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International Travel Group Meeting - Sunday 8/24 @ 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time

It’s that time again. Every meeting we have two topics, a country, region or city in Europe and a more general topic. I’m always interested to hear any topics you would like to talk about. You can mention them on this post, during the meeting or send me a PM.

Topics for this month:

  • Italy
  • Trip Reports

It was decided by the group that we will devote the first hour to the first topic, take a short break and then continue to the second topic. YOU MUST RESPOND EACH MONTH TO THAT MONTHS MEETING POST IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND. If you have attended before I already have your email address. If not, you need to send it to me in a PM. I will not have time to ask you for it if you neglect to do this.

The emails with the zoom link will be emailed 1 - 2 hours before the meeting begins. I will post here when I’ve sent them. If you didn’t get it check your junk/spam folder and if it’s not there contact me ASAP. Once the meeting begins I will be unable to do anything. I usually log in at 9:15 if anyone is interested is joining early to chat.

Every month I get meeting requests from people with 1 post (the one requesting to join) or PM’s from people with 0 posts. We welcome everyone, but without a posting history I am asking you to private message me and tell me a little about yourself and provide your real first name. Please don’t forget to give me your email address in a PM. Do not post it on the forum.

We will be traveling in September, October and much of November so there will be no meetings those months.

Upcoming meetings:
December 7
January 11
February 1

Posted by
1775 posts

I can make this one! Add me to the list please.

Posted by
2951 posts

is Japan going to be discussed in the trip reports. I can not recall.

add me to this one. . I believe two Andrea's have recently been to Asia and or Japan.

I can not recall if you have my email so I will send it.

Posted by
11154 posts

Bostonphil, we have not talked about the trip reports or what they will cover. I think we will start with reports from Europe and then add other places if time permits.

Posted by
8794 posts

Hi Andrea, I’d love to attend the first 45 minutes of your meeting, if that’s okay. Italy is always a good topic! ; )

Posted by
4695 posts

Add me too please.
Italy is always fun to talk and hear about.
The trip reports should be an interesting topic.

Posted by
264 posts

Hi, Andrea! I'm new to the travel zooms and am definitely interested in joining. Is the Italy portion a presentation or is it a general group discussion? I only ask because I wouldn't have much to add (I've been, once, but not in 24 years lol) but general enthusiasm!

Posted by
11154 posts

Hi Jean, you can stay any length of time that works for you.

Posted by
11154 posts

Hi Hannah, Italy will be a discussion, not a presentation. If you would like to attend you will need to provide me with your email address in a private message.

Posted by
3155 posts

Yes please add me to this for this month. Re Italy, I would like to hear if we have opinions that concur with RS regarding using Sorrento as a homebase rather than Naples for covering that part of the coast.

Posted by
4275 posts

There is a chance we’ll be able to join you on Sunday so please send us a link.

Posted by
2338 posts

@Hannah, please join us. It's a great group and I learn so much from listening to many of the folks on the call. I am nearly 80 and surgeries have prevented me from traveling across the pond the last 2 years, but I fully intend to start up again next year, health permitting. I've got a much longer bucket list of places to go after attending these calls.

Posted by
39 posts

Hi Andrea-

I sent you a PM with my email address, please add me.

Thank you very much.

Susanne

Posted by
11154 posts

Mary & susanking39, thanks for providing you email addresses.

TTM, you can log in whenever it works for you.

Posted by
1503 posts

Please add me to this Zoom - I’ve been traveling and missed a couple of meetings. Thanks

Posted by
264 posts

Laurie Beth, thank you for the kind nudge! I'm officially in and am really looking forward to it. Such a great group here! :)

Posted by
15999 posts

Andrea, I'd like to come too if there is still room?

Posted by
4682 posts

If there is still room, I would like to be added.
Thanks.

Posted by
396 posts

I’d like to attend if there’s still room. Thanks, Andrea.

Posted by
473 posts

I'd like to attend, too, Andrea! Thanks for adding me. :-)

Posted by
8794 posts

Andrea, I thought it was this morning, so I woke up early to be ready for the call and then leave immediately for church. No Zoom link in my email….. I contacted Mardee, and she told me I was a week early - LOL! Rats, no Italy discussion today. ; )

I’m leaving in a few weeks for new Italian cities # 47-50 including the Asti Palio - yeah!, plus returning to several favorites.

