Bonjour,
j'ai perdu les clés de ma valise coque (marque superior), je pars dans l'ouest Américain. Je voudrais savoir si quelqu'un a déjà trouvé le moyen de trouver des clés de valises "passe -partout". J'ai lu le forum sur le sujet "valise ouverte ou valise fermée" et il en ressort qu'il vaut quand même mieux les fermer... vais-je devoir acheter une autre valise? 🤪
Merci de votre aide...
il en ressort qu'il vaut quand même mieux les fermer.
Bonjour Hélène,
pour ma part, d'après mes lectures du forum,
il me semblait qu'il valait mieux garder en bagage accompagné ce qui était précieux (ordi, appareil photo, argent...)
et au contraire, laisser "ouvertes" les valises (qui doivent pouvoir être contrôlées de toutes façons)
tu as repéré les témoignages qui vont dans le sens contraire ? 😮
Les cadenas aux normes TSA existent justement pour ça. Les douanes ont des passes pour pouvoir ouvrir ces cadenas. Et en théorie uniquement les douanes.
Après, ça permet surtout d'éviter que n'importe qui les ouvrent...
Oui, tout à fait, il vaut mieux avoir un cadenas TSA.
D'autant plus que si tu fermes ta valise avec une clef, et si ta valise est contrôlée et ouverte aux douanes, n'ayant pas les clefs, ils arracheront tout pour l'ouvrir et ta valise sera définitevement foutue. Donc ne cherche pas une clef passe-partout et achète plutôt un cadenas TSA.
Si tous les cons volaient, il ferait nuit. (Frédéric Dard)
Merci à vous deux! Je suis un peu blonde mais je ne sais pas à quoi ressemble ce cadenas TSA et surtout je vois pas où on peut le mettre sur ma valise???
Bref je vais voir si je peux suivre vos conseils et me renseigner sur ces cadenas..
Ca ressemble à ça.
On les repère facilement par leur petit losange rouge. On en trouve dans les maroquineries, dans certains hypermarchés, partout sur Internet, dans les boutiques des aéroports...
Si ta valise est faite de telle sorte que tu ne peux pas mettre de cadenas, il existe également des sangles TSA.
Si tous les cons volaient, il ferait nuit. (Frédéric Dard)
Oui, tout à fait, il vaut mieux avoir un cadenas TSA.
D'autant plus que si tu fermes ta valise avec une clef, et si ta valise est contrôlée et ouverte aux douanes, n'ayant pas les clefs, ils arracheront tout pour l'ouvrir et ta valise sera définitevement foutue. Donc ne cherche pas une clef passe-partout et achète plutôt un cadenas TSA.
j'ai une valise Samsonite que je ferme toujours à clé lors des vols USA/Europe et cela n'empêche pas la TSA de l'ouvrir sans "tout arracher". Il y a peut être des valises spéciales mas pour les marques les plus communes ils ont les passes....
Je ne verouille jamais ma valise mais il n'y a rien de précieux et d'irremplacable à l'intérieur. J'ai fais de nombreux voyages , Europe et Amérique du nord.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Lors de mon précédent retour de Miami, j'ai retrouvé ma superbe valise avec verrouillage TSA des fermoirs complètement abîmée. Les 2 extrémités de la fermeture Éclair avaient été sectionnées avec une pince coupante sans aucun doute.J'ai déposé une réclamation auprès des services TSA avec des photos en gros plan , facture de réparation, plusieurs échanges de mails pour obtenir un refus de prise en charge
Dorénavant mes valises resteront ouvertes bien sur sans objet de valeur à l'intérieur
C'est un incident que j'ai déjà envisagées. Maintenant tu as une valise a remplacer ou du moins a faire réparer. Et un cadenas pour protéger quoi , des chaussettes, des chemises. des robes ... ?
Ce genre d'incident doit arriver rarement , tout comme un vol si pas barrée.
Le vol est trop important dans un voyage pour ne regarder que le prix.
Je suis peut-être parano, mais c'est aussi pour éviter que l'on mette des trucs dedans, à ton insu..
Pour mes cadenas TSA, je pense qu'ils ont été ouverts par les douanes puisque j'avais un petit papier orange "TSA" sur mon sac (uniquement au retour). Mais tout était dans le même état que lorsque j'ai laissé mon sac.
Petite question ... a quelle moment penses-tu que qq1 va mettre quelque chose à ton insu dans ta valise ?
