Lucky that we have a home/Our Home is Nha May Man/Passing rain and dry seasons/In a full-of-love atmosphere/Besides my new family/I have brothers and sisters/The sun shines over the skies/Let's stay here, with all of us,
Oui c'et vrai en y réfléchissant plus au fond tu as surement raison ou en partie raison, simplement le coté si ils sont pauvres c'est qu'ils sont alcooliques.... me parait également un raccourci bien rapide
"L'alcoolisme conséquence de pauvreté" : si, toujours.
C'est dans le sens de misère. Celle du porte-monnaie, celle de l'affectif, celle du psychologique.
Dom.
Si tu connais d'autres origines de l'éthylisme, tu m'en fais part, ça m'interesse.
Il existe effectivement un alcoolisme de classe, l'alcoolisme mondain, mais je te rejoins dans le sens où il est lié à la misère affective, l'ennui, le désoeuvrement...
Impossible de t'envoyer un message privé, je ne sais si tu es rayé de la carte du forum, moi j'ai failli l'être dans la discussion sur les abus de douane en Turquie mes propos semblaient subversifs, aux yeux de certains. Réponds moi si tu veux. Je suis assez d'accord avec tes théories.
vos propos ne sont pas suffisamment élevés pour être subversifs mais semblables à ceux que l'on entend dans certains bistrots...racistes et au ras des paquerettes...comme les propos tenus sur le post concernant le mondial et auxquels personne n'a répondu...quant à beaumec il a de nouveau changé de nom, Devinez son nouveau pseudo
Moi j'ai travaillé en restau en bar aussi et je peux dire qu'il y différentes catégories sociales ds l'alcoolisme, mais tous, enfin il me semble, ont une raison psychologique personnelle.Souvent ils tiennent tous le meme langage, du genre c'est la faute de leur femme ou de Pierre-Paul-Jacques...Ils ont un coté égoiste.
Il y a aussi les mondains, les fetards qui aiment tellement faire la java qu'ils tombent dedans petit à petit, c'est très sournois!
Je ne voudrais plus bosser ds un bar pour ne plus avoir à servir ces gens, pour ne plus participer à leur descente!
Oui il y a de la misère au début, il y en a encore plus à la fin!
Ce n'est pas la seule cause, mais il y a du vrai dedans. Il y en a beaucoup qui m'ont avoué qu'ils ont peur de leur femme, ils ont peur de rentrer à 17 H après le boulot, car ils se font engueuler, injurier " des bons à rien" par leur femme qui pour x raisons est devenue aggressive. Ils ont perdu leur dignité de mari, de père, alors ils veulent plus rentrer à l'heure ou trop tôt à la maison alors ils passent par les bars pour discuter avec des copains qui ont des oreilles pour les conforter. Au début, ce n'est qu'un petit verre de convivialité qui se transformera en tournée successive...
Pour ce qui concerne les classes sociales, j'en ai vu de toutes les classes. Celles qui sont visibles dans les bistrots, dans la rue, titubant et tombant comme une masse au dessus d'une bouche de métro. Il y a aussi celles qui ne se voient pas, car cela se passe sur des canapés de velours, sous un lustre aux milles éclats, les yeux tristes et hagards qui te fouillent du regard pour implorer un médicament qui pourrait faire mieux dans le but d'oublier cette sensation d'angoisse ou de déception...
Quant à l'alcoolisme féminin, je ne connais pas trop la raison, c'est un peu caché, non avoué... je vous laisse la parole.
Lucky that we have a home/Our Home is Nha May Man/Passing rain and dry seasons/In a full-of-love atmosphere/Besides my new family/I have brothers and sisters/The sun shines over the skies/Let's stay here, with all of us,
Les femmes en général sont plus discrettes, elles se cachent au fond du bar, derrière une machine de jeu ou ds la salle du fond. Les raisons, sans doute les memes que pour les hommes, mais en général elles parlent moins.
