Comments on Rick Steves

Steves Comments 02

As I write this, the original location of these comments is at http://www.ricksteves.com/blog/. There is no way to tell how long it will be available, but there are all the stories Rick wrote, and all the comments of his readers, including all of my posts, and all the comments and complaints about my posts, etc.

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A block from the Marktplatz in Rothenburg, Germany, there is a restaurant with a very special filigreed, gilded, decorative wrought-iron sign extending over the sidewalk, with small Golden Arches conspicuously displayed. The most proficient McDonald’s sign we’ve seen.

Each time we approach Rothenburg, Germany, Emmy wonders if it can really be as delightful and captivating as she remembers from our last stay. On our several visits so far, she has yet to be disappointed.

The Rathaus in Rothenburg, Germany, has a tower that’s a must to climb. There’s a traffic light that glows green or red, depending on how many travelers got there first. Several flights of narrow wooden stairs, followed by a short ladder, then a squeeze through a small door, leads onto the narrow walkway around the very tip of the copper-plated tower roof.

It was necessary to wiggle backwards through that door, then carefully shinny down that steep ladder. The applause was for my Sweetie as she descended the ladder.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 19, 2007 7:44 PM
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MGM filmed the movie “Grimms Fairy Tales” in Rothenburg, and it looks like just maybe it was built by elves. The wall has a roof to protect guards who walked guard-duty years ago, and the tourist who walks tourist-duty today. There are about thirty towers, many gates for vehicles, and more for pedestrians.

Once as I approached the Plönlein (a half-timbered building), I noticed that if I could wait a few seconds, that car would disappear, at last, a “clean” photo. I stepped into the street, stopped the traffic and got that perfect picture, except, what a let down, it had no character. All that effort, and it’s obvious that people and things “do a picture make.”

It is amazing what we can learn from a tourist brochure. The one entitled “Rothenburg, Worth seeing, Worth knowing,” says “Year 1400, Period of glory under Lord Mayor Toppler.” The very next line says, “Year 1408, Lord Mayor Toppler dies in the prison of the town hall.” Then Mayor Toppler is not mentioned again. What happened?

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 21, 2007 10:56 AM
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At a street corner in Dresden, using Emmy’s limited German we talked to two elderly ladies who had lived through the terrible bombing in February 1945. We are unable to communicate well enough to recount a complete story, but again, we lament the fact that we have found no books that relate how the real people, the “little” people, not members of the government or the military, lived in Dresden throughout the war, and the years of Communist oppression.

During one of our several visits in Bern, Switzerland, we visited the country’s Capitol Building and asked for a book that tells about living in Switzerland during WW II. The official we talked to was very interested in that idea, but said he knew of no such book. (1991)

By the time of our last trip to Europe in 1995, about the only thing of interest to us that had changed since our first visit in 1970, was the removal of the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain, and the beginning of the restoration of Dresden, Germany. (1970-1995)

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 21, 2007 6:56 PM
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In 1991, at the newly opened Spar Supermarket in Dresden, (former East) Germany, we saw people who were just sightseeing, enjoying their first look at how the West had lived all these years. The look on their faces reminded us of kids looking at gifts under a Christmas tree.

A rather new, several-floor building, formerly an East German Government Konsum Store, was now a Karstadt Department Store, a member of the West German chain. The store name was a cloth banner hung from the roof. Clerks, customers, and carpenters wandered among racks of clothes and piles of lumber, the clatter of jack hammers competed with the jingle of cash registers. The customers were happy, they weren’t inconvenienced by the construction work.

When we visited in 1995, business had been so good, Karstadt was in the process of building a larger store just across Prager Straße from the original.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 22, 2007 3:09 PM
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On our first visit we spent a couple of hours walking around Interlaken. At a sidewalk cafe we ordered a cup of hot chocolate. They delivered a cup of hot milk, and a packet of Ovaltine.

I had not tasted Ovaltine since childhood, but as a result of that one cup, for breakfast in the years since I have savored thousands of cups of the favorable stuff.

Since my 110 volt razor would not work on the European 220V electricity, in Interlaken, the attractive barber was a blonde with soft, warm hands, and that’s better than 110 or 220 volt, or even 12 volt.

I suggested Sweetie go shopping, but Sweetie said, “No, I will sit and watch.” So all that happened was that I got shaved, what did Sweetie expect? Well, what did I hope would happen?

