Steves Comments 04
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.
====================================================
The Hippodrome in Istanbul was built by Severus, the Emperor of Rome. The Arch of Severus is at the foot of the stairs leading from Rome’s City Hall to the Roman Forum.
We have visited the Hippodrome, 15 Roman Amphitheaters, 20 Greek and Roman theaters, and the Circus Maximus in Rome. The seating capacity is a couple of thousand for the theaters, 10 to 50,000 in the Amphitheaters, 100,000 in the Hippodrome, and 300,000 in the Circus Maximus in Rome.
Where did all the attendees come from? What about medical assistance, food, beverage, sanitation (for spectators and participants), and crowd control. How did they get to and from home, and how long did it take? If you consider the people in large cities like Istanbul and Rome, many were too young, too old, too ill, did not like to attend, so where did all the crowd come from.
Think about the people in attendance. I’ve never seen an answer — first time I’ve ever seen the question. I’ll bet someone wrote a book.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 12, 2007 8:30 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Please understand, I am all in favor of Muslims acting anyway they want, while in their country, but they have caused problems wherever they went over the centuries. I could list a dozen places where I have witnessed that. A country consists of two things, a border and a culture.
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.
Diversity must be among countries — each country with its own culture — not diversity within countries.
Islam is not a religion, it’s a government, as dangerous to our way of life as Communism or Fascism.
If they are such great people, and theirs is such a great religion, why haven’t they stayed at home in their sandy sewer?
The Islam style government is not part of our culture, and if you let it in, it will try to take over, just like communism and Islam has done in many countries.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 14, 2007 2:21 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Karen,
If you can't read, at least don't mis quote.
I never compared "Islam to a sandy sewer," but their home and way of life is a sandy sewer.
I bet you wouldn't like to live there.
As I said, "Islam is not a religion, it’s a government."
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 15, 2007 4:25 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I hate to post another comment, but some have so misrepresented my views. There is little room to explain.
After hearing my strong views on immigration and culture, some people have accused me of being against diversity. Just the opposite. 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. If I want to know how the Greeks live, I will go to Athens, not Stockholm.
I love diversity, that’s why we have traveled to 70 countries and Islands.
Passengers on our cruise ship from Athens tended to congregate with others from their own country. It’s obvious the English are different from the Germans, who are different from the French, who are different from the Italians, who are different from the Greeks, who are different from — whoever. Viva La Difference! That’s diversity as it is intended to be.
I’m in favor of casual diversity, not compulsory diversity.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 16, 2007 8:59 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I’ll try again.
In the USA we have what is known as a Western European Culture. When Irish, German, Italian, French, etc., came here they already lived much as we do — not completely, but much. Visit any of those countries and you will be welcome and enjoy yourself.
We visited Mexico, in the border towns, and cruise ship harbors, and did not feel welcome. We did not see any sign of a culture we wanted to import and exchange for a portion of our culture.
Over the years, in many cities there is Chinatown, little Tokyo, Little Ethiopia, and on and on, they are much like a museum, and I am not against that.
As we traveled throughout Europe and elsewhere, we often said, “Would we like to live here for a year or two?” But never did we say, “We will insist they learn to speak English, they must post signs in English, have our TV programs and newspapers.”
If we moved there, even for a year or two, we would adopt their culture, not try to force ours on them.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 16, 2007 4:41 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We left our ship, the SS Odysseus, to sight see on our own. A long line of busses were waiting for those who paid for a tour of Istanbul, but that did not include us.
Before we crossed Galata Koprusu, the bridge over the Golden Horn, we walked past a line of sidewalk vendors selling bread and other kinds of pastry, fishing boats offering fish for sale, and there’s a ferryboat terminal, disgorging crowds of people.
At the Yeni Cami (Mosque), a thousand pigeons were lined up on the steps and on the wires above, as if by a drill sergeant, waiting for tourists to feed them Semit Sesame bread rings, for sale right there, by street vendors. Pigeons remembered that from yesterday.