Oui c'est vrai qu'il y a des femmes qui sont dures avec leurs maris. Mais pour ce que j'ai pu constater ds une clientèle d'habitués, on finit par se rendre compte que l'homme arrange bien son histoire, d'ailleurs souvent ils ont la parole, discussion facile, sont sympathiques mais ils boivent et là on voit le changement de personnalité! Et puis comme tu dis il y a le coté convivial je pense qui fait qu'ils s'entrainent les uns les autres:"quoi mais tu vas qd meme prendre un coup, c'est à mon tour " ou "quoi, non mais tu vas pas boire ça, c'est pour les gamins!". ...Et ils se moquent les uns des autres ...C'est toute une ambiance!
Bouh!🤪
Peut etre que ds les endroits + classe c'est moins comme ça? Les gens sont obligés et habitués à mieux se tenir?
merci a ceux qui ont compris mon point de vue, ce st cool de ne pas toujours se prendre des pierres.
oui, je n ai pas la langue de bois, on est comme ca dans le sud et puis bon, personne n est parfait😎
je pense aussi qu il y a un sacre coup de balai a mettre en france et un tas de coups de latte dans les derrieres de la population(ben oui, je suis facho, vous le savez bien!).
et pour finir, je n aime pas quand des minots et des minottes qui n ont pas vu grand chose de leur vie, bien assis sur leur petit sofa, avec a cote le portable qui va bien et le frigo rempli, se permettent de me critiquer et de m attaquer au lieu de simplement discuter en adultes des eventuels points de desaccord.
j ai pas de portable, pas de voiture, partage depuis des annees la vie des gens dans les pays ou je voyage, dors dans les pires hotels, bouffe mal(des fois pas grand chose d ailleurs)et souvent de la poussiere sur les pistes.
je n ai en tout et pour tout qu un petit sac, avec comme seuls vetements 2 chemises, deux calecons et un pantalon, si vous voyez ce que je veux dire...
bon, ceci dit au debut de ce post j avais ecrit ce qui suit, et j imagine que beaucoup ne l ont pas lu, c est vrai que 6 pages ca fait beaucoup.
je le remets donc et developperai ensuite:
de la misere j en ai vu, de celle qui te fait venir les larmes aux yeux:
des gosses qui bouffaient dans les poubelles, avec des vetements si crads que chez nous on passerait meme pas la serpillere avec;
des types sans jambes se trainant dans la poussiere et la crasse pour mendier quelques pieces;
des pays arides, ou rien ne pousse et ou on ne survit que grace a quelques betes fameliques;
des gens qui triment comme des chiens sous le soleil pour gagner a peine de quoi survivre;
des familles entieres habitant dans les rues, avec le caniveau pour wc, et dont le pere travaille pourtant comme pousse pousse a pedales(metier dur s il en est)mais ne gagne meme pas assez d argent pour se payer un endroit decent ou vivre;
des petites vieilles courbees par les ans obligees de mendier parce que leur retraite ne suffit pas bien qu elles aient passe leur vie entiere a travailler(ca c etait en russie), a un age ou en france elles sont confortablement assises dans un fauteuil de la maison de retraite(et c est tant mieux!).
des pays ravages par les guerres...
ce a quoi je rajoute aujourd hui:
des pays ou y a rien a bouffer, genre le soudan ou y a que des feves(matin, midi et soir, j aime bien les feves mais bon...);
des femmes obligees de se prostituer pour faire bouffer leurs gosses;
des gens qui vivent dans des petits bleds sans electricite, ni wc(tu vas dans la foret pour ca), ni eau ni salle de bain(y a la riviere)et qui n ont meme pas idee de ce que veux dire systeme social;
des villes poussiereuses et sales, au milieu du desert et ou apres une journee a voyager sur des pistes tu ne peux meme pas prendre une douche car y a pas d eau pour se laver, y en a juste un peu pour boire.
des gens malades qui ne peuvent pas se soigner par manque d argent et souffrent en silence.