In Grindelwald, we thought there was a black and a white goat in the pasture. When the goat moved, we saw the one and only goat was black in front, and white in back, as exact as if it wore white pants and a black shirt. It was a "Cou Noir," Alpine dairy goat

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 23, 2007 8:00 PM
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We crossed the St. Bernard pass on the border between Switzerland, and Italy, and visited the hospice established by St. Bernard. We found several large St. Bernard dogs on display, and enclosures that held a half dozen puppies.

The atmosphere, the surroundings and the equipment were incongruous, not quite what one would expect at this ancient, storied mountain top. The unexpected? In this centurys-old monastery, the pans containing the puppy food were Coca-Cola trays.

The Italian border police asked where we were from, then asked, “Do you own this vehicle, or are you renting?” We would expect the police to check further when Californians say they own a French vehicle with German license plates while driving from Switzerland into Italy, but just a smile and a wave. We crossed European borders 227 times.

At a bank in Geneva we asked why we should have a Swiss bank account. They almost said, “If there is money to hide, hide it in a Swiss Bank.” That includes us out!

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 24, 2007 9:22 AM
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In addition to clothes, money, and a passport, the most important thing to take with you on vacation is a positive attitude. It’s amazing how many stupid, ignorant, inefficient, obnoxious people you will meet if you are in a bad mood.

Visit the countryside and the market place, exploring towns and cities and talking to cabdrivers, farmers, gardeners, shopkeepers, and your seat mate on the bus or train. There is pleasure in finding yourself in ancient towns and in the lovely countryside, discovering for yourself the joys of meeting people in their own environment.

You are there to learn about their home and way of life, so try not to tell everyone that your home and your culture is best, even though you/we are positive that it is.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 24, 2007 11:00 AM
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This is not a personal ad-lib Karen, I spent 20 years on airplanes, rental cars, and in hotels weekly, in addition to customers, for over 20 years, and found my litttle saying just so true. Here is an example of how it worked at one spot in Italy.

The policeman on the street in Pescara reached out and put up his little stop sign. He said something in Italian, so I smiled and said something in English, then handed him our Italian/English dictionary. He leafed through a few pages, and handed it back. I smiled and said “Thank you,” and he waved us on. He didn’t think it was worth the effort. Can you imagine what he might have done had I snarled instead of smiled?

In Madrid, the police were gaining on us, it was the U-turn they didn’t like. Just in case it would work, I smiled, shook their hand and thanked them, then drove off with no other comment from the police. I think it is because the beautiful lady with me, smiled and charmed the policemen. She is irresistible

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 25, 2007 9:47 AM
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Four cable cars, the longest aerial cable way in the Alps, are needed to climb the Schilthorn, just a few miles from Lauterbrunnen. These cable cars climb from Stechelberg, past waterfalls on sheer mountain walls to Mürren, then Birg, then on to Piz Gloria, to a round building where the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was filmed in 1969.

Most times cable cars go from station to station, one up, one down, passing exactly half-way up, or down. For the first cable car, the top station is high above, and a little to the right of the lower station. The half-way point is a concrete ledge used as the transfer point, hung on the edge of the mountain cliff.

Each car leaves its station at the same time, headed in the same direction, towards the transfer point. At the half-way station, everyone gets out of their car onto a small concrete shelf hung on the side of the cliff, transfers to the other car, then the cars return to the station they just left.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 25, 2007 4:17 PM
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We think Bern, Switzerland, would be our favorite place to live in Europe. Downtown Bern is situated on a level place with a sharp drop down to the “U” of the River Aare. There are blocks of arcaded shopping streets, with excellent stores protected from the weather.

A beautiful clock tower is in the middle of The Marktgasse, the smart and lively main street. A flat at Kramgasse No. 49, rented by Albert Einstein in 1903, has been restored in the style of that period. We saw nice homes and apartment buildings, parks and open areas, the Bernese Alps not far away.

Of our 32 nights in Switzerland over the years, we spent at least one night in each of the following: Basel, Berne, Brienz, Faido, Flaach, Geneva, Grindelwald, Interlaken, Lausanne, Leysin, Lucerne, Lugano, Mumpk, Near Zurich, St Moritz, Tasch, Villars, Worb, and Zernez.

One night in Geneva, the campground owner had just died, so we stopped at a hotel, other nights were in our RV with Switzerland’s scenery just out the window.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 27, 2007 11:48 AM
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In all aspects of travel-Different Strokes for Different Folks. It is our opinion that hotels and restaurants are tools of travel, not destinations. Thank goodness my Beautiful Sweetie was in agreement.

