il aparait que tu est un grand adepte du deli de faciesse -on est blanc et blond donc nazibasané donc terroriste ou islamiste (qu'on foute un peu la paie a l'islame ya qu'une poignée didiot qui font beaucoup parler d'eu et qui ne sont pas representatif )
metre des gens dans des petites cases et estimer que telle ou telle petite case est mieu que sa voisine c'est sa le racisme que l'on méte la case blanc blond ou basané au dessus de l'autre c'est toujour du racisme
Je pense que le racisme est un manque de culture. Les racistes sont des gens qui ne sont jamais sortis de chez eux et sont fermés à tout et à tous.
Avant de visiter le Portugar j'avais une idée bien équivoque de ce pays, à présent que je le connais je sais que c'est un pays magnifique, les gens y ont une grande éducation et sont très gentils.
Puis chaque personne est un monde, nous ne pouvons généraliser, blancs, noirs, jaunes ou verts, animaux ou etres humains nous avons tous un coeur et ce coeur qui bat et qui a des sentiments, fini d'être raciste lorsque nous regardons avec. C'est comme la religion, elle sert pour unir et non pour se confronter, mais malheureusement c'est tout le contraire de ce qui se passe.
Je suis en train de regarder les infos et ce que je vois sur Gaza me rend malade. Toujours les innocents qui paient, c'est trop triste😕
La vie est comme un arc-en-ciel; il faut de la pluie et du soleil pour en voir les couleurs.
paix à toi aussi et que la force ne sois plus utile, 1 jour, que ce soit d'1 côté ou de l'autre ....car il y a des innocents dans chaque camps .
excuse moi de ne pas comprendre ton idée sur le racisme, mais j'ai vécu longtemps au Maroc et j'ai été souvent choqué de constaté le racisme envers les noirs (noirs d'Afrique de l'ouest, mais aussi noir du Maroc ).
je suis bien blanche et blonde et je n'ai jamais fait de différence entre qui que ce soit, seule m'importe ce qu'il y a à l'intérieur de l'être humain, la carapace n'a pas beaucoup d'importance .
l'esclavagisme des Arabes envers les noirs existe toujours, je l'ai vu de mes propres yeux, il n'est donc malheureusement pas l'apanage des blancs .
donc vive le métissage !
bonne journée
francia
le mérite d'un homme réside dans sa connaissance et dans ses actes et non point dans la couleur de sa peau ou de sa religion!
Khalil Gibran
Bonjour France, je suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi, de toute façon, rien que ta signature en dit plus que beaucoup de discours, ça résume très bien tout.
le mérite d'un homme réside dans sa connaissance et dans ses actes et non point dans la couleur de sa peau ou de sa religion! 😉
Rien de plus vrai. Bonne journée
La vie est comme un arc-en-ciel; il faut de la pluie et du soleil pour en voir les couleurs.
Et oui, le racisme est universel ! Dommage mais c'est ainsi.
J'ai même expérimenté le racisme en France en changeant de .... région ! La cambrousse profonde, celle où l'étranger commence à partir du moment où il n'est pas né sur ce sol ! Belle image de la France profonde !
Et ce n'est pas de l'humour, ni un cas isolé....
Marie.
Il n'est rien de plus beau que l'instant qui précède le voyage.
'J'ai même expérimenté le racisme en France en changeant de .... région ! La cambrousse profonde, celle où l'étranger commence à partir du moment où il n'est pas né sur ce sol ! Belle image de la France profonde '
Racisme et xenophobie sont des choses differentes, tout de meme.
Si j'en crois certains de ce forum qui lancent des sujets nous expliquant que les races n'existent pas, le racisme n'existe pas... il ne reste que la haine, l'indifférence et la xénophobie.
Je suggere d'avorter ce brillant echange, et eventuellement de revenir au sujet initial.
A titre personnel, j'ai le plus souvent vu chez mes interlocuteurs et amis de l'indifference a l'egard de la France.
j'ai le plus souvent vu chez mes interlocuteurs et amis de l'indifference a l'egard de la France.
J'ai fait ce même constat de la part d'interlocuteurs vivant loin de la France. A l'inverse, Belges ou Suisses sont très souvent haineux envers les Français.
J'avais bien compris. Je fais ce même constat. Pour ce qui est des Belges, des Suisses, des Québécois, ... en fait des autres francophones occidentaux, ils ont souvent un avis très tranché : tout l'un ou tout l'autre. Je te déteste ou je t'adore.
Ma femme lorsqu'elle est venue vivre en Belgique a subi cette xénophobie et quand je suis devenu Français, certains membres de ma famille ne m'ont plus adressé la parole durant quelques années. Je me rappelle lorsque je vivais en Belgique certaines remarques du type : "la France serait parfaite sans les Français".
Racisme et xénophobie sont effectivement deux choses différentes. Vous avez raison. Il faut dire que " ces Français " pratiquent les deux sans problème. Je n'ose même pas imaginer l'image que peuvent donner ces gens à l'étranger... parce qu'en plus certains d'entre eux sortent !!!! et oui !
Marie.
Il n'est rien de plus beau que l'instant qui précède le voyage.
"A l'inverse, Belges ou Suisses sont très souvent haineux envers les Français. "
Arrète ton char Ben Hur..! Il n'y a pas plus de francophobes ou de xénophobes en Belgique qu'ailleurs en Europe, et le célèbre mépris, non dissimulé, de bien des français pour les " petits belges ", tu mijotes dedans si tu vis à Paris. Ta femme a eu des relations exécrables avec les belges ? c'est peut etre du à sa personalité plutot qu' à sa nationalité ? du coup les belges détestent tous les français selon toi ? C'est ça le racisme, généraliser un paramètre sur base d'une ethnie ou d'une nationalité.
Il n'y a pas plus de francophobes ou de xénophobes en Belgique qu'ailleurs en Europe, et le célèbre mépris, non dissimulé, de bien des français pour les " petits belges ", tu mijotes dedans si tu vis à Paris.
Je ne dis pas qu'il y a beaucoup de xénophobes en Belgique... je dis que beaucoup de Français ont su se rendre insupportables auprès des autres francophones et notamment dans les médias. Au Québec, il n'existe pas d'expression pour dire "maudits Belges" ou "maudits Suisses" mais il existe une expression "maudits Français" qui traduit bien une certaine réalité du Français qui sait tout et mieux que tout le monde, arrive avec ses certitudes et parle à tout de bras des accents des Belges, des Suisses ou des Québécois !
Quant à ma vie à Paris, je confirme, quand je suis arrivé ici j'ai supporté bien des choses.
" Au Québec, il n'existe pas d'expression pour dire "maudits Belges" ou "maudits Suisses" mais il existe une expression "maudits Français" qui traduit bien une certaine réalité du Français qui sait tout et mieux que tout le monde, arrive avec ses certitudes et parle à tout de bras des accents des Belges, des Suisses ou des Québécois ! "
... que sais-tu de l'origine de l'expression "maudits français" souvent employée, dit-on, par les québecois ?
... qui te permette d'appuyer ta démonstration avec une belle certitude (la même que celle que tu dénonces) par l'absence d'une expression équivalente pour les suisses ou les belges ?
... le Canada a-t'il jamais été colonisé par la Suisse ou la Belgique ?
bonjour
pourquoi toujours généraliser, je suis souvent en Suisse (famille et amis y habitent) je n'ai jamais eu ce ressenti, bien au contraire ...
alors c'est ta réalité, pas celle de tous !
bonne année à toi et à tous les Belges .
francia
le mérite d'un homme réside dans sa connaissance et dans ses actes et non point dans la couleur de sa peau ou de sa religion!
Khalil Gibran
Bon, je débarque dans la discussion et je me lance.
