The Summer Crush of Tourists Has Begun

Two weeks ago it was extremely crowded in London and Edinburgh. Iceland didn’t feel too busy though.

Paris, May 3-24, was more crowded than I have ever seen it in decades of visits, including visits in mid summer, like July. May is the most frequently visited month for us, and I am comparing the crowds we saw last month to the same month at least 5 times in the decade prior to Covid...

What do I mean by "more crowded"? Example: the area around the Opera was choked with more pedestrians than I have ever seen there. We ducked into Galeries Lafayette, and encountered wall to wall people, more than I have ever seen in there including in the Christmas season. Ridiculously crowded, we had to leave...this was just one example, we encountered crowds everywhere, particularly anywhere on the Right Bank...

I mention the area around Opera because I read here many people seeking hotels around there. Good grief, I would lose my mind staying in that general area...go to the Left Bank, where it is still busy, but not nearly so much as around Opera and the touristy areas of the Right Bank...

Many Americans? So few here it's sort of spooky.

We’re not traveling again till September, hoping it will calm down. Two friends are going to Paris in july, otherwise everyone else i know is staying put this year. Airfares are too high is the complaint I hear most.

Here's a article that showed up today on CNN site: Europe's crazy tourism summer
Sounds awful.

It's more than awful. Suppose it will catch up here very soon. Or maybe war fear? Naaaa, people are smarter than that.

I’m in Prague right now on the Berlin, Prague and Vienna tour. I spent three days in Munich first. First time in all but Berlin and that was 54 years ago. So I have nothing to compare to. Only placed that was packed was Prague Castle. Tour groups were juggling for space.

Flights from Phoenix to Houston to Munich were not full.

Many Americans?

In Paris, of course we encountered (heard and avoided) fellow Americans, but not quite in the numbers I remember pre Covid. We were mainly surrounded by European tourists, saw some of the Chinese tour groups we recall in the past, but not as many of them, either. No, in an unscientific survey, we were surrounded by European tourists.

Last time I was in Budapest in 2018, Americans did not comprise a huge cohort of tourists; we felt like pioneers. I remember seeing large Japanese and Chinese tour groups, and I particularly remember lots of Italians, but not so many Americans. American interest in Budapest seemed to be gathering steam, though, and all I can figure is that growth got setback by Covid, and to some extent maybe the political scene there now, too.

So if Europe is bursting at the seems, and the Chinese and American tourists are not yet back there in the numbers from pre Covid, this may be the summer from hell...

I think all the Americans must be in Italy and France. I am currently in Dresden, the most touristed place I have been in 7 weeks. However that is really only today. It has been a 3 (or 4, not sure) day holiday here I was told. So a lot more people today (Wednesday felt fairly empty) - but I think mostly German. I do see some tour busses and hear some American accents) but generally not many and really not crowds of any sort. It will be interesting to see how Wroclaw and Krakow are when I get there next week.

And it certainly has not been crowded with tourists of any kind anywhere else I have been. Albania and northern Greece have been very relaxing (as far as tourists go). I am not missing the tours and crowds. 🤣 Or actually, the Americans…..

Wish I had a week to pop over to Budapest.

I got a hard lesson on the Chinese tourist numbers. I was overheard by a "Chinese" tourist while I was having a burger with Captain Cook and put in my place. "Most of what you are calling Chinese, aren't", the kind Asian woman pointed out. She was Korean.

My flights over were about 75% full.

Not sure why an American would avoid another American vs, say a French tourist.

Most Americans dont know their congressman's name, doubt they ever heard of the "O" name.

We came north to Paris Thursday morning. It's the most crowded I have seen in June, and I've been visiting or living in Paris for fifty years. I will probably never come again from June through September. Yes, a lot of Americans. The French Open is going on, too, attracting more visitors.

We thought the crowds and noise on the restaurant and cafe terraces in Les Halles, Le Marais and a few other spots were much larger than anything we've seen in Barcelona, party central.

We were in Europe in 2021 and 2022. I knew then we were spoiled by the lack of crowds. July we go with our family group. I am prepared for huge crowds and fortunately we are being very selective what we do. I hope not to feel the push and shove of crowds with grandchildren in tow when we do a few of the big tourist sites. My hope is that people show respect. It could be frightening or even dangerous or kids.

I feel for Asians who travel and always seem to be called a nationality that they are not. Once again….kindness and respect for all…please and thank you!

I feel for Asians who travel and always seem to be called a
nationality that they are not. Once again….kindness and respect for
all…please and thank you!

