"I confess that it frustrates me that many Americans were apparently fine with Trump’s corruption and lawlessness, the incredible cruelty, and all the rest — but now that the cost of gas is going up, these same folks are losing their shit." YES--EXACTLY! AMEN, BROTHER!
The sad thing when it comes to travel is that the rich will always be able to travel... But this will restrict how many young people might be able to take a gap year, and how many older people might be able to feel comfortable enough to do some traveling in their retirement. It's unfortunate that the people who are profiting the most off of this war will not be affected by it.
Yes, exactly. Overtourism is very very real, but people don't understand how extraordinary that last three decades have been -- how, for the first time in history, non-rich people are traveling for leisure.
I see that silver lining too! Thanks for putting this out there. We can at least learn to be more mindful and efficient with our energy consumption. And we may never return to being wasteful afterwards.
Thanks for reminding us that the planet has finite resources and as managers of those resources, we need to re evaluate what us humans are doing and how we interact with each other. It is unfortunate that overtourism has created some regions that may no longer be accessible to some due to cost.
Every time I return from Europe to the US, I think, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. And yet, it's not going to change much in my lifetime, let's be real. I hope to be able to afford traveling -- I appreciate the thought that perhaps prices will go down if tourists are staying home. It seems to me that prices are higher here (I'm currently in Italy -- my happy place) than just six months ago. And, I will always support more energy efficient and sustainable development. Thanks for your positive post.
Me too. And I agree with you -- I used to think Americans would eventually "wake up," but now I don't think they ever will. It has me wondering if mass transit projects even make sense in the USA, since we don't have the density to support them, and they're soooooo expensive. Then again, so are freeways!
I learn all kinds of new vocabulary from you and Michael!
Much food for thought here. We return to the states next month, all I can think is how grateful I am that I had the chance to take time for a sabbatical, the news just keeps getting worse but thanks for a different perspective.
In the past six weeks I’ve visited Cinque Terra, Lake Como/Milan, Rome, Sicily, Naples, Madrid and some other places. I’ve been very surprised how every place is crowded with tourists (except maybe Turin). I’ve also not received any anti-American sentiments.
"I confess that it frustrates me that many Americans were apparently fine with Trump’s corruption and lawlessness, the incredible cruelty, and all the rest — but now that the cost of gas is going up, these same folks are losing their shit." YES--EXACTLY! AMEN, BROTHER!
Even this really really understates how much this drives me crazy. LOL
The sad thing when it comes to travel is that the rich will always be able to travel... But this will restrict how many young people might be able to take a gap year, and how many older people might be able to feel comfortable enough to do some traveling in their retirement. It's unfortunate that the people who are profiting the most off of this war will not be affected by it.
Yes, exactly. Overtourism is very very real, but people don't understand how extraordinary that last three decades have been -- how, for the first time in history, non-rich people are traveling for leisure.
I am here for the walkable cities all day long!
Me too!!!
I see that silver lining too! Thanks for putting this out there. We can at least learn to be more mindful and efficient with our energy consumption. And we may never return to being wasteful afterwards.
Let's hope so! I do think this could finally spur a big shift.
Thanks for reminding us that the planet has finite resources and as managers of those resources, we need to re evaluate what us humans are doing and how we interact with each other. It is unfortunate that overtourism has created some regions that may no longer be accessible to some due to cost.
It's a long hard conversation that we've been putting off too long.
Every time I return from Europe to the US, I think, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY. And yet, it's not going to change much in my lifetime, let's be real. I hope to be able to afford traveling -- I appreciate the thought that perhaps prices will go down if tourists are staying home. It seems to me that prices are higher here (I'm currently in Italy -- my happy place) than just six months ago. And, I will always support more energy efficient and sustainable development. Thanks for your positive post.
Me too. And I agree with you -- I used to think Americans would eventually "wake up," but now I don't think they ever will. It has me wondering if mass transit projects even make sense in the USA, since we don't have the density to support them, and they're soooooo expensive. Then again, so are freeways!
Depressing about prices in Italy...
“Death destination.”
“Slomads.”
I learn all kinds of new vocabulary from you and Michael!
Much food for thought here. We return to the states next month, all I can think is how grateful I am that I had the chance to take time for a sabbatical, the news just keeps getting worse but thanks for a different perspective.
Your timing is probably very good. And thank you!
In the past six weeks I’ve visited Cinque Terra, Lake Como/Milan, Rome, Sicily, Naples, Madrid and some other places. I’ve been very surprised how every place is crowded with tourists (except maybe Turin). I’ve also not received any anti-American sentiments.
Italian tourism has been off-the-charts for years now, and yet it always surprises me too!
Good to know about the anti-Americanism! (To be clear, that's what I'm predicting if Trump's war causes a global recession.)
Good post. Agree
Thank you!