Steves Comments 08
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I have visited a Sauna in the US hundreds of times, here are a few of my experiences while traveling. === Often I conduct a Humberd Poll. One year the Swedish question was asked of about 32 people, including in the sauna where I had a “heated” discussion with several men. === One night was spent at the Hotel Traube (Hotel Grape) in Esslingen, Germany. The men waited in vain for Sweetie to join them at the co-ed nude sauna, just below our bedroom window. === We checked into the very nice hotel in Reykjavik, Iceland. There were several people in the sauna, a captain and crew (but no stewardess) from Icelandic Airlines. === TSS Stefan Batory left Rotterdam, sailed to London, then to Montreal. In addition to Sweetie as my fascinating Bunkmate, there was the tall, slender German lady who visited the Sauna almost as often as I did. Never once recognized her on the ship when she was dressed. === In Kristianstad, Sweden, Bengt invited both of us to visit the local sauna next to the campsite. When I got to the sauna, the men were disappointed that Sweetie had not accepted the invitation. After dinner we went to Bengt's house and met his wife. Sweetie asked if Bengt often brought campsite orphans to visit. We talked for several hours and had an enjoyable evening.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 26, 2008 9:38 AM
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Between Brandisi and Bari, Italy, we saw a dozen huge billboards, that featured a large bill-board-size photo of a woman’s bare breast, and hundreds of smaller signs. There was one bare breast and nipple on the left, and on the right a baby whose eyes and mouth confirm he is obviously on his way to dinner. I told Sweetie the baby was most likely paid to make the advertisement, but I was more experienced, and would have done it for nothing.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 26, 2008 12:19 PM
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Patti - - - Which did you take offense at, the billboard advertisement, or my comment to my Sweetie the first time we saw one, that she laughed at? - - - - And did you notice, you repeated what I wrote, just like what Imus, George Allen, and a thousand others have said, that was not seen or heard by many people, until the ones who complained told it over and over a million times, to a million people who never heard the original statement.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 27, 2008 12:28 PM
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Oh Patti, you missed the one important word, "looking." The baby was looking, and that is what I proposed to do. In the few days we spent in Puglia (Italy's heel) we saw the huge billboard a dozen times at least, and saw the smaller sign at a hundred bus stops, and other places with room to post a 3 by 5 (approximate size) sign. I don’t read Italian, but the sign said, “Primizie per Mamma e Bambino” and some smaller print that I can’t read all of said something like “NFGOZI SPECIALIZZA.” At the bottom of the sign there are some addresses that are hard to read. See for yourself - http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/002295.shtml
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 27, 2008 6:42 PM
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Enough time wasted on your (Patti) nonsensical post. You are the only one who mentioned the word you claim is offensive. The word I used is "looking" the word you used is "sucking." I never said anything inappropriate, and I have nothing to apologize for, or about. You are the one using what you call offensive language.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 27, 2008 9:04 PM
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Oh Patti, you presented a one-sided view of sexual harassment. You listed over a dozen things men are accused of. I could give you multiple examples of each of those items, where a lady was the instigator, a man the recipient. You seem to think that like a Black person is said not to be able to be a racist, you seem to insist ladies can not do sexual harassment. The other day the cashier in the bank bent down to her counter, and I could see her belly button. I laughed and said, “That’s beautiful, did you know that when you got dressed this morning.” She laughed and admitted she had no reason at all to complain when a man got the nice view. How about micro-mini dresses, low cut to the breast bone, forgetting panties (not only starlets). I could list a thousand examples, but I am sure it would not change your opinion. How about all the topless ladies on the beach, and on the street in Europe? Are they to be ignored? If you did, they would be very unhappy. Certainly you don’t think they are topless just to get a suntan, do you? If you do, that explains a lot of what you said. I suppose you dislike this “Writing Gem” also. - - - The barber was a blond with soft, warm hands. That's better than either a 110 or 220 volt shaver.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 28, 2008 10:05 AM