Especially the Turks

No crowds in my part of Sweden yet, it doesn't fell like it's back to pre-Covid levels yet. But I haven't looked at any data so my impression might be wrong.

When I took the Stockholm-Oslo train recently it was almost fully booked, but based on the languages I heard onboard most passengers were Swedes and Norwegians. Apart from an American exchange student, and two German tourist that seemed very impressed by the views.

Not sure why an American would avoid another American vs, say a French tourist.

I wouldn’t avoid them, but I can stay home for free and hear other Americans. But I AM happy to avoid crowds.

So far the Polish Carpathians have been blissfully undertouristed, mainly local Poles with a smattering of Slovaks, Czechs, and Germans, all enjoying hiking and nature. Not a single American tourist in sight, but considering how close the Ukrainian border is I am not surprised.

Though the weather could be better, been raining on and off and next week looks even worse yikes! Not looking forward going back to Barcelona, gonna to be a madhouse by late June/July :-(

It will be interesting to see how Wroclaw and Krakow are when I get there next week.

Hope you have some indoor activities lined up cause the weather is not too good in southern Poland at the moment and for the foreseeable future lol!

I'm with you on the crowds. Tge Corso was packed today, so I took the tram one more stop down river to the local end of the corso where the food and beer was cheaper and the only language was Hungarian and the tables were half empty. There is always a solution.

Carlos, try Slovakia next. More of the same.

Carlos, try Slovakia next. More of the same.

I did :)

Crossed into Slovakia yesterday while on a hike for a few hours, many of the trails here zig zag across the border.

I also read that CNN article that was mentioned earlier, and it seems that travel has very strongly rebounded after the pandemic. I usually travel during shoulder seasons, but after reading that article I'd probably move my trips to further in the shoulder. I wonder if next year will be any better?

@Carlos, I have 21 people with me so I am going to work really hard to channel my normal “dumb luck” for the weather! It would be really helpful to not have pouring rain….. But maybe everyone just has to put their raincoat on and enjoy Poland anyway!

I saw two groups of Americans at my off the radar Saturday morning market yesterday and it freaked me out. One was a group of about thirty college students and the other were about twenty older people on a riverboat excursion. I pointed them out to my farmer friends and we laughed cause it was weird. I hope it is a one-off.

I saw two groups of Americans at my off the radar Saturday morning
market yesterday and it freaked me out. One was a group of about
thirty college students and the other were about twenty older people
on a riverboat excursion. I pointed them out to my farmer friends and
we laughed cause it was weird. I hope it is a one-off.

There is another post right now from someone who said they didnt feel welcome in Europe. The response has been pretty much that the OP was imagining it. Maybe not.

I am in the camp with all2alb

Once again….kindness and respect for all…please and thank you!

I saw two groups of Americans at my off the radar Saturday morning market yesterday and it freaked me out.

Sounds like your off-radar market is now on-radar.

Sam - I’m still hopeful it was a one-off. Us locals still need our own spaces. That said you’ll never see me mention my market publicly here…

Plenty of other places in Vienna for folks to visit and still have an awesome time.

In late May in I was surprised by all the American families in Madrid—specifically families with teen/college-age kids. Only on the flight home, overhearing parents brag vicariously about their kids' semester abroad did I realize why the demographic was so specific.

I usually travel during shoulder seasons, but after reading that article I'd probably move my trips to further in the shoulder. I wonder if next year will be any better?

Who knows? April to mid June, and September - October, pre-pandemic, were considered shoulder season for travel to Europe, but no longer it seems. My guess is that many people who may have otherwise gone to Europe this summer, put off by the high prices, may have pushed their trips into March - May and also September and October this year. Reports from Italy, in particular, are that the crowds arrived very early this year, in March and April. All bets on the best time to travel, at least to avoid crowds and high prices, are off in 2023. Who knows if this is a "one off" year with the pent up demand from the pandemic, or if it is the start of a trend going forward.

We haven't set foot in Europe in the summer (June - August) in over 10 years. Prior to the pandemic, we visited over there during April/May and October and enjoyed it immensely. But I am starting to believe those months have been "discovered" now and the concept of shoulder season of the recent past is gone...

Jojo, not enough of a cross section to know, but some hint that it's the major markets that are feeling the pain and maybe not so much the secondary markets.

