What's Your Poison and Where Were You Warned Not to Travel, Yet Loved Anyhow?
Sep 30th, 2005, 04:36 PM
#21
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LeeAnn--LOL! My husband refers to my online friends as axe murderers
Looks like no poison for me tonight. I told a girlfriend I would go to the high school football game with her. We will haul all the kids, then she and I will stay and watch. Her DH is off hunting , and my DH has schoolwork (MBA). He will appreciate a quiet house tonight.
Looks like no poison for me tonight. I told a girlfriend I would go to the high school football game with her. We will haul all the kids, then she and I will stay and watch. Her DH is off hunting , and my DH has schoolwork (MBA). He will appreciate a quiet house tonight.
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:11 PM
#22
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My poision is a yucky, sweet Rhine wine. I won't buy this again, but for now it's giving me the buzz I need.
My list of places I was warned not to go is so long. To name a few, there was Russia, France, Brazil, and Turkey. But the trip I caught the most flack for was Greece. This had nothing to do with travel to Greece, it was the timing. I left for Greece on Dec. 26, 1999 and returned around Jan. 5, 2000. Remember how everyone thought the world would blow up over Y2K? That's why everyone warned me not to go. They all thought if I left the country, it could be months before I could get back. I couldn't believe all the Y2K hysteria so I went anyway. I have no regrets because I will always remember greeting the year 2000 in Greece.
Like many of you, more recently I was warned about Paris. I went there in January and as you travelers all know, it was fantastic.
My list of places I was warned not to go is so long. To name a few, there was Russia, France, Brazil, and Turkey. But the trip I caught the most flack for was Greece. This had nothing to do with travel to Greece, it was the timing. I left for Greece on Dec. 26, 1999 and returned around Jan. 5, 2000. Remember how everyone thought the world would blow up over Y2K? That's why everyone warned me not to go. They all thought if I left the country, it could be months before I could get back. I couldn't believe all the Y2K hysteria so I went anyway. I have no regrets because I will always remember greeting the year 2000 in Greece.
Like many of you, more recently I was warned about Paris. I went there in January and as you travelers all know, it was fantastic.
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:20 PM
#23
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PM, I've been reading up on your family's evacuation from Houston since I've been back online. I'm glad they are safe and sound and I'm sure you're quite ready for that "buzz" about now. 
I could feel your concern reading your posts because my sister and mother live very near the Texas Gulf coast in Houston and were expecting to come back to nothing when they evacuated. Although I feel awful for those affected on the eastern Texas coast/Louisiana west coast (extended family of mine included), I'm grateful that Houston escaped w/o harm.
I could feel your concern reading your posts because my sister and mother live very near the Texas Gulf coast in Houston and were expecting to come back to nothing when they evacuated. Although I feel awful for those affected on the eastern Texas coast/Louisiana west coast (extended family of mine included), I'm grateful that Houston escaped w/o harm.
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:21 PM
#24
Mine's a Diet Coke! Since I'm at the office still, I have to set a good example...
People rarely say anything about my tip plans. They have all heard my tales of travel and must figure I know the risks better than them!
The one and only time I ever let someone warn me off travel, it was my doctor. I had been very sick and he didn't think I should fly to San Diego to see my ailing father. I finally decided I had to go anyway, and arrived 3o minutes after my father passed away.
Only thing that saved my sanity was that the night before, my siblings told him I was coming and he responded positively. They think he was just waiting to know us kids would be together.
So when my doc warned me about going to Thailand last Christmas, I just asked for a referral to the travel Doc for vaccinations!
People rarely say anything about my tip plans. They have all heard my tales of travel and must figure I know the risks better than them!
The one and only time I ever let someone warn me off travel, it was my doctor. I had been very sick and he didn't think I should fly to San Diego to see my ailing father. I finally decided I had to go anyway, and arrived 3o minutes after my father passed away.
Only thing that saved my sanity was that the night before, my siblings told him I was coming and he responded positively. They think he was just waiting to know us kids would be together.