De tous les voyages que j'ai fait, j'ai toujours perçu que les belges étaient mieux vus que les français, car plus discrets, plus abordables et moins "grande gueule" (genre "je sais tout sur tout"). Bon, évidemment il ne faut pas généraliser (je précise, je suis belge, mais j'ai beaucoup d'amis français).
De tous les voyages que j'ai fait, j'ai toujours perçu que les belges étaient mieux vus que les français, car plus discrets, plus abordables et moins "grande gueule" (genre "je sais tout sur tout").
... que sais-tu de l'origine de l'expression "maudits français" souvent employée, dit-on, par les québecois ?
Ce qu'on m'en a dit lorsque j'y vivais : que les Français étaient fort en gueule, condescendants, râleurs et arrivaient au Québec plein de certitudes. Des traits de caractères que beaucoup de Français considèrent comme faisant partie de leur identité nationale.
J'aime la France et je suis devenu Français tout en renonçant à ma nationalité Belge... quelle autre preuve puis-je donner pour témoigner de mon amour de la France ? Cela dit, l'amour ne rend pas aveugle ni amnésique. Quand tu as 10 ou 15 ans et que chaque année tu rencontres des Français qui t'expliquent que les Belges sont bêtes (merci Coluche)... tu ne l'oublies pas.
Aujourd'hui les Blondes ont remplacé les Belges dans l'humour français sur les idiots... c'est toujours aussi stupide surtout quand ta fille de 11 ans est blonde et à moitié Belge.
Je ne généralise pas et j'ai bien conscient que le syndrome de la tartine beurrée influence mon avis. Mais on est là pour donner notre avis. Non ?
... oui, nous sommes tous là pour donner notre avis, et il est bon que nous puissions le faire ...
... encore faudrait-il pour cela que cet avis s'appuie sur un minimum de vérité ou d'honnêteté : selon des sources aisément consultables sur le web, l'expression "maudits français" largement répandue chez les québecois trouverait en effet son origine historique au 18ème siècle, lorsque la France a "abandonné" sa colonie aux anglais ...
... au-delà du sens le plus visible ou le plus actuel de l'expression, dont je ne conteste même pas le bien-fondé, il y a donc une excellente raison pour qu'elle ne soit utilisée que pour désigner les français, et non suisses ou belges ... mais cela ne démontre rien d'autre ! 🙂
... notamment que ces mêmes suisses ou belges ne soient pas eux aussi "plein de certitudes et sachant tout sur tout", le contraire (comme pour les français) étant très aisément facile à démontrer pour n'importe qui disposant d'un minimum de bon sens ... 😛
Bonjour, c'est avec le sourire que j'écris, franchement Giles, merci, tu me fais commencer la journée avec un grand sourire🙂😄 héhé je suis brune 😇
Blague à part (je continue avec le sourire)
Je me souviens lorsque j'étais étudiante et que nous allions en Belgique, ils nous parlaient en flamant (et ils comprenaient très bien) bref, mais quand je suis arrivée en Espagne, j'avais 24 ans, ils nous traitaient de ....faciles😠 ouiii, pour pas dire autre chose, la réputation des françaises n'étaient pas des meilleures. Mais quand je vois les gamines espagnoles comment elles s'habillent et se comportent...
Que chacun se regarde et laisse vivre les autres, aussi bien personnes que pays. Qui sommes nous pour juger ou critiquer.
Puis je pars du principe qu'il y a de tout, par exemple en Saône et Loire j'ai une petite maison, héritage de mes parents, j'y allais quand j'étais petite, et bien là-bas nous étions "les parisiens" mais c'était dit avec gentillesse, et maintenant j'y vais avec mon mari espagnol et c'est "la petite ...nom de famille, avec son mari espagnol " hahahahaha comme si j'avais un mari de chaque nationnalité 😄MdR.
Allez, bonne journée à tous
La vie est comme un arc-en-ciel; il faut de la pluie et du soleil pour en voir les couleurs.
... encore faudrait-il pour cela que cet avis s'appuie sur un minimum de vérité ou d'honnêteté : selon des sources aisément consultables sur le web, l'expression "maudits français" largement répandue chez les québecois trouverait en effet son origine historique au 18ème siècle, lorsque la France a "abandonné" sa colonie aux anglais ...
Je connais bien évidemment l'origine historique de l'expression mais je peux t'assurer que les Québécois ont depuis longtemps cesser d'attendre quoi que ce soit des Français ! Aussi, l'expression d'aujourd'hui est utilisée dans un tout autre sens celui de la perception des Français d'aujourd'hui par les Québécois d'aujourd'hui.
Pour ne pas généraliser, j'ajouterais que tous les Québécois ne considèrent pas les Français de cette façon mais il y en a beaucoup !
Il y a un an et demi, un sujet a été consacré sur cette expression sur le forum (clique ici), et comme on peut le lire sur ce sujet, les Québécois qui donnent leur avis vont plutôt dans le sens que je donnais que celui, véridique mais anachronique, d'une rancune historique !
J'ai envoyé 2 messages sur les coups de midi aujourd'hui et Bird42 également. Là je retourne sur le conversation et les messages ont disparus...On s'est fait zapper ?
Cries leur qu'on est le monde, que le peuple finira par vaincre, qu'ils ont le chiffre, qu'on a le nombre et que la rue nous appartient !! Keny Arkana
Pourquoi ?
Le droit de s'exprimer n'est-il pas libre sur ce forum ? C'est la première fois que je vois ça et je ne trouve pas cela normal ! J'échangeais mon point de vue avec lui...puis tous disparaît comme si notre parole est contrôlée...on a pas le droit à la liberté d'expression ? Y a t-il des sujets interdits, censurés ? Un forum n'est-il pas fait pour cela ? L'échange de point de vue, le respect et la tolérance sont que des illusions ? Alors parlons uniquement des beaux côtés... 😛😛
Cries leur qu'on est le monde, que le peuple finira par vaincre, qu'ils ont le chiffre, qu'on a le nombre et que la rue nous appartient !! Keny Arkana
Ayant eu l'occasion de lire une bonne partie de la prose de l'individu visé, je peux affirmer que la modération sur ces messages n'est que salubrité !
Certains de ces propos, franchissaient allègrement la limite de la bienséance, d'autres limite "mises en examen", que veut peut etre éviter l'éditeur du forum!
Les provocations de Bird n'engagent que lui 😠 et ont au moins le mérite de faire réagir les autres..une façon comme une autre d'alimenter le débat, du moins quand on développe ses idées plutot que de s'invectiver..😛
Moi je ne réagis pas aux mauvaises intentions, donc il n'y a rien comme ignorer les post's qui n'apportent rien. Je peux écrire un message et essayer que la personne comprenne qu'en insultant elle ne gagne rien, mais après je passe complètement des provocations, très peu pour moi.
Ici il y a des gens vraiments intéressants pour perdre son temps à des sujets qui n'ont ni pieds ni tête😕
La vie est comme un arc-en-ciel; il faut de la pluie et du soleil pour en voir les couleurs.
C'est ton choix, si tu aime te vautrer dans ce genre de fange (je n'y ai vu aucune 'idée', que de la provoc !), il y a des forums qui te conviendraient mieux !
Il est vrai que l'ensemble de ton oeuvre n'a que peu de rapport avec l'objectif initial de voyage forum!
Les provocations de Bird n'engagent que lui et ont au moins le mérite de faire réagir les autres..une façon comme une autre d'alimenter le débat, du moins quand on développe ses idées plutot que de s'invectiver..
Comme si on avait besoin de provocations pour réagir !
