RS Monday Night Travel

Barbara,

Yes, I have signed up for the last one “Why We Travel” in late December. Like you, I would rather wait to know if it is safe to travel to begin planning and booking. Had to cancel my Costa Rica trip with my granddaughter for last April.

Linda

I like that he's doing places other than Europe. That's one thing we enjoy about his weekly radio show.

Unfortunately, for some reason we're not able to Zoom reliably; we tend to get shut out as soon as the session starts. It's become so frustrating that we've quit trying.

But everyone, let us know the best bits!

I signed up for the first one. I work Mondays until 8pm then have an hour drive home -- starts at 9pm here. I'll see how I feel about the timing before I sign up for more.

I think its a great idea and look forward to it! I think our first post pandemic trip will include the Dolomites, so its particularly interesting to me.

I am glad I read your post. I have signed up and am now looking forward to a Monday night escape from COVID reality. Even if it is wishful thinking.

Margaret

Signed up for the two Egypt nights. It looked like the Swiss Alps session was already full when I went to the website.

It sounds interesting but unfortunately I'm committed to drumming lessons on Monday night. Hopefully there's some way to watch the presentations at other times.

Thank you for putting this up, Barbara.

It will be waaaay too late at night for me to participate in person in the webinars but I am REALLY looking forward to seeing the repeats. I know that RS says they will be put up on Facebook (yuk) and somewhere on the website (yay) but I haven't yet found where.

I'm ready........

I hope he thinks to record them and post to this site for those of us that may not be able to make it.

Barbara, thanks for posting about these. I had seen the headline on the website but not taken action yet. Then I saw in this thread that at least one of them may be full already. So I just signed up for the two Egypt webinars.

I also feel like it’s too depressing for me to plan trips that I might never be able to take. However, I do love learning more about possible future destinations like Egypt.

Allan and Nigel (and others:) According to the announcement on this website:

While those attending the party live will get in on the Q&A, each Monday Night Travel event will also be posted later to my Facebook page and our website.

Thanks Jane.

I sent the RS folks an email asking what channel it would be on and was told that it will not be on any channel but will be streamed.
I asked about signing up and was told that the first 4 or 5 had already filled up but that they should be available on another one of RS web sites.

Yes, thanks! I totally missed the part about needing to register. I was thinking it was just something to tune in for.

It looks like only the first one is listed as full. I was able to sign up for several.

FYI, it looks like the RS team have added a 7:30 pm. Zoom program on 11/9 for those who weren't able to register for the 6 pm program.

I thought I was signed up for the 6/9 PM slot. Hope so. Maybe he will consider a bit earlier if he is going to have multiple times. I am feeling kinda sleepy with the autumn darkness closing in, even though we had summer weather today.

Edit: Oops, just clicked on the Zoom link and was told 10:30 start time. Too late for me. I watched the video already. Sorry Rick. I am glad I tuned in here or I would have been nodding over the computer at 9 only to be disappointed. Rick, how about a Saturday or Sunday timeslot - earlier??

For those of you that didn't get in, the format is basically a replay of the TV shows from this season, with added commentary and additional background points that Rick makes about scenes and filming. Then a Q&A session at the end.

Noting they're located in Pacific Time Zone. From work experience participating in many online meetings and webinars, its difficult to set up any schedule for a live event that is convenient for 5 time zones.

Watched it this evening -- we had already seen that episode so the added commentary was fun. Maybe going to send in some questions for later shows.

It was fun. I had to rush home from work, but all in all it was worth it.

I do suggest that anybody joining in watch the episode prior to the event. When Rick shares his screen on Zoom, it degrades the quality of the video. I'm glad I had already watched it, so I knew how beautifully it was filmed.

It was a fun watch. We haven’t seen the new season yet, but we will before next week’s zoom. The shows always add towns to our ‘want to visit’ list. I liked how honest Rick was with his opinions of cities. But, when he tells us we can all have a back door experience by just being friendly, then goes on to explain how he had to set up the music and dance scene, it just confirms that it isn’t always possible.

I really enjoyed that last night, and now I’m really looking forward to the rest of them. I agree that I was glad I had already watched the episode. I think I’ll have my wine and cheese ready to enjoy with Rick for the next one!

We thoroughly enjoyed last night's show and are now signed up for the rest of them. I think you can still have a back door experience, just by traveling solo, or if on a tour, heading out on your own. That's when I have interesting one on one interactions, English spoken or not.

Where do you find the programs and signup? I looked around "Watch, Read, Listen" and did not see it.

it is at

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/travel-classes/monday-night-travel

I got an invitation by email. I think they sent invites to people on their mailing list for his newsletter. I think some of the sessions are already full.