So when my doc warned me about going to Thailand last Christmas, I just asked for a referral to the travel Doc for vaccinations!
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:26 PM
#25
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Statia, I'm happy that your family is OK, and I'm also thankful that Houston was spared. My only regret is that Houston's good fortune was Beaumont/Port Arthur's misfortune. But I was quite relieved that Rita went down to Cat 3 before making landfall, otherwise it would have been a lot worse for those who were affected. Let's hope this is the end of this year's hurricane season, and maybe next year won't be so bad.
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:38 PM
#26
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lcuy, what a heart wrenching story. My heart goes out to you.
PM, I have relatives that still can't get back into Port Neches, Nederland and Pt. Arhtur to see their homes but the main thing is that they got out and are all ok. I just hope that everyone will heed the next warning w/o a Katrina fresh on their minds. I agree that I'm more than ready for this season to be over.
PM, I have relatives that still can't get back into Port Neches, Nederland and Pt. Arhtur to see their homes but the main thing is that they got out and are all ok. I just hope that everyone will heed the next warning w/o a Katrina fresh on their minds. I agree that I'm more than ready for this season to be over.
Sep 30th, 2005, 05:53 PM
#28
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Hello all, no poison. I'm ready to go to sleep right after the W. Sox game is over. Semester is brutal right now. All kinds of academic and psychological emergencies. What drama! You could knock me over with a wet noodle. And a BIG day tomorrow downtown.
Wow how to you define "travel"? I was raised in a huge Sicilian home and going out without my brother was travel.
I'm not kidding and this when the rest of the world was either in SDS (I wonder how many of you even know what that was) or having a summer of love.
It was not that I was ever warned against any one place or travel experience. It is more accurate to say that everyone just looks at me like I am nuts for probably 75% of the trips I take. My mother (84) likes to hear about my travel experiences now, and she was one of the worst anti-travel person to me in the past. But I don't tell her or a majority of my friends half of the things I have done on trips.
I would love to go to Japan too. And also Australia/New Zealand.
Oh, I can think of one. My guy absolutely refused to go into Mexico. He had a terrible experience there when he was a soldier. But I got him to cross the border last Feb. and he was won over somewhat- at least for some areas.
Many of the faculty and staff I work with have gone to Israel and have loved it. And I did go to Naples and would return there also- although it isn't my favorite in Italy.
Wow how to you define "travel"? I was raised in a huge Sicilian home and going out without my brother was travel.
I'm not kidding and this when the rest of the world was either in SDS (I wonder how many of you even know what that was) or having a summer of love.
It was not that I was ever warned against any one place or travel experience. It is more accurate to say that everyone just looks at me like I am nuts for probably 75% of the trips I take. My mother (84) likes to hear about my travel experiences now, and she was one of the worst anti-travel person to me in the past. But I don't tell her or a majority of my friends half of the things I have done on trips.
I would love to go to Japan too. And also Australia/New Zealand.
Oh, I can think of one. My guy absolutely refused to go into Mexico. He had a terrible experience there when he was a soldier. But I got him to cross the border last Feb. and he was won over somewhat- at least for some areas.
Many of the faculty and staff I work with have gone to Israel and have loved it. And I did go to Naples and would return there also- although it isn't my favorite in Italy.
Sep 30th, 2005, 06:06 PM
#29
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Tonight on our first real rainy night in Portland, I am making a nice big pasta dinner with an Italian (Sicilian) red wine. .. Nero D'Avalo..
I was warned that the French would be terribly rude and I would not have fun shopping there. I go back every year, waiting for that rude salesperson..where is she? did she retire?
I shop and I shop, no one is rude. Hmmm, could it have been an Urban Legend ?
I was warned that the French would be terribly rude and I would not have fun shopping there. I go back every year, waiting for that rude salesperson..where is she? did she retire?
I shop and I shop, no one is rude. Hmmm, could it have been an Urban Legend ?