We are not campers, but to travel in an RV we saw three or four times as many items of interest while we traveled, as do people who spend hours each day looking for, and eating in restaurants, and packing and unpacking a suitcase.

Our 968 nights in Europe include 23 nights in hotels. Our 6 months in France (9 trips) includes not one hotel room, and only a couple of meals in what most travelers call a "real" restaurant.

Remember, a clerk in a grocery or bakery are thrilled to meet an American, a bellhop and a waiter are thrilled to get a tip. We are there to learn about their home and way of life, but while food and drink are important to some, it is of no interest to us.

Our small RV was home for months at a time. We spent some nights with a dozen of Emmy’s German Cousins.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 28, 2007 10:02 AM
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Our travels in France have been a thoroughly enjoyable experience — it’s truly an exciting and beautiful country. The towns we’ve visited, the sights we’ve seen, the people we’ve met. Eight other countries (Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, and Switzerland) border on France, and we have crossed those frontiers more than fifty times, and have visited some parts of France at least a dozen times.

The RV is a convenient way to travel, we have not spent even one night in a hotel in France. Most of what we find of interest is not time-dependent.

For example, the Romans constructed an amphitheater in Nimes in 50 AD; the Abbey at Mont-St.-Michel dates from the 1000’s; the Crusades Army left Aigues-Mortes for the Holy Land in the mid-1200’s; Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris was completed about 1345; the Louvre became a museum in the late 1700’s, so what we saw during our 1995 trip hadn’t changed in any important way since the first time we were in France, in 1970.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 28, 2007 8:52 PM
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I don’t know anything about wine or escargot, but if we have time to see only one town in the Alsace, it must be Kaysersberg, with a castle ruin on the hill, the birthplace of Dr. Albert Schweitzer.

To paraphrase the old potato-chip ad, “Bet you can’t see only one.” There is no way to get here without driving through other villages, and we wouldn’t even if we could. Pictures can’t describe the Alsace, it has a warmth, a charm of its own that must be experienced.

Smell the flowers, enjoy the fountains, absorb the flavor of the Alsace. Half-timbered and stone buildings; magnificent churches; interesting roof patterns created with multi-colored tiles; bridges over streams and small rivers; castle ruins; vineyards by the mile; wineries by the dozens; courtyards covered with flowers; clean, clean stone streets; and walls; and gates; and fountains; and storks making love in especially constructed nests high above the town.

The Alsace is unique, picturesque, a must visit goal.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Jul 30, 2007 3:33 PM
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We were pleased, to find that each year millions of French people visit the US Army Cemetery, near Colleville-sur Mer, France, along the Normandy beach. Henri said, as he held his hand over his heart, “The Americans came to liberate us, they did not come for money.”

All over Europe, rivers large and small have been engineered into canals, with locks and dams to facilitate boat traffic. Right next to the Valentré Bridge, in Cahors, France, I pointed and told Emmy, “There’s the locks.” Her response, “Wonderful, where are the cream-cheese and bagels?” Her favorite breakfast was “lox, cream-cheese and bagels.”

One day a barge was sailing down the Seine, and on the clothesline strung from bow to cabin, we could see a couple dozen items hung out to dry. Those unmentionables were the talk of the town.

One river we visited, was filled with people, including a young lady who would have been considered exceptionally gorgeous even if she hadn’t lost most of her swim suit.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 01, 2007 3:18 PM
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We had very nice experiences with French people during the 6 months we spent there over 25 years. Our beautiful French friend Brigitte said, “That’s impossible, French people don’t even like each other.”

We tried to find the Paris campground where we stayed in 1970, but found nothing. We saw a French family, complete with dog and kids, starting out for a drive somewhere. We asked if they could direct us to the Paris campground.

The son was happy to use his High School English, the father signaled, “Follow me,” and drove to the campground on the Marne River, just before it merges with the Seine. There are two rivers in this part of Paris, I knew we were on the right street and knew the campground was on a river bank, we were just at the wrong river.

When we got to where we were going, the whole family, including the dog, got out of the car and shook our hands (yes, including the dog, that was cute) and wished us good luck. Forget the myth of the unfriendly Frenchman .

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 01, 2007 6:32 PM
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I don’t understand the problem with natives in European countries, especially France. In our 1,000 days in Europe, in over 30 countries, including 6 months in France, during 9 trips over 25 years, we had less problems with people than we can find at the local 7-11.