Les bagagistes ont suffisamment de mal à voler et planquer les objets volés, ce n'est pas pour essayer de les passer dans l'autre sens et dans quel but ? De la drogue ? encore faudrait-il que qq1 puisse le récupérer au bout pour que ce soit logique (c'est peut etre valable au départ de la Colombie mais des USA y a un risque très très faible).
Bref je voyage toujours avec des valises non verrouillées... la seule chose que je fais de manière à avoir un visuel rapide pour voir si mon sac a été ouvert c'est de mettre un petit fil de couture dans les boucles des fermetures éclairs. De toute manière si les bagages sont ouvert c'est plus généralement directement avec un stylo bille passé dans la fermeture éclair pour ouvrir un espace et le refermer d'une pression de la main. J'ai travaillé longtemps à l'aéroport pour savoir qu'il vaut mieux une valise non fermée.. cela évite aussi que si la valise s'égare dans les tri bagages et perde son étiquette que les employés forcent la valise pour vous identifier.
A moins de placer des objets de valeur (et là c'est de la bêtise) ou des cartouches de cigarette (très recherchées en France notamment), y a peu de chance de se faire ouvrir sa valise pour du vol au hasard, à moins bien sur de voyager avec des valises très haut de gamme genre vuiton qui vont bien sur en tenter plus d'un 😄. Ou justement d'attirer l'attention en ayant une valise "coffre fort" ... dans l'esprit de certains ca veut dire "y a qqchose dedans"
p.s : je sais que c'est un sujet polémique de toute façon chacun fait comme bon lui semble mais pour les US plus vous facilitez les contrôles de douane moins vous aurez d'emmerdes au final
Tu te trompes
Relis bien, ce n'est pas le cadenas TSA qui a été "bousillé"
mais la fermeture de la valise sensée être aux norme TSA
Berrn
USA 2018 - Arizona, chez les indiens... https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9061068;#9061068
USA 2014 – Là où vous n'aviez pas pensé aller https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=6769327;#6769327
USA 2012 "Au long du Rio Grande" https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=5290732;#5290732
Bonjour Stratele, je met aussi des cadenas et ce n'est pas parce que j'ai peur de me faire voler mes bobettes ou autres cossins, mais plutot que quelqu'un rajoute quelque chose dans mes valises (lorsque les valises sont enregistrées a l'aéroport, elles sont dirigées dans les sous-sol ou autre endroit pour répartir les valises aux bons endroits et a la bonne porte d'embarquement. Bien des gens travaillent en dessous (sous sol) et partout dans l'aéroport, alors n'importe qui peut rajouter ce qu'ils veulent, c'est juste pour ca que je barre mes valises. Ca ne me tente pas d'arriver a destination et OH SURPRISE, une gentille personne a décidé de faire passer quelque chose et c'est moi qui sera suivi par qui ??? pour ravoir lesdites choses??? ca, c'est si je ne me fais pas fouillée et mettre en dedans 😉 O.k. je dramatise, mais c'est la seule et unique raison pour laquelle je barre mes valises !!!! et je vais continuer de les barrer. Je suis paranoiaque un peu la dessus je l'admet!!!
Les personnes mal intentionnées ne s'attarderont pas pour mettre quelque chose dans des valises barrées, ils vont choisir celles qui ne le sont pas (la tienne 😎🙂)
Pour repondre à la question de départ, non il n'existe pas de passes en clés, au sens où l'entend le client. On peut retrouver des clés, sans modèles de départ, mais que pour les clés à chiffre, à gorges, pas pour les clés plates dont font partie les clés de cadenas.
Apres y a cadenas et cadenas. Dans le sens où les cadenas "chinois" (sans marque et tres peu cher, souvent en bricaillerie) n'ont que deux ou trois dents, et qu'un bon pro pourrait en trafiquer une pour qu'elle rentre et tourne. Impossible pour un bon cadenas (master, corbin, bricard, vachette...), à moins d'avoir la meme chance que celle de gagner à l'euromillion.
Vaut mieux racheter un cadenas avec trois clés neuves.
Je precise que je suis reproducteur de clés.
Perso en voyage je ne met plus de cadenas depuis longteps, je passe juste un lacet entre les trous de mes deux fermetures eclair pour voir s'il a été ouvert ou non, pas plus.
Many of us have noticed that bugs have been making it difficult to navigate the forum lately.
