Hi there, I’m also allergic to modern payment methods—I must be some kind of post-modern conservative (something like that).
But my love for stacks of bills isn’t just about that; it’s also tied to other context-related reasons.
First, when traveling solo, one of my biggest fears is ending up without any way to pay—whether due to a robbery or my account being drained, which almost happened after using my card at a physical store.
Some might argue that you’re more exposed to robbery risks, but that doesn’t scare me as much, and I manage it by stashing my cash in different spots.
I’ve also forgotten my card PIN while traveling before, and if my itinerary hadn’t included a stop at my parents’ place, I would’ve had to go home to sort it out.
As for withdrawal limits—during my last trip (Pacific Crest Trail), my bank told me before I left that they couldn’t raise it, and unexpected expenses on the trail hit that limit. I was really glad to have cash on hand.
Oh, and there are still remote areas where ATMs aren’t guaranteed, plus situations where cash is non-negotiable (businesses that only take cash, "donativo"-style donations).
Beyond personal habits, aversions, or phobias, travel conditions play a role too. Heading out alone for a long stretch far from home in a place where you’re completely on your own if something goes wrong isn’t the same as a short trip with a travel agency or friends who can bail you out in a pinch.
"La seule chose dont on soit sûr, en ce qui concerne l'avenir, c'est qu'il n'est jamais conforme à nos prévisions." (Jean Dutourd)
I completely agree with what’s just been said about why it’s better to carry cash instead of relying solely on a bank card. That said, taking cash doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a card as a backup… It’s always safer to diversify your payment methods so you don’t end up in a tight spot!
And I’ll emphasize this again—there are *so* many places around the world where you can’t pay any other way than cash, and in remote areas, there often aren’t any ATMs either…
Honestly, we all know how much better it feels when someone pays us in cash directly, hand to hand (whether it’s for a business, renting a place, or buying goods, etc.), if only to avoid declaring the amount… So, I do the same when I’m abroad.
Oh, and thanks, Groschats and Lysa74, for your feedback on the N26 card. I’ll admit I’m still hesitant to try it… so I’ll pass for now…
At any post office, you can ask for 100 € bills if needed.
Otherwise, you can withdraw 50 € bills and get them changed at any shop.
I do this regularly when I need large denominations—no problem at all!
That said, I don’t really see the point when traveling abroad...
Personally, I contact my bank to get 100 € bills. A week later (at most), I go pick them up. Not really a hassle.
Way more than just entering your PIN at an ATM...
How do you handle last-minute trips?
That takes some serious planning!
I always keep my cash on me. Except at night.
Really?
How do you manage when you go snorkeling or diving?
Tatra isn’t into the beach scene, so no worries for him.
But I thought water activities were part of your travels, right?
By the way, in South Africa, did you carry around your wad of euros too?
If so, I might need to rethink my opinion about your Auvergne roots.
A guy who’d rather lose money on exchange fees than withdraw from an ATM isn’t really one of them.
Isn’t it also the fear of running out that makes us stock up on firewood before the coming winter? Food for the week (or the month for some)? Possible reservations in places where it’s hard to find accommodation? And so on...
It seems to me that this fear is indeed ingrained in each of us, at different levels.
For some, it’ll manifest in food, for others in money, relationships, etc.
A legitimate fear we all share as fragile human beings.
Perhaps it’s the consequence of losing our identity, of forgetting ourselves.
Have we lost the conviction of being whole without needing to "complete" ourselves?
Have we forgotten how to be serene in the face of life, to the point of no longer trusting ourselves?
We constantly need reassurance.
Because we’ve grown accustomed to lacking.
And because we’ve lost ourselves in the game of appearances, unfortunately...
At any post office, you can ask for 100 € bills if needed.
Otherwise, you withdraw 50 € bills and get them exchanged at any shop.
I do this regularly when I need large denominations—no problem!
That said, I don’t really see the point for traveling abroad...
I’ll keep in mind for my next trip that it’s possible to get 100 € bills at some post offices (not the one closest to me, though). This year, I really struggled to find those denominations. My SG bank branch first sent me to the main branches in the Paris region, which no longer offer this service.
I was then directed to the Banque de France, where I was bounced from the Bastille branch to the main one (rue Notre Dame des Victoires) only to end up with a rude refusal.
In the end, I found 100 € bills through a helpful currency exchange agent and by finally locating an ATM that dispensed them (I had to call my bank to lift my withdrawal limit).
Can you withdraw these bills at a post office even if you’re not a La Poste customer?
Otherwise, I agree with your points—especially about not liking this gradual shift toward dematerialization. In my opinion, it slowly disconnects us from pretty much everything, both things and people, while tightening surveillance over us.
