wes fowler

To all the folks at Fodor's, to the many regular, knowledgeable and experienced contributors to its site and to the newcomers now engaged in planning their first European travel adventures, I extend my best wishes for a blessed and joyful holiday season and a prosperous, peaceful new year. <BR> <BR>I've been offering advice and suggestions to this Forum for over two years and would like to end this year with yet another piece of advice or two. <BR> <BR>For the prospective traveller "…pack your bags and go on your travels before it is too late. There are still vast tracts of the world which beg to be visited; and travel will give you a wealth of experience and pleasure which can be drawn on for the rest of your life - a wealth, furthermore, which no government can ever take away. If the very worst happens and you are miserable on your travels (unlikely), at least you will have learnt to appreciate your own country. I have never regretted visiting a single country (though three days in Dubai were enough), and I have rarely met anyone who regretted going on their travels. Our greatest disappointments are nearly always for what we haven't done - not for what we have done. And don't let the feeble excuse of work keep you back; remember the Haitian proverb: If work is such a good thing, how come the rich haven't grabbed it all for themselves?" <BR> <BR>For the experienced traveller who will, I trust, recognize some tongue in cheek advice: "Had I to give a few universal rules to a ….traveller, I should seriously counsel him thus: - In Naples, treat people brutally; in Rome, be natural; in Austria, don't talk politics; in France, give yourself no airs; in German, a great many; and in England, don't spit." <BR> <BR>The first quote from John Hatt, English traveller and publisher, the second from Prince Hermann Puckler-Muskau, prince, traveller, writer, landscape gardener and voracious lover. <BR> <BR>Both quotes from the delightful "A Book of Travellers' Tales" edited by Eric Newby and published by Penguin. <BR>

Betty Ann

Wes, I have just sent an e-mail to Santa asking for the book you recommended. Sounds like it's almost like having you on my bookshelf! Season's Greetings and a big thank you to all Fodorites for your wit and wisdom.

Paulo

Feliz Natal e um próspero Ano Novo! <BR> <BR>I want to thank you all for the laughs, wonderful travel memories and for providing me the opportunity to learn having fun. Special thanks to Walter, who, like we say here in Brazil, "taught me the path over the stones", inviting me to join this amazing site. <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

Lori

Joyeux Noel to one and all. Thank you for all of the wonderful tips, and lots of entertainment throughout the year. May the new year bring you joy, happiness, and health. My wish is for all to open their minds and hearts to new experiences and cultures, for that is what truly makes us human. May the year 2000 new and exciting adventures to all!

Carol

Dear Friends, <BR> <BR>After a few months of becoming addicted to this forum, I think of you regulars--and you know who you are--with real affection and look forward eagerly to another year of thoughtful advice, corny wisecracks, sincere concern, righteous anger and terrific tips about ....well, you know. I wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Beth

A very happy holiday to one and all. And many thanks for the advice, entertainment, laughs and conversation over this year. May you have another year of great travels, great fun, and a washcloth in every stocking!

Cassandra

Just in case the forum, the website, the web, or the world implodes next week, I want to add my own season's greetings and offer a special thanks: <BR> <BR>~ to those who take the time to answer questions thoughtfully, <BR> <BR>~ to those who are patient with those who are young, inexperienced, or "unclear on the concept," <BR> <BR>~ and above all, to those who maintained a tone of civility, kindness, and good will to all. <BR> <BR>"God (or Allah or the Creator or the Great Spirit or the Ultimate Architect or the Light or the Center) bless us - every one."

bly

Happy Holidays to everyone! Best wishes and happy traveling in 2000! b

mustangs81

Holiday greetings to all Fodorites! Thanks Neal, for the kind thoughts of the seasons, Brian in Atlanta for the synopisis of the year, and Wes for the fine tuning for our European adventures.

s.fowler

Thanks to you all for making this the most informative, literate and often amusing forum. I wish you ALL the happiness and joy of the season. <BR> <BR>A little holiday present for you. The Paris pictures are up. I apologize for the Geocities address. [I'm "full up" elsewhere... but *always* room for more fodorites at it.uwp.edu ]The post will follow once I have survived the weekend. Getting ready for Christmas CAN be done in 3 days, IF you did you shopping in Paris! The address is: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Musee/6100/dec/index.htm

dan woodlief

Could someone please send some snow? I know someone out there has some. We got flurries, but we haven't had a real snowfall in years. There is a chance tonight, but what are the odds? I do miss Wisconsin sometimes...

ilisa

Ah, snow is overrated.

Al

Imagine a place where it has neither rained nor snowed since mid-September, where the skies are clear day after day after day. Where today will likely see temperatures where you are out in your shirtsleeves. Our New Year's wish: please send some rain to us...in Arizona.

Helena

We've got plenty or airborne moisture here, and I'll try to get it shifted over your way. In Prague over the last few days we've had snow, rain, freezing rain, slush, and crunchy stuff that looked like snow but didn't sound like it (and was too small to be sleet). You sure you want it? <BR> <BR>The good news, it snowed on Christmas Day. Very pretty indeed. <BR> <BR>Happy Holidays.

s.fowler

My sympathies Helena. Sounds like Chicago We say here that if you don't like the weather just wait - it'll change. <BR> <BR>For Al: A New Year's wish for rain!

Helena

It's actually not so bad; the rain makes the air cleaner. I grew up in Rochester, NY, by the way, so humidity and clouds are quite familiar. How can I complain when I get to spend the holidays in Prague?

s.fowler

Agreed Helena! <BR>I grew up near Syracuse - you got more "lake effect" snow ... but we managed

Helena

Ahhhh, happy memories of "Lake Effect."

arjay

Dan W: Not Wisconsin. Not snow. Not this year. Not in this year of not-a-winter. We're as needy of moisture as poor Al in Arizona. In fact, our desperate call this evening to a well-driller, and his preliminary, ballpark remark of $4,000 pretty well eliminates that spring 2000 return to Paris we were hoping for. Sigh. <BR> <BR>Ah, but that's not the purppose of this thread... <BR> <BR>Saying thank you to all of you entertaining, helpful, knowledgeable Fodorites is an excellent idea! And a many-miled; friendly-smiled; sometimes wild; map-well-filed; present-piled; barely-biled; rarely-riled; direct-dialed; weather-mild; and grandly beguiled, fabulous Year 2000 to you all!

topper

Memories of 1999!