In late May in I was surprised by all the American families in Madrid—specifically families with teen/college-age kids

When my kids did semester abroad programs 15 - 20 years ago, it never occurred to us to "join" them at any point of their time abroad. Is this part of the new "helicopter" parenting trend or what?

When my daughter did hers I dropped in for a weekend, but I sort of spend a big part of my life about an hours flight from where she was studying.

As far as next year, I have read one business journal article that said that airlines were projecting a decline in overseas travel next year, and planning accordingly. Maybe still due to recession concerns?

I think this is connected to the thread about selfie takers. Those college students (and their parents) will put carefully curated photos with gushing text about having "the best.... the most.....experience! Living my/their best life!" on social media. This encourages others to go to the same places and maybe find a new place so they can one-up on social media. It's an exponential explosion.

We had a college student study abroad this year. As an, ahem, older parent (who had studied abroad in my day) I was surprised at how many students and parents were not interested in learning and immersing themselves in a language and culture and living like a local. Anecdotally, it seemed like the majority did not attend local universities but went to schools specifically for international students with all classes in English. Then they traveled every weekend to go to as many different places as possible, with as many experiences as possible, e.g., hang-gliding, camel-riding, skiing, drinking in Dublin on St. Patrick's Day, etc. I don't know about the kids, but their parents shared the actual number of cities and countries their children visited, like it's a competition with the highest score the winner.

I think you can guess my opinion about this.

When I retire I'm kissing European travel from late May through August good riddance.

Funny thing Big Mike, retirement is forcing Mr to be in Europe in August

My kids studied in London and Buenos Aires. Never occurred to us to visit them, it was their time. I never studied abroad, with 8 kids my parents couldn’t afford it.

There are no Chinese tour groups in Europe yet.
Lots of S. Koreans, Vietnamese, Malaysians, Indians, Brazilians, Australians, Americans, Canadians, etc. Frankfurt is super busy.

Saw a Chinese tour group in Buda yesterday. Yes, i am certain they were Chinese (I was surprised so I asked).

After a very busy 2022, travel to Europe will rise 55% this summer, according to travel insurance vendor Allianz Partners.

Allianz analyzed flight itineraries for trips of five to eight days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. For travelers heading to Europe, 25% are headed to London, the most popular destination.

Like last year, Paris and Dublin are second and third, with Rome taking fourth and Reykjavik fifth. The top 10 is rounded out by Edinburgh, Scotland; Athens; Amsterdam; Lisbon, Portugal; and Milan, Italy.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Europe-Travel/Allianz-study-Europe-summer-travel-2023

Yes, there are Chinese tourists in Europe. One of my students e-mailed me from Paris. He is with a large group. Maybe the RS of China?

I was in Prague in mid-May and it didn't seem unduly crowded. I didn't go into the castle though.

Yes, there are Chinese tourists in Europe. One of my students e-mailed me from Paris.

I definitely saw several Chinese tour bus groups in Paris, as well as one Japanese group, last month. You see them particularly near the Eiffel Tower where the tour busses line up and do drop offs and pick ups...

I have traveled extensively in China, S Korea, and Japan, I know the languages well enough to be able to say what country the tourists are from, whether China, Korea, or Japan...my point from earlier in the thread is that I did not see these groups of any Asians in the numbers I typically saw pre pandemic in Paris. My anecdotal evidence is supported by media reports that indicate the Chinese tourists have not yet begun traveling abroad in nearly the numbers that they did pre-pandemic, too.

I'm glad my next two trips are to the US, hopefully all you Americans will be in Europe and I'll have the place to myself ;).

Iceland has been far busier than in years past. They were local reports even a month or two ago that lodging in south Iceland is fully booked for July and August. Thank goodness most of our trip is more remote this time!

“American” isn’t a language. On our just completed trip to mostly Germany and France, we came across few English speakers with the exception of Marksburg castle where there were a number of Viking river cruise tours. Both Colmar and Strasbourg were extremely full of tourists as were some of the picturesque villages of the Alsace area. With the villages, they all quieted down when the day trippers left.

Not sure what they speak if its not American. That what we always called it when we heard yankee tourist people talking it in Texas.

The media I saw on the Chinese issue explained why I am seeing them here. Something to do with political ties and expediting or not requiring visas, COVIF tests, etc. A lot of Chinese presence here for a decade or more.

Tough for me to tell where are they from without asking. I have the same issue with a few Slavic languages.

The exception might be Korean. I watch an awful lot of Korean TV .... and Thai because of their presence in the service industry and a very unique sound, (although Laoiatian sounds the same to me), .... oh, and Chinese and Japenese, nothing in common. I had a Japenrse girlfriend in college that would kill me for that mistake.