The Süleyman Mosque (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey, is huge. Outside there are several domes, and six tall, slender minarets. Inside, the floor is covered with hundreds and hundreds of rugs. Turkish rugs we suppose, and there are blue and white Iznik tiles everywhere.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 18, 2007 3:57 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We are not Pollyannish about our travels, but there is no place we have visited in 70 countries and Islands that we would not be happy to revisit. There is no “best” country, each are different.
Some are more interesting than others, but when we travel we know it is their home, if we don’t like it we can leave. We are there to learn about their home and way of life, we do not tell everyone our home and culture are best, but we are positive that it is.
Have your purpose, budget, and schedule well in mind. Once you decide what it is you want to see and do, don’t make changes without a good reason and then come home disappointed that your initial purpose was forgotten.
If your idea of a vacation is to visit Roman ruins, or wander through streets of half-timbered buildings, or just to visit “starred” restaurants or lie on the beach, remember, it’s your vacation, do it your way.
We travel for the people, the architecture, and the geography.
travel-tidbits.com
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 18, 2007 10:09 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
We visited the Sistine Chapel in The Vatican, when they were experimenting with a method of cleaning the art, in 1980. We visited again in 1985 while ceiling renovation was being carried on, and yet again in 1989 when the artwork was perhaps 80% renewed.
We knew immediately when we had reached the Sistine Chapel — everyone in the room was standing, with eyes turned toward the ceiling. In 1980 there was scaffolding in one corner of the room, they were experimenting with a new method of cleaning the art on the ceiling and walls.
A rail was then installed on each side of the Chapel near the ceiling, and a platform was mounted on the rail so it could roll to and fro, sixty feet above the floor. Ceiling renovation was carried on from the platform while tourists continued to gaze and gasp from below.
Twice we climbed the 305 steps of the endless, interleaved, precarious oneway staircase, to the lantern at the tip of the dome at the Basilica of St. Peter’s, in the Vatican.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 20, 2007 11:06 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The approach to Piazza San Pietro, in the Vatican, is awesome.
Our eyes are busy as we walk the Via Conciliazione toward St. Peter’s, trying to take in the most striking features of the Piazza San Pietro — St. Peter’s Basilica with Michelangelo’s dome, and Giovanni Bernini’s colonnade of 284 travertine marble columns that partially encircle the Piazza San Pietro.
Like a pair of parentheses the colonnade encloses a fountain on each side of the Piazza San Pietro, and the obelisk in the center.
The Piazza is always filled with foot and vehicle traffic — taxis, city buses, tourist buses, two Americans in their RV, and people walking by the thousands — including the two Americans after they found a parking place.
It was especially crowded on Wednesdays, when Pope John Paul II held his afternoon audience with the people.
On May 13, 1981, Pope John Paul II was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt, right here.(1980)
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 22, 2007 11:04 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the early 1500s, the travertine marble that covered the Coliseum’s walls for 15 centuries was “quarried,” and 2,522 cart loads of marble were used to complete St. Peter's Basilica.
Uncounted Romans live, work, and worship in buildings constructed with blocks of stone and slabs of marble, from the “Coliseum Quarry.”
After the signing of the signing of the Lateran Treaty in 1929, Mussolini demolished the neighborhood, at that time called Borgo, and created Via Conciliazione as a spectacular entrance to the Vatican, and Piazza San Pietro.
Raphael’s studio, (the famous painter, and the chief architect of St. Peter's Basilica) which had survived four hundred years, was among the historical buildings lost by this reconstruction.
The Italian street name Conciliazione, translates to “Settlement” in English, and it sure looks something like the English word “Conciliation.” We think that would certainly fit the signing of a treaty.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 23, 2007 4:49 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Here is a question that I will ask, then try to answer. It will take two Posts to cover the whole story.
One day my Sweetie and I were sitting for a moments rest, in the Tourist Office at the south/west corner of St. Marks’s Square. In front of us was a map of the city, and it dawned on me that there was a unique method to copy that map.
The Tourist Office people were thrilled, and said this was the first time they ever saw what I showed them.
For those of you who have traveled in Venice, have you noticed that you have a Map of the city with you at all times?
More than one person, who has traveled with this information, has come home from Venice and said it really helped find where they were in the city, but they did get some strange stares from people who watched them study the map.
