Have You Met?

Bets and I have met, in the very sporadic Bloomington RS group.

Sure, many of us have met other local posters through the VERY unofficial Rick Steves travel groups that meet around the country generally on the third Saturdays. The Denver group initiated this practice a number of years ago.

We have a group that meets in Sacramento. I've also met people from the San Francisco Bay Area, Darcy & Pam in Idaho, several people in the Washington DC area, Jo in Frankfurt and Nigel in East Midlands, G.B. I am probably forgetting some people too. I've enjoyed all of these people.

I have met only one person who posted on this site... years ago , She was from my area and travelling alone with a child as I was, so we arranged to spend an afternoon together with kids in the Tuilleries park/gardens. She has not posted since however .

However I have met several posters on another forum I frequent(TA) . Shared meals and daytrips in Paris. ... lots of fun, don't regret any of the meetings.

Tony,

Yes, I've met a few people from the Forums, mostly at the RS Tour Reunion events, but also on one occasion even in Italy.

I have met lots of people on this forum, including being able to go to the Panera Bread meet-up in Sacramento last year. Frankfurt being the hub that it is, lots of people come through and I enjoy meeting up for a great German meal, and sight seeing in Frankfurt or the surrounding towns with them. Lots of fond memories and lovely friendships have been made. If they are on FB, then it is fun staying in touch that way too. Having a face to go with the posts adds a special touch.

Andrea and her husband were the last batch to come through, although I also met up with Terry Kathryn in Oct. when I was in Ohio. Bless her heart, she drove down from Michigan!

Still haven't met Kent, Tom, or Ed, but have met Rick. Does that count for anything?

I've met quite a few folk from here, and always enjoyed those meets.

I especially enjoyed toting Andrea around my old stomping grounds of the Cotswolds, messing about in boats with Pensacola Ed, and discovering all sorts of things I hadn't known about the towns around Frankfurt - despite many previous trips over the years - with Jo.

I've met others in train stations, playing about on boats, and other places.

I've met a couple of fellow posters - missed Jo when she was in Ohio. Hope to meet more...

I think Nigel and Ed are real life incarnations of Ratty and Mole .

Met a few people as well... Zoe and Diana from Ohio and while I did meet Jo in Ohio when she was here our best meeting was in Germany a few years ago when she came to Heidelberg and we went to the Christmas Markets. Another day she shared Frankfurt with me and my 14 year old grandson.... it was a great time. Have tried to make a few meetings, but scheduling conflicts prevented it.

It was pretty neat to meet up with Andrea and her DH in Paris in spite of my incident with the gypsy petition girl and Mr Andrea spotting a guy fleeing from police while we ate lunch! I met others when Darcy organized the Towns near Moscow Idaho meet up and had the pleasure of meeting Ken from Vernon at the RS tour reunion last Jan.

Mr. Andrea! I love it. I'm sure Jim will enjoy being referred to as Mr. Andrea from now on. Thanks for the laugh Pam!!

He was so sweet to put up with all the gal chatter!

And hopefully Mr. Darcy will be with us next time we meet up in Sacramento or Paris!
I've met up with Rod from Santa Cruz in 2009 and 2010 (I think); he hasn't posted for years but we occasionally email. I also was able to meet Eileen--you know the one, the Texan from CA--when I first met Andrea. Our 1 hour visit for coffee became a 4 hour visit! (Now I'm trying to get back to Sacto but trips keep getting in the way. Oh and of course all our wonderful friends from our "Towns and Villages near Moscow" travel group. What a fantastic group of people! It's amazing how we're friends immediately because we all have something in common.
Not from the Wall, uh, I mean Travel Forum, but I've also met Rick the AMS-SEA flight years ago as well as Karel the camera man and Simon. Fascinating people!

Yes, we love our Sacramento group! Every month we get to visit with the same wonderful people and also meet new ones, too! We met Jo from Germany when she visited and had a SKYPE with Nigel. Also spent two days with Ron in Rome a few years back. Such a great group of people that all love the same thing....travel. We talk for a minimum of 4 hours and lasted 8 hours at Panera Bread one month.

It has been a huge pleasure to make new friends courtesy of the HelpLine! Some in person (Zoe, Nigel, Will) and some are still "penpals" like Ken from Vernon but we hope to meet in the future.

Always happy to meet visitors to Rome for a coffee, wine or pizza if you PM me.

oh my goodness gwacious. How could I have left Laurel (and her husband) out of the stories? And I'm only going to see her again in a couple of months?!?!

That's the thing about lists like this... senior moments are allowed to surface.

Hey Frank and Rebecca, I did mention trying to get a Nashville group started a few years ago for this site but got no responses. Over the last year, I have now seen a couple of Nashville posters, also Florence, Al., Cookeville, Tn. and several others from close by. Maybe we can do something after the first of the year if there is any interest?
Think I may have found a travel partner for my 2016 BOE 14 trip that is local also.

It's been a good year for contributors visiting us in Edmonds, WA. Ken from Vernon visits us regularly during the annual tour reunion and I understand that Larry from Springfield will be here this time, too. Andrew and I also had a lovely lunch with Lee from Lakewood this summer. Of course, I have the pleasure of working with the rest of Rick Steves' staff every day.

Yes, I had lunch with Andrew and Laura last year, but I won't take credit for the lunch being lovely as they picked the spot. It was fun meeting the whole staff at Edmonds.

Also met Jo in Frankfurt some years ago, and of course we have the Travel Group here in Denver, so frequent contributors such as Frank and Charlene are no longer just names.

Lee and I met at the Rs store in Edmonds when he was here on a previous trip. Linda from Seattle joined us; she previously attended each of the 2 (or 3?) Seattle meetings I organized! along with Charlie from Honolulu, and I forget who else. ( Nigel is right about the senior moments!)

Laurel---we have rented an apartment in Rome for a week next October. I will be in touch later. Would love to meet you.

I'm beginning to plan next year's 2-3 month jaunt through Europe.
Perhaps this time I'll be social and get to meet some of the Europe based folks on this board.

Anyone want to meet for coffee, tea, beer, wine or local cuisine?

My itinerary is open.

Yes: Lola, Lee and I had some good conversation at the RS Travel store a while ago. Thanks Lola for the reminder. I actually met someone on the Travel Partners category of this forum before my last trip to Italy and we shared several meals together and toured around Trastevere. She is not a regular poster, but it was good to connect through travel experiences. Lola, it was fun meeting up in downtown Seattle to share travel stories. If you are ever downtown, send a PM and we can meet for coffee or lunch. I am there M-F as not retired yet.

@Frank, my travels next year will be to Spain and Portugal in September.

Happy travels.

Nigel - Non preoccuparti!

Lola - Looking forward to meeting you! How fun!

Laurel, grazie!

I have met a couple of people, Charlie for HI and Lola at the Seattle travel meetings. I may have encountered some more people at the various travel fests and tour re-unions in Edmonds but cant remember.
Its been a while since I posted anything and I have been working overtime so I did not see this post earilier.
J

It has been long time since we had Seattle Starbucks travel meeting organized by Lola. Besides her my poor memory remembers Charlie, Linda, Janet. I apologize to those who were also there and I did not name them. Would anybody think about renewing the tradition?