I’ll let Kate and Ticapi explain the issue:
I went to your profile to check out the Thailand travel journal, and when I clicked on it, it brought me back here again. All week, I’ve been dealing with bugs like this—it’s really discouraging from continuing on VF.🙁
I had the same thing happen, and multiple times. For me, it was Montagnard’s latest journal that kept coming up no matter which discussion I clicked on.
BOLIVIA: THE COUNTRY ON THE BRINK (What's Really Happening)
A dramatic saga is unfolding before our eyes in the Andes. Between suffocating blockades, clashes, an international airlift, and historic political decisions, Bolivia has just experienced 48 hours of rare intensity.
Here’s the full breakdown (economic, social, and political) of the last 48 hours:
For travelers and tourists: the article also includes an important note about the upcoming publication (starting tomorrow) of the precise status of roadblocks, route by route.
I’ll post the full update here on Voyage Forum!
Don’t miss this in-depth analysis. History is being written before our eyes! https://www.petitherge.com/bolivie-paralysie-et-ultimatum
I just discovered a great show on Arte.
It's called "7 en route": seven young European journalists travel around Europe in a fully converted bus, making reports on every city they visit. It's amazing! 🙂
Yesterday, for example, they were in Rome, Italy, and the reports included things like the world's smallest restaurant—a super romantic spot for two. There was also a report on the king of paparazzi in Italy.
They have to pick topics that let us discover the little quirks of each country. And at the end of each episode, we get to see the finished report.
It's such a great show, mixing journalism, travel, and discovery—basically, a must-watch!
It airs in the evening starting at 6:50 PM (I think), and it started this past Monday, July 14th.
If you watch it, let me know—we can chat about it!
I left my heart’s country eight days ago and returned to my adopted one—or was it the other way around? Scotland-Morvan, Morvan-Scotland, I’m not quite sure anymore.
After a quarter without dragging my slippers around here, even though I’d loudly declared I had no interest left in this site, here I am again!
My imagination never stays fallow for long. Just enough time for my inner land to rest. It gets overgrown with fresh nettles, the kind you can pick without getting stung. Then, it’s time to till the fragrant earth and let the story grow.
I hesitated over where to set this story.
Maybe the Highlands, maybe the Hebrides, maybe the Orkney Islands, maybe the Shetland Islands. All of Scotland is myth—easy to embroider.
But in the end, no. I’d almost be too afraid to bare my soul.
The story will take place at home. Simple, practical.
1)
This morning, I was up well before dawn, feeling a bit grumpy, but nothing a bowl of coffee won’t fix. I love my bowl, and no one dares take it. It’s porcelain, edged with intertwined blue flowers. On the bottom, it says "Revol." The factory has existed long before the Revolution. It was my great-grandmother’s bowl. She drank roasted barley from it during the war, then her Leroux chicory.
Last year, a little guy dropped it. My bowl broke into three pieces. A black anger vibrated deep inside me. The little boy was so upset, on the verge of tears. How could I scold him!
I picked up the three pieces and took Little Boy in my arms. His hair smelled of the light, sweet sweat of toddlers. A gentle hug that healed—his budding sorrow and my anger—everything vanished, and time carried on.
Today, my bowl is even prettier. Man fixed it using the traditional kintsugi technique, except he didn’t use gold powder or lacquer but superglue, and he delicately painted the cracks with woad blue. And my bowl is even more beautiful now.
I’m lingering, I can tell—it’s just that a story wraps itself in life, and life can’t be told in the snap of a finger. Life is long. Like in architecture, you start with a rough sketch, called a "sous-cul" (the initial pencil drawing), then you make a tracing, which is the work itself, the one you later carefully roll up in a wooden tube.
Life is like that: you erase, you start over, you use the nub of the pencil until it’s tiny, but you keep going—dreaming, loving.
"Living is a full-time occupation, a unique adventure. Always a surprise and a wonder, which sometimes turns into astonishment. And, from time to time, happiness."*
Alright, enough digressing—this introduction is definitely too long.
Tomorrow, I’ll get to the heart of the matter.
(I hate that expression; it feels like I’m cutting into someone’s skin.)
I’m Yann, a 28-year-old TikToker who loves traveling!
Since I’ve been to several destinations, I’d love to get a flag from each one as a sort of trophy. But from what I’ve seen online, a lot of sites sell them with what looks like really poor quality...
So I’m reaching out to you all to share a site you usually use—help me start my collection! :)
hi there
I’d love to get some opinions—I’ve never used Airbnb before.