My wife spoke a few words of German, but we had no problems communicating anywhere, and no one, NOT ONCE, was anyone unhappy we did not speak their language.

We traveled by RV rather than hotels and restaurants, and I say the clerk in a bakery or grocery is thrilled to meet an American, the bellhop and waiter is thrilled to get a tip. In shopping in far more than a thousand groceries and bakeries, I can remember only one disgruntled clerk, in a bakery in Zermatt, Switzerland.

But remember, it’s amazing how many stupid, ignorant, inefficient, obnoxious people you meet when you are in a bad mood. Smile and at least act happy, it’s contagious, we were thrilled to be there, wherever it was.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 02, 2007 11:10 AM
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At a market in Switzerland, we heard some noise and saw a tour leader angrily waving his colored umbrella, hollering, in English, for people to get in the tour bus, right now, or he would leave them where they are. When we asked what the problem was, he said never again would he lead a tour group from New York City. The bus was late leaving, and several people were loitering in the market place, rather than getting on the bus.

A young lady at Swiss Air had just returned from a vacation in the US. She really loved it, said the people were friendly and polite, and said that American drivers, especially in Southern California, were an agreeable, pleasant improvement over drivers in Europe.

We talked to people at a couple of banks in Switzerland, and asked why we should have a Swiss bank account. What it boils down to, but is not said straight out, “If there is money to hide, hide it in a Swiss Bank.” Don't we wish. That includes us out.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 02, 2007 5:24 PM
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When Oradour-sur-Glane, France, was attacked by the German Army, everyone, except for six people, were killed. Women and children were herded into the church, which was then set afire. The old town remains with streetcar tracks still in the street, with rusted skeletons of automobiles, bicycles, sewing machines, and other objects, where they were on that tragic day.

At the entrance to the old town there is a sign with only the words, “SOUVIENS-TOI, REMEMBER.” We’ve spent nights, in two different years, in the town campground.

The nightwatchman in Lausanne has appeared very night since the 1400s, but near York, England, at Ripon, for 1,100 years (600 years before Columbus' boatride), without missing one night, at 9:00 PM a man blows a horn to tell the town-folks, all is OK.

The Wakeman was dressed in a three cornered hat, brown overcoat with brass buttons. There is a statue in the square, he goes to each corner and blows one note. He must go to the Mayor’s home and blow it again.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 05, 2007 7:21 PM
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Liechtenstein has the beauty of the mountain area, but the first time we visited, the weather was so cloudy we couldn’t see much of the reported perfection. Another year we spent a few hours enjoying the mountain scenery we missed the first time we were here.

One of the things we remember best was the wonderful, tasty, rolls we bought for dinner, at a small bakery in Vaduz. The second year we visited, we stopped again at that same bakery and bought some of those exact same rolls. We found that while they were very good, they did not compare to what our memory says they tasted like, a couple of years earlier.

We often say, ”Wonder what the baker had for breakfast?” and “Which year did he make the mistake, the year it tasted so good, or the year it tasted normal.” Come to think of it, maybe it’s just the state of our taste buds, and how hungry we are, from one time to another.

Rick, we have also been to the five “little countries” you mentioned, but Luxembourg is number 6.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 08, 2007 6:06 PM
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My comments about driving in Rome.

We really loved it, all four times we have driven all over the city of Rome in an RV. Yes an RV.

Most countries have traffic “Laws and Regulations.” Italy has traffic “Hints and Suggestions.” Three guesses what a red light means, or a left turn lane, or a two lane road, or a Do Not Enter sign, and … …

One time while riding a crowded city bus, we noticed a lady reading what appeared (by the pictures in the book) to be a driver education manual. I mentioned to Emmy that I didn’t think they needed to know anything to drive in Rome. A lady who understood English overheard and repeated what I had said in Italian, to the sounds of much laughter.

When our driver (me) does something in the RV that causes, or results from a traffic complication, or that results in a driving problem, we get the feeling some Italian is saying, “That looks like fun, I must try that some time.”

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 10, 2007 5:38 PM
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Hate to add another comment so soon, but it seems to fit. I first wrote this about 20 years ago, and it hadn't changed by the time of our last trip to Europe, in 1995.

To successfully drive or walk in Paris, Rome, and most other cities, we must become aware of the eye movements of the drivers and pedestrians. They look straight ahead, and act as if we don’t exist. As the driver or the pedestrian proceeds, we can see him looking out of the corner of his eye, making sure we aren’t going to run over, or in front of him, but he will do anything except admit we are there.