j ai d ailleurs a ce sujet une adecdote qui m a pas mal touche recemment:
en indonesie y avait ce vieux monsieur(pas si vieux, disons 60 ans)qui etait pousse pousse a pedales(pas de retraite la bas, tu bosses jusqu a ce que tu creves, ou tu mendies si tu peux plus bosser et que tes gosses ont pas assez de sous).
je le connaissais et lui disais toujours bonjour quand je le voyais.
ces 2-3 jours derniers il avait l air fatigue, il etait tout le temps sur son rickshaw et n avait pas l air de bosser mais bon, j etais speede avec des histoires de fausses dents a faire poser a des gosses d aceh et n y avait pas trop fait gaffe.
et ben on me dit que finalement il est mort sur son rickshaw, d une banale pneumonie.
il avait pas de sous pour aller a l hopital et il etait brouille avec ses gosses.
je m en suis voulu de pas y avoir fait plus attention, j aurai pu sans probleme lui filer les 4 ou 5 euros pour aller a l hopital et le sauver.
c est ca la realite de ces pays, et tout ca ce sont des faits et des choses que j ai vu de mes yeux, pas des trucs vus dans les journaux ou a la tele.
alors oui, quand je vois un type qui tend la main en france je lui donne rien, et s il dort dehors je me dis qu il pourrait aller dans un foyer(meme dans mon bled de 3500 habitants y en a un, on n est pas oblige de rester a paris)ou se demmerder un peu mieux.
on peut dire que je suis un chien sans coeur, mais j ai vu tellement de gens souffrir dans le tiers monde que la "misere" francaise ne peut m emouvoir, desole.
maintenant, quelques questions:
1-qu on me dise si on peut comparer la france avec le tableau donne plus haut, et qu on me donne des exemples de gens qui sont dans la mouise en france et dont ce n est pas la faute a un niveau ou a un autre...
je suis toujours pret a revoir mes opinions(desole pour ceux qui me traitent de facho, reac et autres), mais il faut d abord me prouver la chose indubitablement.
et ca ce st pas du neoliberalisme, le neo liberalisme je suis exactement a l oppose, car ce st un systeme injuste qui veut la peau du social.
le social est la plus belle avancee du 20 eme siecle et je suis tres fier que mon pays l ait mis en place, mais je n aime pas qu on le critique en disant que ce st pas assez ou qu on se plaigne.
2-qu on me cite un pays du monde(a part la scandinavie, mais faut supporter le climat)ou ca soit mieux, j y vais tout de suite...
comme disait un pote a moi d origine marocaine(najib, repose en paix mon frere):
"aller habiter au maroc?
travailler pour 1 ou 2 euros par jour, pas de secu, ni chomage, ni retraite?
t es fou naps ou quoi?
ici en france ce st le top, on a le pain et le couteau."
dans la vie, il faut savoir se prendre par la main et bouger ses fesses parce que sinon oui, on se retrouve a la rue et on galere.
et si on a laisse tomber le combat par faiblesse psychologique ben oui, ce st sa faute et pas celle des autres ou du systeme, desole de parler comme ca, mais c est la realite meme si j admets que ce st triste de voir ces gens a la derive.
mais ce dont ils ont besoin ce st pas d argent ou de bouffe car y en a assez dans le pays pour tout le monde, ce st de soutien psychologique(j en ai d ailleurs deja fait pas mal dans ma courte vie).
j ai moi meme eu des moments difficiles:
a la rue, pas de boulot, alcohol etc...
j ai meme creve la faim, en france, parce que j avais pas de sous et n etait pas du genre a tendre la main.
je sais donc de quoi je parle car je l ai vecu, et je reconnais d ailleurs que c etait de ma faute si je me suis retrouve dans cette situation, mais ca m a appris a vivre...
pour finir, et ce sera ma derniere question, je dirai a ceux qui n ont jamais peche et aiment bien jeter la 1 ere pierre, et a ceux qui disent que c est facile de juger quand on vit loin de la france:
3-vous faites quoi pour aider les autres, vous les humanistes, les bien pensants, les tolerants etc?
