I think you're a machine for testing the forum members' nerve endurance.
Coming from you, that's pretty ironic. 😐
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
The "us" and "you" used that way only exist in your imagination. In my language, you chose the Italian blonde because that kind of politics is the only thing that suits you. The border is far less significant than the worldview.
About the article in the link... I’m too lazy (the morning alternative is diving into Quignard’s silence). So, I bet readers are educated enough to identify the author of the article and then see whether it’s information or propaganda.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Can we discredit or undermine the justice system in your opinion? I completely agree if, with blindfolded eyes and holding its scales, it produces unassailable and impartial judgments, if it doesn’t venture into political territory by trying to play kingmaker, thus overstepping into the executive branch:
Take the LePen ruling: what democrat can accept that in a legal consideration, a candidate is eliminated from a presidential election for the reason of disturbing public order? It makes me furious. If this measure affected Mélenchon or Macron, I’d be just as outraged!
Almost as serious in the legal consideration, the judges ordered immediate ineligibility for a non-existent situation: LePen is no longer a European deputy and therefore cannot reoffend. The risk is ZERO!
If you respect this justice system, it’s not mine. In this case reheated at the right moment after 14 years, the three judges that day ruled in the name of the French people, and I was absent from my people. But let’s not get into the merits of the case, which still needs to be retried because it won’t change the legal considerations.
I’m not a legal expert, but I rely on the more authoritative opinions of Noëlle Lenoir, member of the Constitutional Council, and Maître Régis de Castelnault, author of the blog "Vu du droit" and yet a convinced Marxist.
Didn’t Marine Le Pen demand relentless justice for others?
Relentless doesn’t mean inconsistent in its reasoning: and honestly, whether it’s her or anyone else, this isn’t coherent.
That’s what’s really worrying.
Besides, the arrogance you’re showing is a powerful driver for backlash at the polls—would Trump have been elected in a landslide if the campaign to take him down, discredit him, and eliminate him hadn’t been so intense?
Even on official French media: just listen to France Inter in the weeks before his election, or the same channel’s derisive, shameful remarks about Ms. Meloni.
Whatever you say, Michel.😉
I don’t get this defense of the dark side, but you’re as free as I am to speak your mind.
You’re really diving into black-and-white thinking here.
Rationality, justice as a concept, logical rigor—none of that seems to register with you, just because you’ve let yourself get worked up over a political speech you don’t even truly listen to yourself?
Nothing uplifting about reading stuff like "useful idiots" who’ll soon be waving their self-righteousness like a banner, paving the way for populism to take power—all thanks to their blindness and dogmatism.
(Just to clarify, "useful idiot" isn’t an insult but a well-known Marxist reference.)
But the long months separating the National Rally from the next election.
Their power to cause trouble is greatly diminished.
A no-confidence motion that passes, a Marine out of a job...
Alert! Beep beep!
Careful, the Godwin point is about to be reached here😉[;]
If this measure affected Mélenchon or Macron, I’d be yelling just as loud!
We’re not exactly at risk of losing our voices, since I’d be surprised if this measure affected either of them. And since the first one (he’s not the only one) is useful to the second... [;]
In your view, can one discredit or denigrate the justice system? Absolutely agree—if, blindfolded and holding her scales, she delivers unassailable and impartial judgments, if she doesn’t venture into political territory by trying to crown kings, thus overstepping into the executive branch:
Take the LePen ruling: what democrat can accept that in a legal consideration, a candidate is eliminated from a presidential election on the grounds of disturbing public order? It makes me furious. If this measure had affected Mélenchon or Macron, I’d be just as outraged!
Almost as serious in the ruling, the judges imposed immediate ineligibility for a scenario that doesn’t even exist: LePen is no longer a European deputy and therefore can’t reoffend. The risk is ZERO!
If you respect this justice system, it’s not mine. In this case, reheated at the right moment after 14 years, the three judges that day ruled in the name of the French people—and I wasn’t part of my people. But let’s not delve into the merits of the case, which still needs to be retried, as it won’t change the legal considerations anyway.
I’m not a legal expert, but I rely on the more authoritative opinions of Noëlle Lenoir, a member of the Constitutional Council, and Maître Régis de Castelnault, author of the blog "Vu du Droit" and yet a convinced Marxist.