If we manage to “win” this battle of (half)-wits, we will have spoiled the “losers” whole day. And believe us, all those “he/him” apply as much to “she/her.” If we don’t drive or walk just as aggressively, if we wait for everyone who wants to get ahead of us, no progress will be made — at least until the people behind us get involved.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 10, 2007 6:54 PM
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After a full day of sightseeing, Emmy was tired, so since the ambulances weren’t running a regular schedule, she stayed in the RV while I just had to walk in downtown Prague.

At the McDonald’s Restaurant near the Charles Bridge, the public restrooms were not free, exactly. Approximately 12¢ for a woman, and 8¢ for a man. Something about the plumbing! That McDonald’s was located near the US Embassy, the residence of Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, really

In Prague, Czech Republic, we drove around downtown a while, then this ‘ol homing-pigeon driver drove directly to the campground in Branik, a few miles south of Prague, on the west side of the Vltava River. I don’t understand. I have driven in how many cities since we were here last, four years ago?

We came to this ancient city with a tangled jumble of streets, from a different direction than in either of the previous two years we visited, but still, right to the campground. It sometimes seems a map would be a hindrance.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 12, 2007 7:45 PM
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Three different years we visited the St. Vitus Cathedral. At an archaeological dig near the Cathedral, we watched as college age students were finding both small items of interest, and items of small interest.

As we drove slowly past a group of Czechoslovakians repairing a Prague street, they saw our US flag bumper-sticker, they smiled, waved and one man hollered,“American!”

Prague’s Jewish Cemetery is one of the most unusual old curiosities we have ever seen. In just a very few acres 100,000 people were buried between the 1400’s and the 1700’s. People were buried eight and ten deep and the headstones almost touch each other

One year we talked to a lady who had been born in Prague, spent time in Auschwitz when she was 14, and is now revisiting her home, and that place of horror. She had married a German man and they now operate a Bed & Breakfast in San Francisco. Ten years later I called the phone number on her business card, and found she remembered us well.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 13, 2007 12:45 PM
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I should have mentioned that we visited Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic, in the years 1985, 1991, 1995. The 1985 visit was behind the Iron Curtain, the 1991 trip was as they were just getting used to freedom, and in 1995 all was much different from the first visit.

The people were nice in all visits, but by 1995, they did not look over their shoulder before talking with us, or even helping us find a streetcar or bus. We used a note on a piece of paper, sometimes English, not their language. Worked fine.

Those stories told above in the two comments, look much different than if they had happened in the 2000's. I should have dated each of them. And by the way, always in an RV. There were campgrounds, with many, many occupants every trip. The only way to FLY!!!

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 14, 2007 10:06 AM
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Different strokes for different folks. Much of what we read and hear is that people just love the food and drink in foreign countries. And believe me, I am all in favor of people doing what they like best.

But! To my Sweetie and I, hotels and restaurants are tools of travel, not destinations. Neither of us use alcohol, so that was never a problem. In 6 months in 9 trips in France over 25 years, we ate in maybe two places that most tourists would consider a good restaurant. We loved shopping the groceries and bakeries, and my Sweetie knew just what to fix and how to fix it in our RV.

This is a serious question that we discussed. How much of the real Europe would we see and learn about, if we spent hours each day looking for, and spending hours eating in restaurants, and unpacking and packing suitcases in hotels.

Believe me, I do not complain about anyone's way of travel except for the people who come home and complain about everything and everybody they saw.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 14, 2007 3:16 PM
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Mark above, said, “The Melk Abbey was awsome.” The reason, Josef Munggenast my Sweetie Emmy's ancestor was the architect.

During a discussion about travel in Austria, a tennis partner asked, “Where exactly is Melk?” I said, “West of Vienna, on the Danube.” I asked if he had seen Melk. He said, “Yes I flew my B-24 bomber 35,000 feet over Melk, on the way to bomb Vienna.”

We have visited Austria, five years, and each time it has rained and rained. Of course if it wasn’t for all the rain, the countryside wouldn’t look nearly so nice as it will if we ever get there when it isn’t raining.

One time, in Austria, I waited and waited for the money, finally thought the ATM machine was not working and walked away. I was called back by an honest Austrian, when the money finally arrived a few moments later.