naps, il est loind etre parfait et il vaut ce qu il vaut(et c est surement pas grand chose), mais en tout cas, a l epoque ou il habitait encore en france il donnait des cours de rattrapage gratos a des gosses dont les familles n avaient pas trop de sous.
et depuis qu il voyage il a aide sans mentir des centaines de personnes(avec des sous qu il a mis de sa poche et qu il a gratte a ses amis et a sa famille):
vetements, bouffe, medocs, materiel scolaire, operations...
je n aime pas parler de ca car je ne le fais pas pour l etaler en public, mais vu le nombre de pierres que j ai recues je pensais qu il fallait mettre les points sur les I.
j attends donc vos reponses a ce sale neo liberaliste de naps, haro sur lui!!!🤪🤪🏴☠️🤪
Ton expérience si respectable et intéressante qu'elle soit ne te permet pas de porter des jugements trop hâtifs et d'insulter les autres...
C'est dommage, mais ne pas pratiquer la langue de bois ne veut pas dire être juge....tu as choisi de vivre ainsi c'est très bien mais ne condamne pas les autres sans les connaitre.
je ne condamne personne tres chere, je reponds juste a ceux qui m attaquent.
si tu as le temps, relis le truc des le debut:
au debut j ai repondu au sujet de nuil d une maniere soft et de la je me suis fait comme d habitude attaquer par les bien pensants et traiter de tous les noms.
on a dit que c etait pas la peine de me repondre, que j etais un je ne sais quoi etc...
alors qu ils auraient simplement pu discuter du fond et donner leur avis, on en aurait debattu tranquillement et compare nos differents points de vue.
du coup je les claque, ca me semble normal, chez naps on tortille pas du posterieur et on a un franc parler, desole pour les politiquement corrects...
quand on crie, il faut savoir supporter l echo...
La petite sauterie que tu avais proposée dans ton village du sud de la France présente maintenant beaucoup moins d'intérêt qu'il ne nous l'avait semblé de prime abord. 🙂
l'insulte n'est pas forcément exprimée en "gros mots", traité les gens d'anes, d'ignorants me parait assez insultants. Comme je te l'ai dit plusieurs fois, tu ne connais la vie de personne sur ce site, tu ne peux donc pas juger les gens simplement parce qu'ils ne sont pas d'accords avec toi.
Tu as des bons arguments, mais un problème majeur, tu veux toujours avoir raison sur tout.....et "hurler" après les gens (même virtuellement) n'a jamais été constructif
Oui, et bien la critique sur l'armée et la légion n'était pas mal non plus, elle n'émanait pas de moi, si vous jugez mes propos racistes, et bien c'est que vous devez avoir raison, au ras des pa^querettes, aussi si celà peut vous faire plaisir, je ne fréquente pas les bistrots donc je ne puis vous dire quels sujets de conversation sont échangés. Non c'est quoi le nouveau pseudo de Beau Mec? bien que le mien de pseudo ait été critiqué, je n'ai nullement l'intention d'en changer..........😛😛😛😛😛😛😛
Ceux qui t'attaquent ? si on reprend l'historique de la discussion, c'est bien toi qui a jeté les premieres pierres ( avec une interrogation sur un message qui a ete supprimé (pas celui de Youpi)) en insultant tous ceux qui n'etaient pas d'accord avec toi.
Que ce n'est pas la peine de te repondre ? le seul qui ai dit cela, c'est moi, et dans ce message, je disais que moi je ne voulais plus te repondre, et en aucun cas je n'ai demandé a qui que ce soit d'arreter de discuter avec toi.
Comparer nos points de vue ? C'est je pense ce que beaucoups ont essayer de faire, et la plupart ont arreté rapidement surement lassésde ce faire insulter et juger par un mec qui ne connait rien de leur vie.