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Oh my Patti, I forgot to add that what you consider demeaning to one female, would be considered a compliment by the next dozen ladies.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 28, 2008 10:09 AM
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Oh my goodness Patti -- You mean that Government site did not include the story of the 28 year old professional woman who told me her boss was available for lunch that day, and when I got there, found he was out of town, but she had the afternoon off. If I had a tape recorder, I could play the 20 minute recital, filled with laughter, as the Stew told of her time in the rest room with Wilt Chamberlain. Maybe the Governement could have told about the sexy, salacious movies that your crowd is said to be the largest audience. And do you mean they never mentioned TV programs like Housewives, and Sex in the City (that I’ve never seen), but are very popular with 28 year old professional woman. Are you trying to tell me that a scantily clad lady (even older than 28) is not sexual harassment? I can assure you that my Dad would have insisted that is terrible harassment. If you go to Hooters, you see beautiful ladies, who are not ashamed of themselves. Oh, and by the way, you never mentioned who wrote those Government regulations. I bet she was a 28 year old professional woman.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 28, 2008 12:33 PM
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Well Patti, I agree this has gone too far, but you are the problem, not the solution. The original subject of Rick’s column, was about bare breasted ladies. I mentioned the billboard in Italy, that tens of thousands of Italians saw, and didn’t complain about. Did you see it on the Web address I gave? You are the one who first mentioned “sucking,” not me, and then you tried to “blame” me for saying that word. And now you do it again. My posts on Rick are all available to be read at http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/cat_comments_on_rick_steves.shtml, and the word Britany does not appear. The word Mosque appears 7 times, all as a nice tourist comment. But your attempt at slander will not stand. I do not understand what you are talking about, and why you want to blame me for your mistakes. To finish this off of Rick, my Email address is jimhum@sbcglobal.net. As for the comments of Ed and Ray, I don’t understand at all. Why should I let Patti’s erroneous comments about me, stand without a response?
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 29, 2008 12:07 PM
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By the way Rick, did I stalk you? == Oh my Paulette, how terrible, I was at Rick’s booth at the Travel Fair, and I thought that was why the booth was there. How can that be stalking? He spent money so that people would visit his booth. The book I gave to Rick was not, and is not for sale. Where did you get that “oral fixation” bit? The title of this Blog is “Secretory Glands”, and Rick writes about a “nipple, penis, anus, and vagina.” I mentioned an advertisement in Italy (and it was not 30 years ago), that went along with his subject. You, Patti, Helen, Ed, and Ray are the ones off the subject. And Paulette, as for your reference, I never once mentioned the word Britney, nor the word Mosque. Helen, when Patti misquoted me, that is not a “specious arguments.” I was not concerned with her being offended, I was concerned that she misquoted me. My objection is to what Paulette, Patti, Helen, Ed, and Ray have said, because much of it was just wrong. And I don’t care if it is libel or slander. You are entitled to your opinion, just quit misquoting me, and lying about what I wrote at any time. I would love for this to end on Rick’s Blog, and have posted my E-mail address, in case one of you still don’t understand what I said, and would like to try some more by e-mail.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 29, 2008 4:07 PM
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Oh my, I just went and looked in the mirror to see who that was who got out of my bed this morning. He did look a little familiar. Maybe some people got a little information about me from reading the (too many) posts on Rick, the 2,000 pages on my web site, and maybe even from the several books I have written, but have not tried very hard to sell. I spent my working years selling computers, now I like to write, don’t like to sell. Not worth the effort. The most famous book store in LA is closing, with a million books on its shelves, so I didn’t try to add to that pile. ==== And by the way Paulette, if you find anything worth visiting in Europe that is not at least hundreds, if not thousands of years old, let me know. That’s why most people travel! My stories of our travels 30 years ago, tells of the thousands of year old places of value that we visited. I hope the Rick book you buy, doesn’t mention a cathedral, a castle, or a beautiful village on a hilltop in Italy. That might spoil your vacation. Haven’t received an Email from a Rick reader yet.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 04, 2008 10:18 AM