Hi François,
I feel like I’m reading something straight out of Berlusconi...
And the sad denial of that old La Fontaine fable (Depending on whether you’re powerful...) because that’s the core of your argument: the blonde should’ve been acquitted of her misdeeds just because she’s surely running for president.
Was the law created solely to target her? Was the penalty invented just for her? If the answer to both questions is no, then there’s no issue. And if there is one, we can trust the justice system to adjust or overturn the ruling.
Either way, it might frustrate her personally from holding the presidential office and sadden her followers who see her as a natural leader, a maternal figure, whatever (they love their chiefs and guides), but it won’t stop her movement from seizing power by pulling all the victimization and conspiracy levers—basically, their bread and butter.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Zorba isn’t talking about that—he’s addressing the legal grounds and explaining how absurd they are, like disturbing public order and repeat offenses.
I share this view; moreover, I really struggle to even understand the offense itself.
The European election is a party-list system; it makes perfect sense to me that elected officials would consider the funds allocated to them as intended for their party’s activities, whether at the European or national level.
Given that, the fact that the penalty is as severe as possible and accompanied by an exceptional measure is indeed problematic.
And if there is one, you can trust the justice system to soften or overturn that ruling.
An immediate sentence with no possibility of a suspensive appeal—does that seem fair to you?
"but that won’t stop his movement from taking power by pulling all the victimization and conspiracy levers—basically, their usual playbook."
I still find it quite hard to follow your reasoning: the idea that the RN’s program, project, or vision could only become majority-backed through manipulation, a conspiracy, or cheating.
What if that project actually gained majority support—what would be the problem?
Reading you, I feel like I’m hearing that France Inter commentator who, every Friday morning, only had disdainful labels, sweeping generalizations, and dogmatism to try to banish any differing opinions.
I’m not a legal expert, but I’m relying on the more authoritative opinions of Noëlle Lenoir, a member of the Constitutional Council, and Maître Régis de Castelnault, author of the blog "Vu du Droit."
I’m not a legal expert either, but there are other authoritative opinions that support an equally legitimate argument...
Take the Le Pen ruling: what democrat can accept that in a legal consideration, a candidate for the presidential election is eliminated?
On this point, the clarification by Jean-Philippe Derosier, a professor of public law at the University of Lille and holder of the parliamentary studies chair:
"By arguing that it should be up to the people to decide Marine Le Pen’s fate, one is advocating for a partial and partisan popular justice. Should it be up to the people to judge all defendants? Should the people decide whether someone is a rapist, a murderer, or should be acquitted? And, in that case, based on what arguments and what framework?"
The judges imposed an immediate ineligibility for a non-existent situation: Le Pen is no longer a European MP and therefore cannot reoffend. The risk is ZERO!
"Marine Le Pen embezzled European Parliament funds for years and doesn’t seem to see the problem. The judge believes that if she doesn’t see it today, she likely won’t see it tomorrow either. There’s every chance she’ll perpetuate the system she put in place."
The second risk would be that she evades justice if elected President of the Republic, which would grant her immunity.
...
The sentence has political consequences... but should the judicial time submit to political time?
In this case, the organized embezzlement of public funds has been proven. In a healthy democracy, at the risk of further eroding citizens' trust in their representatives, shouldn’t that be enough to permanently bar the guilty party—or parties—from any political office, especially the highest one?
Tatra beat me to it, but he summed up the situation well.
Otherwise, I note that in a debate, it's important to mock the opponent—thanks for the Berlusconi reference. But I don’t care, it’s so ridiculous and off-topic. You really disappoint me; I expected more nuance from you.
Let’s stick to the actual issues; these issues are scandalous for a democracy. Mélenchon could be next on the list of prosecutions, and I’d feel the same outrage if he were treated the same way. That’s what democracy is.
Note that the MODEM was prosecuted for the same reason; its leader Bayrou was cleared BECAUSE HE WASN’T AWARE OF THE ALLEGED MISCONDUCT IN HIS PARTY!! Who can believe that? He even became Prime Minister! It’s like Sarkozy, who wasn’t aware of the pharaonic spending in his election campaign.
Note that if, for the judge, Le Pen’s election would disrupt public order, Bardella’s election would also disrupt public order, as many civil servants have already announced they wouldn’t obey their new hierarchy. But Bardella is off the judge’s radar. What do we do? Block democracy under the threat of blackmail?
