"Cathy L" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 27 May 2006 15:39:58 GMT, "PTravel"
wrote:


Jacqueline wrote in message
. ..
On Sat, 27 May 2006 14:31:12 GMT, Cathy L
wrote:

We survived our big trip to Europe! Thirty days blasting around twelve
countries in a bus. We left on April 21 and returned on May 22. It was
the "European Masterpiece" tour by Cosmos. Everything went fine, with
no problems what so ever. We stayed at three star hotels. We figured
we could have taken other tours with more expensive hotels, but we
didn't think we would spend that much time in them. We were right! A
couple of the hotels were pushing the three star rating, while a
number of others were actually four stars. Breakfasts were always
included and were quite adequate. We signed up for over $2,000 worth
of optional events. It kept us busy day and night.

We have never been on a cruise, so it was nice sleeping on a boat for
two nights. On the trip to Greece we were on the boat for 17 hours. On
the return to Italy it was almost 24 hours.

People ask what country we liked best. We honestly can't say. Each one
was unique, with different attractions. It would be great to return
and spend a month in each one.

Cathy
To spend a month in one country is a much better way of travelling
than most Americans do when visiting Europe! They 'hurry' from one
place to the next! That's not enjoying the beauties of Europe!

Please don't assume that most Americans travel this way. My wife and I
don't take organized tours and rarely spend less than a week in a city
That's how all of our friends travel, as well.

There is a stereotype of American tourists, but I believe that is simply
because there were a lot more Americans with discretionary income
travelling
for the first time (up until the last few years) and, as inexperienced
travelers they may be more visible. There's nothing inherently American
about, "if it's Tuesday, this must be Belgium." Rather, it's inherently
"I've never been to Europe and want to see as much as possible."



Jacqueline

Oh, please, please don't assume that most Americans travel this way.
Give me a break!

No, give me a break. It's incorrect to assume that most Americans travel
this way.


I'm going to get real tired, real fast of people telling us how we
should have spent OUR time and money.

I didn't tell you what you should do with either. Mine was only a response
to Jacqueline who thought that your experience is typical of how Americans
travel. It's not.

If you had fun, that's fine. It certainly doesn't make any difference to me
how you travel.



If you're not interested in "how we spent our spring vacation", by all
means block out anything I wright.

What have you wrought?

I didn't respond to anything that you've written. I did respond to a post
by Jacqueline. Are you Jacqueline? No? Then what's your problem?


It's amasing, the last days were spent in Amsterdam, we visited Anne
Frank's house. We bought two books there. The most important message
they are trying to get across is Tolerance. Being respectfull of other
people's choices. Please respect mine.

I respect your choice to this extent: if that's how you want to travel,
fine. Some people are comfortable travelling unescorted, some are not. I
would not, however, want people to assume that this is the predominant mode
of travel for Americans.

You seem very defensive.


Cathy