Sep 30th, 2005, 07:12 PM
#30
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My poison tonight is bottled water - very boring. My husband and I were warned not to travel to Maui in September 2001. We had booked the trip several months in advance for 9/19/01 to 10/1/01. When the tragedy happened on 9/11/01 everyone told us to cancel the vacation. Even our travel agent offered a complete refund or a credit for later travel. We are very stubborn people and felt what would change in 2-3 months to make us feel safer. We felt that the airlines were certainly on guard and either you are a traveler or not. So we went and called home after each leg of our trip to let our parents know we were safe. It ended up being one of our favorite trips. The hotel, the Maui Hyatt, barely had anyone there. The people everywhere on the island were so friendly and grateful that people were still traveling. We went to a Catholic mass that was very inspirational. The priest actually thanked the visiting people for coming to the island considering the recent tragedy. We definitely plan to return to the island someday.
Sep 30th, 2005, 07:23 PM
#31
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No poison for me...how lame am I?
My mother and a few others thought I was nuts to go on any of my solo trips. It wasn't the destinations I chose as much as, 'Why would you want to go away by yourself?' and 'What if something happens. You're all alone.' My mother thinks she's independent because she lives alone, yet she won't drive more than 10-15mi. from home. She sure wasn't going to get it that I have an overwhelming need to see the world and was ok w/going it alone.
That said, I did get a bunch of flack from people about going to S. America. A friend and I went to Brazil and heard many people warning us how dangerous it was. When they heard I was headed down to Buenos Aires by myself a couple of people almost acted as if I had a death wish or something. BsAs is a really interesting place and I would definately go back and see more of Argentina. I found the people to be really nice and helpful and patient with my pitiful Spanish.
My mother and a few others thought I was nuts to go on any of my solo trips. It wasn't the destinations I chose as much as, 'Why would you want to go away by yourself?' and 'What if something happens. You're all alone.' My mother thinks she's independent because she lives alone, yet she won't drive more than 10-15mi. from home. She sure wasn't going to get it that I have an overwhelming need to see the world and was ok w/going it alone.
That said, I did get a bunch of flack from people about going to S. America. A friend and I went to Brazil and heard many people warning us how dangerous it was. When they heard I was headed down to Buenos Aires by myself a couple of people almost acted as if I had a death wish or something. BsAs is a really interesting place and I would definately go back and see more of Argentina. I found the people to be really nice and helpful and patient with my pitiful Spanish.
Sep 30th, 2005, 08:16 PM
#32
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Omg I'm sitting here reading my favorite site and I stumble across this post. Thanks Stacia.
Love, love travel and don't usually listen to people about not going but I too had the warning about Paris. But really found the people lovely. They walked up to us on the street to help us find our way when we looked lost. No problems there.
My poison is Pinio Gricio for now and some sleep very soon.
Love, love travel and don't usually listen to people about not going but I too had the warning about Paris. But really found the people lovely. They walked up to us on the street to help us find our way when we looked lost. No problems there.
My poison is Pinio Gricio for now and some sleep very soon.
Sep 30th, 2005, 08:48 PM
#33
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Hello Statia, well after an afternoon of enjoying beautiful wine at a long luncheon with my daughter I am home and just poured myself a glass of chardonnay, so that is my poison.
Warned not to travel to yet loved anyhow? First places that come to mind is Naples, Italy and Bari, Italy. And then Haiti. I can't say I "loved" Haiti as I felt so bad for the natives and there living conditions but am glad I was able to visit there, although I would probably never go back but it sure was interesting.
Warned not to travel to yet loved anyhow? First places that come to mind is Naples, Italy and Bari, Italy. And then Haiti. I can't say I "loved" Haiti as I felt so bad for the natives and there living conditions but am glad I was able to visit there, although I would probably never go back but it sure was interesting.