Les posts de bird42 ne restent pas longtemps sur VF, car ils sont systématiquement nourris d'une idéologie tiers-mondiste, anti-occidentale et antisioniste tellement grossière qu'elle en est ridicule.
Un forum n'a pas besoin de bouffon trollesque.
Bonsoir très chère communauté de voyageurs, j’ai comme une envie de m’excuser pour avoir heurté la sensibilité d’une bonne partie d’entre vous ? je vois que certains de nos chers (e) congénères moins bronzés de l’autre côté de la méditerrané sont très fins et sensibles à l’égard de mes paroles, ils le sont surement aussi pour ce qui est du sort des bébés phoques, du devenir des baleines noires, des caniches australiens, des chats d’Egypte et de la pollution du globe.., enfin il vrai que l’Homme blond est quelqu’un de très sentimental, mais à l’issue je réitère mes positions et je ne m’excuse nullement.
Semblablement à beaucoup d’entre vous, moi aussi j’ai fais des voyages, j’ai visités des pays européens, j’ai vécu en France pendant une période de mon adolescence et quand je m’exprime je ne fais que dire ce que je ressens et désolé si ce n’est pas du gout de M. le régisseur de 62ans, de M. le Piaf ou de la sage institutrice des générations avenirs, car il est vrai que je ne peux pas être du gout de tous, quoi que je m’y force à être stéréotypé et conventionnel, mais décidément y’a rien à faire il parait que je suis né ainsi.
A travers mes déplacements j’ai toujours été un voyageur original, celui qui touche à toutes les souches et couches sociales, celui qui ne reste jamais sur place, celui qui cause à tout le monde, qui se soule avec tout le monde, qui fais la fête partout et qui se fond dans le magma social des locaux. A plusieurs reprises j’ai eu l’occasion de me retrouver logés et nourris, invités dans des endroits et hôtels luxueux comme j’ai eu l’opportunité je dirais de fréquenter les endroits et les couches sociales les plus démunis.
Des lieux, des endroits et des anecdotes qui m’ont marqués mais qui m’ont également appris combien les plus forts de ce siècle étaient injustes et leur compatriotes muets, et combien les trois quart de la planète étaient utilisés comme un zoo, travesti sous l’emblème du tourisme pour la collecte de fonds au profit des dictatures et autres systèmes, de la saleté bénie et bonie par des individus pour qui le voyage n’était qu’un divertissement de fin d’année et pour qui les autochtones ne sont qu’une décoration à l’instar des paysages et endroits visités.
Depuis, mes voyages sont devenus orientés, j’ai décidé que ma modeste contribution financière dédiée aux voyages ne participera plus à financer les dictatures, ni à aider à tuer les causes justes des peuples, ni à financer les armes pour tuer des femmes et des enfants. J’ai remarqué que la pluparts des sujets de discussion dans Voyage Forum, parlait de chats, de chien, de voitures, de cul, mais jamais du devoir et de la responsabilité du voyageur à rendre le monde meilleur grâce à sa contribution indirecte pour faire connaitre le mal des gens et des peuples en souffrances, car pour moi le voyageur est le meilleur des reporteurs et le plus honnête des narrateurs.
Dans mon message de midi qui a été évidement supprimé j’ai rassuré M. GilesB de ne pas s’inquiéter sur la réputation de sa petite fille de 11ans mi-belge et mi française, mais de s’inquiéter plus sur le sors des autres petites filles de 11ans qui se font massacrer à l’instant même à gaza, au Congo et au Soudan car elles n’ont pas eu la chance d’être nées au bon endroit, entre temps je vous dis Peace et restez zen, je fume du thé et je reste éveillé ma révolution continue. (à censurer dans 20mn).
j’ai rassuré M. GilesB de ne pas s’inquiéter sur la réputation de sa petite fille de 11ans mi-belge et mi française, mais de s’inquiéter plus sur le sors des autres petites filles de 11ans qui se font massacrer à l’instant même à gaza, au Congo et au Soudan
Je ne m'inquiète pas et suis plutôt fier de sa blondeur. Il y a bien évidemment des situations dramatiques dans le monde mais le sujet dont nous parlons ici est la cote de la France et non les victimes innocentes et collatérales du Hamas.
Mais non, quand tu t'exprimes sans provocation outrancière, il n'y a pas de problème, même si je suis opposé à une partie des idées que tu exprimes, en particulier la diabolisation de l'occidental touriste consommateur, bien trop simpliste à mon avis.
Un forum internet fonctionne par l'écrit, la forme ne doit pas être négligée même si le fond reste le plus important.
Si tu étais vraiment dans le collimateur de la modération, ton pseudo serait interdit depuis un moment.
Je ne connais pas cette version française mais une espagnole ...
Dans les années 80, je crois, le Viennois Max Merkel était entraîneur des Galactiques, le Réal Madrid. MM, décédé, était un des entraîneurs de foot les plus couronnés de succès en Europe mais très redouté de ses formules énergiques (légendaires en Allemagne) ...
A un entretien avec un magazine autrichien, on lui a demandé si son nouveau domicile lui plaisait et s’il était content de la situation et perspective sportives à Madrid.
MM : "Oooh geeeh (c.v.d. "alors" en viennois), je suis très satisfait de la prestation de mes joueurs, nous sommes leader du classement. Donc, tutti paletti. En ce qui concerne mon nouveau domicile, oooh geeeh, l’Espagne me plaît, la vie d'ici est agréable, le pays est très beau mais il serait encore plus beau s’il n’y avait pas tant d’Espagnols ici."
C’était trop pour les fiers Ibères, complètement dépassés par le schmäh viennois, une sorte particulière d’humeur (mélancolique, artificieuse, misanthropique). MM était démissionné sans préavis ...
bien d’accord avec toi. Ne tolérons aucune hostilité face à nos voisins, la Suisse et les Suisses ! Moi aussi, j’aime ce pays, un bijou en Europe ...
Par ailleurs, ma Suissesse favorie est Erika Stucky, Valaisanne et musicienne extraordinaire (à recommander son CD « Suicidal Yodels », 2007)*. Voici sa manifestation d’amour à la Suisse (d’un genre un peu différent) :
« La Suisse est classée comme un pays où on se suicide beaucoup. Je me sens proche de cette tristesse. Ce pays est sauvage. »
VIVE LA SUISSE & LE MALI !!!
hgb
* et également ses autres CDs, que ce soit « Princess » (2005), « Lovebites » (2003) et « Bubbles & Bones » (2001).
Tu vois que tu peux écrire des provocations dans un langage chatié non 'modérable'!........ quand tu laches l'alcool !
Mais dans ce sujet, les chats, les chiens, le cul, Gaza, le Darfour, je m'en tape !
Sur VF, je cause VF, dans ma vie politique ou associative, je parle politique, ou des objets de mes assocs.
du blues des alpes? lol Enfin.. c'est vrai que les alpes sont un lieu très marqué par la misères, le chômage, les champs de cotons et la ségrégation raciale, j’ai bien envie d’entendre le désarrois de ce nouveau blues rose bonbon qui dans les pires des cas pleur les méfaits du cholestérol véhiculées par les mégas burgers du Mc Donald local, entre temps je vous dis à tous mangez saint en écoutant du vrai blues noir du Mali, qui sort des trippes du grand Ali Farka Touré, quant à moi je fume du thé et je reste éveillé, la révolution continue.
Hhéhéh bien contente de lire à nouveau Bird42...la question posée sur ce sujet est l'image de la France à l'étranger, bien côtée ? Cette question parle obligatoirement du côté économique, social et politique, sportif, culturel, gastronomique car un pays représente énormement de choses à la fois...c'est très large !!!
