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Amber Norton's avatar

I love reading about other people's travel journeys! "Seeing" the adventure from your perspective made me smile. Your honesty about the weather, steps, and good was refreshing without being rude. (Are you ever rude?)

When did you take this trip?

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David ☕'s avatar

Hi Amber - so good to see you here! We were there last week of May start of June - just before the hot weather begins - it was already hot when we got there - considering here in NZ it is 1 below zero today anything above 17'℃ would be considered hot right now.

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Nadine's avatar

It's good you took advantage of the cheap offer, because so many people on the side of the world would be delighted to see China. And hey the UK and Europe will still be there for a while yet 😉 well done on all the steps!

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David ☕'s avatar

I thought of you as I wrote this - as you have seen the world through others’ eyes - am not sure I’d recommend the cheap tour as it is very much on careful guardrails and more of a teaser than a tour - still we were very glad we went

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Nadine's avatar

I'm so flattered, because I would also jump on a last-minute tour like this.

It was a teaser to persuade you to go back... Sometimes that's enough for me. It's about the experience not the actual completion, in my opinion. I can often Google the rest of the location haha!

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

What a great snapshot of your trip!

It’s funny how travel can make you appreciate the familiar, like craving McDonald’s.

I always love chatting with locals despite the language barrier. I learn a few words before going anywhere. It is always appreciated....

Happy New Week, David.

I hope both you and Helen are doing better :)

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David ☕'s avatar

Hey there Neela - I wonder if you felt about New York how we felt about Beijing?

I can imagine you chatting with the locals - did you have any special Greek words when you went there?

Helen knew how to say beautiful so she got lots of smiles as she told parents their kids were beautiful. I was limited to thank you which I’m sure I mangled and Ni hao though that just become Hello or Hi

We are much better thanks 🤗⭐⭐⭐

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

Hiii

Did you mean Greece instead of New York? Because you mentioned some lovely Greek words.

"Efharisto" means Thank you - now saying this was tricky the first few times but the locals in Santorini helped. I have to say even though Athens was grittier than NYC I really loved it there.

Then there is "Kalimera" - Good morning.

"Beautiful" - I can see that having a positive effect.

I am so happy to hear 🤗

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David ☕'s avatar

Isn’t kalimera some sort of octopus? I think they were pulling a leg or two there… I had Greek friends a long time ago and could barely pronounce their names let alone the language… and yet that used to be the english of its day

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

lol

close enough.

Greek is an extremely difficult language to learn.

Same with Portugese. But we tend to visit the less touristy areas.

So it pays to learn a few words.

That’s why we are headed to spain in October.

I can do conversational spanish hahahahaha

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David ☕'s avatar

Ola - my son is back in Spain in Sept doing the Camino again as a reunion with the friends he made last year - though I suspect in October he may be in eastern Europe - he also prefers the less touristy areas - he would share your interest in whiskey but not in coffee alas

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Neela 🌶️'s avatar

Sounds like your son’s got a good mix of soul searching and socializing sorted! We’ll have to convert him to the coffee side someday. The less touristy areas I find have the most authentic food :)

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Hans Jorgensen's avatar

It sounds like an awesome trip, David. Thanks for sharing some of your impressions.

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David ☕'s avatar

Thanks Hans - it was an experience - good to see the world through other people's eyes I think

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Lisa Cunningham DeLauney's avatar

What an adventurous trip, David! Even if it was a curated tour, you had so many new experiences. Can we expect more China-inspired art?

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