Posted by
264 posts

LOL, Jean! Will you (hopefully!) still be able to join us next week? I can't imagine an Italy discussion without you there! And YAY to your upcoming trip! What will your new #47-50 cities be?! (Heck, I'd take that list, the list of the favorites you're returning to this trip, and your all-time Top 5!)

Posted by
8794 posts

@Hannah, yes, I can join next week. : )

My new cities will be Pavia, Asti, Piacenza & Modena.
Others on this trip - when I’m traveling solo: Stresa, Torino, Ferrara. After my daughter joins me: Venice, Verona, Bergamo & Milan.

My Top 5:
Venice, Stresa, Polignano a Mare, Spello, Cremona or Bergamo Citta Alta.
My All-Time Favorite: whatever the next city in Italy is going to be where I stay overnight! : )

Posted by
11154 posts

Oh Jean, you must have been disappointed that you didn’t sleep in! Hopefully the Italy discussion, which we can’t possibly have without you, will be worth the wait.

Posted by
10209 posts

Jean, I have to admit that when you texted me yesterday, I had to clear my head for a minute and figure out what was going on! Glad you'll be able to make it next week!

Posted by
2338 posts

Jean, I've done that before. Even emailed Andrea about not getting the link. Welcome to the club.

Posted by
11154 posts

Ummm…I hope I don’t forget when the meetings are.

Posted by
11154 posts

I’m bumping this up in case people didn’t see it.

Posted by
35646 posts

thanks for the bump, Andrea.

It also serves as a reminder for those who are already signed up that it is coming over the hill quite quickly

Posted by
11154 posts

And another bump up. It’s Friday and Sunday will be here before we know it.

Posted by
473 posts

Unfortunately (for me!) my schedule has changed and I'm unable to attend the meeting. I'll miss hearing about everyone's Italy information! Hoping to get back there soon...

Posted by
11154 posts

We will miss you Kimberley. I hope we can get together in Bordeaux in October.

Posted by
2951 posts

Hi Andrea

I am so busy these days getting ready for Japan that i can not make the Sunday meeting.

But maybe another one another time.

Posted by
11154 posts

Bostonphil7, I totally understand. We are leaving for our 11 week trip on the 31st and I feel like I still have so much to do.

Posted by
1341 posts

I am free to attend this one, Andrea.
Thanks as always!

Posted by
3815 posts

Alas, we are on the road so will have to miss it. Andrea, have a fantastic 11 week trip!!

Posted by
2951 posts

Andrea

11 weeks. Where are you going and I will be looking forward to your TR.

Have a wonderful time.

Posted by
11154 posts

Tammy, enjoy your road trip!

bostonphil7, thank you. I know the trip is long, but we are going to some places we had to cancel last year as well as spending a month in Paris for our 40th anniversary, plus more that we had always planned for this year. We are going to Annecy, France, Switzerland (Wengen & Lucerne), Lake Constance/Bodensee (Überlingen), Paris, Bordeaux, Portugal (Porto, Coimbra, Obidos, & Lisbon), Liverpool and last but not least, London.

I never did a trip report before this year when I went to Australia. I might do a report as I go this upcoming trip as well.

Posted by
11154 posts

I just emailed the zoom link. If you didn’t receive it please check your spam folder. If you need help let me know by 9:00 a.m. Thanks.

Posted by
39 posts

@Andrea--

I haven't received the Zoom link. I sent you a PM with my email address.

Thank you.
Susanne

Posted by
11154 posts

Susanne & Hannah, please check your email. I’ve resent the link. I didn’t put your emails in correctly. Sorry about that.

Posted by
8794 posts

Hi Andrea, I didn’t receive an email. And, this is the correct week - LOL!

Posted by
155 posts

oh man. Hope it's a good meeting! Happy travels, ya'll!!!

Posted by
2338 posts

Andrea and Jim, have a great trip. I'll miss the zoom calls, but when you get back I'll have a new hip and can start planning travel again. Thanks, as always for hosting these wonderful calls.

Posted by
8794 posts

Thank you! Andrea, for organizing the Zoom call! And so nice to see everyone’s faces and the good conversation!

I didn’t catch who specifically mentioned that the lakes’ weather forecast is looking better - THANK YOU! I cancelled my Plan C at Florence, and I reserved the Regina Palace at Stresa for two nights - their cheapest room which I originally reserved. So, I can attend the Stresa Music Festival the evening of Aug. 30. Yeah!