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We felt so sorry for the young lady we talked to in Ajaccio, Corsica, when she said, "Yes, I've been to America, I visited New York City." We enjoyed Paris 9 trips, Rome 4 trips, Berlin 4 trips. but the 100 places in France, the 80 places in Germany, and 63 places in Italy, where we have spent the night, complete the story of each country. As much as we enjoyed Rome, Paris, and Berlin, given the choice of only little towns, or only the capitals of those countries, we would choose the villages, in our RV. A clerk in a grocery or bakery in Europe, is thrilled to meet an American. A waiter and a bell hop are thrilled to get a tip.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 01, 2008 7:46 PM
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Rick, we have visited Italy 8 different years, and spent at least one night in 63 different places in that wonderful country, including twice in Sicily, and in Sardinia. There are three rules for travel in Italy, Enjoy, Enjoy, Enjoy. Here are a couple of Writing Gems about our love for that Country. === Italy is crowded with beautiful, friendly, congenial people who welcome us, confuse us, charm us, disturb us, enrapture us, discombobulate us, and ensure that we have a fascinating vacation. === Most Countries have “Traffic Laws and Regulations.” Italy has “Traffic Hints and Suggestions.” === An Italian shopping street, alive and colorful with bright window displays while the stores are open, often becomes drab and colorless after hours when they close the shutters. === I was sure some of the Italians weren't going anywhere. They just liked to “participate” in this kind of line. === The Italian said, “We are not well organized. We do a great job of designing and building, but have yet to hear about maintenance.” === And there could be a million more.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Feb 29, 2008 4:48 PM
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Come on Vanessa, are you there to study or just lay around? We’ve been to Rouen several times, and no way could we see much of what there is to see, if we wasted time in bed. Here’s one of my snippets: == As we travel the abbey road in the Seine River Valley in France, from Rouen to Le Havre, we can visit the ruins of several interesting churches and abbeys, and attractive natural beauty. Bridges and ferry boats on this part of the river will permit us to cross when the scenery looks “greener” on the other side of the river. As travelers accustomed to the sights and architecture of the US, when we travel through the Seine River Valley, jaws drop, eyes glaze, and words fail. == About a restaurant on the Siene, we said, == This lovely dining room was in an old, old, half-timbered building whose ceiling beams all ran in approximately the same direction, its walls went here and there. The view of the river and the outdoor cafe looked impressionistic through quaint little panes of ancient wavy window glass. == There are several photos of Rouen at == http://www.travel-tidbits.com/tidbits/cat_france.shtml
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 02, 2008 1:04 PM
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Marianne/Vancouver It works both ways. = = A distinguished gentleman we met in Trier, Germany, told us his sons, who were attending college in the US, would prefer to live in our country, rather than return to Germany after graduation. When we asked why, he stopped, thought a moment, then answered, “Freedom from the neighbors.” We responded, “In Germany you have freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and a very good standard of living, so what do you mean by ‘freedom from the neighbors’?” He again thought a moment, then said, “People in Germany are so concerned with what their neighbors are doing — when they wash their car, when they hang wash on the line, stores close early in the evening, and are closed on Sunday. In general there’s a feeling of less individual liberty than many people feel they should expect.” = = We used that as our “Question of the Trip,” and got dozens of interesting responses. (My response word today is = plaid = my favorite color. That didn't work, so now the password is password.)
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 04, 2008 12:03 PM
