tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post957877520322996662..comments2023-07-29T04:48:32.629-07:00Comments on Casey, Travels and Other Musings: Serendipity Lost?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17702540235066625767noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-89360615261780647042009-02-16T20:25:00.000-08:002009-02-16T20:25:00.000-08:00Hi Jane, I have mixed feelings on travel today vs...Hi Jane, I have mixed feelings on travel today vs travel in 1999 (my first trip to Europe). I was just starting to learn to use the internet back then and there wasn't that much travel info out there. I still used a travel agent to book my hotels. I like having more control over booking hotels, seeing more reviews, etc. but I do miss all the surprises that I encountered during my first trip. I still remember my first view of Piazza del Campo in Siena, the Duomo in Florence, Vernazza, the view when you leave the train station in Venice, the view of the Arena in Verona. Today, I would have seen tons of photos from every angle first and it would definitely not have been as exciting as emotionally moving as my first views of Italy were back in 1999. Today, you can even see street views on google map! <BR/><BR/>For your letter...I am giving you the letter i (I put it in small case so it would not be confused with L). Have fun!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-31935338430061062572009-02-16T17:49:00.000-08:002009-02-16T17:49:00.000-08:00Thanks, Anne. We seem to thing alike about many th...Thanks, Anne. We seem to thing alike about many things!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-5667141019211197132009-02-16T17:43:00.000-08:002009-02-16T17:43:00.000-08:00Jane, what a wonderful entry. You have beautifully...Jane, what a wonderful entry. You have beautifully captured the essence of anticipation and waiting for things to come. I think travel is like spirituality in many ways...there are those looking for the quick fix, and those willing to wait for the deeper experience to come unexpectedly. I think serendipity will never be completely lost as long as there are those who relish the journey for its own sake, and not always with an eye to the final destination!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-54244969359681373012009-02-15T09:27:00.000-08:002009-02-15T09:27:00.000-08:00Judith, you understand. It's the lemming style of ...Judith, you understand. It's the lemming style of travel and it loses so much of the joy. Must sees and must dos take over and, as you say, the fountain is lost.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-46705626990886538782009-02-15T02:29:00.000-08:002009-02-15T02:29:00.000-08:00You are speaking about one of the great disappoint...You are speaking about one of the great disappointments of modern life. The tools have become so efficient that people plan a trip down to where they will eat every single meal. They don't wander off the road the selected in their kitchens back home, they look at things and not into eyes, and they depress me.<BR/>While I know it is smarter to have rooms booked if traveling in high season, and certainly someone who teaches or provides services may not be available if not booked, is it necessary to eat only where others recommend, sleep only in places known to your friends and never chance that a little known fountain may be more moving than a famous pile of stone?Judith in Umbriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884356780097069194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-78934190658829695032009-02-12T20:10:00.000-08:002009-02-12T20:10:00.000-08:00Thank you, Maryann. I read the letters of times pa...Thank you, Maryann. I read the letters of times past and marvel at the fluency and depth of thought expressed in them. I think that art has indeed been lost.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13005615.post-86849324615004677742009-02-12T19:36:00.000-08:002009-02-12T19:36:00.000-08:00Hi Jane! Very beautifully written and thoughtful p...Hi Jane! Very beautifully written and thoughtful post. I like the old ways too. Everything is so much easier now but there was a charm then. Even email..so easy, but letter writing is, I believe, an art form. The paper in hand was and still is magical.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com