Elaine

Happy Holidays and many thanks to fellow Fodorites for this "enchanting" forum. Thank you for letting us share the pleasures and treasures of travel. (and the troubles too!)

Dayle

Happiest of Holidays to All -- from sunny southern California where it was over 80 degrees F today! Broke a record in many areas. I've enjoyed you all, laughed a lot, and printed lots of great advice. Shared a few jokes and limericks. Wonderous travel to all and a wish for peace in the new millennium!

Jeanne

Happy Holidays, everyone. Although I'm one of the new kids on the block, I enjoy my visits with you and feel I'm getting to know some of you. Whether you're funny or cranky or emphatic, thanks for all you have to share. <BR> <BR>Here's to a safe and sweet 2000 and beyond. <BR> <BR>Jeanne

Bob Brown

It has been a fun year folks; one filled with continued learning about many subjects, including travel. And, thanks to some of the threads on this forum, a funny time as well. (Ron of massaging fame never did thank us for all the valuable advice we gave him. He could never buy words of wisdom that were any better!!) <BR> <BR>I would like to express my thanks to all who helped me plan my Paris visit last September, and to those Forum regulars who have contributed already to my thinking about Vienna and Salzburg next year. What comes around goes around it seems. I have already received valuable input on Salzburg and Vienna to help my planning; some if it came from Fodorites whom I helped earlier with Switzerland. Now they have returned the favor. <BR> <BR>As for the trip itself, Paris was a fun filled adventure as was our Swiss escapade of '99. From the heights overlooking the Glacier de Moiry to the secluded realm of the Kilchbalm in the shadow of the Jungfrau, it was a spectacular adventure. <BR> <BR>With help from the Paris contributors, I planned the Paris portion well -- even if I do say so myself. Despite my limited French we got to a performance of Turandot at the Opera Bastille, to a supremely memorable performance at Ste. Chapelle, and we made it to the major museums, Giverny, Versailles, and all the rest. And not once did we get lost or take the wrong bus, train, or Metro! <BR> <BR>The memories are many, but if I could take the time to remember the two unidentified gentlemen on the Paris bus between the Trocadero and Place de la Concorde who made sure we got off at the right place, a big thank you. You certainly called into question all those stories of haughty, rude Parisians. To Kirsten at Hotel du Trift in Zinal, thanks for helping me with my German. It wasn't perfect but we got the job done in a fun way. (Und Kirsten, sollen Sie dieses Stuck lesen, Pat war wirklich satt wegen sie hat zu viel Raclett gegessen. I machte kein Spass darueber.) Also, to Nicholas and Evelyn, the owners of Hotel du Trift -- thanks for the email that talked me into visiting Zinal in the first place. <BR> <BR>And to the very, very old black dog who lay on the floor of the hotel, your hospitality to visitors of any language was an object lesson in multilingual tail wagging. I hope your last bones are happy ones. If people exhibited the same friendliness and receptive attitude, this world would be a better place.

Kavey

<BR> <BR>Tis the season to be Merry! <BR> <BR>Tra la la la laaa la laa la laaaa! <BR> <BR>Thanks to all for the advice and the laughs... <BR> <BR>Wishing you a very merry christmas and new year ... <BR> <BR>... as I dash around like a headless turkey trying to buy those last few presents, tidy a house that hasnt seen a hoover for a year in time for Christmas day and find an easy recipe for an Xmas feast that doesnt involve much effort... <BR> <BR>Love and Kisses under the mistletoe... <BR> <BR>/&lt;a

Sheila

Merry Christmas everyone. <BR> <BR>We have perfect Christmas weather. Three inches of white and crispy snow, with a covering of frost. The cards are up- at last! The tree is bought. We have 12 for dinner on Christmas Eve and only five days work to get there. <BR> <BR>Let's count our blessings and our Angels <BR> <BR>

merriem

Greetings to all! This website is a breath of fresh air in the travel industry. To everyone, agreeing to disagree, or just some great reading. Thank you Fodor's, you care about this forum, and to all those that post, this is the best place to get honest information. Thanks to all of you!

Monica

Seasons Greetings to my fellow fodorites. I hope everyone has a joyful holiday season with their family and friends. All of you have been good friends for the last 3-4 years which I am grateful. I have had a wonderful opportunity to meet some of you in person and will continue to have my fodorites get togethers. Thanks Neal for this posting! Let us all hope that the new year will bring much happiness in our lives and that our passport will continue to be stamped!