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Rick, here is a Snippet, written too late to make it into the copy of the Snippet Book I gave to you. === In front of the castle in Heidelberg, Germany, as we have seen many times, fifty Japanese tourists were standing in three rows, as if they were a choir. Tourists took their turn to run from the choir, snap a photo, and return to their place in the group. I stood in front of them, raised my arms as if I was the choir director, and started to lead. I heard no music, but did hear and see the people cheer, and heard a lot of laughter. I asked the guard at the Huntington Library in San Marino, CA, “Is a Japanese tourist permitted on the grounds without a camera?” He laughed. Each and everyone of them, has at least one camera. It's difficult to see art in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, without also seeing a Japanese tourist taking a photo of their mother. When they get home, they tell people, “Didn't mother look nice in front of … … !” ==== And a writing Gem. ==== When someone volunteers to take your picture, make sure the photographer is elderly or handicapped, so you can out run him and retrieve your camera, if you have trusted the wrong person.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 03, 2008 11:27 AM
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I have never owned a digital camera, and I must admit I don’t know why, but many times I like a film photo better. I think that some of the photos on my site, taken by a two-bit film camera, 40 years ago, are softer and better, then many of the millions of digital shots on the Internet. == One year my daughter and family were visiting her husband’s relatives in Italy. On the last day of their vacation they lost their digital camera. A couple of days after they got home, the phone rang, and they found that a young man found the camera, looked at the photos, recognized the apartment building where they had visited. He then knocked on doors at the building until he found someone who knew of a lost camera. Wonderful. == Another Gem. == Artists with easel and palette, and photographers with a neck full of camera straps, attempt to capture the charm of this venerable city.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 03, 2008 5:35 PM
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Put “Peace Sign” in Google and get millions of hits. Put “Churchill, Peace Sign,” and you will get 142,000 hits. For my Generation, the Peace Sign belongs to Winston Churchill, and WW II. Those stories on Google give all kinds of bad definitions for the two finger salute, starting thousands of years ago. Some of the stories give terrible reasons why Churchill used that sign. But for the WW II generation, it belongs to Churchill, and winning the war!! Everyone got a thrill when they saw his photo. And I will give the one finger salute to any punk kid who misuses that patriotic, war winning, salute.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 04, 2008 9:48 AM
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KathyM == There’s an old parlor game where each person is to describe themselves in one word. For better or worse, most everybody agrees that in both its positive and its negative connotations, my word is accurate. My word? Curious! Would it surprise you to hear my second middle name is “Trivia.” If you don’t believe that one, just read my posts on Rick’s Blog.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 04, 2008 1:52 PM
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Rick, I notice you did some grocery shopping. Our best experience in Rome was the Silos Supermarket, on Via Aurelia, across the street from Camping Roma. One year we bought the best steaks we had in all of Europe, and another year the butcher cut a small Prime rib, just for us, that we fixed in the RV oven, at the Campground, on the beach at Pescara. But the most exciting thing one year, was the store with delicious ice cold watermelon. We sat on a bench and ate cold watermelon in Plaza Roma in the tiny walled village of Monteriggioni. You can’t match that in the most expensive restaurant in Rome. No, I mean in the world.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 06, 2008 9:05 AM
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Rick, I just finished watching your video of Milan, Italy, on PBS in Los Angeles. (I watched the UCLA game on the other TV, you were both winners!) But just a suggestion. We have been to Milan multiple times, and we are always amazed that while the “Last Supper” deserves all the attention it gets, we are surprised that little attention is paid to the opposite wall, where there is a huge painting of the "Crucifixion," dating from the same period, by Giovanni Donato Montorfano. A beautiful painting, that deserves attention. Just an added item. My son-in-law’s father was a teenager living in Milano on August 16, 1943, when the bomb was dropped on the Church of S. Maria delle Grazie, and the "Last Supper" was damaged. He remembers nothing special about that night of bombing, and remembers nothing special in newspaper reports of that night's destruction. Just another night of horror.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 08, 2008 3:28 PM