On our first visit to Vienna, Austria, Emmy said she wasn’t feeling well. I checked, then said, “Wow, you feel just great to me.”

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 16, 2007 4:25 PM

From our 1985 Travel Journal:
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There’s a law in Austria (and some other countries) that big trucks cannot be on the roads on the weekend. We don’t know the exact hours but we see many of them parked, waiting to cross the border from Yugoslavia.

As we drive further into Austria, the countryside looks much, much neater than a few miles ago in Yugoslavia. What a change from Yugoslavia, the roads in Austria are wide, smooth, and in good shape, the grass and the farmer's fields even look more beautiful.

We have seen a billboard advertising McDonald’s, so we assume we are again in a civilized country. In Italy and in Yugoslavia we saw no McDonald’s.

There are few campsites in this area, so when we saw the sign for one, we turned and looked and looked and finally found a beautiful place to park our RV in the woods near a lake. There is electricity and plenty of hot water.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 17, 2007 12:21 PM
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I wish I could remember her name, but a famous movie star of 40, 50 years ago was Jewish, and wrote a wonderful autobiography. Her mother had escaped from a town in Germany in the ‘30s, and refused to revisit, as she was sure her former neighbors hated her. Finally the daughter got her mother to return, and after a couple of days with her former neighbors, she told her daughter, in earnest, “They didn’t know.”

I have visited my wife’s cousins in Germany many times, and even though several were in the military, I believe them when they say, “We didn’t know.” One man said his worst day was the day Hitler died. But then a few months later he learned what had “really” happened, and said that was an even worst day.

Of course many knew, but after talking to dozens of Germans, most did not know. One German lady knew a couple of Jewish neighbors had disappeared, and since they never got along as neighbors, she was happy they left, but she didn’t know what happened to them.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 18, 2007 9:22 AM
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Rick,

I have enjoyed your Blog, and I hope my comments were of interest. I tried to not mention anything that you talked about, but just to add to the information about the joys of travel to the same places you visited.

Since we always traveled in a RV, our experience was different from yours. As I said earlier, for us hotels and restaurants are tools of travel, tools that we used very seldom, not destinations.

I have always enjoyed this story, one that I believe is true for more people than can be imagined.

In an expensive restaurant, one lady leans to a lady at the next table and says, “Settle an argument for us, is this the London Hilton, or the Paris Hilton.”

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 19, 2007 8:00 PM
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We are not Pollyannish about our travels, but there is really no place where we have visited in 70 countries and Islands that we would not be happy to revisit tomorrow. We are there to learn about their home and way of life, and we try not to tell everyone that our home and our culture is best, even though we are positive that it is.

If I want to see how the Mexicans live I will go to Mexico, not Van Nuys. If I want to know how the Algerians live, I will go to Algeria, not Paris. Remember, a country has two things, and two things only — a border and a culture, if you violate either, out you go.

Already too many foreigners want to live in the USA and in Western Europe, obeying all the tenets of their previous culture that they hated enough to leave. If it was so bad that you left, why bring it along? The rights, the duties, and the privileges protected and guaranteed by any Culture, do not, and must never include the right to destroy that Culture.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 20, 2007 4:01 PM
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Brian, maybe you are too old to sleep in a sleeping bag, I stopped that just as soon as I got out of the Army.

These days, if I want to “rough it” I turn the electric blanket on low!

Some people ask about our trips as if they must be a chore, at times unpleasant. A tennis partner said that he can’t imagine a visit to Paris without a night at the Ritz Hotel. Another commented that when he and his wife “rough it” they stay at a Holiday Inn instead of a more luxurious hotel.

To each his own! We certainly don’t “rough it,” we couldn’t be more comfortable.

During our private travels we have spent 200 to 300 nights in maybe 130 hotels (a guess), in perhaps 40 states, from Prague in Europe, to Saipan in the South Pacific. But only 23 were hotel nights in Europe, out of 968 total.

During business travel, I spent maybe another 900 nights in 70 cities in 37 States, in maybe 150 to 200 different hotels (a guess). Another hotel is not high on our destination priorities.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 21, 2007 8:53 AM
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Christopher and Mary,

I had no intention of getting off Rick’s subject, and there is no space to answer, but just a comment.

The reason people come to the US and Europe is because of our culture versus theirs. Name me one item of culture in the so-called eastern world that you would like to replace something we have already?