Posted by
194 posts

Thank you Andrea for organizing the zoom. I enjoyed hearing everybody’s ideas and trip reports - just what I need for inspiration as I get ready to start traveling again after a too long hiatus!

Posted by
11291 posts

Thank you and bon voyage, Andrea and Jim.

Jean, I mentioned that Stresa doesn't have rain forcast as of today. Here are the temperatures I copied from the website Nelly suggested. I'll be there those nights, too, with a French travel group.
Friday 18-22C
Saturday 16-24C
Sunday 17-24C

Posted by
5583 posts

Thanks everyone!

I dropped out with no notice - my computer decided to shut down and restart with updates. Sigh. But glad I made it through most of the meeting!

Posted by
8794 posts

Thank you, Elizabeth! Originally I was staying at the Regina on Friday & Saturday, and finishing at my favorite Boutique Elvezia out on Isola Bella on Sunday night. But, in the meantime, I had to change my flight because one of the connections was too short. So, now I don’t land at Malpensa until 6:30pm on Friday. An overnight at Hotel Berna & up to Stresa Saturday morning!

Posted by
39 posts

I enjoyed "seeing" all of you today and hearing about your travels. Happy travels to all of you, and I hope to catch up in December.

I'll be on the RS Villages of Italy tour from Oct. 27-Nov. 9, and I was very pleased to hear that those of you who have taken that tour loved it. It will be my first RS Tour, and I will be solo traveling; the first 3 nights will be in Venice on my own. My second time in Venice, so I hope to just relax and soak it all in.

Susanne

Posted by
11154 posts

It was good to see everyone this morning. I must apologize for the issues with some of you receiving your zoom links. I only slept 3 hours last night and have a lot going on, so I screwed up. Thankfully a few of you were able to notify me right away and I was able to send the links again. I’m sorry that I didn’t see until after the meeting that Barbara and Jody didn’t get their links. Hopefully this won’t happen again.

Posted by
264 posts

I had so much fun, thanks for welcoming a newcomer! My favorite part was the suggestion (who was it by, Sharyn? Laurie Beth? Who?!) to lie to the nuns to get back in after curfew. My first grade teacher Sister Anna would like to have a word! (She was scary LOL)

Posted by
15999 posts

My thanks as well Andrea (and Jim!)! Fun to see everyone and hear comments about Italy.

Sorry I left at the break...the room where I zoom does not get much of the AC from the house so it was starting to get hot. I usually have fans going but didn't want to have them on with the Zoom going! Plus I was sitting on the floor and and an hour is about my limit for floor sitting, lol!!

Such fun that Betsy/Elizabeth and Jean will be in Stresa at the same time! Since I know both of you in person I can vouch for the other one, lol!

Posted by
3155 posts

Nice to see everyone -- reminder that this week's radio show has a good segment about Sardinia

Posted by
2890 posts

Thanks for hosting, Andrea! It was a fun talk yesterday.

Posted by
11291 posts

Not only are we in Stresa at the same time, but also we are in the same hotel. We'll be spritzing.

Posted by
4275 posts

It’s great that a connection was made on Sunday about the overlap in Stresa. The two of you would have probably just passed in the breakfast room not knowing of each other’s presence.

Posted by
35646 posts

oh I wish I were ih Stresa. I love that area and wear my hat bought on Isola Bella as often as possible... enjoy for me please

Posted by
8794 posts

This is definitely fun that Andrea’s Zoom meeting and a previous post about weather apps are bringing Elizabeth & I together for a spritz in beautiful Stresa!

Mona, our local RS Coeur d’Alene/Spokane group is still planning to host a meet & greet next year for whoever is available to come. Then we will at least recognize some more fellow travel forum participants if we happen to be at the same hotel in Europe! ; )

Posted by
155 posts

Andrea - I didn't ask to be included in time, so it was my error.

I feel a little sorry that I missed the meeting and a little more sorry after reading how much everyone enjoyed it! Italy is my favorite place!

Thank you again, Andrea, for all the work you do getting ready for our meetings. Have a wonderful trip....a month in Paris seems like a dream!

Posted by
2951 posts

Jean

Still have the Coeur d’Alene/Spokane Meet & Greet on my calendar. Looking forward to it. I believe that we are looking at September 2026.

Posted by
11154 posts

Jody, thanks for confirming that you never asked for the link. I’ve been super busy and was afraid I had missed something. :-/