He did say that he would be hosting the first batch of these and then turn it over to some of his staff, guides and associates. One tidbit was that he said he limits himself to only one reference to his guidebooks per TV episode to avoid excessive self-promotion.

My PBS station is not airing Rick’s season 11 till November 20. I’ll have to watch on this website before next weeks zoom.

I’ve signed up for most. Something to do on Monday nights.

I've signed up for most of them and thoroughly enjoyed last night. Next time I'll have some wine & cheese ready too. Rick is an excellent speaker and every opportunity I get to observe his talks or learn more about him, I find him even more likeable. Thanks Rick and staff for doing these.

I enjoyed listening to Rick last night. Next week, I will have my wine and cheese ready. He even answered one of my questions - so I was thrilled.

Margaret

Thanks for that tip! I just signed up for a couple. Looking forward to them.

I attended Monday evening’s session and I agree I always enjoy hearing Rick speak. This time was fun because he stopped the video occasionally to share some tidbits about the behind the scenes filming.

An important point he made in the Zoom meeting:

He said he didn’t think his tours would run in spring of 2021 as that is likely too early, the virus would still be around and not enough people vaccinated yet, etc. He said Fall 2021 is more favorable timing for his tours but it might not be until 2022. He says it must be safe and reliable before he will take us to Europe. He has made the comment several times in interviews and articles that he will not be the first tour company back to Europe. So I’m taking this to heart and will set my sights on 2022 for my return to Europe. I am content with that, it only gives me more time to sock away money in my travel account!

I did not make the Monday evening session which was at 10:30 for me. RS figured that out and kindly sent me a link to watch the recording. That works for me as I do not think I would have been asking any questions, just listening in, plus now I can watch when it is convenient for me.

Thanks for being thoughtful, RS.

Nigel, thank you for the link. I was able to sign up for the classes that interest me.

Hope you and your wife are well.

Thank you, Barbara, I hadn't noticed it. Because we are even more time zones away, we watched the first episode today on the replay.

Lots of fun, and to see it straight through without the commentary we can watch the basic file later.

Glad that worked for you, Lola, yes we are still ticking over, waiting for the plague period to pass.

I signed up but had to miss Monday’s 6 pm show because I had to work late. Unfortunately, I didn’t notice that they added a 730 pm show for the evening. I looked yesterday for a 730 show for 11/16’s Swiss Alps talk and there wasn’t any scheduled. I checked today and lo and behold! They added a 730 show so I signed up for it Super excited as I was on the GAS tour last year so it will be nice to relive those memories. Hopefully they’ll add more 730 time slots for future shows.

They probably add the 7:30 show if the 6:00 fills up. I’m sure that they can determine if there are enough rejected registrations to warrant a second show.

Having watched the first two Zoom sessions (and many years of the TV shows), I had a couple of thoughts. I'd like it if he visited some new areas, rather than revisit places he's been many times. For example, I dont think he's done a show that focuses on the French-speaking part of Switzerland (besides the Geneva/Lausaane/Montreux corridor). Maybe he has, but there must be some back doors there. The other is, I'd like to see him do a session on how his travel style has changed as he's gotten older and his observations on changes in the travelers he sees. I thought his comments on the diversity of travelers at the train station (noting the huge increase in Asian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese travelers he sees), were interesting, and worth talking about more.

I'm inferring that the audience for the Zoom sessions is leaning towards the experienced and thoughtful travelers, rather than beginners, so more serious discussions might be interesting.

Things to think about Stan. I was more focused on the fact Rick collects euro coins. Technically these would be souvenirs.

Good suggestions stan.

I liked the sliding-down-the-hill-on-a-garbage-bag story and the frozen finger tips, but his charcuterie board and wine was equally interesting.

Peter, my first thought was he should have had Swiss wine and cheese, so that he could have woven that into it 🙂. Barbara, you're right. Despite his denial, its a souvenir. 😉

It’s a nice diversion to have these Monday night meetings, I’ve attended the first two and enjoyed them. This week he mentioned that given the success of the vaccine research trials, he sees next fall as the time for his tours to return to Europe. I was so happy to hear that news and started thinking about the RS tour I want to take in October. There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!

Stan, actually, the new Swiss Alps show, which he showed and discussed last Monday night, does include a new destination (at least for his shows): Zermatt. It is not actually within the defined borders of the French-speaking area (Suisse Romande, or Romany), but it is very close. The canton of Valais, where Zermatt is located, has 2 official languages (French in lower Valais and German in upper Valais, aka Wallis).

As for the Swiss wine he should have enjoyed with his charcuterie during the show, it is nearly impossible to find Swiss wine in the US, or maybe totally impossible. They keep it for their own use rather than exporting it.