Finally, I’d like to make a point about the RN. It’s constantly ostracized, labeled as racist, anti-democratic, its leaders called evil, fascists... It’s become Pavlovian. The "Republican Parties" set up unnatural alliances as sanitary cordons against these "outcasts" in every election... Of course, everyone has the right to their opinion. But it’s worth noting that over the years, this party has fed off defections from the Communist Party and parts of the left through a communicating vessel. It’s become the party of the working class. Personally, I think it’s indecent to constantly spit on hardworking, modest citizens with limited means—those who feed us, care for us, build, transport, ensure our safety, and get pushed around on occasion.
Jean-Philippe Derosier’s opinion is irrelevant because no one asked the people to decide whether Marine Le Pen could run. That’s just hot air! This is a judicial matter.
All we know is that a court ruled Le Pen ineligible in its reasoning. The real question is: is that reasoning legitimate?
In a healthy democracy, at the risk of further undermining citizens' trust in their representatives, shouldn’t this be enough to permanently bar the guilty party or parties from any claim to holding political office, especially when it comes to the highest position?
Well... How should I put this?
I’m always wary of referring to a situation as "pure" or "healthy," or setting a perfect ideal, even as a "regulatory fiction," as someone once wrote.
I’m also wary of idealistic positions without nuance, like the one you’re expressing here by emphasizing "permanently." I’m cautious because I remember Robert Badinter’s speech in October 1981 about justice being fallible by nature since it’s human, and thus should never ostracize without the possibility of return.
Your idea would have kept A. Hitler out of power, certainly, and maybe B. Mussolini.
But it would have also barred Vaclav Havel, Lech Walesa, Nelson Mandela, Lula da Silva, and Mario Soares from power.
I don’t think it’s a good idea. Politics isn’t inherently a virtue contest.
“No one asked the people to decide whether Marine Le Pen could run for office.
In our country, which is certainly still far from perfect but is trying to get by as best it can, and in the name of a certain vision of "democracy," we already give the right to vote to the people—that is, to everyone... including that category of people who have no education/culture/political awareness or who still don’t understand the rules and principles by which justice is carried out!
... you wouldn’t seriously want, on top of that, to ask these people to write the law and dispense justice, would you?
"We only know that a court ruled Le Pen ineligible in its reasoning. The real question is: is that reasoning legitimate?"
In the Le Pen case, where the misuse of public funds has been proven (we know that too!), and even if it’s just hot air to you, court decisions only ever legitimately rely on the laws that define justice, which stipulate that, depending on the circumstances of the case, it’s up to the judges to decide whether or not to enforce the sanction immediately.
Whatever! 😎
What you’re doing, as is now both obvious and regrettable, is grossly and unfortunately confusing the concept of "justice" with that of "democracy."
Justice clearly isn’t made for you...
... hey, you should try economics—a fascinating field whose brilliant representative, John Maynard KEYNES, once said this truth: "You can’t make a donkey drink if it isn’t thirsty."
... it’s no coincidence: this specialty is made for you! 🙂
Thank you for attributing all sorts of abilities to me, including the one of not understanding justice. You can add my difficulty in grasping the twists and turns of your reasoning.
Now it’s my turn to ask if you can understand a one-line text and respond without beating around the bush:
Are the court’s considerations legitimate?
(I’m not mentioning the embezzlement of funds but the immediate execution for possible disturbance of public order and cessation of the offense by someone who is no longer a European MP.)
(I’m not mentioning embezzlement of funds but rather the immediate execution for possible disruption of public order and cessation of the offense by someone who is no longer a European MP)
... but who could very well become one again, whatever she says today!
The decision, which you claim to have read and understood, says nothing else:
"The existence of ongoing mandates, or even the intention to seek such mandates, is likely to perpetuate a risk of fraudulent use of public funds... and due to the disruption that would arise in this case from the fact that someone who has already been convicted at first instance—particularly to an additional penalty of ineligibility—could run for office, for example and notably in the presidential election, or even be elected."
So I don’t understand what you don’t understand...
... or perhaps I understand it all too well: your side and your sympathies have little regard for honesty, even intellectual honesty!