A travers mes voyages, lorsqu'on me demande de quel pays je viens, je réponds donc la France...et là...mille et une fois on m'a forcément parlé du côté politique...en me blaguant sur notre "cher" Président actuel...majoritairement c'est le négatif qui vient, héhé je dirais que c'est normal !!!🏴☠️ c'est aussi ça l'image de la France, le côté politique...quand on pense à tel ou tel pays on voit aussi celui qui le dirige !!! Donc la honte d'être française est venue de nombreuses fois à moi, en essayant d'expliquer que les régions existent aussi au sein de cette france et que parfois on se sent plus bretonne ou autre que française...
Comme dit Manu Chao :
"Tous les globe-trotters du monde le savent, c'est dans les rues qu'ils se frottent à l'identité d'un pays, tant esthétique que politique, tant mysthique qu'économique".
Cries leur qu'on est le monde, que le peuple finira par vaincre, qu'ils ont le chiffre, qu'on a le nombre et que la rue nous appartient !! Keny Arkana
lorsqu'on me demande de quel pays je viens, je réponds donc la France...et là...mille et une fois on m'a forcément parlé du côté politique...en me blaguant sur notre "cher" Président actuel...majoritairement c'est le négatif qui vient, héhé je dirais que c'est normal !!!🏴☠️
Curieusement, à l'étranger, lorsque le sujet "Sarkozy" est évoqué, mes interlocuteurs me parlent du positif... je crois que cela vient tout simplement que les gens que l'on rencontre nous ressemble...
Je me pose une question... J'ai rencontré ces derniers jours pas mal de voyageurs étrangers de nationalités diverses. Tous s'accordent à dire que l'accueil des…
Sanary sur Mer, un samedi maussade de Novembre... Une pâtisserie à la vitrine alléchante... Deux femmes, la quarantaine bien maquillée... Un soupçon de parfum,…
Une fois n’est pas coutume, je vais parler de mon propre pays, la France, où j’ai fait récemment un voyage assez court à partir de Bangkok (où je vis). Je…
Les russes ont le sentiment d'etre russe, d'appartenir a la "Mere Russie " depuis au moins le 9 ieme siecle, le francais depuis quand a -t-il le sentiment…
Hello everyone on this forum!
I know in advance that what I'm about to say here won't please everyone, but honesty is a virtue, isn't it?
Here's the thing: for many years now, I've noticed a habit in French-speaking posts of using abbreviations left and right, as if to show that we're "in the know." Let me explain with a few examples:
- - In discussions about Peru, I see "Aguas" for "Aguas Calientes." And if it's Mexico, well, it'll be "Aguas" for "Aguascalientes"!
- - For Guatemala, "travelers" will say "Guaté." Come on, saying "Guatemalas" would maybe be the undeniable sign that you know nothing about the country???
- - Back from Indonesia, many will talk about how familiar they've become with the country's language: "bahasa." Of course, everyone will know what you're talking about, but it still gets on my nerves because the language (one of the many languages) of Indonesia is "bahasa Indonesia." "Bahasa" actually means "language," and you'll find this word of Indian origin ‘Bhāṣā’ (it's Sanskrit originally) outside Indonesia too: in Thailand, for example, any language will be "phasa" as in "phasa thai" (official Thai), "phasa isan" (what's spoken in northeastern Thailand), "phasa angkrit" = English, etc.
Am I an incorrigible nitpicker? Maybe. But I'd also find it ridiculous if a foreigner came and told me they visited "Monte" during their trip to France, when it was actually Monte Carlo.
I read a lot in English and don't think I've encountered such a habit among English speakers.
Who’d like to share their best and worst travel memories in a few lines?
For me, it’s watching the TAJ MAHAL at sunrise and getting chased by dogs at the top of a mountain pass in GREECE on the way back from ISTANBUL.
THANKS GUYS
This is my 15,000th post, and it's a message I would have preferred never to write.
Patrick—Yangguizi—won’t be returning from his trek in Uganda. His health betrayed him in the mountains.
Like many of you, I laughed until I couldn’t anymore at his travel stories. I met him in Shanghai, then in Istanbul... We scoured restaurants—he was an incredible expert on world cuisines. We relived Korea, China. Always brilliant, so sharp, so funny, so down-to-earth. Being even a little bit his friend was something to be proud of. I think I envied him.
Patrick is still out there, of course...
He found his happiness running across the world. He’s on his path. He never doubted that "the traveler doesn’t even know if he’ll return one day."
Not sure this would’ve suited him, but his departure devastates me.
Alright,
Farewell, you foreign devil. Safe travels.
hello to all travelers with their eyes wide open to the desert...
I’ve always wondered what I was "doing" on this earth. And why my father, who died a few months after I was born—a former youngest French resistance fighter—joined the First Saharan Motorized Company in Atar and spent the rest of his life repairing army engines in Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal, Mali (which didn’t exist under that name back then), Morocco, and finally Algeria, where my mother was born and raised. (Believe me, it’s not "cool" being the child of a soldier in a country occupied by France, and even less so the child of a "pied-noir.")
Of course, I never got an answer: the dead don’t talk, and the army doesn’t either.
But here’s the thing—I had photos...
So naturally, one day I hit the road. I wanted to see, to understand.
It’s thanks to VF that I was able to do a little research on crossing the Morocco-Mauritania border, and I’m grateful to its members, just as I’m grateful to all those who welcomed me on the road for 14 years.
For the past few weeks, I’ve been wondering if I should talk about this or not...
It turns out the Mauritanians changed my life by asking for my help... And that started as early as February 2012... (Did I owe them something? No answer to that question.)
Ah, the irony—they saw me coming. But when you’re handed sick children and begged to do something, what would you have done? I’d worked in a hospital, so I knew a bit about the rules to follow. I didn’t hesitate.
And well, over all these years, I met doctors, surgeons, and together we organized care, evacuations of children, training for surgeons—even trying to stop children from having to travel outside their country. It was never easy. I’d like to thank those who supported us, as well as *La Chaîne de l’Espoir*, *La Fondation Face au Monde*, and everyone who built bridges between our two countries.
Unfortunately, despite the constant efforts of Mauritanian doctors and surgeons, some children couldn’t be helped in time. Today, I want to talk about four siblings—orphans of their mother—suffering from congenital glaucoma causing irreversible blindness. Their case was entrusted to me in 2020, just weeks before the big lockdown. We couldn’t do anything for them then, but when their father asked me for a gift, I rushed to my computer and wrote a story.
Through a tale, the children take a great journey, explore their country, and fulfill a dream. I never thought this book would be published—it was, in 2023.
This book pays tribute to Mauritania. It’s a message for those who know nothing about the hardships of life there, carrying both the harshness and beauty of an immense desert where you can travel by 4x4, bike, on foot, or by camel in complete safety. It bears witness to the kindness of Mauritanians toward travelers.
As a woman traveling alone in my vehicle—a now-rusted old Mercedes that no longer runs—I had the most beautiful encounters of my life there (I’ve seen other parts of the world...). The blind children of Choum, Atar, Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott will forever be in my heart.
Volunteer readers transcribed the book into a free audio version for the visually impaired. It’s available in sound libraries in France, the *Fondation Valentin Haüy*, and the Swiss Romande library.
I made my last trip to Mauritania in my old 4x4 to distribute the book everywhere, especially to its heroes and the school for the visually impaired in Nouakchott.
After that, I thought it was time to close the chapter because I no longer have the means or the strength to travel.
My publishers chose this title for it: *The Blue Eyes of the Desert*.
This publication helped a mission of Swiss volunteer ophthalmologists come to operate on glaucomas in Mauritania. I’m thrilled because they come back every year!
This adventure is ending, yes—everything must come to an end—but ultimately, it was born here, on the VF site!! So yes, I had to say it: THANK YOU!!!!!
