Where not to go...
 

It seems to me that the best way to plan a trip to Europe is to read all the queries in this forum and never go to all those places that everyone else is going to.A long time ago it was possible to find uncrowded cities and couteous people, but then, it also used to be fun to fly. Today, the hassle starts at the airport, so, if you really want to see what the world used to be like, stay away from places like Rome, Venice, Lake Como, Positano, the Greek Isles etc. The world is still filled with small cities and beautiful scenery. Just don't buy all the travel hype!

So Sondraa your point in posting this was what exactly? To encourage people not to visit places they've been reading about and/or dreaming about for years? Worthy ambition, I wonder if it will work..Gosh I gotta get going, gotta run and cancel my trip to Rome I mean who needs the Cistine Chapel anyway? I am sure it could never measure up to the hype.....

I believe Sondraa was the same person who made some rather insinuating comments about 'budget travellers' in another post. One can only assume that she's blaming Fodorites, and, therefore, budget travellers for making travel so unpleasant. Are you an agent provocateur? Or just an elitist? <BR> <BR>

Hold your fire, Fodorites! Sondraa may be onto something here. I'm going to Rome soon. If the rest of you folks will just stay away from Rome, my travel experience would be greatly enhanced. So for the next few weeks, just find something else to do, OK?

Hey, Cindy, I think you're on to something. I promise to stay away from Rome (for the next two months at least). Now all the rest of you Fodorites need to stay away from the Cyclades until mid-September--because, unlike Sondraa (is that like SanDeE in LA Story?), I'm not a sophisticated traveler and have bought all the hype. Oh, and I travel on a budget, too, so I'm sure I'll be making life unpleasant for budget-free sophisticates like SonDrAa. <BR> <BR>Tongue firmly in cheek and packing to do, <BR> <BR>Gina

Woa now wait a minute Gina... I'll fight you for Greece.....I've already got my plane tickets.... Let me know when you will be there so that I can change my trip around and head out for Fresno.. not many other traveler's there in the fall.

I've got dibs on Paris for October, so back off, losers! I'll be wearing a hot pink running suit, and if I see even one of you squatters, I'll pound you good!

Uh-oh, Thyra, this could pose a problem. I've got Athens and the Cyclades for the first two weeks of September. You can have the Dodecanese and the Ionians. Or Fresno. (Hmph, and I was just saying that Fresno's getting all touristy and spoiled...)

Dodecanese Smodecanese!!! I want Santorini... Ok, Hows about if I take Santorini and you can have all the other Cyclades???? As far as Athens goes... You can have that too .. there may be other people there (possibly even Budget people!!!!)and the Acropolis, who needs it? Too much hype.

All this blather reminds me of a saying attributed to the one and only Yogi Berra: Nobody goes there anymore because it's so crowded.

Blather! Great word, Al. Very descriptive. Now for the flack from the blatherites.

Point of order: arent all Fodorites really blatherites, when you get right down to it?

i think sondraa must work for the United <BR>Airlines union. she's done a good job so far at squashing travel plans :-)

Sandraa et.al. This is positively lighthearted compared to that bloody "TOPPER' thread,,,gosh guys, I feel like I have just been put thru the ringer,,,,I would rather brave the crowded tourist spots, than go at it with the "boys" on the the "TOPPER" thread,,,is it too much testosterone?...I really shouldn't "blather" on so, but the travel hype is not going to keep me from going to Rome in 2 weeks....I survived the Olympics----bring on the gladiators.....esp.Russel Crowe... <BR> <BR>

OOPS, And Cindy, I better not see you in Rome, when I'm there....Russel is mine, allll mine!

Now just wait a minute... are we bidding on Russel Crowe now???? Put my name on the list... Oh yea there is my husband, but I suppose he could just go to Greece with Gina.....

See here, Judy. By my calculation, you are about 4 hours late to claim Rome. Sorry. Better luck next time. <BR> <BR>Tell you what I'm gonna do. I'll take Rome, and you can have all of the men's restrooms in the train station, but only at night. Do we have a deal?

now hang on here, <BR> <BR>if we are talking Russell Crowe, back off. he's mine. <BR> <BR>where is he again? <BR> <BR>:-)

Al and Bob, I just think you're just jealous of Russell.

Did you notice that "Where not to go.." follows "Where is your magic place (spot)?" This is way too wierd. I'm tyring not to make associations, but there is something way too subversive going on here and I just can't ignore it anymore.