They’re offering a key handover via lockbox.
Any tips or advice?
Is it reliable?
Best,
Hi there, I’m Laura, and I’m looking for a few people to answer some questions so I can understand your travel wishes and challenges. It won’t take long—I can chat here, by email, or by phone. Don’t worry, I’m not selling anything! 😊
On this forum, we talk a lot about trekking in the Himalayas, but I’d love to share another side of Nepal: its spiritual, cultural, and religious atmosphere, especially in Kathmandu.
Nepal, much like Tibet and Bhutan, is deeply connected to the Himalayas—the ultimate sacred mountain range. This small country exudes a calming vibe, shaped by a strong spiritual dimension. What I loved most was the unique sensory experience you get there. Walking around temples and tantric monasteries, a distinct scent fills the air—aromatic plants used for ritual fumigation. Locals mainly burn Himalayan juniper, cedar, sandalwood, and other local essences. This fragrant smoke is a way to purify the space and reach the deities, and you’re constantly enveloped in these aromas.
Another striking aspect is the sound. As soon as you step outside, you hear bells ringing in front of temples. People ring them three times before praying to announce their presence to the deities. Nepal is also the birthplace of singing bowls and sound meditation practices. In Kathmandu, you can easily find meditation sessions or "sound baths."
The spiritual dimension is everywhere: a Hindu sadhu practicing asceticism, a lama in deep red robes with his mala, turning a prayer wheel while murmuring "Om mani padme hum." Newar Buddhism, Tantrism, and Hinduism coexist harmoniously in daily life.
For those who love exploring a destination through its culture and spirituality, Nepal is an unforgettable place. What was your spiritual experience in Nepal like?
Hi,
I’m landing in Quebec and then heading to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I’d like to rent a pick-up. My question is: does this vehicle come with a cover and is it secure enough to store luggage in? I’ve heard two conflicting opinions. Thanks
I just installed the Maps.Me app on my phone. I only recently found out about this app. I’m traveling in 2 weeks and a few days, and I’m a bit stuck on how to use it.
I’m from the Montreal (Quebec) area, and I’d love to know if there’s a kind soul out there who could help me get started and use the app at least minimally.
If there are private lessons available, I’d be interested in those too.
Like many others, I’m overjoyed to hear that VoyageForum is reopening! I’ve been waiting hopefully for this, and it’s wonderful that it’s finally happening!
I just couldn’t bring myself to actively participate in other French-language travel forums—their format and way of doing things never appealed to me as much. I really hope that VF’s structure, categories, and interface won’t change too much despite the handover, because I’m very attached to them. Through thick and thin, the site has held strong—it’s amazing!
In a previous message, François mentioned that there were positions to fill ahead of the reopening, including moderators...
I’ve been eagerly waiting for this and hoping to send in my CV.
Now, after reading the latest message, it seems like the team is already fully formed. But are there still a few spots left to fill?
I’ve been a VF member for 20 years (since 2004). I’d love to contribute to this wonderful adventure as a moderator if VF would trust me with the role. If the team is open to reviewing it, I’m ready to send my CV. Could you let me know the next steps?
I’m planning a 3-week trip to Japan in May with Voyage Privé. The package includes a 5 GB eSIM, but my phone isn’t new enough to support it. VP told me I could buy a SIM card when I arrive at the airport.
Sure enough, I’ve seen online that this is possible with different providers.
I only need it for checking routes, looking up addresses, train schedules, etc.—basically using Google Maps, TripAdvisor, and similar apps. No heavy downloads or major internet use. All hotels should provide free Wi-Fi for that, right?
Has anyone got any tips for me on this? What have you tried, and how much did it cost?
Thanks for your help!
I’d like to know if you can buy reef-safe sunscreen sprays at 7-Eleven. If so, how much do they cost? We’re traveling with backpacks, so we’ll either buy 100ml here or in Thailand.
I wanted to share a really unpleasant experience from our last trip booked with Promoséjours and organized by FTI.
We booked an 8-day/7-night stay in Egypt, from June 8 to 15.
The flight initially scheduled was changed a week before departure to take off at 10 PM from Paris CDG.
In the end, it took off with a 1-hour delay and included an unmentioned stopover in Marsa Alam.
We landed in Hurghada at 4 AM and arrived at the hotel at 6 AM.
So, we spent our first night on the plane.
For the return trip, surprise—the flight was moved up. We left the hotel at 10:30 PM on Friday the 14th to take off at 2 AM and land at 7 AM at Paris CDG.