It’s very likely I have a distant view of this matter, which I’ve barely followed. Illegal use of funds, trial, conviction, sanction = ineligibility. Nothing surprising there. These "legal considerations" that seem to obsess you—and which I imagine are the subject of debate in France—are completely obscure to me.
The European election is a party-list vote; the idea that elected officials might consider the funds allocated to them as intended for their party’s activities, both at the European and national levels, seems perfectly understandable to me.
Don’t you have anything less specious to suggest? Because if everyone follows their own little logic, their personal interpretation—which has no reason to be common or shared—rather than the laws and regulations laid out to govern actions and behavior, it’s likely to create a magnificent mess.
An immediate penalty with no possibility of a suspensive appeal: does that seem consistent with the idea of justice to you?
No possibility to appeal?
I still find it quite hard to follow you: the idea that the RN’s program, project, or vision could only become majority-backed through manipulation, a conspiracy, or cheating.
What if that project actually garnered majority support—what would the problem be?
Reading you, I get the impression of hearing that France Inter commentator who, every Friday morning, only had scornful qualifiers, sweeping generalizations, and dogmatism on his lips to try to banish any thought different from his own.
It’s been 20 years since I last listened to France Inter. Or any French radio, except for nostalgia sometimes on long highway drives through the Massif Central, or a few France Culture podcasts about writers when I feel like hearing my native language.
On the other hand, I’m a bit surprised to see the same kind of rhetoric popping up here that I heard from Berlusconi for years: judges are in the pay of/complicit with my political enemies, who use them to take me down.
That only reinforced his popularity among his supporters, convinced he was the victim of a plot by those terrible baby-eating communist-judicial types (and some people actually believed it without irony).
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
in the name of a certain vision of "democracy," the right to vote is already given to the people, meaning everyone...
So, in plain terms, you want to take away the right to vote from the people if I understand correctly?
including that category of people who have no education/culture/political awareness
What category of people are we talking about here?
In short, if I understand correctly, you’re taking part of the population for idiots?
Or even bordering on considering the people who post on this forum...
I wonder how the people who came before me didn’t pick up on this and let this argument slide.
It’s very likely I have a distant view of this matter, which I’ve barely followed. Illegal use of funds, trial, conviction, sanction = ineligibility. Nothing surprising. These "findings" that seem to obsess you and that I imagine are the subject of debate in France are completely unclear to me.
Justice isn’t a mechanical process—it justifies its decisions and has broad discretion in choosing and applying sanctions. Here, it’s invoking reasons and considerations that simply don’t make sense. Do you know of any decisions that are accepted if they aren’t understood as making sense? I don’t. It’s precisely these differing assessments that, a few months ago, spared the current French prime minister from being convicted—or even rendered ineligible—for a very similar case involving the use of European funds for party operations.
No possibility of appealing the decision?
No, not when it comes to the immediate enforcement of ineligibility.
the judges are in the pay/complicit with my political enemies who are using them to take me down.
Following Berlusconi
We absolutely cannot generalize; our country has many high-quality magistrates, and there’s no doubt that at the Court of Appeal level, their professionalism will correct the partisan bias and amateurism shown in this initial ruling.
I feel targeted as a "Berlusconi supporter." Yes, the man made me laugh, just like Meloni, for their quintessentially Italian character—much funnier than the dull figures running our country. When a journalist asked him why he had the ear of the Russian president or other world leaders, he replied, "It’s due to my charm."
And Meloni, who shot Macron a withering look at a reception. It said it all—pure gold.
I know I haven’t suffered under them and that we should look beyond the anecdotes. Still, I can’t help but smile.
Beyond the Le Pen case, there’s a broader movement to block political figures from running through legal means. We remember the Fillon affair, then Trump’s case, and now it’s spreading to Romania and Le Pen.
We should take note of former European Commissioner Thierry Breton’s comment (who, by the way, is Senegalese!???), which speaks volumes about the European Commission’s mindset:
In January 2025, on RMC, Thierry Breton claimed it would be possible to annul the results of the 2025 German federal elections if the AfD wins, thanks to the DSA, because it would be the result of foreign interference—referring to American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s support for Alice Weidel’s party: "We did it in Romania, and we’ll obviously have to do the same in Germany if necessary."[171], [172], [1. Source: Wikipedia
What’s the point of voting?