Désolé pour les politiquement corrects ? Désolé pour toi camarade, pour moi, c'est ton discours qui est politiquement correct, ce discoursqui met en exergue une frange de la population pour rejetter sur elle les responsabilités, et de ce fait, ne pas se poser de questions sur le reste. C'est bien ce discours qui arrange tout le monde, tout le monde a son faineant, son profiteur qui lui coute une fortune en impots, et c'est toujours plus simple de le condamner que de comprendre le pourquoi et le comment ( il y a quelques mois, ce discours etait super a la mode chez les bien-etablis).
Pour finir, je n'ai lu aucun message disant que la situation n'est pas pire en Inde, en Afrique et dans de nombreux pays, j'ai seulement lu des messages disant qu'il n'est pas possible d'établir une comparaison.
Pendant que j'étais entrains de lire ton propo, j'ai eu une image pas si vielle que ca
Je suis parti 6 moi en asie du sud est a vadrouier ici et là de manière assez spartiate, ou j'ai rencontré la misère à mainte reprise
mais c'est au retour que me viens cette image, alors que j'allais faire une demande de Rmi (très discutable) j'ai croisé un petit garçon de moin de 10 ans, emitoufflé dans un manteau, parlant le francais sans acens, me demandant très poliment une pièce pour manger, je n'avais rien à lui donner, ses yeux trahissaient une grande honte.
si ce st pour dire des trucs comme ca steph c est en effet pas la peine de repondre.
le 1 ere truc que j avais ecrit etait soft et les pierres ont demarre.
c etait youpi qui avait demarre, exact, et il s est ensuite excuse par message prive car il avait compris qu il avait tort.
traiter les gens d anes et d ignorants?
si j estime qu ils le sont(et dans ce cas la oui, ils le sont au vu des reponses qu ils ont faites)alors je le dit, c est tout.
quand on sait pas on se tait, un point c est tout.
et quand on n a rien a ajouter sur le debat de fond, on se tait aussi, un point c est tout.
moi aussi je me suis traiter de pas mal de trucs tres chere, je ne vois donc pas pourquoi je ne devrais pas repondre.
toi par contre, comme j ai dit plus haut, c etait pas la peine de repondre pour sortir ces banalites, quoique comme disait l autre esprit eclaire:
"tu as du courage de repondre a naps"(dit le croquemitaine).
tu vois tres chere, ce genre de discussions ce st pas la 1 ere fois que je l ai, c est un probleme recurrent et innherent a la societe francaise nombriliste et qui a le don, c est vrai, de m agacer.
toi aussi tu veux avoir raison, et tu n es meme pas capable de reconnaitre tes torts ni d apporter quelque chose sur le debat de fond.
tu es qui toi d abord?
tu es la representante des sans logis?
tu bosses dans une assoc?
tu milites?
puisqu il parait que je ne vous connais pas toi et les autres, venez donc m expliquer un peu qui vous etes et ce que vous faites et faites moi changer l opinion que j ai sur vous(je l ai dit, je suis toujours pret a reviser mes jugements), parce que pour l instant elle est pas mirobolante helas...
parce que j avais, me semble t il, pose certaines questions sur le fond dans mon dernier long message et j attends toujours les reponses, ou sont elles?🤪🤪🤪
ou etes vous les jetteurs de pierre, les bien pensants, les grands esprits libertaires, egalitaires et fraternels?
yangguizi, la sauterie dans mon village tient toujours, par chez moi c est pas un coin a petits bourgeois bien pensants cales sur leur sofa a pianoter sur le forum.
les gens ont pas trop de sous, mais on rigole bien😎
tiens steph le donneur de lecon, regarde ce que j ai trouve page 2:
"
en france meme un gars qui se dit pauvre a l electricite, l eau chaude, la tele et le portable.
T'es franchement idiot ou tu le fais expres ???
Tu es fort pour les grands discours theoriques, mais pour la realité, cela fait combien de temps que t'es pas sorti de chez toi ???" alors mon stephounet, ce st qui qui a ouvert les hostilites? un peu plus loin tu parles de mes posts debiles, il y aurait d autres exemples mais j ai pas que ca a faire... je te l ai dit mon petit, quand on crie, il faut savoir supporter l echo...