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Rick, you and your son were lucky, things weren’t always so calm and quite in Italy. In AD 59 in the Pompeii Amphitheater at a gladiatorial show, there was a fight between the inhabitants of Nuceria and Pompeii. First they threw stones, then swords were drawn and many were wounded and mutilated. The Roman Senate prohibited Pompeii from holding any similar sports events for ten years. Sounds just like soccer matches in Europe these days. ......====...... Housing is scarce in much of Italy, we were told most young people don’t have their own apartment, but the Pompeii, Italy, campground has a few rooms for rent, by the hour. The well dressed young people in nice cars, were waiting in a long line to rent one of the rooms in this campground for an hour, or maybe after such a long wait, just a few minutes.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 10, 2008 3:51 PM
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Please don’t consider this a brag, but over the 25 years from 1970 to 1995, we spent at least one night, always in our RV, never in a hotel, in each of the cities and villages listed here. We really enjoyed visiting France, for nearly 160 nights. Aigues-Mortes, Angers, Arles, Arras, Auxerre, Avignon, Baggersee, Bar le Duc, Bayeux, Bonifacio, Corsica, Cahors, Calais, Cannes, Carcassone, Châlons, Chamonix, Champniers, Chartres, Chaumont , Colmar, Connantre , Corte, Corsica , Cour Cheverny, Creon, Dax, Dina , Dossen, Epone, Fecamp, Fougéres, Freland, Grasse, Honfleur, Horbourg, Kaysersberg, La Coquille, Langres, Les Myonds, Limoges , Locronan, Lourdes, Maisons Laffitte, Mazillac, Mentone, Molsheim, Monet, Mont St. Michel, Montivilliers, Morancez, Moret, Mortague, Mulhouse, Nancy, Nantes, Nice, Nievroz, Nimes, Nouanle Fuzelier, Obernai, On the Tarn, Oradour, Orleans, Paris, Pau, Peille, Perigueux, Perols, Phalbourg, Pont du Gard, Quimper, Rheims, Ribeauville, Rocamadour, Rosheim, Rouen, Sarlat, Saumur, Selestat , St. Jean Murienne, St. Martin, St. Menehould, St. Lew Dessest, Ste. Mere Egilse, Strasbourg, Tours, Trébes, Verneuil, Versailles, Villars-Brandis.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 18, 2008 7:49 PM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++I have enjoy extensive travel, and have written a lot about it, but just for fun, not to make money. At my age it would not be worth the effort. What follows is what I call “Writing Gems.” At least to me they are “Gems” and I have thousands of Gems, Snippets, and Tidbits, and a few books. ===== The eye can see, and The heart can love, What the word cannot describe. ===== Our vacation is not a destination, it's the Journey. Turn here, explore there, relax and enjoy. ====== A picture is worth a thousand words. A visit is worth a thousand pictures. The video is priceless. ====== Your spirit of adventure will be modified by your gumption for walking. You must demand some reasonable association between effort and excitement. ====== It's amazing how many ridiculous, stupid, ignorant, inefficient, obnoxious people you will meet, when you are in a bad mood. ===== And Rick, did you ever get a chance to scan the book I gave you at the LA Times Travel Show? It was a gift, not for sale.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 23, 2008 9:24 PM
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Humberd is the Professor Emeritus of this board. I love his writing. Rick he is right up there with any travel writer. Back to topic.... I bought my wife a travel journal last year and we are just breaking it in now. It's amazing how YOU change over the course of a few months or years of travel.
Posted by: Fred in Atlanta - Mar 24, 2008 4:10 PM
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Fred in Atlanta, Can I assume you have visited my Web Site? Travel-Tidbits.com == I never did keep a Journal as we traveled. Like junelee, my Travel Memory is unbelievable, otherwise, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast. Sweetie noted the odometer, and her favorites, but most of what I wrote is from my travel memory. For example, we spent one night in Zagreb, Yugo, in ‘85 and another in ‘89, and I bet I could sketch a useful map of the city. Since my travel stopped when my Sweetie got ill, I have never owned a Digital camera. But it seems to me that people don’t take the care they should, they just snap anything, and throw most of it away. But without care, even what is kept is not always the best. Many times I have been thanked for suggesting “step over here, you will like it better.” Some people like the sound of a wax record better than a DVD, and I like the look of a film photo best. Otherwise how would the best photo ever taken of London, ever, be on my Web Site? == The most amazing Travel Journal I have ever read is on my Web Site, written in 1931, in verse, by our friend Eleanor who died a dozen years ago, at age 101. A sample of the 24 chapters: -- on her way home, you can see she was homesick --- August 8 - 14, 1931 == ON BOARD THE AQUITANIA == Sailing east the sky was bright -- The waves danced all day long in light -- Gay clothes made decks a lovely sigh -- Each dinner hour looked like a feast. -- But my depression never ceased -- Sailing east. === Sailing west the sky is gray -- The clouds pile higher all the day -- But I have those, not far away -- With whom to talk, with whom to jest -- And know the homeward road is best -- Sailing west!