(DSA: Digital Services Act)
There she invokes reasons and assessment elements that simply don’t make sense; do you know of any decisions that are accepted if they aren’t understood as making sense? I don’t.
Fortunately, Maitairoa (post 527) transcribed here the excerpt that’s causing such outraged reactions.
I fully understand the reasoning: postponing the enforcement of the penalty until the appeal ruling could lead the country to have a head of state recognized as a criminal and ineligible. As a result, his voters would cling to the democratic mandate to defend him, while those who voted against him would rightly deny any legitimacy. Avoiding such a conflict for the country seems very sensible and rational to me.
It’s not the party or its ideas that are ineligible.
Catherine
By this, and this only, we have existed. Which is not to be found in our obituaries. (T.S. Eliot)
Otherwise, we have to move past the Le Pen case, because there’s a movement to prevent political figures from running through legal means. We remember the Fillon affair, then it was Trump’s turn recently, then it affected Romania, and now Le Pen.
This is open to interpretation. My take is that political figures aren’t above the law.
And since Meloni makes you laugh, I’ll just say that here too, sometimes, it’s better to laugh than cry—to dilute the anger.
You’re cruel because you shattered the image I had of Meloni that made me laugh, with that sketch—and I still didn’t even catch what she was saying. Fair game, though! Well played.
Of course, politicians aren’t above the law, especially when it comes to criminal matters. The issue is delicate because of Montesquieu’s separation of powers: Can a judge walk into the National Assembly to see how MPs’ allowances are being used? No. A president has even shut the doors of the National Assembly in a judge’s face. Can a parliamentary inquiry look into how judges’ offices and clerks operate? No.
Can a judge decide who can run for president? I hope not—otherwise, that would be a major overreach of the judiciary into the executive branch.
As for message 527, sorry, but I don’t read it the same way as you. I don’t have a desperate need to be right, but what do I see? Simply an assumption of intent and amateurism from the judge: if we let this elected official get re-elected, she’ll do it again! Does the judge have psychic powers? What does she know about Le Pen’s intentions? She’s just making assumptions.
That’s not how the law works. If authorities found out you *wanted* to rob the Bank of Italy, they couldn’t do anything but wait to catch you in the act—after wiretapping your calls, for example.
I haven’t paid much attention to MLP’s judicial case. She was particularly bad during her two televised debates for the presidential election runoff, which, in my opinion, completely undermines her credibility—if she ever had any to begin with.
This party is nothing more than a small family business that’s been keeping its members fed for decades, and that’s about it. Expecting this party to win is as naive as the Greeks who voted for the far left a few years ago. Once in power, it took them just two days to do the same as—or worse than—their predecessors.
Indeed, all it takes is a threat from the Americans to let things slide or to raise interest rates, and everyone obediently falls back in line.
It’s pretty much for the same reasons that Islamist infiltration is only half-heartedly fought: the Gulf monarchies lend us hundreds of millions every weekend to balance our banks’ books, or else one fine Monday morning, we’d wake up to some very nasty surprises. This is the aftermath of the 2008 disaster, where we’re trying to patch up—or rather delay—the inevitable consequences with quick fixes and endless money printing, the LAST thing we should be doing (see the 1930s).
We also have to consider the issue of campaign financing. If politicians stuck to what’s legally allowed, they wouldn’t make it. That’s why we hear stories about Pasqua’s bag carriers for Chirac, the Khadafi-Sarkozy affair, and suspicions of Algerian funding for Macron—all of which shed interesting light on Manu’s strange benevolence toward that country.
On another note, our universities and justice system have swung completely to the left. You’d be shocked if you really knew what goes on there. More than ever, rulings reflect judges’ moral principles rather than the actual application of the law.
The explanation? After nearly half a century of freedoms—which also had the perverse effect of eroding national pride, order, discipline, analysis, organization, and foresight—many people have become progressive, ultra-leftist, or even anarchist.
After being stuck under authoritarian rule for so long, the pendulum has swung straight into carelessness, slowly leading us toward third-world status.
What’s more, 99% of humanity are just pawns on the chessboards of a few. The entire West is now nothing more than the lackey of the Anglo-Saxons, while most people’s reasoning is black-and-white—pro or anti—with no nuance or real dialogue.