Hi everyone,
I’m Loulou, a French expat who’s been living in Southeast Asia for about fifteen years, currently in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. A passionate walker at heart, I’ve trekked in Nepal (Thorung La, Mardi Himal), India, Vietnam, and I’m still planning new hikes (Char Dham, Langtang, Annapurna).
I’ve just published my first travel journal, recounting three months of walking and encounters across India. A portion of the sales goes to an educational center I support in Kep, for children whose parents work in the salt marshes.
I’m also working on a second book about Nepal with a musician friend, focusing on the Mardi Himal trek—two independent perspectives on the same journey.
Happy to swap stories with you about the Himalayas, India, Southeast Asia, or just the urge to hit the road and walk far from home.
Safe travels,
Loulou
Hi! It was totally by chance that I stumbled upon VoyageForum (an ad online and a story lol), and I’ve been reading some really old posts from 2011 about Thai massage schools—discussions on how to get by, accommodation, prices, etc. It reminded me of my own experience: I kept things simple by staying with a local family during my entire trip. I only shared all the expenses with them, which, I’ll admit, was super cheap… and I often traveled with them, which naturally opened a lot of doors for me. To start, at the school in Salaya, my Thai friend immediately connected me with Teacher Phong (the school’s mentor and teacher of teachers, a former monk). I was supposed to join a group session with other foreigners, but for some reason I don’t know, I got two days of private lessons for free with this expert… incredible! And on top of that, he loved France! It was an amazing experience. I "discovered" massage by chance—the Thai family just told me: "Try it, you’ll see!" (I’d had a pretty intense massage in the capital before 😅… but the next day, I felt unbelievably great!))
Every morning, I’d take a taxi (chosen by the Thai family at prices that beat all the competition) to this school—I’ve forgotten the name of the little village now… right in the heart of the countryside. Then, in the evenings, I’d keep practicing massage on all the family members… and they’d teach me Thai at the same time!))
Since then, I’ve practiced a bit, with lots of positive feedback. Following Teacher Phong’s advice—he thought my pressure was deep, firm, and precise—he strongly encouraged me to take this seriously.
I love Thailand so much. It’s a whole different way of living… and it’s a real blessing, even if I couldn’t live there full-time. Anyway, that was an unforgettable memory, and sometimes the Thai family and I still say hi—from 2011, 2013… right up to today!
"It seems to me that poverty would be less painful in the sun" wrote Aznavour...
Not sure...😕 Who can prove that people in hot countries are happier than others?
What do you think?
Is it better to live in Montpellier than in Lille?
Are the Pygmies happier than the Inuit?
Are Canadians less happy than the people of Louisiana?
Are there more French expats in hot countries?
And your travels? Do you choose your destinations based on the climate?
Do you rejoice when a bit of sunshine appears?
Hi everyone, just this once I’m not posting for a travel story, but to share a thought for Venezuela.
If you didn’t know—since it’s not making headlines—the country was hit by two 7.5-magnitude earthquakes last week. Over 2,200 people have died, more than 50,000 are missing, and some coastal towns have been completely destroyed.
Maybe when the scale of the humanitarian crisis becomes clear, our media will cover it a bit more... especially since earthquakes with this many casualties usually make the front page, but there’s been nothing in France.
So here’s a thought for this country, which, whatever you think of its politics, is a true jewel of South America, both for its landscapes and its people.
hi there
I’d like to invite you to discover my coastal province in central Vietnam: Quang Ngai.
This year, my province has really improved its infrastructure—mountains, countryside, and sea are all authentic here.
No harassers or thieves, and no Russians either.
A local lunch costs around 1 €.
A *** hotel room is about 25 €, and you can find hotels right on My Khe Beach.
We have a specialty: *banh xeo*—10 crepes for just 1.5 €.
You can rent motorbikes to explore the province and maybe visit the many ethnic minorities.
I live here—I’m not selling anything, but I can help if needed (my father-in-law is a traditional Vietnamese doctor and he’s very skilled).
Hi everyone! 😉
I’m Typhaine, 35 years old. Five years ago, I left France for a solo round-the-world trip—no planes, just a van, hitchhiking, cycling, and even a canoe in the Amazon! Today, I work as a naturalist guide in Argentine Patagonia.
Wherever I go, my compass stays the same: observing and photographing wildlife, which I deeply admire and respect.
My project: I’d love to share this experience through a sustainable, authentic, and immersive nature tourism initiative. But to build something meaningful, I need to understand how other nature enthusiasts experience their own adventures.
If you:
Are over 20 years old
Have a true passion for Nature
Have already taken at least one trip lasting more than 3 nights (in your country or abroad) in your life
Promise: I’m not selling anything, this isn’t marketing. Your answers are 100% anonymous and will only help me shape this wild project.
A huge thank you to everyone for your help and kindness! Looking forward to chatting in this thread 😛
(Dear admins, this is purely a collaborative effort for my project study, with no commercial purpose. Thank you so much for your support!)
Photo: Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis), female on the left and her cub on the right. Photo taken by me in Alaska, Denali National Park.
It’s something we often notice in this forum—and many others—this behavioral shift.
A long-time member, or even a new one, asks a question.
They get one or more answers, some brief, some detailed, and then... nothing???
Not even a simple thank you!!!
From what I’ve gathered, if the answers don’t align with what they wanted to hear, it seems natural for the asker to just disappear!! 😕
Unless—(and I fear this is the case)—basic politeness is no longer part of our society????
I spent 3 weeks in Bali last summer (+ 3 nights on Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java). So I wanted to see what ChatGPT could suggest for comparison...
Here’s the prompt I gave:
"You’re a local expert guide for Bali.
- Plan a 20-day itinerary for Bali with a side trip to Gili Meno and a day trip to Kawah Ijen in Java without staying overnight.
- I’m traveling with my wife, and I love visiting historical sites, hiking, relaxing at the beach, snorkeling, and exploring rice terraces...
- For the duration of the stay, I don’t want more than 8 places to sleep, and I’d like to stay at least 2 days at each stop to avoid unpacking too often. Except for the last night, where I’m okay with just one night near the airport.
- I prefer neighborhoods that are walkable and try to avoid typical tourist traps, though I don’t want to miss the must-see spots. So suggest a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems.
- Recommend hotels or guesthouses with a budget of 50 to 100 € per night, including breakfast. Make suggestions in areas popular with travelers, specifying the vibe (I prefer quiet), and consider safety and proximity to attractions.
- For lunch and dinner, suggest two to three restaurants that are well-rated by customers.
- Give me a day-by-day program with details on travel times, visiting times for each point of interest, and recommendations for transportation (taxi, train, bike, etc.).
Estimate the total cost of the trip, including accommodations, food, transportation, and activities, and suggest two tips for saving money in each category.
- Don’t make anything up—be realistic about travel times, take into account the opening dates and hours of sites, and give me the entry fees for places to visit.
- Ask me all the questions until you’re 95% sure you understand what’s being asked. Don’t generate your response until you’ve understood."
The AI asked for a few clarifications:
"Great request—I can build you a really optimized and enjoyable itinerary, but to be 95% sure I hit the mark, I need a few key clarifications (this will really influence the pace, areas, and accommodations)."
In the end, it proposed a program very close to what we actually did.
I’ll skip its accommodation and restaurant suggestions...