Hilary Fletcher

To Neal: I love you. Marry me. <BR>To Cass: Thanks for pointing me towards Neal's compliment. He & my swollen head are now betrothed. <BR>To Everyone Else: Happy Xmas, all the best for 2000, and remember .... "If you look like your passport picture you're too ill to travel." (Will Kommen). <BR>

Tammy

<BR>Merry Christmas everyone !!! Thanks for all the valuable advice that I have received and continue to receive from this site. It is one thing to read about a place in a guide book, but it is something special to hear wonderful advice from everyday people who love to travel as much as I do. The information and advice I have received from the fodorites in invaluable. Thanks again. <BR> <BR>I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year. <BR>

Joe

Best wishes to you all for the season and the new year. Along with good and reliable advice, you've all made trip planning fun! Travelers helping travelers is a great idea, and I'll add a special thanks to Fodors for providing the means.

karen

As I sip Calvados from Bayeux or wine from Gevrey-Chambertin, or spread lavender honey from Apt on my toast, or cook in copper from Villedieu-les-Poeles, I open the photograph album in my mind, smile and think of the travels made with help from folks here. Merry Christmas and many safe, happy travels to all!

ilisa

Happy Holidays, everyone! Neal, your compliment was so sweet, though it does evoke really weird images in my mind.

Helen

With a special tip of the hat to Neal, for getting this thread started, and for egging on my delusions of poetic grandeur (so the rest of you know whom to blame: <BR> <BR>As the Fodorites all wax millenial, <BR>My best to you, new or perennial. <BR>But my warmest by far <BR>(And you know who you are) <BR>To my list of the top 9 or 10 o' y'all! <BR> <BR>Happy Holidays all, and in 2000 look out for our new product, Haggis-on-a-Stick(TM)!

lola

Bless you merry Fodorites, let nothing you dismay; about travel to Europe especially! <BR>Thank you for the smiles and for the info and for the memories and for the chance to be part of a truly interesting community of like-minded travelers (with a few nevertheless interesting exceptions). And have a year, century and millennium for that matter, filled with peace and joy, health and happiness--and travel.

Helena

To fellow Fodorites, both old and new, Happy Holidays! I've learned so many fascinating things about the world around me on this forum, and I'm constantly amazed and pleased at how much time and effort people whose faces we'll never see spend sharing their knowledge and helping other travel enthusiasts. May the thrill of exploration and discovery grace each of us in the new year.

John

Hear, hear. A safe, happy, prosperous, and adventurous holiday season and new year to you all. <BR> <BR>If I had to spend 14 hours crammed into a 17-inch wide B747 seat with 26-inch seat pitch, a reclining, cranky, fanny-pack-wearing rhino in front of me, Aeroflot-supplied "meals" and nothing but Dr. Laura on the headphones, I'd happily sign up if I had ANY ONE of you as a seatmate. We'd swap stories and laugh through the pain.

dan woodlief

Happy Holidays to everyone who has made the past 2 1/2 years on this forum a wonderful experience. There have been some moments too that have made us realize what is most important to us. I could not help but think of Al and Ruth a little when my 9 month old had to be hospitalized for a week. She just got out yesterday, and thankfully it was nothing more than a virus causing an asthmatic reaction. She is now home, and we are all ready for a great first Christmas together. Hopefully, there will be some travel in everyone's stocking this year. One piece of advice: do not mix egg nog and haggis, or at least if you do, don't drive afterwards.

Yvonne

Seasonings greetings to everyone. <BR> <BR>I too have a secret crush on Neal. I must confess my eyes brighten when I see a comment from Neal. I've been a Forodite since early 1997, and have always looked forward to my special time with my on line traveling family for the good advice, the saucy banter, the laughs. To all, best wishes for eventful, but safe travel, I look forward to reading about your exploits. <BR>

Brian in Atlanta

I would like to offer warm wishes and holiday cheer to: <BR> <BR>That poor old man who tried to help those crazy American ladies find their way in Paris; <BR> <BR>Honest Gypsies everywhere; <BR> <BR>Any polar bears in Norway who have just now started their Christmas shopping; <BR> <BR>Anyone standing in front of an ATM in Rome worrying whether they'll be able to withdraw Euros; <BR> <BR>Any good-natured Luftansa flight attendants; <BR> <BR>Anyone waiting at the train station for Dr. Abate to arrive; <BR> <BR>Any poor soul who has visited this forum while wearing a crispy pink jogging suit or an "I'm with Stupid" t-shirt; <BR> <BR>The inventor of the Limerick; <BR> <BR>Anyone sitting in coach with a rude and very fat person in front of them; <BR> <BR>All the polite fat people; <BR> <BR>Anyone who has to eat haggis; <BR> <BR>That frisky French beau in the pool with Becky; <BR> <BR>All the Scots who have been thought to be English; <BR> <BR>All of the English who have been thought to be Scots; <BR> <BR>All of the French who have been thought to be looney; <BR> <BR>But most of all, to the inventor of the washcloth; respected and admired in the U.S., maligned and misunderstood in Europe. <BR> <BR>