Sep 30th, 2005, 09:02 PM
#34
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Correction: their living conditions..must remember to use the Edit Button. But am frustrated as the Marriott Rewards ad is covering half of my screen. First time that ever happened. And I hate Marriott hotels, LOL
Oct 1st, 2005, 07:21 AM
#36
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Mexico. Visiting a cousin in Texas in December 2003, I decided to combine my visit by crossing border and go to Monterrey because I'd never been to Mexico or for that matter Latin America before. Before going, people here in Canada had told me "the crime there is really bad", "I think there are armed bandits all over, so you'd better watch it". My mother living in Washington, DC talked up my trip to acquaintances who told her, "tell him to look poor", "learn self-defence" and would call me worried. Even on Fodor's some told me to "skip Monterrey".
Arriving in Monterrey, I had panic moments due to all the warnings, but once I started exploring the Centro, I honestly felt safer there than in most US cities. After a few days there, I had fallen madly in love with the city and its people...enough so that I decided to return the next year and was emboldened enough that I combined Monterrey with a visit to Mexico City.
This time the warnings were amplified "Mexico City's not like Monterrey, way more dangerous, watch out", "you'll choke on the pollution", "only set foot out of your hotel with a trusted guide", "I can't believe you're planning on walking around on your own". Not to mention the State Department warnings.
My trip to Mexico City ended up being one of the most amazing, humbling trips I've ever taken. Other than heeding the warnings about taxis and making sure to have little money on me, I was amazed at my general comfort level travelling independently. Now I'm so crazy about Mexico the country that I seek out Mexican movies, music here and almost obsessively dream of when I might visit next.
Suerte. DAN
Arriving in Monterrey, I had panic moments due to all the warnings, but once I started exploring the Centro, I honestly felt safer there than in most US cities. After a few days there, I had fallen madly in love with the city and its people...enough so that I decided to return the next year and was emboldened enough that I combined Monterrey with a visit to Mexico City.
This time the warnings were amplified "Mexico City's not like Monterrey, way more dangerous, watch out", "you'll choke on the pollution", "only set foot out of your hotel with a trusted guide", "I can't believe you're planning on walking around on your own". Not to mention the State Department warnings.
My trip to Mexico City ended up being one of the most amazing, humbling trips I've ever taken. Other than heeding the warnings about taxis and making sure to have little money on me, I was amazed at my general comfort level travelling independently. Now I'm so crazy about Mexico the country that I seek out Mexican movies, music here and almost obsessively dream of when I might visit next.
Suerte. DAN
Oct 1st, 2005, 08:31 AM
#37
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JJ5: What is SDS??
LoveItaly: You made me think of the warnings we got about the Naples train station. First from a Sicilian traveler on plane to Palermo, then from taxi driver in Siracusa and finally from someone on train to Naples. Naturally, there were more police than people at the train station!
LoveItaly: You made me think of the warnings we got about the Naples train station. First from a Sicilian traveler on plane to Palermo, then from taxi driver in Siracusa and finally from someone on train to Naples. Naturally, there were more police than people at the train station!
Oct 1st, 2005, 10:21 AM
#39
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I was warned not to go to Newfoundland in January -we began in St. John's had the most amazing room & view at the Fairmont - only to be outdone by the most gracious staff -- had a choice each night, of top notch restaurants, met & were inspired by talented chefs, the freshest of seafood, rented a house further out on the Rock -- again met people offering such amazing hospitality - each day's drive, each bend in the road took us to a new level of beauty - evening sky's that were flooded with stars - memories for a life time, and dreams of retiring on the Avalon Peninsula.
Oct 1st, 2005, 10:26 AM
#40
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Thank you JJ5, is was a nice relaxing day yesterday, but ate too much, LOL.
And fortunatly I don't seem to be bothered by that Marriott ad today, hope you aren't either.
Donco, the first time I went to Naples I thought maybe we would have our throats slit due to all the "warnings".
I have noticed over the years the people that give us all the dire warnings really aren't people that enjoy travelling.
Safe and happy travels to everyone!
And fortunatly I don't seem to be bothered by that Marriott ad today, hope you aren't either.
Donco, the first time I went to Naples I thought maybe we would have our throats slit due to all the "warnings".
I have noticed over the years the people that give us all the dire warnings really aren't people that enjoy travelling.
Safe and happy travels to everyone!