Its proposal:
"Ubud (4 nights) => we did 5 nights
Sidemen (2 nights)
Amed (3 nights) => we’d planned 2 nights
Gili Meno (3 nights) => we did Gili between Sidemen and Amed
Munduk (3 nights) => we did 2 nights before Pemuteran
Pemuteran (3 nights) with Ijen => we did 4 nights
Sanur (2 nights + 1 last night) => we chose Jatiluwih instead of Sanur
It suggested "activities" (and accommodations too):
IN UBUD:
- Walk around central Ubud (1–2h)
- Campuhan Ridge Walk
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Tirta Empul
- Gunung Kawi
- Massage / market / slow café
IN SIDEMEN:
- Rice terrace hike (2–3h)
- Cooking class
IN AMED:
- Snorkeling
- Japanese Shipwreck
- Beach + relaxation
- Volcano sunset
ON GILI:
- Snorkeling at Gili Meno Turtle Point, Nest Underwater Statues
IN MUNDUK:
- Jungle & waterfall hike - Munduk Waterfall + Melanting Waterfall
- Loop: 3–4h (perfect for your level)
- Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
- Twin Lakes
IN PEMUTERAN
- Snorkeling: Menjangan Island
For Kawah Ijen, it detailed the day well:
👍 from Pemuteran = best possible option
12 PM: leave hotel (we left at 10 PM)
1 PM: ferry
3 PM: arrival in Java + transfer
11 PM: start ascent
2 AM–6 AM: volcano
Return to Bali around 11 AM–12 PM (we got back at 4 PM)
👍 still very intense, but doable with an agency
💰 ~80–120 €/person all-inclusive
IN SANUR:
- Relaxation
- Quiet beach
- Proximity to airport (30 min)"
I’ve kept the habit of blowing my nose in the sink and then washing my hands—a custom I picked up in India. Sometimes, non-travelers are shocked when they catch me in the act... 🤪
Also, when I run out of toilet paper, it doesn’t bother me—unless I’ve got company over... 🤪
Just got back from walking a friend’s dog (while they’re on vacation), wearing a djellaba and Tibetan boots... 😏😏😏 Oh, for sure, if I’d run into locals, I probably would’ve shocked them? 😏
Anyway, as long as I’m not spitting on the floor at a restaurant or squatting on the side of a highway with a water bottle in hand...
After taking a little trip around the world, I came back a few months ago with an idea in mind.
I mostly do diving, and I love observing animals in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
During the trip, I realized it was quite complicated to know where and when to see certain species.
For example:
where to dive with sharks or manta rays
where you might get a chance to swim with whales
I even discovered thresher sharks during my trip… I didn’t even know this species existed before, even though they’re incredible to see.
We spent a ton of time searching for info all over the place, especially on social media, without ever getting a clear picture.
So I started putting all this together on my own, in the form of a map, to make it easier to visualize where to go depending on the seasons.
I recently put a first version online (it’s called Fauneya).
There are probably mistakes, inconsistencies, or things to improve, and that’s partly why I’m posting here.
I’d really love to know how you all go about planning this kind of trip.
As part of my Master’s thesis, I’m currently conducting a public survey on a topic that concerns all of us when planning a trip: artificial intelligence and the role of human contact in travel planning.
These days, we’re using more and more digital tools to find ideas, compare options, and book trips... but is the role of human advisors still essential? At what moments? And for what types of trips?
The survey is anonymous and takes about 7 minutes.
It’s aimed at anyone who travels (or has traveled) for leisure, whether you plan everything yourself or go through an agency.
While browsing the forum to gather info for my upcoming trip to Thailand, I often see the terms "traveler," "great traveler," and also "tourist"—so what’s the nuance for you?
I've traveled quite a bit in Vietnam over the past few years—from the southern delta to bustling cities and even some small islands—but what really sticks with me is the north, the high mountains.
Up there, there's something different—maybe slower, more raw. The morning markets with ethnic groups, women in traditional clothes, the colors...
The stilt houses, kids following you and laughing for no reason, the terraced rice fields—it almost feels unreal at times, so vast and quiet, yet so human and simple.
You often hear that Sapa has become too touristy, and that's partly true, especially in the center. But as soon as you move a little farther away, everything changes quickly. The landscapes open up, encounters feel more natural, and you rediscover something truly authentic.
I think it's that contrast that struck me—the difference between what you imagine before going and what you actually discover when you take the time.
And you—what memory do you hold onto from Vietnam? A particular place that touched you more than others?
Hello,
We’re finalizing the plans for our upcoming trip to China in May 2025. The second-to-last stop will be in Zhangjiajie, where we’ve planned to stay for 2 full days before heading to Shanghai.
We’re traveling solo using local transport and have arranged to stay in the city of Zhangjiajie.
We’ve seen that there’s a lot to see:
Tianmen Mountain, the Grand Canyon and the glass bridge, Zhangjiajie National Park, and that the sites are quite far apart with fairly expensive entry fees.
We’re thinking of dedicating one day to the national park and the Grand Canyon (glass bridge) and one day to Tianmen Mountain.
But we’re not sure if this plan is realistic—any thoughts would be much appreciated!
I should be serving a warming drink to the participants in the discussion about gardens and parks that provide us with beautiful photos, I could mention the delicious buttery scent wafting from bakeries in the thread about returning to France, but my heart, its powerful pulse that nourishes my entire being, is elsewhere.
Dasht-e Lut, Yazd, Esfahan, Bam, Kerman, Qeshm, Hormuz—a melody, a prayer at the heart of desire.
A dream, an unattainable fantasy? No. Not anymore.
A very serious Italian travel agency is organizing this trip for 6 people this winter. I’m signed up, I’m going, I’m living. Maybe.
"But you’re completely crazy!!!!"
I know... I know that every civilization, every society has a vital need to create scapegoats to define and justify itself, pathetically. And Iran is one of them, top of the list. I laugh or sigh, and it doesn’t bother me.
But that unchanging red, deep red and garnet, so beautiful in itself, in all the Western chancelleries repeats, whispers, shouts: don’t go, don’t go, don’t go, you’re putting yourself in danger and we can’t do anything for you. You’ll be turned into mere bargaining chips, into arguments for endless negotiations. Fear must be instilled, its power absolutely preserved, no concessions made to the enemy. The information (how many French hostages, real or fake, compared to the number of travelers?) is always lacking.
Traveling becomes a merciless confrontation between desire, the vital pulse, and anxiety, its ghosts.
Hi everyone, here’s our itinerary. Arriving on the evening of December 13th. Departing on January 7th.
Thanks in advance for your tips and valuable feedback.
Manila – 1 night
Coron – 4 nights
Coron to El Nido cruise – 2 nights
El Nido – 4 nights
Port Barton – 5 nights
Flight from Puerto Princesa to Vigan
Vigan – 2 nights
Sagada – 2 nights
Banaue – 2 nights
Bagabag – 1 night
Manila – 1 night
I’ve only booked the flight to Manila and the Manila/Coron flight so far. Is it possible to book boat trips, accommodations, and the Puerto Princesa flight last-minute?
Really disappointed with Costa Rica! Pura vida? The scam of the century!
(Costa Rica pure emptiness).
The country where animals are free and people are in cages.
3 weeks in December in this country and never again. Imagine the trailer of a movie that seems interesting, and when you go see it, you realize it’s a flop and the best moments were in the trailer.
Well, that’s exactly how we felt with Costa Rica pure emptiness.
My wife and I have traveled quite a bit and didn’t expect to be so wrong about a place.
On the main routes, we visited:
San José
Alajuela
Limón, Cahuita, Puerto Viejo, Manzanillo (Caribbean side)
Jaco, Quepos, Manuel Antonio (Pacific side)
And a few short stops in intermediate towns.
Our dissatisfaction grew gradually like this:
When we arrived at the hotel, the taxi dropped us off on a small street in front of a white metal gate with ground-floor windows barred. We looked at it skeptically, but the sign matched.
He approached the gate, rang the bell, the buzzer sounded, and the door opened slightly. The hotel wasn’t bad for the price, a 10-minute walk from downtown, but with a "Fleury-Mérogis" vibe guaranteed.
