for the past 5 years, we take lots of short trips to Europe and I love reading about all your thoughts on the places we've visited. We will finally make our way 'over the pond' to Canada for New Years, then back again to check out USA and South America on our way back to Australia some time next year.

Hi, I'm Bob K., middle 60's, live and still work in N Y City. Got to cruise a lot annually, with my wife Anna, to the Caribbean, Mexico from San Juan or Miami. Before marriage, lived and worked on South Miami Beach, hotel managing, having a degree in food and hotel mgt. Then it was South Fla. & Bahamas travels. Found myself back in <BR>N Y working for investment firms and when that came to an end, employment as a computer instructor (adjunct) at a college here. Only been contributing since '97, when we returned from Europe for the first time. Been lone wolves before that! <BR>Bob K.

For those new contributors back from Rome, Italy or London!