So, we spent our last night on the plane too.
After sending a complaint letter to Promoséjours / FTI, they replied that the first and last days can be dedicated to transport (which I already knew) and that no matter how many nights you book, you’re not guaranteed to spend them in the hotel—it could just as well be on the plane.
I’m really questioning this.
Isn’t there a law that protects customers in cases like this?
Because when I do the math, the first and part of the second day were spent on transport, same for the second-to-last and last day. And I paid for 7 nights for a stay that only lasted 5.
Anyway, I just want to say thanks to them—thanks to their two sleepless nights in transit, I’m coming back even more exhausted from a trip that was supposed to be restful!
I also want to warn anyone booking through this agency about visas for Egypt.
At booking, they told me the visa was included in the price, then they sent me an email saying I’d have to pay for it on-site at 25 €.
Once there, we were directed to a special line for FTI customers, and guess what? They charged us 30 €!
Basically, they’re great at making sure you *enjoy* your vacation—mostly by enjoying your wallet!
If anyone has dealt with this kind of situation and won their case, I’m all ears.
Hi there!
I’m heading to Thailand for two months.
So I thought I’d get a Thai SIM card to use Google Maps for getting around cities, mostly.
Here’s my question: will this SIM affect my apps? Or will they work the same as with my Orange SIM?
Is there any setup I need to do, or can I just pop in the Thai SIM?
I’d also like to switch back to my Orange SIM now and then while I’m in Thailand—on the same phone. Will I need to reset the phone, or will it reconnect without any issues?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Best,
Huiclos
Hi, I’d like to know where we can buy beer or wine in Chefchaouen and around Merzouga. We’ll be doing a circuit and staying at the Parador Hotel in Chefchaouen and in a bivouac in Merzouga.
Thanks for any info you can share!
Hello everyone,
I’m reaching out to all travelers and globe-trotters on this forum. I’m a teacher in Creuse working in a ULIS program (which welcomes children aged 6 to 12 with disabilities into a mainstream school). This year, I’m launching a school journal project that will involve the kids in many different topics. A big part of this journal will focus on opening up to the world, embracing differences, travel, global cultures, and more.
I’m putting out a call to invite as many of you as possible to send us a postcard (from France or anywhere in the world)! The goal is to help us "travel" and discover new places, countries, and horizons in a way that’s much more fun and exciting than a geography textbook. One section of our journal could be called "We received a letter from ," where we’d research the location and share what we learn with our readers—a really enriching activity for the classroom.
The project starts in September 2025 but doesn’t have a strict end date, since this journal and world-discovery initiative will span several school years (the kids stay in the ULIS program for multiple years). Postcards can be sent anytime—throughout the year, across seasons, even during holidays! The kids will find them when they return.
I hope this idea appeals to as many of you as possible, and that you’ll spread the word to your fellow travelers. Help us dream and explore!
For those who’d like to write to us in a language other than French, no problem—quite the opposite!
Thank you in advance for your participation! Below is our address. If you’d like us to write back, feel free to leave your address on a corner of the postcard! 😊
ULIS program students
Bonnat Elementary School
12 rue Georges Sand
23220 BONNAT
Thank you, and I hope to hear from you soon! 😊
Julien
🙂
Hi there! I have to leave Ivato/Antananarivo on December 16th. I have a lot of ariary that I’d like to exchange for euros since I might not be coming back to Madagascar (after this 21st trip). I think the exchange office at Ivato also buys ariary back. If any of you have seen the rate for this buyback in advance, thanks a million!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for a website that would let me plot my travel route in advance so I can print it out. The idea is to create a map with a little “me” on a bike that my parents can move along as I progress, since I’m planning to cycle all the way to Nepal.
If any of you have done something similar or know of a good tool, I’d love to hear your tips!
Thanks in advance! 😊
I'm looking to buy an ultra-lightweight 50/55L travel backpack with a suitcase or front opening.
Does anyone have any brand and/or model recommendations?
Thanks,
Emma
Hello. We’re a retired couple heading to Sri Lanka from January to March. After the November floods, I’d like to know if we can offer hands-on help to the locals, maybe pack some clothes or other items people might need in our luggage, and who we could give them to. Thanks for any info from those on the ground.
Be careful when sailing between Somalia and northern Madagascar.
It appears to be Somali pirates who have widened their search in the Mozambique Channel, far from their usual attack zone, since, to my knowledge, there are no Malagasy pirates.