So far, so good.
After showering and regaining our bearings, we headed downtown.
What started to unsettle us on the way was seeing houses with bars on the ground-floor windows and even on the second floor.
At first, we thought the hotel’s neighborhood wasn’t great.
Downtown San José:
It’s a generic city, not very exotic, with a pedestrian street and a small mercado where you can eat local food without frills. Very few tourists—if any—which let you blend in with the locals. We had lunch and struggled to make ourselves understood because, aside from one or two shops, English wasn’t spoken.
On the way back to the hotel, we took a different route, and while chatting and strolling, my wife pointed out a beautiful two-story white house completely barricaded like Fort Knox.
From that moment, we started noticing the facades of houses and buildings, and wow, it was creepy—most looked like prisons, some even with barbed wire.
Though put off, we told ourselves it was probably a big-city thing and the rest of the country couldn’t be like this.
So far, so good.
We relaxed at the hotel and had a drink at the bar. Night falls early, around 5:30 PM. By 7:30 PM, we headed back downtown for dinner. A bit unsettling for a capital—downtown was almost deserted, and aside from fast-food chains, very few restaurants were open, with hardly anyone on the streets.
Bars with security guards out front.
I won’t say we felt unsafe that night, but once it got dark, we realized the bars on the windows weren’t for nothing. First day in, and our impression was already mixed.
The next day, we explored the city and surroundings, and our feelings didn’t change.
So far, so good.
Off to Cahuita by bus—4 hours of travel.
The landscapes are very green but quickly become monotonous. The road runs alongside the forest and passes through a few towns and villages, and even in the countryside, there were just as many prison-like houses.
The bus dropped us off at Cahuita’s terminal station—only four of us got off. It’s a village, or rather, a small town. Cahuita is basically one straight road and a perpendicular one, and honestly, doubt started to creep in.
A few restaurants that add 13% tax and 10% service charge—so 23% extra. We dropped our stuff at the hotel and went to explore. In 20 minutes, we’d seen it all. We had lunch and planned to check out the famous park.
Entry is by donation—well, the "entry" is a joke. There’s a path along the forest by the sea, and that’s it.
Nothing’s going right anymore.
We thought it was a total scam, but since we hadn’t gone far, we decided to come back the next day to explore further.
We returned to the hotel, relaxed, and around 8:00 PM, we went out for dinner. Only two restaurants were open, and the streets were deserted.
Creepy!
The next day, we explored the so-called park more thoroughly and really got it.
A path along the forest by the sea—2 hours there and 2 hours back, where you see animals that feel like showing their faces.
A total joke—"all that for this?"
The beach was full of wood debris and coconut husks. We wondered if the photos online were edited because the sea, very rough, wasn’t the azure blue we’d seen in pictures.
But calling this a park is a joke—it’s like a new concept.
When we thought about the reviews online, we started to suspect that professionals with interests in the country were monitoring and countering any negative feedback that could harm their business.
Too bad we didn’t check the negative reviews beforehand—we did while we were there, and it helped. We wondered if we’d become too demanding after all our travels, but no—when something’s bad, it’s bad.
Manuel Antonio’s park is even more ridiculous—there’s a short path along the sea for about 500 meters, and then nothing. You have to climb through mud and hack your way through the forest. We ended up barefoot because the mud was up to our calves. All that to see a raccoon and a few parrots flying overhead.
We didn’t expect Noah’s Ark, but we’ve seen more animals in Bali, Mexico, and Thailand while visiting temples or just walking around than in these so-called parks!
Puerto Viejo, not far from Cahuita and supposedly livelier—well, it couldn’t be worse!
According to Lonely Planet, it had a Caribbean vibe and wild nights, but maybe that was a long time ago. The good reggae music playing everywhere isn’t enough.
In the evening, Puerto Viejo was a bit livelier than Cahuita, but that’s not saying much. Very few tourists—if any—no night market, just two or three shops open selling $20 T-shirts. Same vibe as San José.
No big deal—we enjoyed the beach and the sun, which was reliable.
Our itinerary was supposed to include Tortuguero Park, but after talking to other travelers who’d just been, we changed our minds, knowing we’d be visiting Manuel Antonio Park on the Pacific side.
To get back to the Pacific side, you have to take the bus and go through San José again—5 hours this time—then switch bus terminals and another 4.5 hours to Quepos.
A stopover town to get to Manuel Antonio’s beach and park!
A town just like the others we’d seen—deserted as soon as the sun sets, and not exactly bustling during the day either. (Where are all the tourists?)
Still as many bars on the windows and that feeling of being in the wrong place.
7 km later: Manuel Antonio beach and park.
The beach is very beautiful and quite large, but don’t expect turquoise blue water—the waves stir up the sand, giving the water a brownish color.
Along the beach, shops and restaurants for about 300 meters, and then nothing. At night, after sunset, the town shuts down too.
Manuel Antonio Park is highly praised for its wildlife, so we were eager to see it. When you express dissatisfaction with Cahuita or Manzanillo parks, the response is always, "But you should’ve gone to Monteverde or Manuel Antonio!" No matter what you do or say, they’ll tell you, "You should’ve gone there or here."
Back to our famous park—entry was about $16, and contrary to what we’d heard, it wasn’t crowded!
Guides at the entrance with spotting scopes offered their services for about $30.
The park: a mix of boardwalk and dirt paths through the forest, sometimes running alongside beautiful coves and beaches.
As soon as we entered, a crowd was taking photos of a deer eating leaves.
A little further on, a guide with a group of five stopped. The guide raised his arm and set up his spotting scope! He showed them, about 100 meters away, a hummingbird perched on a branch. Some, looking through the scope, exclaimed, "Oh my God! Amazing! Incredible!"
For a moment, we thought they’d discovered a unicorn or were in Jurassic Park and had just crossed paths with a T-Rex!
The concept is comical—looking at a bird or another animal through a spotting scope because it’s too far away. Isn’t that what TV is for?
For our part, we saw monkeys, ants, an armadillo, an iguana, and the backside of a sloth climbing a tree. Amazing, incredible!
We stayed a few days in Manuel Antonio to enjoy the beach, changing hotels often because prices varied wildly from one day to the next for shameful services. On top of that, they’d quote a price in dollars and convert it at their discretion—thieves!
Alajuela, a city near the airport, has a two-story mall and a local market downtown! No interest except its proximity to the airport.
What we liked:
The climate and, in hindsight, San José—the most authentic city we visited.
What we didn’t like, in addition to what we’ve already mentioned:
Costa Ricans aren’t very friendly or communicative. English is barely spoken, not even by doctors at Quepos Hospital, where my wife ended up with food poisoning (thanks, Google Translate). The widespread obesity among Costa Ricans, who eat like Americans. The insecurity. The eco-hipsters who leave their $150 lodges in minivans with guides to visit parks and other sites, then return to barricade themselves in their fortresses at nightfall (oh my God, amazing, incredible). The blue signs at the entrance of towns that accept this payment method: "We accept American Express." Parking lots that become paid just because a guy is watching your car. Prices displayed in dollars. The cost of living (hotels, restaurants, taxes). Landscapes that are too green and not flowery enough. Beaches—nothing exceptional. Pollution in cities where big American trucks rule. Sewage dumped directly into the sea. Aside from the jungle, there’s nothing to visit—no ruins, monuments, or anything worth seeing.
In short, my wife and I think the hype about this supposedly eco-friendly country is overrated. It’s just the trendy destination of the moment. There are much better, cheaper, and more authentic places.
In hindsight, we keep the good memories and our beautiful photos, but if we had to do it over...