Try this

Most passengers on our cruise tended to congregate with others their countrymen. The English are different then Germans, who are different then French, who are different then Italians, who are different then Greeks, who are different then — whoever. Viva La Difference! That’s diversity as it is intended to be, from country to country, not the phony diversity of people going to another country, and taking their culture with them.

The tour director said when passengers were mainly Americans, they were so much friendlier, and so much easier to get along with, than the European passengers.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 21, 2007 2:22 PM
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I just have to add this.

If these people are so great why is the place they left such a mess? What if Georgie Washington, Tommy Jefferson, and Benny Franklin had said, “This place is a mess, let’s go to Canada.”

If they love their home country so much, after they live here a while, and learn how we live, why don’t they go home and fix up the home place?

Where I lived a few years ago, so many of the doctors, who were trained in the US, were from the Middle East, so I said to one, “What do people in Iran do when they need to see a doctor?”

I firmly believe that any non-citizen who attends college in the USA, must spend at least 10 years in their home country before they are allowed to re-enter the USA. Why leave the rest of the world a mess, just because others want to sneak into the US.

(Sorry Rick, but a comment was needed.)

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 21, 2007 4:54 PM
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Two visits to Sweden, we said, “Sweden works.” The Swedish National election was near, with election rallies at street corners. One man, who was getting his doctorate in economics at Stockholm U, asked, “Do you realize how lucky you are to be living in America?”

I asked about 32 people, “Since people who don’t work are provided all of the necessities and many of the frivolities of life by the Government, when are the people who work and pay taxes, going to get tired of paying to support that way of life?”

About 25 answers were, “We are already sick of this mess and want to change it, a little.” The people at the Communist party rally thought they deserved even more free goodies. All agreed that even if the most conservative political party in Sweden wins the election, not much will change.

In the downtown area, a lady was singing as she played “How Great Thou Art” on a battery powered organ, we joined her in singing. She wanted us to take the mike, but we’re not that good.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 22, 2007 3:22 PM

Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr said: There is always a little thrill one gets from saying things well.

I say: A picture is worth a thousand words, a visit is worth a thousand pictures, the video is priceless. The eye can see and the heart can love what the word cannot describe.

As you might have concluded by now, we are often justifiably accused of “name-dropping.” Even more, we enjoy “name-catching” and “picture catching,” the everlasting joys of travel. Our ear may catch the name, and our eye may catch a picture of a thousand cities, towns, or buildings, and with the help of our mind’s eye we find an added reward for our years of travel.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 24, 2007 10:32 AM
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Some people travel from restaurant to restaurant and see hotels in between, others go from scenic spot to scenic spot, and see the towns in between, we travel from town to town and see the scenic spots between.

At the Plitvica National Park, sixteen lakes are connected by thousands of little, hundreds of medium, and dozens of large waterfalls. Most of the time that slippery wooden walkway seemed even narrower when we met other people also walking under an open umbrella. A scary walk through a gorgeous natural treasure.

The thirty minute ferry ride on the Geiranger Fjord from Hellesylt, to Geiranger, Norway, was really spectacular. We have seen hundreds of beautiful scenic locations in Europe and in the US, but for pure outdoor beauty, the Norwegian fjord coast must be number one.

The Alps at the Matterhorn, Switzerland, at Chamonix, France, and at St. Bernard pass on the border between Switzerland, and Italy, are the best alps scenery we remember in Europe.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 25, 2007 12:29 PM
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“If my Sweetie wants it, I will buy it.” The only ridiculous thing she ever wanted was ME! There’s jewelry from the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, cost $200 in 1970, fifteen years ago the jeweler said $6 to $8,000.

Use your shopping opportunities to buy products you need and will use and enjoy, rather than just buying “tourist gadgets.” The rule: “Half the clothes, twice the money.” A man filled his suitcase with clothes from the Salvation Army and Goodwill. When something became dirty, he left it, used that space to carry items home. Plan carefully.

We have a couple of hundred remembrances. There are many copper and brass bowls, pots, pans, trays and scales. Most unusual is a 10 pound black volcanic lava rock that we found when we climbed to the top of Mt. Vesuvius. A lava rock, reddish in color, from the Island of Hawaii, a small pink stone as used to build Assisi, Italy, anchor chain from the Island of Saipan. Two 10” pieces of the Berlin Wall, and the hammer that did it.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 26, 2007 9:42 PM
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A joy of travel is to find something that you never heard of, that few citizens have heard of, and you can find none who have visited.