On the map, Venice looks like a large island, divided by the reverse S-shaped Grand Canal.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 25, 2007 9:04 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hold both of your hands, backs of the hands up, fingers slightly bent.
Interleave the hands, not touching, with fingers of the right hand on top, left hand fingers between right fingers and thumb, right thumb is between left fingers and thumb.
That reverse “S” space between the fingers and thumbs is the Grand Canal.
Piazzale Roma is at the knuckles of the left hand.
St. Mark’s at the base of the right thumb.
The Rialto Bridge at the end of the fingers on the left hand.
Scalzi Bridge is between the tip of the right fingers and the back of the left fingers.
Accademia Bridge from the tip of the right thumb across the Grand Canal to the left thumb.
The beautiful church called Santa Maria della Salute (Our Lady of Health), is right at the tip of the left thumb.
Your map of Venice really works. McDonald’s is near St. Mark’s, Häagen-Dazs is near the Accademia Bridge.
We’ve been to Venice 7 times.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 25, 2007 9:08 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenia has the same problem as many other countries and portions of countries throughout the world. A country must consist of two things, and two things only — a border and a culture.
Without going into all the detail, just think, the problem with Armenia, the Kurds, the Jews, and many others, is that they have a culture, but do not have a border.
Other countries have a border, but their culture is in danger of multiculturalism, and that will be the end of any country as we have known it for ever.
At times there appear to be more Armenians in Glendale and Burbank then in Armenia, most have been born long after the problem with Turkey, and many Armenians in the USA were born in Armenia, then moved to the USA.
If their country is worth the fuss and bother that appears to be going on for the past century, you would think they would want to stay there and make their country bloom.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 29, 2007 10:04 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Diana
My Beautiful Sweetie will have her second birthday in Heaven on Nov. 15. Even if I wasn’t so old, wthout her, no way would I travel anywhere. I would be the worst possible guide for a trip like Rick creates.
Twice we met a group of Americans who were traveling in Campers. Each tour was directed by a “Wagon Master” who made arrangements for campgrounds, gave directions and instructions where to meet the next night, what to do on the way there, sometimes hosted meals, and was the tour guide for events for the whole tour group.
Some people like the regimentation, Sweetie and I are so individualistic that when we have been asked to take the job, twice, we said “no” to being “Wagon Masters.” Can you imagine me making arrangements for a restaurant meal for a group?
A couple of times, after hearing about our travels, someone would say they would like to go with us.
We quickly changed the subject, the two of us completely filled our tour group.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 25, 2007 2:27 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Armenia has the same problem as many other countries and portions of countries throughout the world. A country must consist of two things, and two things only — a border and a culture.
Without going into all the detail, just think, the problem with Armenia, the Kurds, the Jews, and many others, is that they have a culture, but do not have a border.
Other countries have a border, but their culture is in danger of multiculturalism, and that will be the end of any country as we have known it for ever.
At times there appear to be more Armenians in Glendale and Burbank then in Armenia, most have been born long after the problem with Turkey, and many Armenians in the USA were born in Armenia, then moved to the USA.
If their country is worth the fuss and bother that appears to be going on for the past century, you would think they would want to stay there and make their country bloom.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 29, 2007 10:04 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
When the UN was formed, about 60 years ago, I felt the most important job they had was to create borders for the “homeless” people, of countries that no longer exist. That is the people exist, the borders do not.
I find it hard to believe that Turkey, for example, can not see that the millions of Kurds and the Armenians do in fact exist, and will continue to exist in spite of not having a recognized border.
Don’t they see that if they just cut off a portion of their country, and helped establish a land with borders, for people with other cultures, their problems would disappear.
I know that the borders that now enclose country are important, but wouldn’t it be better if the people who seem to hate, or are hated, by others, were not imprisoned within a border they don’t want, everyone would be better off.
The Israelis and the Palestinians would forget their problem, if borders surrounded their cultures.
A border and a culture do a country make.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Oct 31, 2007 11:35 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
People complain that I emphasize the fact that a country consists of a border and a culture, and they can not imagine why I am so much against multiculturalism.
My concern with multiculturalism is that it often destroys a culture. That does not mean that some country where people live in shacks, and have little to eat, and no good jobs, cannot adopt cultural items to improve their country.
