Ed in Pensacola AND Ron in Rome

What a line-up!!

They DO exist!

You guys hit the jackpot! I'm sure that was an interesting conversation!

Sharon, Your group is incredibly lucky, having two "celebrities" attending! That's a meeting I would have really enjoyed. Maybe we can convince Ed and Ron to "go on the road" and attend a different RS group meeting every month! Another option would be to set up a video conference call with all the groups on Google+, and invite Nigel as well. Cheers!

Sounds like a lot of fun was to be had down in Atlanta. Now, if I could just get a meeting going in Frankfurt. sigh.

Now THIS must have been fun!

Sounds like a road trip to Atlanta is in order!

This was our first Atlanta group meeting. What a way to start!

So it was like a Grand Opening with local B-list celebs? What's the going rate for those guys?

Well... that's depressing... I just returned from Atlanta on Thur. Guess I missed the party:( @Jo... well, you know I'll come if you have a meeting in Frankfurt (if you give me enough time to pack):))

Let me know when you will be here Terry Kathryn, and a meeting will be planned right away.

What actually happens at these meetings? Is it swapping travel stories, helping newbies plan or a mixture of both? And does Ed look something like this in the flesh?

No. Much more like this. Wink wink lol lol.

@Jo... thinking about Xmas markets again, and I will definitely let you know. Really enjoyed meeting you on last trip as we gossiped about all the RS posters:) and traveled about your favorite city of Frankfurt:) In Oct. I will be in Barcelona, southern France and Italian Riviera as well as Florence... any chance you might be around any of these locations?

I thought Ed would be wearing Pirate Pants?

@ Tom - our meetings are exactly as you described! A bit of structure to keep things moving along - some time for trip reports and time for to brainstorm ideas for future trips - not just for newbies but for regulars as well. Happily for us, Ron is a regular attendee - it was a huge surprise when Ed popped in on Saturday.

Tom-our meetings are lots of fun. Yes-some of it is helping travelers with plans including sharing old guidebooks, photo journals, tech tips, etc. And we're not restricted to Europe-Ron in Rome is largely responsible for the success of our most recent trip, which was to China! It's also been fun to switch it up with lunches, museum tours, Octoberfest celebration, and a dinner entitled "Europe on $20 a bottle (of wine) or less". And we get to celebrate life events (weddings, baby!) with a bunch of people who like to travel. Remember some of the posts regarding talking to other friends or family who don't understand or appreciate your love of/desire to travel? That is not the case here!

If I make it back there on a day when you are meeting, I hope to catch up on the Atlanta group's activities. It seems to have grown a lot since my visit. But my timing is always off. I guess Ed took the train (hopped a freight, probably), and he was wearing Capris. And Ron's Rome is in North Georgia. Did you have any from Athens or Sparta?

@ Roy! You were a founding member and attended our very first meeting nearly 3 years ago. We'd love to have you make a return visit!

No pictures?!?!??!! :-)

"Remember some of the posts regarding talking to other friends or family who don't understand or appreciate your love of/desire to travel? That is not the case here!" Ah, bit like Traveholics Anonymous, then... well, without the anonymity.

I call BS without pix- gotta' be smoke & mirrors!!

@Tom - LOL !!!! (I love the Dos Equis Man! The list below comprises Dos Equis viewer favorites - I couldn't make these up myself) Which of the following apply to Ed ....??? And who is Ron in Rome??? 1) He lives vicariously through himself. 2) He once had an awkward moment, just to see how it feels. 3) His beard alone has experienced more than a lesser man's entire body. 4) When it is raining, it is because he is thinking of something sad. 5) His shirts never wrinkle. 6) He is left-handed and right-handed. 7) If he were to mail a letter without postage, it would still get there. 8) The police often question him just because they find him interesting. 9) His blood smells like cologne. 10) He's a lover, not a fighter, but he's also a fighter, so don't get any ideas. 11) Cuba imports cigars from him. Mosquitos refuse to bite him purely out of respect. In museums, he is allowed to touch the art. 12) His business card simply says "I'll call you." 13) He has won the lifetime achievement award, twice. 14) If he were to punch you in the face, you would have to fight off the urge to thank him. 15) He bowls overhand. 16) He is fluent in all languages, including three that he only speaks. 17) He tips an astonishing 100%.

Travelholics Anonymous is a perfect description! Except I don't think any of us could refrain from travel planning/talking long enough to get one of the little medallions. The Denver group has been especially lively lately. Everyone is getting ready to go somewhere, or just got back. Last weekend, we had the German travelers at one end (with Lee, of course), the Turks at the other, and Africa/Spain/Italy in the middle. Really fun.

Agnes, Great List! So clever.

I agree, that's a very clever list Agnes. I certainly hope Ron and especially Ed are enjoying this. It's too bad the HelpLine doesn't have any provisions to add photos as that it would be really nice to have some idea what everyone looks like, especially the "regulars" (hint to the Webmaster.....).

While photos might be fun, for those of us with photoshop, we will all look amazing... too bad for the others:) (Actually most of us are probably on facebook complete with all the photos...:)

OMG Nigel...when I clicked that photo I did a spit take (sans water, thank God...my computer would never forgive me)...but I sure startled my dog out of his sleep! Thanks for the laugh :)

Dos Equis for everyone. Ed must look like actor Jonathan Goldsmith.

There would have been pictures but Ed managed to slip the Paparazzi.

Must have used his invisibility cloak.