The Metéoro monasteries in Greece are a fantastic set of buildings. Twenty-four monasteries, huge buildings, many thousands of square feet, several stories high, were built on huge columns of rock, straight up and down. Four can be visited.

At Mount Solmissos, above Ephesus, Turkey, we visited the last home of the Virgin Mary. Our taxi driver had been wounded in a war, the wound would not heal, so he walked and hitchhiked across Turkey, managed to visit “Mary’s House,” did something with this water, and his leg healed.

We drove to Wieliczka, 6 miles southeast of Kraków, to visit the old salt mine and the Chapel of Blessed Kinga, located more than 300 feet below ground. Several bas-reliefs (maybe 20 feet by 30 feet), especially the one of da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” that includes the spilled salt shaker, were carved on the wall.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 27, 2007 10:13 AM
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As we arrived in Denmark, the customs man stamped our passport. While he was trying to get the stamp to work he said there is plenty of food in the markets in Denmark, but the government can’t afford to give him a workable passport stamp machine.

We walked through Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, stopping to watch the rides. For dinner we ate some odds and ends at various food places. Had especially good popcorn. They have what appears to be small-time gambling, expensive restaurants, band concerts, and entertainment acts of many kinds. A really interesting place. Wonder why no other city has something similar to Tivoli Gardens.

Stopped in the town of Arhus and visited the outdoor museum where they have moved houses from various parts of the country for display and preservation. They have one or two each, of several different types, all located around a small lake.

We saw Hans Christian Anderson’s home in Odense.

Rick, hope my comments were just fine with you!

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 27, 2007 8:01 PM
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(Someone complained using my name.)
That last comment proves that liars can post a comment — that was not me. Rick, while you are home, let me know do you like my posts, or should I stop. I am not competing with you, just adding some extra info, here and there.

I certainly enjoy Rick's postings and watch his TV program all the time. I have thousands of pages on my web site, and enjoy writing, but at my age I have enough problems getting from the bedroom to the computer.

I got an early start in travel, I spent my 18th birthday on a troopship in Singapore, near the end of WWII, and have enjoyed traveling extensively with my Beautiful Sweetie, until she passed away two years ago.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 28, 2007 10:18 AM
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Well Karl,

And the others who have noticed the same thing, I am sorry for the duplications. I just counted and was shocked to see I had Posted over 85 times. I had no idea. But I glanced and saw just a few duplications, so hope that was not too bad.

It is quite obvious that the best part of my life was the 55 years and 13 days with my Most Beautiful Sweetie. Other than that, I loved traveling with her, reading about travel, viewing photos and video about travel, talking about travel, and as you might guess, writing about travel.

I have conducted dozens of meetings in several Senior Centers, Libraries, and elsewhere, talking about Travel in Europe, but never for money, always just for fun.

I await the most important comment about my efforts, a comment from Rick himself. His office has my Email address, and my Web Address, but I won’t post it here.

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 28, 2007 2:53 PM
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Rick, Keep on Blogging

Maybe I have overdone it with all my comments. I counted and while I won’t admit to how many, it was many less than a hundred — isn’t that a surprise.

I have gotten complaints and compliments on your Blog Comments, and received complimentary E-mails.

We traveled (not me any more) with such different goals, and in such a different manner than you Rick, what we saw and wrote about is so very different from what you present. I try to complement, not compete with what you write.

My Web Site has 2,000 pages of stories and 700 photos, each photo has a story. I have self-printed five books for friends and fun, but have spent little effort to sell, so I am not in business. I am just passing the time since the Love Of My Life has passed away.

Squeeze your Sweetie, and never let loose until the very end. I think of all the time we spent on frivolous things like eating and sleeping, when we could have been Loving!

Posted by: Jim Humberd - Aug 29, 2007 10:08 AM
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Here is a message from Rick:

Dear Jim,

It’s been fun having you along with our blog family. You have great insights to share. Since you asked, I would appreciate a couple of considerations from you:

Limit your submissions as much as possible to one per entry.

If you don’t have something that relates directly to the topic of that blog entry, don’t submit anything. (This will keep your reader interest up…otherwise I think people will just learn to skip over your comment.)

Please do not comment regularly on my entries while I’m at home blogging from my office but wait for my next trip. I didn’t say do not comment. It’s just that you become a predictable feature when you comment with the same size entry with each of mine and I do not think that is good for the interim period between my trips.

I hope you are okay with that.

Happy travels,

Rick

Tidbit by Jim and Emmy Humberd

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