Eggs, Milk, Flour, and Butter are each special items (cultures), and if you combine 2 1/2 cups of flour, 2 Eggs, a 1/2 cup of a Milk, a tablespoon of Butter, and a sprinkle of salt, you have created the wonderful new “Culture” of Noodles.
But if you combine 2 1/2 cups of eggs, 2 cups Milk, a tablespoon of flour, and a 1/2 cup of salt, you have not only created a mess, you have eliminated the original culture of flour, milk, butter, and salt.
Just to combine cultures willy-nilly, completely eliminates the original culture, and results in something else, mostly a total mess.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Nov 02, 2007 11:46 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
At the end of 2006, 5,888 people were interned in Swiss prisons. 31 per cent were Swiss citizens – 69 per cent were foreigners or asylum-seekers.
I am the original isolationist and nationalist — no Korean War, no Vietnam, Iraq, or any other war since WW II, when it was obvious help was needed, for a good reason.
Over 50 years ago I visited the United Nations HQ twice, at Flushing Meadows, NY, before the UN building was built in NYC. I don’t know who I talked to, it may have been the janitor, but I asked that all immigration be stopped, worldwide. If you were born there, you stay there.
Except for one thing, Invitation. If a country asks you to come, you can, but you have two or three years to eliminate all signs of your previous culture, and completely adopt the culture of the country you went to, or out you go.
I think the word Multiculturalism is a misspelling. I think it should be Murderculturalism, as it destroys culture, it does not develop a culture.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Nov 04, 2007 12:41 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I may sound like “Johnny one note,” in my talk of culture and a country, but in no way would I say anything but “wonderful” about Jackie Steves’ Adventures in Morocco. I think that is a great way to learn how other parts of the world lives.
Our daughter spent months in Germany, and our Son, a year in Finland. Sweetie and I traveled half way round the world, including a short visit in Morroco.
But Culture is a key point. There’s not much room to discuss it here, but could you imagine what Jackie’s trip would have been like if she had insisted that her new friends speak English, buy some $200 jeans, and accept her culture.
And on the other hand, if any of those new friends visited Seattle, would they be welcome to live and promote their Culture. You could rebuilt your bathroom with a hole in the floor and footprints to stand on.
But isn’t it best to live by the culture of the country you are living in, for a short vacation, or for the rest of your life.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Nov 06, 2007 10:03 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I visited Minneapolis, on business trips, many times. It was were always in “bad” weather (Compared to California).
Maybe it wasn’t as cold, as snowy, as rainy, as icy as the last time, but always one or the other. I discovered in the winter time, the only thing dumber than getting on an airplane in Los Angeles with an overcoat, was getting off an airplane in Minneapolis without one.
One morning several of us were in the lobby of a hotel in downtown Minneapolis, waiting for a taxi. Outside it was maybe 15 or 20 degrees below zero, with ice all over the place, and it was snowing and blowing.
While we waited, the newspaper truck stopped, the man threw a bundle of papers at the feet of the doorman. The headline said, “Minus 40 Degrees in Bemidji,” (in northern Minnesota.) The doorman said, “Gee, Bemidji, ain’t a fit place to live!”
What did he see just outside his door?
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Nov 11, 2007 9:52 AM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In the 1980s we planned to visit Russia. I wrote a letter to the Embassy in Wash DC. On the phone call we received, the voice, the accent, and the attitude was exactly as expected in a movie. “Why do you think you can visit our country anytime you wish?”
At the border we would have to give them our passports, wait 6 weeks to get them back. The end of that travel idea.
In Warsaw, Poland, in 1985, a group of college students, traveling in a large bus, arrived in the campground. They were just returning from 10 days in the Soviet Union, and are they ever glad to get out of that country. They said the people in the small Soviet towns really have a low standard of living.
In Warsaw, Poland, in 1991, a group of European college students, traveling in a large bus, arrived in the campground. They had enjoyed their visit to Russia, said the Soviet people are suffering, but they are hopeful, helpful, and hospitable.
What a difference after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Nov 13, 2007 3:30 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Similar tidbits in: Comments on Rick Steves, Travel Tidbits
Email this Travel Tidbit to a friend
Email this page to a friend