But Ive never been West of Hawaii (except Australia I guess) and never done much of anything extensively .... except beer in college and sleep in old age.

oh, and Chinese and Japenese, nothing in common

Agreed, really not difficult at all to distinguish Chinese from Japanese. Korean can be a little more difficult, but if I can hear enough of what is being spoken, I can pick up on it. Japanese is a slam dunk for me as I actually know a bit of it and have spent the most time there of all the Asian countries I have visited.

The other Asian language I can recognize is Farsi. Again, as the result of a personal encounter, which narrows it down to about a half dozen Asian countries.

Lables rarely prove to be comprehensive.

At our school there is sometimes a little friction between the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students for obvious historical reasons.

I can tell the difference amongst nationalities but I can understand why others may not. Perhaps similar to people in western countries looking more of less the same.

https://www.cnn.com/travel/travel-europe-crazy-tourism-summer/index.html

Europe’s ‘crazy’ tourism summer has already started. And it’s going to get much worse

Not since the 1970s has Steve Perillo, CEO and third-generation owner of New Jersey-based tour operator Perillo Tours, seen such a spike in travelers booking trips to Europe.

The company, which is best known for its custom tours to Italy, usually sells about 80% of its capacity in a year, Perillo says. So far in 2023, approximately 96% of the operator’s 500 annual departures, which also include Spain and Greece as destinations, are booked – and Perillo expects that figure to hit 100% within a few weeks, before the company starts marketing for its 2024 season.

Europe’s ‘crazy’ tourism summer has already started. And it’s going to get much worse

I agree with that - the worst of it is still to come. July and August will be busy over there...

I had read something quoting Perillo several months ago and even then he was reporting record level bookings and more early season (March, April) bookings than ever...the handwriting was on the wall.

Just a public service announcement that Covid has not disappeared, although many on holiday act like it has. With increased summer tourist crowds come increased chances of infection, especially now that masking is basically non existent at this point.

My travel partner just came down with Covid, first time in 3 years, now we are languishing in a hotel deep in the Carpathian mountains, until he recovers. Probably caught it at the Krakow airport, based on timing.

Just another consideration with the increased tourism this summer.

Ugh, Carlos, sorry! Hopefully the scenery out the window is good. :)

Just finishing days in Wroclaw - not many tourists here. Although we have met both military (officers?) and government contractors here at our hotel. So there is a contingent of Americans around somewhere. There have also been a large number of school tour groups out, since it is the end of the year. But nothing feels crowded at all.

This first week in June I hardly ever saw or heard Americans. Using the central train stations as evidence, I didn't see them in Frankfurt or Berlin. The only place where any Americans could be seen or heard was in Häckischer Markt in Berlin, likewise with Asians, ie Vietnamese. They looked like they lived there. Since my hotel was just opposite of Berlin Hbf (first time staying in that area, very convenient, and I went through the station from end to end several times, I didn't see Americans, but lots of other tourists and visitors, Europeans and Asians, overwhelmimly Germans. It is very crowded in Berlin right now, (the Special Olympics) the only foreign nationality one hears, if at all, is Russian. No Americans at my hotel either.

The trains are just packed, especially the trunk lines, all Germans, saw a few US college students sitting in front of me leaving from Berlin Hbf going to Amsterdam, I got off in Hannover to go Hildesheim. They were an exception.

Next summer I will be back here in Europe, to be sure, better organised on a longer trip. Some marked changes in Germany since the pandemic.

Some marked changes in Germany since the pandemic.

Fred, please elaborate, would love to hear your thoughts on this.

I am in Luxemburg today. No Americans, not particularly crowded. Expensive as heck. But extremely nice people

In Germany I was surprised in the smaller towns that most of the restaurants were cash only and the sparcity of ATMs.

I'm currently in Mallorca, not noticed any particular change in the expected numbers of tourists. I am hearing more American accents than I used to, particularly in Palma. Simply feels like a typical June.

I'll be in Crete in two weeks time so it'll be interesting to see if it's the same there.

@ Jojo Rabbit...As the trip got on after the first week or so, I saw more and more Americans, in Germany, especially in Munich and Berlin, the usual sites, and in Paris, obviously, and in small places too, ie, Fontainebleau, Troyes, Rouen (well worth going to, as I discovered after visiting the Tourist Office to learn of the exact location of the Napoleon statue (I had heard of this from other helpful French) which the Tourist Office girl heartily endorsed to see...bravo !