Besides, you don’t need to be a potential terrorist or tax evader to dislike feeling constantly monitored.
"La seule chose dont on soit sûr, en ce qui concerne l'avenir, c'est qu'il n'est jamais conforme à nos prévisions." (Jean Dutourd)
Traveling without any cash on you is like heading into the Sahara naked but having thought to bring sunscreen... Clever
The list of countries without a single ATM, especially in the capital where travelers usually land, must be pretty short.
The point isn’t whether to pay in cash or by card, but how you get the local currency (exchange or ATM).
Personally, the only time I *had* to exchange money was during my trip to Myanmar—there weren’t any other options back then.
Things have probably changed since.
I used to exchange money too, but that was when banks charged crazy fees and cards weren’t as widely accepted.
I actually preferred traveler’s checks back then.
And how do you handle it when you go snorkeling or diving?
Yes, there are situations where you might have to rack your brain to reduce the risk of having your stash stolen.
Sometimes you’ll have access to a safe where you can store your treasure, other times you’ll take the risk of leaving it in a "visible" spot, hoping a potential thief will find it too risky to rummage through your stuff in front of people who might be your friends.
Yes, there’s always a risk—and there always will be.
But having a credit card stolen can also be disastrous if you’re on the other side of the world.
P.S.: For water sports, there are waterproof pouches that let you keep your valuables with you.
"La seule chose dont on soit sûr, en ce qui concerne l'avenir, c'est qu'il n'est jamais conforme à nos prévisions." (Jean Dutourd)
Can you withdraw these bills at a post office even if you're not a Post Office customer?
I don’t know.
Personally, I’m a customer, so maybe that’s why?
Or maybe it’s easier to ask at provincial branches?
I don’t know Paris, but it seems like things work a little differently there... (?)
Besides, you don’t need to be a potential terrorist or a tax evader to dislike feeling constantly monitored.
Absolutely.
It’s an unpleasant feeling, especially when you value freedom like I do.
Maybe it’s just a matter of temperament—some people clearly don’t mind.
It might also tie into what we were saying earlier: a fear of running out.
The fear of losing freedom as the world becomes more and more restrictive...
I fully stand by that, by the way.
Traveling with local currency? So I don’t have to look for an ATM when I arrive, so I can quickly leave the airport and pay for my taxi without wondering if they take cards. My card takes over when I run out of cash. I don’t really worry about extra exchange or withdrawal fees—I just do what works for me. Like you said, on a budget of 2000 €, an extra 20 € more or less doesn’t make much difference. 😕
Is there no equivalent of Fortuneo or Boursorama in Switzerland—online banks with ultra-competitive rates, so competitive they’re basically free?
Switzerland isn’t always super friendly with ultra-competitive rates, sniff. If they exist, I’d love to hear some names.
Personally, I withdraw from ATMs and pay cash, except for a few large amounts—just like I often do at home—and because I get charged fees for every payment. I always carry a few hundred dollars because I’ve had trouble finding ATMs that accept my two cards (I don’t have a credit card, only two Maestro cards) or because all the ATMs were empty (in Argentina, does that even count?). Since I never know how things work in a country beforehand, and because banking system failures can happen, the goal is to have both payment methods available. And I’ve regularly ended up using some of that cash—in Argentina (before they went crazy with money), Mexico, Georgia, Ecuador, and maybe a few others I’m forgetting.
Otherwise, I notify my bank because for some destinations, they adjust my withdrawal limits.
For those worried about losing their card, there are cards that can be replaced anywhere abroad... with a little cash to tide you over, and you’re all set.
ATMs, cash machines... those so-convenient devices, and those little plastic cards!
You can add me, Agnès, to the list of travelers who prefer other methods—those who aren’t big fans of these machines. The skeptics, the cautious, the planners, or anyone else who’s explained their reasons to you.
The convenience some seek isn’t the same for everyone.
Why bother hunting for a cash machine in certain places (especially when you already need local currency to pay for transport on arrival), risk having your card swallowed, or forgetting your PIN when you’re not used to using it?
During my many trips, as surprising as it may seem, I think I’ve only used ATMs once or twice—maybe three times. That was back in the days of traveler’s checks in dollars, and they weren’t always easy to exchange.
Otherwise, I estimate my budget before leaving and bring cash with me.
Of course, I have a credit card for peace of mind in case of need, mostly for paying hotels.
I exchange money at the airport upon arrival to be set for the whole stay... but there’s also the constant fear of getting robbed. Though losing a card can be just as problematic...
Exchange rates matter little to me (or almost not at all)... as long as the difference doesn’t impact my trip, right?