Individualism has made almost everyone narrow-minded, sectarian, bitter, and vindictive. That’s why it’s pointless to hope for a real dialogue with opponents, especially since some seem completely unhinged based on the style and substance of their responses.
No matter what individual efforts or election results we see, we’re once again caught in one of history’s cycles, heading toward a major clash. After which, it might be possible to temporarily rebuild on solid foundations. Then again, maybe not—the worst is never certain.
« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood
Not bad! I mostly agree with your analysis, except for:
suspicions of Algerian funding for Macron, which shed interesting light on Manu’s strange benevolence toward that country
The reason is different, but I can’t talk about it without being labeled a dreadful conspiracy theorist.
As for the Le Pen family, it’s damning that we can only have these people as the main opposition. And Bardella? An RN member once let slip that he’s a bit of a fool. If I focus on exposing the flaws in MLP’s conviction, it’s not for her sake, but because of my idea of justice and to warn about the serious danger threatening our democracy. See Thierry Breton and the European Community.
Anyway, I can’t support a party that seeks recognition from a country that massacres women and children.
Still, I’ll tell you a great story: under the Fourth Republic, France was in even worse shape. General de Gaulle came to power and appointed Jacques Rueff as Finance Minister. Rueff turned the accounts around and paid off the debt. As a result, the General had the means to kick the Americans out. What followed were massive infrastructure programs that we still benefit from today, along with widespread decolonization. Who today could rise to that challenge? On the other hand, I foolishly believe the French people are extraordinarily talented, but they need to be inspired and deserve leaders worthy of them.
"Which man or woman can take up the challenge today?"
It might take a while—we can wait, chat, and keep discussing endlessly, because in France, we only get a great statesman every 3-4 centuries. The last one was C. de Gaulle.
That’s why it’s completely pointless to go on and on about divisive topics for pages. Nobody will convince anyone, and the only result will be tearing each other apart.
What brings us together on this forum is travel.
Even if we don’t all define that word the same way.
some seem pretty out there
Makes sense to be out there when so many traps are being set...
Édifices religieux : concours de photos amical d'août 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
Please don’t hold me responsible for what you don’t understand, misunderstand, or only interpret through the lens of your personal analysis:
Oh, I understand perfectly—what I get is that you’re taking the members of this forum for idiots.
Well, if that’s your stance, you’ll end up isolating yourself. If everyone on a forum speaks with one voice, I don’t see the point of exchanging ideas 😉
Do you know of any decisions that are accepted if they don’t make sense? I don’t.
hmm, the fact that laws are full of jargon and written in such a cryptic language that only legal experts can decipher and understand is something I realized a long time ago ;)
It’s for sure that reading a law text is like reading Chinese to me.
Whether we knew him or not isn’t the point. I didn’t know him either.
It’s more about what remains of what he did and put in place.
"A recipe for today’s world," and yet he’s constantly referenced—of course, you have to put things in the context of the time, and objectively recognize what he did for his country.
I fully understand the meaning: postponing the enforcement of the sentence until the appeal ruling could lead the country to have a head of state recognized as a criminal and ineligible. As a result, his voters will cling to the democratic anointing to defend the leader, while those who voted against him will rightly deny any legitimacy. Wanting to spare the country such a conflict seems very sensible and rational to me.
I find this shocking, and even quite serious.
In my opinion, the justice system shouldn’t interfere or interpolate like this out of precaution or anticipation of voters' possible choices.
The people are sovereign.
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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.
We’re a couple aged 58 and 63. We’ve just returned from a wonderful trip to South India in Tamil Nadu and a few days in Kerala. We traveled with a local French-speaking guide and his friend, the driver. They both live in Pondicherry. We spent 3 weeks with them in the most authentic way!
We covered just over 2,500 km and visited not only temples but also archaeological sites, museums, and small artisanal businesses making tiles, tea, sculptures, bronze, and silk spinning. We were lucky enough to visit a public school, attend a wedding, and even a death announcement in a small countryside village. We were fully immersed in the culture, food, noise, and colors—it was incredible!
The hotels and guesthouses we chose were very clean and mostly quiet. We’re returning from India with amazing discoveries!
We’re happy to share more info if you’d like!
M-Claire and Jean
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