How can I be jealous when I don't even know who it is I am supposed to be jealous of. I don't go to the movies and the only TV I watch is the Atlanta Braves, the Weather Channel, NCAA football, Headline News, reruns of the Andy Griffith Show (black and white episodes only), and Strip Poker.

We like to watch West Wing and Law & Order and the AZ Diamondbacks -- who is Russell Crowe? As to places "not to go," my favorite un-place is Naples, Italy.

Ok, Mine, you can have Paris for the last two weeks in October; I've got it for the month of September and the first two weeks of October. <BR> <BR>And the first week in September is mine for Venice. I plan to not read menus and be charged huge sums of money for pasta. <BR> <BR>Do you think the "I'm with Stupid-&gt;" tshirt will be ok?

Al, Russell Crowe is a NZ-born/Australian citizen who is an actor. He was in a movie this year which was a huge hit, "Gladiator". The mockups of ancient Rome in the movie were fabulous, as were the Roman army scenes. Having a degree in ancient history/archaeology, I saw few unauthentic settings. <BR>Bob, how did you guess he was a movie actor? He could have been a popstar couldn't he; if you don't go to the movies how did you know? (Sorry, I'm in a pedantic mood today!).

Well said Sondraa! You are highlighting the deficiency of this travel board, namely, that there is virtually no useful information on about 30 countries in Europe and a heap of largely repetitious stuff on the rest. <BR> <BR>Just scroll through the country listings in the search window and you will see what I mean. It reflects a total lack of imagination by the majority of people visiting this site, who, I regret to say, are 90% American. <BR> <BR>Harzer, with no apologies.

I have a question - why do people travel? To see things, to experience & understand something, or because you can? I have seen too many great spots in Europe spoilt - sadly by tourisim, but people who go only to see with no respect for local customs, traditions and leave with only a roll of film and a stomach full of McDonalds. That is not travel.

Aw shucks, Able, and here I am almost finished with my new guidebook: Arches, Golden and Fallen: a Walking Tour through the McDonalds' of Europe. Ya mean ya expect us ta eat that furrin food? <BR>

Cindy: Dibbs on the "bocce" guys,ok? Right up my alley, so to speak,,,,,but seriously, this is just too funny Sondraa,,,may I suggest "survivor" island? Do I have a guy for you....

There is a slight flaw in the logical thread asking me, "How did I know ...?" where what's his name is concerned. <BR> <BR>Where else would someone be appearing of whom I had not heard other than some TV show or the movies? I read the newspapers at least once a week, sometimes twice, at least to the extent that my 5th grade education will permit me. Although the formal education is somewhat short, one's powers of deduction need not be restricted by limited pedagogical exposure. Those pages with the little pictures are the easiest to read, of course. <BR>Glad we are getting rain in Georgia! <BR>Now the grounds crew at UGA has something to do besides water on the non restricted days. (Don't worry, the football field was sufficiently wet. Gotta keep our priorities straight.)

Gina, please send me an advance copy. It looks like the book I've been waiting for ever since I went to the shoe store to get my Fodor-recommended Ecco walking shoes (in navy, of course) and was told I needed to buy a size larger since my "feet had fallen" due to my advancing years.

Well, Harzer, I wonder why most Europeans visiting the US visit only New York, Florida, Las Vegas/Grand Canyon and San Fransico and L.A.? How come they're not going to The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum in Jefferson City, Missouri or jaunting over to Fargo, North Dakota? No imagination, those Europeans, I say!

First of all, when ever I see Russell Crowe at a McDonalds in Rome, he is invariably surrounded by hordes of smelly, budget tourists..... Who could want a man like that?

Sorry Elvira, you're going to have to share Paris with me for 4 days in September!!! Just stay on your own bank! :)

Thought of a solution: "look, girls, Russell Crowe is on the Right Bank!". That'll empty the Left Bank in nothing flat. <BR> <BR>

Sorry if I offended you Bob, but if you didn't know who Russell Crowe was, but knew he was in the news, he could be anything from pop star to soccer star, or do only movie stars make the news in the U.S.?

Movie stars, spree killers, and internet hoaxters are the only famous people who hit the headlines. <BR> <BR>And the latest pro ballplayer who has either smacked/killed his ex-girlfriend/wife or failed a drug test.

Elvira, let's be complete. Headlines about famous people in the U.S. ALWAYS include those caught with hookers and other tramp-like individuals. Let's see. We have Hugh Grant, Dick Morris, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Gary Hart, Frank Gifford, Eddie Murphy, and so forth. Bob and Al, I'm sure you've heard of a few of these outstanding beacons of morality, right? <BR> <BR>Gotta go. I need to track down my husband.