Still, I recently had a close call when paying for a hotel with my card—it got blocked at the end of my stay, even though I’d warned my bank.
Luckily, the situation resolved instantly thanks to my smartphone and the ability to raise my withdrawal limit...
Progress does have its perks! 😉
Otherwise, waiting in line at an airport counter, getting familiar with the local currency as you count it in front of everyone—isn’t that part of the travel experience too?
That’s when the adventure really begins...
Memories of certain airport counters (Cuba, where the question of exchanging everything at once didn’t even come up), memories of long lines on the sidewalk first thing in the morning for currency exchange in Mexico (so inconvenient), and memories of stacks of kips in Laos for a small sum.
And those bills from every country, which you end up collecting...
As for online banks, I don’t even know what they are... or rather, how they work! 🙂
I’m desperately trying to remember the title of a film about the risks of excessive dematerialization—something that was supposed to be a happy progress at first but leaves the main character completely dispossessed of everything.
Just now, I was talking to someone who’s right in the middle of this: due to a mistake, the tax office has frozen all his accounts for a week, even though they admitted the error (no, he’s not some potential tax evader from Levallois-Perret). Luckily for him, he wasn’t traveling on the other side of the world.
"La seule chose dont on soit sûr, en ce qui concerne l'avenir, c'est qu'il n'est jamais conforme à nos prévisions." (Jean Dutourd)
How do you handle it if you leave on the spur of the moment?
That takes some serious planning on your part!
I’ve had it happen several times where I left it a bit late to get 100 € bills. So I withdraw 50 € ones instead, and most of the time I mix the two.
And how do you manage when you go snorkeling or diving?
I leave it at the hotel or guesthouse—I’ve never had a problem, whereas with ATM withdrawals I’ve had issues twice. You can also get your card and ID stolen while you’re in the water...
Otherwise, in South Africa, did you also lug around your wad of euros?
I did as usual, except that in South Africa I had more trouble than elsewhere exchanging money, but I never used my card to withdraw from an ATM—something I’ll never do again. Guest farms, camps, lodges, hotels, etc., I paid for everything with my card, and I did end up with more bank fees than in any other country.
A guy who’d rather lose money on exchange fees than withdraw from an ATM isn’t much of a man. If so, I might have to reconsider my opinion about your Auvergne roots.
I have a bank account with the bank of my choice where I get quite a few perks and lower bank fees and card costs. In return, using my card outside the eurozone costs me more. It’s a choice, and I don’t want to clutter myself with multiple cards.
Yeah. More and more, I feel like it’s all about habit and how easy modern payment and communication tools make things.
No problem finding an ATM if you know how to use Google Maps or similar.
No problem either if you prepare a bit ahead (ATMs are listed on Visa and Mastercard’s websites).
Those who prefer cash will stick with it, while card users will keep using their cards.
The rest is just anecdotal.
However, people who switched to cards for financial reasons seem underrepresented in this discussion.
Otherwise, standing in line at an airport counter, getting familiar with the local currency while counting it in front of everyone—isn’t that part of the travel experience too?
Then the adventure can truly begin...
Don’t give that advice to someone arriving at certain airports.
Big risk of getting scammed...
Clermont-Ferrand, for example.
For Quebec, it’s ATMs or nothing! !
The reasons for dematerialization that you mention are the ones we’re happy to believe and that reassure most people. However, they’re also an effective way to use a supposedly "safer" world as a pretext to actually infringe on our individual freedoms.
Just look at how things work in China—the forefront of freedom-restricting laws—to see how absurd such measures are when gradually introduced into a population.
Along the same lines, why not install cameras on every street corner across the country? No more cash, what a great opportunity... And by the way, facial recognition at the entrance of every shop would be progress... Since we have nothing to fear, insignificant common people that we are! And so on, and so forth...
This is how we gradually slide into totalitarian regimes. Orwell already talked about it in his time. What a visionary!
I'm desperately trying to remember the title of a film about the risks of excessive dematerialization, which was initially meant to be a happy progress, and where the main character ends up being stripped of everything.
My great-aunt used to iron the bills and then store them in a sugar box, which she’d hide afterward.
I don’t think getting help from another tourist is easy these days (with a promise to pay them back later).
Trust...
There are always exceptions to everything.
I once helped a fellow traveler in Lima—her card was blocked, and she paid me back when I got back to France.
A month ago, I lent some French travelers a wad of pesos in exchange for a SEPA transfer back in France...
But let’s be real, this isn’t a reliable way to travel!
You can also get your credit card and ID stolen while you're in the water...
Yeah, but at least you don’t lose anything financially.
I actually had more bank fees than in any other country
In South Africa, I really struggled more than elsewhere to exchange money
Well, yeah.