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 25, 2008 6:42 PM
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I don't know what the big deal is, I can understand that just as well as I can understand other signs, billboards, and people in the 30 countries in Europe we have visited. Nothing is more confusing than a street sign in England telling me to make a "left turn" from the left most lane, into one or another lane in the street going different direction. When we were on a cruise ship going from Athens to the Black Sea, the variety of languages made it seem we were on the "Tower of Babel." But we enjoyed it, as we tried to decipher who was talking what.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 29, 2008 10:41 AM
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When I got in the computer business, nearly 60 years ago, since I was one of the first, someone had to write the manuals for those who followed. Of most importance were the manuals I wrote about computers to put the men on the moon, then I created the training course and trained NASA how to use them. Must have done it right. I spent 20 years selling computers and programming services, and wasn’t able to retire from the computer payroll until I was 50 years old. My Sweetie and I always traveled a lot, then came 9 trips, and nearly 1,000 days in Europe. My first book sold enough to pay the costs, and it was a lot of fun to write, I didn’t like the selling part, selling computer was enough. The next three books were self-published a couple of weeks before Sweetie had her first stroke, and that was the end of trying to sell those books. Since then I have self-published a book, just to give to friends, (including one I gave to Rick Steves, but still no comments from him). I started out to write 6 or 8 of what I chose to call “Gems,” and am now at number 1,022, with no end in sight - some are on my web page now, more will follow. I wouldn’t be surprised if I spend some more of my children’s inheritance on a few more “Print for Fun” books. I was more interested in fun than income. I was making my living in computers long before Bill Gates was born (he made the money, Sweetie and I had the most fun). I can’t say the same thing about Rick and my books, but again, I do it just for fun. Here is a Gem === 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. === Now you see I am no competition for Rick, but I certainly enjoyed my life, until my Sweetie took up her new position. The sign on her office “door” says, “Now the Angels have a Role Model.” Travel-Tidbits.com
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Mar 28, 2008 11:11 AM
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We visited Portugal in 1979, and here are comments from our Journal, just to see what might be different if you visit these days. Lisbon was basically a beautiful city, but we found it cluttered with trash on the streets, graffiti on the buildings, and poverty all around. A young couple we met in a campground told us that many things, including the cleanliness of the towns, became much worse a few years earlier when some Portuguese colony was lost in Africa, and a million people had to move to Portugal. Many of these people had never lived in a regular building, and most of them lacked job skills. They said we must be very careful of the Portuguese drivers, especially the taxi drivers. We spent an hour in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, just to get over the culture shock. We wonder if anyone else would be as surprised as we were to find a tiny ferry boat was needed to cross from Portugal to Spain. At Vila Real de St. Antonio, Portugal, we found the Guadiana River was very wide and there was no bridge, just a small ferry boat with room for our RV and a couple of cars, for the ride to Ayamonte, Spain. The parking lot was huge, I can imagine the long wait in the busy season. The Spanish Custom’s man saw our passport cover, didn’t open them, just said, “Americans,” and waved us on.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Apr 01, 2008 8:44 AM
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Well Rick, it takes all kinds. Are there still huge billboards advertising “Humbert Wine?” I love to drive in Europe. In Portugal I remember meeting and passing horse or donkey carts with huge wheels, and a family on their way somewhere. I have driven 6 different RVs 87,000 miles in about 29 European countries, and loved every “klick.” We also rented a car 15 times, and drove maybe 12,000 miles. Even my French and Italian friends can’t imagine driving an RV in Paris (9 times) and Rome (4 times), but I have driven all over and loved it. For us that was the way to see the people, the way they live, the way they shop. In Poland, we saw farm families going to church, dressed in their Sunday best, some riding on a tractor, some being pulled in a wagon, others on a horse drawn cart. We have driven to hilltop towns, otherwise reachable only by a special bus. At least 50 ferry rides sailed to and from perhaps 70 spots in 20 European countries. I can understand the hesitation in driving in Europe, and I wish at least half of the drivers we met weren’t driving. If we watch the drivers in Paris, Berlin, or Rome, we can see how their Army acted and reacted during WW II. Most countries have traffic “Laws and Regulations.” Italy has traffic “Hints and Suggestions.” It’s nice we both agree our way is the best way, the only way for us to travel, but I would not recommend it for anyone else. The camping and the RV equipment are not important, the convenience and the sightseeing are all important. ==== A comment from our 1979 Journal: At one place, hundreds of men got off a train and ran in a steady stream across the street, blocking traffic, waving their hands in the air, and hollering as they went. Don't know if it was a Portuguese political rally or a sporting event. We just don't feel comfortable when we see people acting in this manner. We do remember that Portugal is their country, and if we don't like it, we don't have to be here!
