Who have you had enough of ??

[BJean 16]

I prefer traveling on the economy to tours unless we are very limited with our time. Then I love tours because you get to hit the high spots that you've always read about, which without a tour guide you would probably miss. I'm a bit of an art nut and I love antiques and preserved painted buildings and architecture. So I think Italy is the ticket too. Wish me luck for getting a trip into the works.

My son and DIL were offered a wedding trip to anywhere in the world by her boss. They spent a lot of time planning a European trip. Then they decided that the Far East would be exciting and exotic. They finally settled on a road trip across the U.S.A.! Who'd a thunk it? They had a blast. He's a baseball nut and they got to see all of the famous ball fields. Her boss owns commercial real estate across the country and they were treated like royalty in his hotels. They traveled from Florida up the east coast with stops in Petersburg, VA (where we lived when he was little) Washington, D.C., Chantilly, VA (where we lived when he was a middle schooler), New York City, Boston, Kennebunk, MA, Bar Harbor, Bangor, and then headed west across the northern states, saw Niagra Falls, Chicago where they ate at a famous restaurant her boss owns part of, Indiana, Kansas City, parts of Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Utah, Lake Tahoe, Seattle, etc. It was a dream trip. They still get out the photos and rave about what a great thrill it was to see so much of the U.S.A. with no serious time or money constraints. (Her boss provided a Visa with a hundred thousand dollar limit for food and incidentals.)

I do not have enough of what my mother called "intestinal fortitude" for me to want to travel to 3rd world countries. I don't even aspire to Nepal. I know too many people who have had bad experiences and there are enough well developed places to keep me busy. I know that must sound very silly to you, but I guess I will save them for my next life. Can I live vicariously through you when you tell me about them?

[BJean 16]

claramae: You and me too!!

[Kat817 19]

parts of Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Utah, Lake Tahoe

These are all in my part of the country---consider yourself welcome!

From where I live in the NW corner of New Mexico, I can drive North for less than an hour, and be in the mountains (14,000 feet)at fabulous ski resorts---star spotting in Aspen even, in just over an hour! Or I can drive South, for that hour and be smack dab in the desert! Cactus, and sand as far as you can see. I can drive 50 miles, and stand in 4 states (New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, & Utah) as well as 2 Indian reservations (Navajo and Ute), all at one time! People say you cannot be 2 places at once, there you can be in 6!!!

If given the choice I too would go to Italy. I have been to Hawaii many times, my DD used to live there!!! But, I would do Italy while I was able to enjoy it totally! I see how the older I get the less inclined I am to just take a chance and experience things! I am much more careful, I plan, and make reservations, and such instead of just wingin' it! Hawaii is beautiful though, and there is so much to see and do, I highly recommend it---at some point you gotta go!!!

Kat

[anonemouse 1]

Well, I would love to go to the Mediterranean countries, as well as the Far East. But above all, I am an avid wildlife nut (degrees and everything). I would KILL to go to Africa and to Madagascar and to the South American rainforest. There are lots of animals out there that I'm determined to see in the wild before I die. It's incredible how thrilling it is to be almost within arm's reach of a threatened or endangered species. It's totally different from seeing them in a zoo. I got a taste for it when I saw American Crocodiles when I went to the Everglades a couple of years ago. There are only about 1,600 of them living wild in the U.S., and I got within 10 feet of two of them. It's a wonderful experience for anyone who's into that kind of stuff.

[green 6]

I have been to Nepal and found it very beautiful. We did this when on a tour which also covered certain cities in India. Going by tour made the experience less strenuous for us because they did all the logistics of humping us from place to place, ensuring we had rooms in nice hotels, and that we got to see and learn a great deal in a short period of time. It was a wonderful trip but it was taxing in that the locals view strangers as walking treasure chests. You simply cannot walk in public without being beseiged by beggars and people wanting to sell you things and all of these people are most persistant. India is a country where timidly polite Canadians learn to get in touch with their inner rudeness. Nepal was very relaxing after this, and is very beautiful as well. The food in both countries was fabulous if you are a fan of Indian cuisine.