What is now different in Germany relative to pre-pandemic travel? No coin phones, likewise in France, no more call shops/internet cafes....only a minor obstacle, one can work around while traveling in Germany.

You still need a PIN to work certain DB ticket machines if that machine calls for the PIN, without which the transaction is cancelled. Other DB machines have the "tap" feature...just depends on which one you get.

You see "cash only" signs displayed on businesses in largely tourist areas, eg, Viktualienmarkt in Munich. As for small towns and card payment , I went to one such town, Ellingen/Bayern, had lunch at a nice sit down restaurant. I don't know if it was a cash only place, didn't ask, intended to use cash anyway, regardless.

"You still need a PIN to work certain DB ticket machines if that machine calls for the PIN, without which the transaction is cancelled."

Are there actually still credit cards issued without PIN number? My latest CC does not even have my signature on it anymore, so I assume that for me at least signing a CC slip is completely history. It also no longer has its number emobossed on it, which means it takes up less space in my wallet.

I have chip and pin cards and from time to time I am still asked for a signature, but never asked for a pin any more. Thats sort of dead on anything other than an ATM card.

We returned on TH from a 2 1/2 wk land and cruise trip with our 3 gen family of 11. A few days pre-cruise in Barcelona which we all loved! Yes…that began our first taste of summer crowds! Similar busy crowds in all our ports and excursions in France and Italy. And we were there in the record breaking heat…and…still…crowded! Colosseum had set up free water fill up stations. Long lines at those. We found our tour guides always got us to shade to talk. Helpful…wonderful guides that were also hot! We were very prepared and managed through our extreme sweat!! After several days in Rome…Next…Trained up to Salsburg and Munich and our families flew home. Husband and I ending Gengenbach. Trains ALL crazy packed!! All these cities also rather crowded…except Gengenbach. (Only Germans it seemed vaca there). Such a peaceful quaint village to end our travels. No A/C there and loved our open windows. What a relief! And lots of rain there this past week as we visited some other local cities on our train pass. Such a contrast! Raining hard TH as we left for home from Frankfort. So…these crowds were all getting wet!
But I will say it seemed mostly Europeans were traveling…on their holiday? I know many from US are there…but we did not hear that much English spoken. Very few from Asian countries. It just seemed everyone living in Europe was ready for a get-away!

Are you glad you went?

Thanks for your great question! Definately! Worth it! So many wonderful memories made! Everybody wants to go back! Kids want to study abroad! Europe is truly a special place! Last year we all did Alaska! Year before 3 National parks out west. All awesome and much loved! We are fortunate and blessed! My dad was a polio survivor. I was an therapist. I have learned and believe…don’t wait. Travel while you still can. Now I have my grandkids hooked! Our 6 yr old grandaughter just said next is Hawaii.
Are you sorry you asked Mister E? And…we always travel in basic economy! 😊

Most of the statistics in the article above are year on year, bouncing back from a very unusual 3 years. https://www.cnn.com/travel/travel-europe-crazy-tourism-summer/index.html

The European Travel Commission also forecasted strong demand for European vacations in 2023, with nearly half of all destinations on the continent expecting a return to more than 80% of 2019 numbers.
OK, So the demand for European vacations is estimated to reach only 80% of 2019 numbers.

As an avid museum-goer, this was fun to read, wondering what if anything Amsterdam is considering to bring more 'culturally minded' into Amsterdam?

As a whole, Amsterdam’s cultural scene is enjoying a moment in the spotlight following the spectacular success of the Rijksmuseum’s just-ended Vermeer exhibit. Art enthusiasts and museum-goers are an especially sought-after travel demographic by city officials amid ongoing campaigns to reduce “nuisance tourism” like bachelor and bachelorette parties.

Sandancisco, that is sort of what I was getting at. On the whole its a less than 2019 year; with maybe some notable exceptions which seem to be the Europe Top Ten for American tourists.

So how do you explain all the reports of unusual crowds? I think part of it is real, again the US Tourist Top Ten of Europe seems to be doing better than Europe a a whole. Then there is the, "if you say it enough then everyone believes it" syndrome and part of it is, well its summer, its always more crowded and if this is your first trp to Barcelona how would you know if its better or worse than usual (except the news media keep printing these sensationalized articles (in which if you dig to the fine print, also say its not even as crowded as 2019).

But its a busy year, just not a record busy year.