Not sure if this is the right section, but just wanted to warn future travelers...
Where’s Cape Vidal?
It’s in iSimangaliso, an independent park in KZN Wildlife, stunning and just a stone’s throw from St Lucia (KwaZulu-Natal, Maputaland).
It’s the beach spot at the end of the Eastern Shores road. You can swim, fish... but watch out for waves, currents, and sharks...
There’s a really nice game drive where you can get out of your car at certain points, especially at Cape Vidal.
That’s where the camp with bungalows and campsites is.
The vervets and samango monkeys (endemic to the area, and the males are pretty big) can be a bit of a nuisance if you’re trying to braai...
They’re super persistent and not shy at all—don’t let them intimidate you, and stay alert because their speed at snatching food is impressive.
Anyway...
I’m reporting two recent attacks by these hyenas... who were *not* in a playful mood...
The first one happened at night—a hyena tried to bite a camper’s nose off in their tent... and succeeded.
The other night, a camper returning to their tent in the early hours was violently attacked by two hyenas... and they had a close call!
So, if you’re camping there, be careful...
Measures are being taken, but for now, it’s a bit risky.
A white rental Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 carrying foreign tourists was attacked at the entrance of Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park in the village of Bekopaka, western Madagascar, yesterday. So far, there’s been no response from the central government to curb these repeated armed attacks—usually between Malagasy people, but this time targeting foreign tourists.
After an engine failure in mid-2016 on a long-haul flight from BRISBANE to LYON, I developed a persistent aviophobia that I’m struggling to shake off. It’s becoming more and more of a hindrance.
Up until now, I’ve been using an avoidance strategy (for example, avoiding destinations that would require any other mode of transport than a car or train), but lately, it’s become really limiting.
I’m looking for a therapist—either in-person or via video call—who could help me get past this hurdle.
First and foremost, I hope this topic won’t just focus on my region—the South of France—and that those of you who enjoy exchanging ideas will share what makes your own regions special.
Personally, I’ve often wanted to push back when people call us vulgar (though I’ll admit I sometimes play it up). At heart, we pure-blooded Southerners just have our own way of expressing ourselves, which differs from other regions. We also get heated in conversations pretty easily (some researchers say it’s the influence of the sun and climate in general).
What some perceive as vulgar, we don’t see that way at all.
Do you want a uniform world with no differences? If so, how do you handle traveling to places with cultures completely different from your own?
In the travel community, the word "authenticity" comes up a lot, and it often takes priority in people’s searches.
In my specific case, speaking a purely regional language without having gone to school for it doesn’t help with understanding on this forum. That’s what creates what you call controversies—and what I call passionate exchanges.
It left me speechless and ended the conversation because, for him, that’s just how he sees things, and he refuses to debate it, sticking to his position. I’ll quote him, hoping he won’t hold it against me:
"For me, things like bullfighting, boxing, football, and MMA are just tangible proof that human evolution is still at a primitive stage."
For him, our Latin-origin bullfights are barbaric customs. For us *taurins*, we need to see men face wild beasts (bulls and *toros*) at the risk of their lives every day. Does that make us barbarians?
We’ve always had this need to confront death—it’s in our genes.
Take the example he gave about football: fans of the sport would be considered mentally underdeveloped. But what about a kid who’s passionate about the game and has that drive to be a winner, just like a boxer or athletes in other violent sports?
As a traveler myself, passionate about old stones and beautiful historic buildings, I’ve visited Rome but couldn’t fully appreciate it. Religion is everywhere, and I felt like I had a lead weight on my head realizing that millions of people worldwide have believed in a god for millennia.
I’ve also judged believers for basing their faith on archaic texts that don’t prove a god (or gods) ever existed—I still think that, but I’m open to being proven wrong so I can say, "You’ve convinced me I was mistaken."
- If everyone clings to their own ideas and positions, no discussion is possible, and that’s a shame.
I’ll take away two things from my forum interactions: some accuse me of being omnipresent when I just love exchanging ideas. My way of speaking is misunderstood (regional differences), even if I’ll admit I sometimes turn up the heat—or rather, the *aïoli* —which for me is just lively debates 🔥 (a regional specialty).
And my "mocking" side, which I really need to work on.
This topic isn’t just about me—I hope other forum members will share their own regional "specialties" . For example, in Alsace, some older folks switch to their local language when they don’t want outsiders to understand, and I still don’t know if it’s German or something else.