Encore une fois, tu denatures la verité pour faire passer tes arguments :
Sur cette meme page 2, regardes la fin de ta reponse adressée a Youpi (juste avant mon message).
Pour ton deuxieme exemple, tu cites la page 6, entre temps, j'ai largement eu le temps de me faire insulter dans presque tous tes messages.
De ce fait, je vais faire ce que j'avais dit, et m' y tenir : t'oublier..
Tiens d'ailleurs si on revenait sur le début de l'histoire ...Tu as du revenir à Istanbul, n'as tu pas maintenant un peu de nostalgie d'être repartie du Quebec ?????
Non, pas du tout, je suis très contente d'être à nouveau chez moi et:
De me faire réveiller à 5h30 du matin par le muezzin pour la prière... De prendre mon café sur ma terrasse en admirant le Bosphore... De prendre le dolmus pour aller au travail, de m'acheter un simit et l'accompagner d'un thé. De me promener dans la rue, de ne rien comprendre si je ne fais pas d'effort, de croiser le cireur de souliers, le marchand de fruits et légumes.... D'avoir à ''escalader'' ma rue pour rentrer chez moi...
Ils ont perdu leur dignité de mari, de père, alors ils veulent plus rentrer à l'heure ou trop tôt à la maison alors ils passent par les bars pour discuter avec des copains qui ont des oreilles pour les conforter. Au début, ce n'est qu'un petit verre de convivialité qui se transformera en tournée successive...
C'est l'histoire du gars qui en a marre de se faire eng....par sa femme pcqu'il rentre tjs à des heures impossibles...Il décide de s'amender et promet a sa chère que demain apres la chasse a l, escargot il rentrera directement...
Il va donc à la chasse et en rentrant passe devant le bistrot où sont évidemment ses copains....il se dit qu, un ptit verre....bof.... et évidemment un ptit verre en entraine un autre....😉
Bref....le temps passe....il arrive chez lui rond comme un polonais et trébuche sur le perron tout en répendant ses escargots tout autour de lui....
Gros chahut.....sa femme vient ouvrir et constate les dégats....Le mec ne perd pas le nord et s'addressant aux escargots: ''...et bien voila les petits.... on est arrivé.!!!!
Arrête tu me fais rêver.... et tu me donnes envie de retourner à ISTANBUL... dommage ce ne sera pour cette année.... Alors bon retour dans ton home sweet home....
Je viens de manger non pas un mais deux gâteaux Vachon, ceux au caramel.9 grammes de gras et 260 calories pour les deux.Des fois ca fait du bien.Ne t'inquiètes pas.J'ai fait attention toute la journée et ce soir je vais marcher.
Au sujet des portes où l'on n'a qu'à frapper: Parfait, je ne savais pas qu'il y en avait autant, car je fais partie d'une génération à qui on demandait de bosser 44 heurs par semaine...ou tu bosses ou tu crèves. Heureusement qu'il y a des maisons de retraite, et me^me des retraites, je te signale que si tu n'as pas les moyens d'aligner un max de fric, c'est un mouroirqui t'attend quand tu es a^gé. Et puis tu sais, beaucoup de personnes travaillent pour un smic de misère, et le donne la moitié de leur salaire pour payer un loyer. Bien su^r il y a les profiteurs du système, qui ne bossent pas, touchent le R.M.I., et roulent en B.M.W. les dealeurs des banlieues par ex, et tout ceux qui vivent de cambriole. Il y a aussi ceux qui ont la honte de demander de l'aide et qui s'en passent. Alors il n'y a pas que des gens heureux en France, mais tous des gens libres. demande un peu à une femme Turque ce qu'elle en pense quand pour une juste cause elle se fait refouler à coup de crosses lors de manifestations??? Oui, vive le respect des droits de la femme.🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
Tu as plein de trucs qui peuvent te rapporter plein de radis, mais il faut du génie pour les réaliser.😉😉😉 Mais je suis sûre que tu es plein de ressources, et que tu trouveras tout seul.😛😛
(...) demande un peu à une femme Turque ce qu'elle en pense quand pour une juste cause elle se fait refouler à coup de crosses lors de manifestations??? Oui, vive le respect des droits de la femme.🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
C'est quoi le rapport avec le reste de ce que tu dis?