21st century, every where on the lists, will be crowded, from here on out.

Then there is the, "if you say it enough then everyone believes it" syndrome

So if I keep repeating it hasn’t been crowded where I have been this summer often enough, does that mean people will start to believe it? I am just home from Salzburg and Hallstatt - and while there were definitely tourists in both, it was not crowded. Not like past times I have been there (this was my 4th time to be in Salzburg in either June or July and 2nd time to Hallstatt).

Mister E: Not really.

TexasTravelMom, when you become a more experieced traveler you will understand, starting this summer, how terrible travling in the summer is. Right now you are having too much fun on your summer holiday to recognize it.

Now it appears based on other reporting that the Winter will become the "new Summer" creating in effect two Summer crush seasons.

Frank II, you and TexasTravelMom are the the best sources of information on this forum. Always well thought out and well considered responses and I think the two of you are amoung the best traveled on the forum as well. So, all joking aside (difficult for me), thank you to the both of you.

Well, I don’t know about Frank II, but you are making me blush.

On the whole its a less than 2019 year; with maybe some notable exceptions which seem to be the Europe Top Ten for American tourists.

Thanks Mr E, yep yep, it's very likely a perception of where the American tourists are traveling, & let's face it, hyping a trend for click bait. I'm sure you could find a crowded view of the Acropolis most of the summer, just hang out & take the photo with a telephoto lens when cruise ships are in port. I suppose for the newcomers heading off for instagram-perfect vacays, there will be major disappointment. Even INSTAGRAM had a post yesterday about "This is what you think you will find on vacation' (perfect pic all by yourself), this is what you actually find." (shot of huge crowd Q'ing for selfies.)

I'm hoping someone will post a thread on 'navigating the crowds on your summer vacation'. Get out early, book hot days somewhere besides the Coliseum, or Acropolis, or just cancel them, it's not worth it, take a mid day siesta back at hotel or nicer restaurant with air conditioning... consider being spontaneous if you can cancel a hotel booking & head out of town to smaller villages that are NOT famous, in fact just skip the BIG ones like Barcelona, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, Venice & Florence & base yourself somewhere lovely & smaller.... Other ideas??

Sandancisco; the worst of it, HEAT, PICKPOCKETS, LOST LUGGAGE, CANCELED FLIGHTS, CROWDS, VISAS, NOT-VISAS; mostly isnt true or is only true in such small numbers as to not matter in the big picture. i push back on a lot because it creates a mindset that messes with enjoyment of the holdiay before it even begins. Just not necessary.

Like you point out, just be a bit flexible and work around what ever you encounter. 101F? Afternoon nap so you can do the Paris lights or a long lingering dinner. Or just plan your museum visits for 2 to 5 pm. YOU ARE IN EUROPE!! for goodness sakes ... enjoy it!!

101F? Afternoon nap.

As the Romans do!!!

The Romans did some things that we might now consider politically incorrect and unwoke.

As the Romans do. My Italian Roman relatives who can afford the time all take an afternoon nap.

And Rome civilized every land they touched.

HEAT, PICKPOCKETS, LOST LUGGAGE, CANCELED FLIGHTS, CROWDS, VISAS, NOT-VISAS

Sounds awful. Everyone should stay home and leave more room for me. I need the experience…. lol.

The only one I dread is "cancelled flights."

No problem dealing with crowds, pickpockets (not going to happen, never has happened), visas (I did that in the Cold War days

re: Czechoslovakia and East Germany, when they were a requirement for entry by the commies and by France in 1984, lost luggage (luckily, I've been spared that), heat (I can work around oppressive heat traveling in the summer).

And Rome civilized every land they touched.

This is getting dangerously close to a Monty Python sketch.

The best humor is always based on truth.

The first 2.5 weeks spent in Paris June/July I saw lots of Americans there, especially on the premises of the Louvre, at Montmarte, the Hotel de Ville, (numerous Asians too, they were Chinese tour groups, listen for the Mandarin) , the Marais, in the 20th, etc. I saw a lot more in Gare du Nord and at l'Est too than expected.

Likewise, at the Chateau de Fontainebleau and in town, ie more than expected, Rouen (the Hotel de Ville premises), and also in Troyes....more than expected.

If August is predicted to see a surge in visitors, it is considered the slow month in Germany with lower hotel prices (generally) reflecting, likewise in Paris and France. This was what the Reception told me. I had told them they would see me again in August....regardless of the prices or expected crowds.