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Apr 18, 2008 5:12 PM
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Rick, I certainly agree with your San Francisco/Lisbon comparison, you are the only one besides me, who has said that, as far as I know. Here is a comment I wrote about Frisco. ======= Block after block of row-houses rise and fall over the never-ending hills, and sometimes it looks like giant centipedes are eating the whole scene. ======= I was happy to hear about the one million Portuguese “returnees” in 1974. The following is what we wrote in our Journal in 1979, but I have been unable to confirm it since then, and have often wondered if it was really true. Our Journal says, ======== Lisbon, Portugal, was basically a beautiful city, but we found it cluttered with trash on the streets, graffiti on the buildings, and poverty all around. A young couple we met in a campground told us that many things, including the cleanliness of the towns, became much worse a few years earlier when some Portuguese colony was lost in Africa, and a million people had to move to Portugal. Many of these people had never lived in a regular building, and most of them lacked job skills. They said we must be very careful of the Portuguese drivers, especially the taxi drivers. We spent an hour in the lobby of the Sheraton Hotel, just to get over the culture shock.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Apr 23, 2008 5:14 PM
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From our Journal in 1989. === We arrived in Greece on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter, and were camped on the shore of the Gulf of Corinth near the town of Galaxídi. We had talked to the people camped nearby, and more people arrived later. We were surprised at the activity near midnight. People gather in the churches for the Easter services. Large white candles, lampáda, are carried by the faithful. The people light their candles from the priest’s ‘holy flame’ until everything is illuminated with flickering light. If people can get back home without their flame going out it is said they will have a good year. The people leave the churches and make their ways to homes of friends and relatives. What was so interesting was that several cars arrived, with passengers holding lit candles. They went to each camper and lit a candle for the people there. The next day, in several small towns we watched dozens of lambs being turned on spits over open fires in the middle of the street. When we stopped to watch, the friendly Greeks would come to the RV with food and bottles of wine. At one place, a man was bar-b-que'ing his own little piece of meat on a spit, on his patio. As we climbed the mountain toward Delfi, we were soon above the “Sea of Olive Trees.” And it almost looked like a sea, with olive trees from the mountain to the sea. We drove through Delfi (the ancient ruin was closed Easter Sunday), stopped to visit several towns and cities, including the monastery Ossios Loukás (Holy Luke), a few miles off the highway, then on to Athens. We turned right on the road to Kórinthos (Corinth), and found Camping Athens. Later that evening the floodlit Parthenon, gloriously displayed on the summit of the Acropolis, was visible from the campground.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Apr 28, 2008 2:14 PM
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For every one of our 54 Wedding Anniversaries, we have eaten at a restaurant we have never patronized before. For our 38th, from our table in the Marriott Hotel in Athens we could see the Parthenon at the top of the Acropolis. It was partially covered with scaffolding, and looked as if it could be under construction, under renovation, or perhaps under demolition. We asked our waiter when he last visited the Parthenon. He laughed and said as a school child he was bussed to the Acropolis one day, the one and only time he's been there! ===== We spent 26 nights in Greece - Agia Triada, Agios Nikolaos, Athens, Galaxidi, Giannitsochori, Githio, Kalívia, Kavala, Kórinthos, Metsovo, N. Kios, Pori, Skarfia, Vravróna, plus we spent 11 nights on Ships, the SS Odysseus to Míkonos, Istanbul, Yalta, Odessa, and the SS City of Rhodes to Míkonos, Patmos, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Crete, Santoríni. ===== We have visited Italy eight years, and used to tell our son-in-law, (whose parents were born in Italy) that the Italians are just the nicest people. Now that we have visited Greece, we say compared to the Greeks, the Italians are hostile, treacherous, antagonistic, and belligerent! Well, not quite!
Posted by: Jim Humberd - Apr 30, 2008 9:39 AM
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We arrived at the City of Rhodes, on the Island of Rhodes, riding the SS City of Rhodes, and while the SS City of Rhodes is not too great, the real City of Rhodes is outstanding! We have visited or driven past a thousand towns and cities that are, or were surrounded by a wall. Believe me, of that thousand, Rhodes ranks near the top as a place that must be visited. Centuries ago this was the place from which pilgrims visited the Holy Land. The Colossus of Rhodes (built in 282 BC), stood, we are usually told, with one foot on each side of the harbor. Other references authoritatively insist it stood beside, not astride, the harbor. In 226 BC, an earthquake crashed the Colossus. During an Arab invasion in AD 653, they sold the remains as scrap metal — it had laid there nearly 900 years. The USA has been here 230 years, so the scrap laid there three times as long as our country has existed.
Posted by: Jim Humberd - May 02, 2008 10:02 AMRick Steves
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