My TA said that with her, a few tours were cancelled this year. When she asked TT why this happened, they told her it was because the booking rates have dropped. People aren't spending $ on tours as they used to.

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
One comment regarding how Europeans make ends meet. In my observations and reading it would seem that they make do with a lot fewer consumer goods than we do in our spoiled lives; they eat much smaller portions of costly items like meat which in the long run makes them healthier. I read however the other day with the advent of N.American fast food chains (sorry Matha but Mickey Dee comes to mind) a lot of the younger people in Europe are existing on chips and coke and becoming obese like their N.American counterparts. It's too bad; they really did have the answer right before we inteferred.
Brenda

Brenda ~ I noticed the lifestyle in Paris ~ women walks, eat small portions but drink LOTS of red wine and they look gorgeous.

We too have an enormous problem with obesity and diabetes. "Africa, a continent usually synonymous with hunger, is falling prey to obesity. It's a trend driven by new lifestyles and old beliefs that big is beautiful."

dalene: Buttons seem to be pushed too far in either direction. I'm not sure why more than half the world seems to be moving towards obesity and attendant diabetes while the other half starves. I think we (women) are pushed by unrealistic models to one extreme of starving themselves, and on the other end, are competing beliefs that to be fat is also to be prosperous.

A French woman has written a book, by the way, on exactly what you've noted. French women don't seem to diet. I did not notice anyone obese in Italy. Lifestyle has a great deal to do with it, but there must be other factors as well. Sometimes, I have a conspiracy theory that the medical community and the drug cartels have put something in our water or food.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
Sometimes, I have a conspiracy theory that the medical community and the drug cartels have put something in our water or food.

Brenda

I have only my Afrikaner genes to blame: my biggest enemy: the scale, high cholesterol and a family history of heart diseases.

quote:

Originally posted by Hibiscus:
After reading the "European Spree Cancelled" thread & feeling sad for Rhonalalas, I was wondering what's up w/ all the cancelleations?

Someone mentioned on above mentioned thread this is the most cancelations they've seen since being on this BB...

So what is your take on the situation? Economy woes? Travel industry alltogether? Something else?

I agree with all that's been said about the economy, in addittion, we are experiencing a severe reduction in visitors from the US, partly due to the election.
Thank god for the Aussie/NZ market, which seems as bouyant as ever.

Birdman, has the Canadian market been affected as well? I suspect it may have been since we're very involved with the U.S. in our trade and economy.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
Sometimes, I have a conspiracy theory that the medical community and the drug cartels have put something in our water or food.

Brenda

I have only my Afrikaner genes to blame: my biggest enemy: the scale, high cholesterol and a family history of heart diseases.

My doctor, dalene, says that in the end, our genes will always win the battle. So, I try to work hard against mine by lifestyle--perhaps not always as diligent as I should be--but I'm on a low dosage statin, and I have read that Lipitor (a populat statin drug) is the top selling drug in N.America. I love cooking and I love food, alas.

Brenda

Lipitor is also a top seller in S.-Africa.Works very good.

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
Sometimes, I have a conspiracy theory that the medical community and the drug cartels have put something in our water or food.

Brenda

I have only my Afrikaner genes to blame: my biggest enemy: the scale, high cholesterol and a family history of heart diseases.

My doctor, dalene, says that in the end, our genes will always win the battle. So, I try to work hard against mine by lifestyle--perhaps not always as diligent as I should be--but I'm on a low dosage statin, and I have read that Lipitor (a populat statin drug) is the top selling drug in N.America. I love cooking and I love food, alas.

Brenda

I will write that name down now Brenda. We love cooking - good food and good wine - too. Since we have visited Italy I am hooked on the Italian way of cooking and recipies. They work for my husband who is a cycling fanatic.

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
Birdman, has the Canadian market been affected as well? I suspect it may have been since we're very involved with the U.S. in our trade and economy.

Brenda

Yes Brenda, it certainly HAS affected the Canadian market, but as you guys are not affected by the US election, and as we carry a small percentage of Canuks, the overall effect is small!
The main reason in your case is the poor value of the Canadian Dollar against the GBP and Euro. (I guess)

Great disscussion...good points all around! Thanks to (whoever it was??) who answered the questiona about the stimulus checks.

My DH & I are self-emlpoyeed & are definatly feeling the hit. There are good & bad points to being self-employeed of course! (Ya, know like taking 12 days off in Feb. to go to Italy )

Anyway, someone also mentioned high food prices, (the pinch seems to be everywhere) & I have to say I am SO thankful for our garden! It has really helped us out, (we DO have a family of SIX!)

Thankfully, even though the economy stinks everywhere, we all can still plan, save & budget for recreation & travel at this point! YAY!

It was ever thus, Birdman, the business with the Cdn dollar. The only reason it has any strength now is because it's rated against the U.S. dollar and that's not so healthy.

I wonder why we make up such a small percentage against, e.g. the Antipodes--aren't we about the same population and scale of economies? I know Canucks have always travelled --it's a big country in and of itself and about the same distance coast to coast as across the Atlantic to Europe!! But I wonder if there's something in the Canuck character that militates against group tours. Are we less sociable that others as a general rule? Just a thought or two, Birdman, but I'd love to know if there are any studies done on this. You know me alas.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by Hibiscus:
Great disscussion...good points all around! Thanks to (whoever it was??) who answered the questiona about the stimulus checks.

My DH & I are self-emlpoyeed & are definatly feeling the hit. There are good & bad points to being self-employeed of course! (Ya, know like taking 12 days off in Feb. to go to Italy )

Anyway, someone also mentioned high food prices, (the pinch seems to be everywhere) & I have to say I am SO thankful for our garden! It has really helped us out, (we DO have a family of SIX!)

Thankfully, even though the economy stinks everywhere, we all can still plan, save & budget for recreation & travel at this point! YAY!

Good for you Hibiscus, especially for the garden--I assume lots of veggies and regardless of drought conditions often still bountiful? I think I read somewhere that Victory gardens (that's what they were called during WW2 in England anyway) are coming back into style--areas of one's garden given over to food production.

The one negative about self-employment that I think would be hardest is the high cost of medical insurance.

Brenda (so pleased you're going to Italy, land of my heart)

Brenda- I am pleased too...I still can't even belive I'm ACTUALLY going there!

Yes, I've heard of the victory gardens. Love fresh food & coming up with creative ways to cook & preserve it!

Re: health Isurance: It's AWFUL! DH & I can't afford it & just pay cash, because it's SO much cheaper. Our kids BARELY have insudrance & slipped through a little crack. I think we're about to lost it thigh due to changing income....as it ALWAYS does, bleh...

Hibiscus, stay well and healthy, my dear, and you and your family eat lots of veggies and fruit, and just keep at the forefront of your mind, you'll be in Italy for your tenth anniversary--how wonderful is that thought?

We're going to try to get back to the Veneto region (where Venice is) for a while in late Winter or Spring (maybe, lots of family situations at the moment) so who knows, may bump into your tour bus .

Brenda