The money changers must’ve loved you when they saw you coming with your euros.
Good thing you didn’t go to Botswana, because there the exchange would’ve cost you nearly 30%...
It’s a choice, and I don’t want to burden myself with multiple cards.
That’s the gamble of traditional banks.
The customer who prefers routine over prices.
Yes.
My parents had also helped out a French couple whose vacation cash was stolen from their caravan in Italy.
This was at a time when international credit cards were rare, and even domestic ones weren’t that common.
We ended up roughing it at the end of our own vacation—no money left to eat on the last day...
They were reimbursed without so much as a thank-you...
I don’t know if I’d help just anyone in the same situation today.
Maybe a family.
As you said, with a budget of 2000 €, 20 more or less
That’s with a zero-commission card in countries where ATMs charge fees and don’t dispense much...
In other cases, exchange bureaus can really inflate the bill.
The loyal card customer whose bank isn’t travel-friendly can also lose out big time (Soviet-era Romania, Venezuela, Argentina sometimes).
If the goal is the best value for money, you’ve gotta juggle different methods depending on the country.
Personally, that’s how I operate.
Cards always come out on top after all these years, even if I sometimes get dollars when it’s the local currency or required for certain expenses and I’m passing through Paris.
. I don’t really worry about extra exchange or withdrawal fees—I just do what works for me.
But where do you manage to exchange money in Béziers???
Even at a bank, exchanging currency is getting complicated.
Especially for anything other than dollars, Swiss francs, or pounds sterling.
Oh yeah.
The money changers must’ve loved you when they saw you coming with your euros.
Good thing you weren’t in Botswana—there, the exchange would’ve cost you nearly 30%...
I’m not gonna name the bank outright since I’m not 100% sure anymore, but this summer I walked away from the last screen on a PLN withdrawal at Warsaw Airport from an ATM that was charging... 11%.
Personally, I also weigh a lot of things beyond just the "price": a balance with comfort, enjoyment, fun, peace of mind...
You’ve got a very "low-cost" approach to funding your trips, I think.
I won’t name the bank directly because I’m not 100% sure anymore, but this summer I almost went through with a withdrawal in PLN at Warsaw Airport from an ATM that was charging... 11%.
I try to avoid ATM withdrawals in Poland—they’re not recommended because they’re heavily (or even doubly) overcharged. When you withdraw PLN from an ATM, does the screen immediately show you the commission percentage?
In my experience, ATMs usually only inform you about the commission at the very last moment. And it can be steep.
Card payments also require attention: they often ask if you want to pay in euros or PLN.
In my experience, I think the ATM only informs you about the fee at the very last moment.
But it can be steep
.
I try to avoid it, but I’ve already used an ATM in Poland. I’ll admit I didn’t pay much attention—just to the amount I was withdrawing. Is the fee shown on the receipt? I usually only find out about the charges when I check my bank statements... long after I’ve returned.
Generally, the last screen asks a question like "Do you accept the transaction for this amount?"
This doesn’t include any potential fees for withdrawals outside the eurozone from the French bank that issued the card.
But sometimes the fees are so high that any kantor is a better deal.
I’ve got the "responsible parent" financing.
The cozy, risk-free financing that’s kind to my wallet.
Basically, the savings-account financing.
The countries I visit are usually more favorable with a card, but I adapt. I check local customs.
I take note of Polish quirks.
Never seen anything like it elsewhere for an ATM.
When a card payment gives you two options, always choose to be charged in the local currency.
Never in euros.
The money changers must have loved you when they saw you arrive with your euros.
For me, it came out about the same. Even if the exchange rate was a bit less favorable, my bank fees were zero (instead of 2.5% + a fixed amount per transaction). The main downside was the difficulty of finding a money changer (bank or otherwise).
I choose my bank for reasons other than travel currency exchange. The other benefits it provides more than cover these minor inconveniences!
I’m also carefree about not having any store or supermarket loyalty cards, etc...
I only have two cards: my Visa Premier (which is 50% reimbursed) and my *carte vitale* (which stays at home), and that’s already a lot!
Just back from Spain, and I’d recommend—just this once—withdrawing a few euros in France for small expenses you’d need to pay in cash over there. Not that there’s much, really.
Even though Spain is in the eurozone, local ATMs charge fees.
Anywhere from just under two euros to nearly five.
A way for Spanish banks to recover after the rough times they’ve been through...
It took me about two minutes to read the first big blunder...
"Just pay for your transport with your Max card to be insured for the first three months of your trip (even if credit card insurance does have some drawbacks compared to 'real' travel insurance)."
When someone’s this off-base about such a fundamental, there’s little chance they’ve got the rest figured out.
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Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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