Before signing off, a little message to those who don’t like hearing opinions different from theirs:
Well, some things aren’t up for debate. And to those who’d have us believe that in 3 weeks, we don’t have the right to criticize a country or express our feelings—how can you praise it in so little time? What a scam. Costa Rica is a money pit. Pura vida? Pure cosmic emptiness.
If you like spending your evenings barricaded in your cozy hotel after dark, this country is for you.
For everyone else: run!
Hello,
Since the war between Russia and Ukraine, nothing is simple anymore for traveling to Belarus due to sanctions.
No more direct flights from the EU to Minsk.
Driving is a huge hassle, especially crossing through Poland at the only open border in Brest—you can wait 2, 3, or even 4 days just to get through by car.
The least painful driving option is to come via Lithuania and cross at the only open border, with a minimum wait time of 8 hours, sometimes up to 20 hours or more!!
Controls are very strict and annoying on both the Lithuanian and Belarusian sides. Avoid bringing alcohol, food, or cigarettes—everything will end up in the trash, especially when leaving Belarus for Vilnius, where the Lithuanians are tough, even with EU citizens.
The joy I once knew when visiting my wife in Minsk is sadly over—it’s now a real ordeal.
The fastest solution is to fly. My wife travels to France by taking a bus to Kaunas in Lithuania, where you can catch a flight (though not daily) to Paris Beauvais or Charleroi in Belgium with Ryanair, for example.
For the return trip, it’s the same: a flight to Kaunas and then a direct bus from the airport to Minsk.
The bus crossing is quicker than driving—the 250 km journey, including border checks, takes about 6 to 8 hours for buses leaving Lithuania around midnight, but controls are still strict at the border.
The biggest challenge is finding flight schedules that align with the bus routes between the two countries, given the unpredictable border crossing times.
Now, my wife travels via Charleroi in Belgium (near Brussels), and you can take a train to Paris. Alternatively, you can fly into Beauvais and take a bus to Paris (Porte Maillot).
For those driving, note that EU insurance and assistance policies no longer work in Belarus or Russia. You’ll need to get local insurance, usually limited to third-party liability (I don’t think full coverage exists?), as well as mandatory medical insurance. This is available at the border.
You now have to pay highway tolls—no more BELTOLL boxes. Instead, you pay a flat fee for the duration of your stay. Stop at the first gas station after crossing from Lithuania to fill up on fuel and cigarettes.
From what I know, Lithuania bans carrying more than 60 € in cash, but there’s no limit for USD (though it’s capped at $10,000??).
With a Visa card, you can now withdraw 1,000 rubles per week (about 270 €)—two months ago, it was only 500 rubles!!
For now, you can still pay by card in shops and gas stations.
However, major retailers like KORONA (which may be Russian-owned??) no longer accept foreign Visa cards.
Unfortunately, the additional sanctions announced by the U.S. on August 5, 2025, against Russia—and possibly Belarus—aren’t promising for the future.
After 20 years of visiting Belarus, I’m truly saddened to see the joy of living in this country with my wonderful wife turn into such a bleak situation, all because of human folly.
Hi everyone!
I’m putting together our travel itinerary for Veneto at the end of April. And the more I look and research potential sites to visit, the more I find!
We’ll only be there for a week—my family and I—including 3 days in Venice. So we have to make some choices...
I plan to rent a car when we arrive in Venice and head straight to Bergamo, which would be our first stop. We’d leave the car at the airport when we return to Venice so we can explore the city at our leisure.
What do you think:
1 night in Bergamo (a 2h15 drive from Venice airport),
1 night in Garda,
1 night in Verona,
1 in Padua, and
3 in Venice—would that be doable?
Thanks in advance for your tips and experiences! :)
Now that the curtain has fallen on the past year, it’s time to see what’s happening around here.
It seems pretty quiet, but I’ll read more in detail later.
First, I need to tell you all an anecdote.
My eldest little girl, in her third year of law school, was really scared she wouldn’t pass the year.
I told her:
“Trust yourself, you’ve worked so hard, and worst case, if you fail, you’ll just redo the year.”
“But I don’t think I’ll make it—they changed the rules, and if I mess up even one unit, I have to start all over.”
I knew her grades weren’t exactly stellar, and with what I was about to say, I wasn’t taking much of a risk.
“Here’s the deal, sweetheart: if you pass, I promise I’ll take you to India, just the two of us.”
I have to admit, India is a country I’ve talked about so much to all my grandchildren that in their minds, it’s become a magical, mythical place (hmm).
July had barely begun when my phone rang, her name flashing on the screen.
“Mamido, I did it!”
My promise came rushing back—oh no, oh no, oh no!
“Congratulations, sweetheart!”
A little shyly, she said:
“Is the India trip still on?”
And me, replying:
“Of course it is!”
And that’s that—a promise is a promise, or you risk losing that precious trust that keeps hearts warm and at peace.
We’re leaving in February. Only 8 days—yikes, the carbon footprint!
But we can’t miss her tutorials, or she’ll be kicked out.
Personally, that works just fine for me.
Going to India has become a challenge for me. It’s far, it’s exhausting, I sweat, I hate mosquitoes, the spices bother my mouth when I used to love them. There’s noise all the time—at night, the dogs bark nonstop, and we almost get run over. I’ll get lost in the streets because my sense of direction has vanished. I don’t like rice anymore. All that chaos and those cultural differences that once enchanted me now just overwhelm me.
But I promised.
The upside—and it’s a big one—Raman, the same driver I’ve had forever, will be at the airport with a sign with our names. We’ll stop at the same little shop for chai (or tea, plain and simple) with that aroma that intoxicates me, halfway through the trip.
It’ll be a tiny trip—staying with friends, I’ll show her a few places I love: Chidambaram, Mamallapuram, and the clinic where I worked. Then we’ll head back.
My little girl will go home to her parents.
As for me, I’ll leave right away for our Scottish island with Homme for our chilly winter.
How can you love a country so much you want to live there, then suddenly reject it, no longer able to appreciate what once made it special?
That’s the mystery of love, I guess.
I’ve visited the U.S. four times myself, including two long road trips. The last one was just this past August...
I won’t be going back. I already felt guilty last August, but recent policies have finally convinced me: the humiliation of Zelensky, authoritarian excesses, Gestapo-like methods for detaining people of foreign origin, the murder of innocent people (a mother shot dead), corruption, insane "tariffs," skyrocketing healthcare costs for Americans, the abduction of foreign figures to secure oil, the requirement to disclose social media accounts, and now... threats and blackmail to forcibly take Greenland—a region that belongs to Denmark and thus the European Union!
The reality is that simply posting this could get me denied entry to the U.S.!
In this context, I just can’t keep spending money there. I loved my trips, but there are so many other countries with stunning landscapes to explore.
So I get why you’d want to travel there. I did, and I loved it. But once a country no longer respects any of the values that made us love it, why go?
How can we even consider traveling to a country that threatens to take one of our territories by force?
Hello everyone,
Controversial topic? Not necessarily—maybe just a reflection on a world to come.
I spent the last 15 days of August on a cruise in Greenland, from Kangerlussuaq to Tasiilaq.
I was utterly amazed by this unique world of rock and ice, the little houses in every color, a simple life that’s also complicated by isolation and climate, among other things...
I carry in my heart the kindness of the people I met, the raw and gentle majesty of the icebergs, the colors of the sky...
So, I can’t even imagine a massive presence of raw material prospectors, heavy machinery requiring roads to be built—if that’s even possible—changing their way of life... putting sled dogs out to pasture!
Do fast food and Greenland’s northern lights really mix?
I wouldn’t trade my memories for an ESTA!
All opinions are respectable, which is why this isn’t a controversy—but I’m sorry, I have a soft spot for *my* Greenland.
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