March 2004 Newsletter

Good morning everyone. I just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone for their encouraging words to keep on traveling, even though Spain just experienced a horrorible echo of our 9-11. It’s really sad that the innocent have to suffer.

What I wanted to share with everyone is something my mother told me back in the 70’s. I was about to leave for my first big time international trip and it was the night before departure and during our phone conversation with my mother she said that if something happened she would only cry for me if something happened while going, and she would not cry if something happened on the return. It struck me as being odd, but it took just a moment to realize what she really meant. Basically, she knew I would have had lots of fun so she would only cry for me on the going out portion because she knew I would have missed out. She reminded me numerous times throughout her life to have fun while you can, be curious and see what’s on the other side of the fence. We’re all here for such a short time and there’s no guarantees as to when or how. so never put off a trip. If you wait, you may wait until it’s too late.

Thank you

Thanks, Chris, for the positive greeting today. I will be going on a writing assignment this Friday to the Joshua Tree National Park near Palm Springs. I will experience my first try at rock climbing with fourteen other women as we sleep under the stars in the desert. I have never climbed nor slept out in the desert. I’ve been getting many warnings about scorpions, snakes, heatstroke, death by falling and hornets nested in rocks by people who have never gone nor even left their state!! Nothing new as this happens each time I travel especially when I leave the country. As they give me their “advice”, I just smile and continue to pack my bags and focus on the wonderful stories, writings, memories, videos, and quality time that I spend with myself, my family (I’m taking my daughter to San Diego three weeks after my rock climbing trip and my son to Hawaii in the fall, and the entire family for a month to! Cozumel), and the quality time that I get to spend with the people I meet and the new locations that I visit. All these people shake their heads as they list the bad news that they’ve heard about or read but then they wonder how I could have such a dream job as being a TRAVEL WRITER? Hmmmm…..go figure.

I continue to follow your newsletter and dream of traveling - but my wife is another story. Terror and an unstable environment have forced her into a shell. I do not know what to do but be supportive and hope that later we can travel. Please continue to point out the exciting environment of travel - as readers like me enjoy your newsletter. Should your fee structure wain from commissions - I bet that many of your long time readers would pay a nominal fee to join and help you continue your work in these troubling times on your newsletter.

Your articles continue to be focused and interesting - Thanks

Just a note - your reader fans will not be so easily taken by an April fools joke this year - we are watching.

NB
Maryland - USA

Having used your site forever, I continue to enjoy the great resources you provide. I must tell you that we are planning a trip to Italy (Tuscany area and Cinque Terre) and I found lodging possibilities with your new “CHEAP Hotels” link that even Rick Steves doesn’t mention. And, in response to your email today, we agree with you that we cannot live in fear. We went to Spain two weeks after 9-11 and never gave it a second thought. Others ‘feared’ for us and we found a wonderful people and country and an experience we will never forget. THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CONTINUE OUR ADVENTURES!!

Dear mates,
I totally agree with the message that you are sending out. AND, I was just informed that I have been awarded a grant from the government of Spain and the State of Texas to study in Madrid this summer. I have never been to Spain so I am so looking forward to it. I have never made much money, I have always been a teacher, but I have always traveled and that has so enriched my life. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Keep the Faith.

Thanks for the message, guys!! I’m actually in Madrid for spring break, and rode the train the day after the explosion… While there is still a lot of sadness in this city, and reminders of the tragic incident wherever you go, it is a wonderful place to visit, and I feel is as safe as any other…. Don’t ever lose your positive spirits.

What upbeat messages. Doing what you love is the bottom line - in this case travelling and all that is connected with it.

Thanks, Jan, for sharing your mother’s message. A wise woman.

Head and hands up to all.

Hi guys,

Have been a BootsnAll fan for a few years now. Being from Northern Ireland I know what impact terrorism can have on people, and on travellers not feeling safe. I am currently in Santiago de Compestela in North West Spain, as part of my degree. The impact on the country in the last few days has been immense, the reaction of the people, admirable. However, let’s be positive about travel, a disaster can happen anywhere and at any time. Who would have thought that Europe would be thought of as the new “danger zone”. That is the beauty of travelling - being in the unknown. Unfortunately, the whole world has become the unknown. Let’s keep travelling, as that is the only way for us to become world citizens and somehow understand the problems and opinions others face.

Loving your work as always,
Heidi xoox.

I like the feel of the introductory section, much more than I have in our past newsletters. I have often thought we were trying to brand a Rick Steves out of Sean, Chris and Nick.

I think we need to continue to take more of a philosophical 3rd person approach to the introduction and stay away from discussing the “Bootsnall Crew” and focus more at the trends in travel. It’s just my opinion, though.

Who’s Rick Steves?

I like the philosophical approach but I think the BoostnAll Crew personalize it, making it unique, fresh and honest.