Zen Attitude!
"Rester, c’est exister : mais voyager, c’est vivre!''
sur ton C.V. tu affiches, âge 99ans, c'est une blague, où tu les as vraîment? Bien entendu tu n'es pas obligé de répondre à la question.......Très mauvais exemple pour nos jeunes de leur laisser penser qu'ils peuvent vivre sans travailler. J'en connais qui ont un sacré poil dans la main et qui doivent se réjouir d'entendre celà, . Disons leur pluto^t que les couillons qui se lèvent tôt le matin et qui payent des impo^ts pour tous ces inutiles, en auront peut-être marre un jour...... ce sera là le début de la révolution....et plus d'aide sociale pour les glandeurs.....et tant mieux. J'exclus bien entendu les vrais chômeurs.🙁😕😉
si tu savais comment j ai eu l argent qui me permet de voyager tu ne parlerais surement pas comme ca.
je l ai transpire d une maniere que je ne souhaite a personne.
quant a dire aux jeunes qu ils n ont pas besoin de travailler, je ne pense pas qu ils aient besoin de moi pour ca...
A ce que je sache, je n'ai jamais émis de remarque sur tes moyens pour voyager, relis moi, il n'y avait rien de personnel, et de toute façon, je ne me permettrais envers quiconque des allusions mesquines......Pour les jeunes (certains qui n'ont pas besoin du mode d'emploi pour se la couler douce, je suis d'accord.
Celui qui s'arrange pour ne jamais en trouver...il ne va pas recevoir d'allocation chômage très longtemps...elle est calculé en fonction du temps cotisé (déjà si il n'a jamais travaillé il ne percevra pas d'allocation chômage...).
Oui Bien sûr, mais ensuite il y aura le R.M.I. qi donnera droit à la C.M.U, ce sont d'ailleurs souvent ceux qui ont des activités parallèles qui profitent du système, donc ce sont ceux là les cho^meurs tranquilles, sans compter toutes les escroqueries aux ASSEDICS.....🙁🙁🙁
Tu mélanges tout...tu parles d'allocation chômage et ensuite du RMI...
Et un smicard (qui travaille) peut aussi avoir la CMU pour sa partie complémentaire ce n'est pas lié uniquement au RMI.
Il ne faut pas noircir le tableau à outrance...il n'y a pas plus de traffics que dans d'autres secteurs...et c'est de plus une forme de régulation sociale...au même titre que la prison aux USA...sauf que nous c'est une prison sociale.
bien sûr, si tu es viré de ton boulot, et que tu touches les allocs, à la fin si tu n'as pas de travail tu retournes en R.M.I. Je le sais car ma fille est dans ce cas là. Mais je veux parler d'abus, lorsque certaines banlieues, les mecs qui touchent le R.M.I, roulent en bm, ou en mercédès, ce sont celles là les activités parallèles illicites dont je veux parler, et qu'on ne me dise pas qu'elles n'exixtent pas !!!!😉😉. Tant mieux si un smicar peut avoir des aides complémentaires, il bosse lui au moins.
Je me demandais si certains d'entres vous aviez lu l'article (samedi ou dimanche?) dans le Journal de Montreal, sur les immigrants francais? L'article parle,…
Je ne sais pas si vous vous promener sur ce site, mais je constate que bien des français sont très enthousiasme lorsque vient le temps de préparer leurs…
Réflexions de voyageurs › Québec › Région de Québec · 37 replies
Je reviens d'un séjour d'une semaine dans la ville de Québec. Je suis très déçue de ce séjour car je m'attendais à autre chose. Je m'attendais à une petite…
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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