Both my husband and I do like travelling in exotic places. We want to get as far away from home as possible when we travel. We really do want everything to be utterly different, the food, the architecture, the people and the way they dress and lead their lives, the landscapes. This has the effect of emotionally and intellectually waking us up and allowing us to see life with new eyes. Even when we take one of those all inclusive beach vacations in Mexico we pick a resort which is either in or within walking distance of a Mexican town, not one which is isolated in a hotel zone.

[green 6]

Well, I would love to go to the Mediterranean countries, as well as the Far East. But above all, I am an avid wildlife nut (degrees and everything). I would KILL to go to Africa and to Madagascar and to the South American rainforest. There are lots of animals out there that I'm determined to see in the wild before I die. It's incredible how thrilling it is to be almost within arm's reach of a threatened or endangered species. It's totally different from seeing them in a zoo. I got a taste for it when I saw American Crocodiles when I went to the Everglades a couple of years ago. There are only about 1,600 of them living wild in the U.S., and I got within 10 feet of two of them. It's a wonderful experience for anyone who's into that kind of stuff.

A friend of mine has a son who is doing post-doc work in entomology and he has lived in a lot of exotic bug-infested tropical areas doing field work, places like the Amazon and Borneo. He currently works at a university in Australia. You may well end up living a similar life, you know, and then you can send us dispatches from weird and wonderful swamps, rain forests, and the like.

[green 6]

These are all in my part of the country---consider yourself welcome!

From where I live in the NW corner of New Mexico, I can drive North for less than an hour, and be in the mountains (14,000 feet)at fabulous ski resorts---star spotting in Aspen even, in just over an hour! Or I can drive South, for that hour and be smack dab in the desert! Cactus, and sand as far as you can see. I can drive 50 miles, and stand in 4 states (New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, & Utah) as well as 2 Indian reservations (Navajo and Ute), all at one time! People say you cannot be 2 places at once, there you can be in 6!!!

If given the choice I too would go to Italy. I have been to Hawaii many times, my DD used to live there!!! But, I would do Italy while I was able to enjoy it totally! I see how the older I get the less inclined I am to just take a chance and experience things! I am much more careful, I plan, and make reservations, and such instead of just wingin' it! Hawaii is beautiful though, and there is so much to see and do, I highly recommend it---at some point you gotta go!!!

Kat

I definitely want to go to your part of the world, Kat.

[anonemouse 1]

A friend of mine has a son who is doing post-doc work in entomology and he has lived in a lot of exotic bug-infested tropical areas doing field work, places like the Amazon and Borneo. He currently works at a university in Australia. You may well end up living a similar life, you know, and then you can send us dispatches from weird and wonderful swamps, rain forests, and the like.

I can't help but hope so.

[BJean 16]

kat: I want to live where you're living!!! We have seriously discussed moving to New Mexico when the DH retires.

Have you ever been to Cuchara, CO? I left my heart there once. I've always wished we could live in a place in the mountains, that is, high desert. I love Santa Fe (except for all the stupid transplants, hee, hee) 30 years ago it was wonderful.

Do you mind me asking where you live? I imagine it to be a very small town?

[METALBAND 0]

Back to the topic......I have had enough of Michael Vick and every other sports figure or actor who breaks the law and then gets off easy because of who they are......Just because you can throw a ball, you are not above the law!!!!

[green 6]

Back to the topic......I have had enough of Michael Vick and every other sports figure or actor who breaks the law and then gets off easy because of who they are......Just because you can throw a ball, you are not above the law!!!!

Right on!!!!:clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2::clap2:

[BJean 16]

The other night Letterman said they should make Michael Vick eat the tainted dog food from China instead of putting him in jail.

[BJean 16]

P.S. As to the great New Mexico, Colorado and Utah mountains: my LB doc's 17 yr. old son was with a group scaling some mountains a couple of weeks ago. He contracted the Hanta Virus and nearly died. If his father weren't so saavy regarding medical stuff, he'd probably be dead right now. Fortunately, he survived after spending time on a respirator, etc. 50% of people who get it do not survive.

It is an airborne illness - from Deer mice poop. Gawd, I would have much preferred not knowing about that possibility when considering mountain life.

[METALBAND 0]

The other night Letterman said they should make Michael Vick eat the tainted dog food from China instead of putting him in jail.

That is hysterical!!!!

[anonemouse 1]

Have any of you seen the dog chew toys in Michael Vick's image?