quote:

Originally posted by Missie:
Mallee ~ The fact that you were a single on tour may have had something to do with it. Some married ladies see a woman travelling on her own as a threat.

I encountered this problem on a tour in Canada, it wasn't until people found out that I was indeed married and that my husband didn't like coach tours that they started to treat me differently.

Its your own fault if you are ravishingly beautiful and turn all the men's heads.

quote:

Originally posted by Saint Mike:

quote:

Originally posted by Travel N Learn:
There is no sitting plan, but there are times when there are more than one Trafalgar tour for breakfast or dinner at the hotel dining room. We experienced this last May at the European Dream tour in Lucerne.

There were "Reserved for Trafalgar Tours" sign at the tables, but no specific tour name. So we just looked for tables where our tour mates sat and then joined them.

Travel N Learn

Yes - sit where you like. You learn where not to sit pretty quick ...

I must admit I get sick of being asked questions all the time - often the same ones every night. I like the person who sits and eats and maybe tells me an interesting fact or 2. I don't really care what they do (ie work) or need to know personal details (what they're worth), how sick they are ...). I like to talk sport at times and will if anyone raises it. I like brekkie by myself (wife of course ... ) - and a coffee and paper.

I also enjoy a person who likes to sit - maybe in front of a log fire, or view, in a comfy chair - maybe with a dozing dog at his feet - and just enjoy the silence. Also someone who likes a quiet beer/wine/port etc - and doesn't see a need to tell me their life story - ie a person who is confident enough in themselves to just sit and enjoy the moment.

My only tip then ... ... if you run into "me" - I'm not being rude - I just like time to myself.

We met a lovely couple on one TT Tour. He said very little, but what he said was spot on and worth knowing. She talked a bit to my wife and I listened and added my two cents worth at times. The two men (me and him) tended to have a few cleansing ales and just comment at times on various things (eg fellow travellers ... ). At the end of the night I mentioned I'd enjoyed our dinner and talk and she looked a bit shocked - she felt I'd think her other half was too quiet/reserved/snobby.

I think she was glad to have found another "one" ...

We had a few dinners together and nodded at brekkie as we passed.

Mind you - I could be completely wrong ...

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
Most of all, I plead, albeit silently, with people to appreciate things with their eyes not their mouths.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by dalene:
Brenda ~ I know I'm diverting again but want to tell you that I've been thinking today about you and Chris Mariott's thread a while ago that touched me deeply. It was about the simpleness of life, not having / needing so many things. Do you remember? I put my house up for sale last Friday and it was sold today. As I walked through the rooms today making a list of what I am leaving behind and what I am taking with me, I was confronted with the very same thing: one does not need a lot of stuff.

quote:

simpleness

quote:

Originally posted by Mallee:
I suspect that we were a coachload of St Mikes, and that I tried too hard to be friendly.

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:

quote:

Originally posted by Saint Mike:

quote:

Originally posted by Travel N Learn:
There is no sitting plan, but there are times when there are more than one Trafalgar tour for breakfast or dinner at the hotel dining room. We experienced this last May at the European Dream tour in Lucerne.

There were "Reserved for Trafalgar Tours" sign at the tables, but no specific tour name. So we just looked for tables where our tour mates sat and then joined them.

Travel N Learn

Yes - sit where you like. You learn where not to sit pretty quick ...

I must admit I get sick of being asked questions all the time - often the same ones every night. I like the person who sits and eats and maybe tells me an interesting fact or 2. I don't really care what they do (ie work) or need to know personal details (what they're worth), how sick they are ...). I like to talk sport at times and will if anyone raises it. I like brekkie by myself (wife of course ... ) - and a coffee and paper.

I also enjoy a person who likes to sit - maybe in front of a log fire, or view, in a comfy chair - maybe with a dozing dog at his feet - and just enjoy the silence. Also someone who likes a quiet beer/wine/port etc - and doesn't see a need to tell me their life story - ie a person who is confident enough in themselves to just sit and enjoy the moment.

My only tip then ... ... if you run into "me" - I'm not being rude - I just like time to myself.

We met a lovely couple on one TT Tour. He said very little, but what he said was spot on and worth knowing. She talked a bit to my wife and I listened and added my two cents worth at times. The two men (me and him) tended to have a few cleansing ales and just comment at times on various things (eg fellow travellers ... ). At the end of the night I mentioned I'd enjoyed our dinner and talk and she looked a bit shocked - she felt I'd think her other half was too quiet/reserved/snobby.

I think she was glad to have found another "one" ...

We had a few dinners together and nodded at brekkie as we passed.

Mind you - I could be completely wrong ...

Saint Mike, despite what may seem to be my verbal incontinence on this site, I too like quiet moments. I don't like (hate actually) much small talk and I don't chat or yak easily about nothing, even if they're sweet nothings (well, it's been a while). I'm positively comatose first thing in the morning and it's all I can do to breathe, eat, and walk.

However, I also find it awkward to ignore people sitting at the same table especially when we're part of a group. So, given that awkwardness, I tend to ask those questions you may hate but they're the only ones I can come up with given the above social challenges: "where are from" "what do you do" how are you enjoying the tour." If those questions are answered as curtly as they seem to be asked, with one-word responses, I usually go back to convening silently with my wine (not at breakfast I hasten to add). Most of all, I plead, albeit silently, with people to appreciate things with their eyes not their mouths.

Brenda

quote:

Originally posted by BrendaC:
I know you'd never be deliberately rude Saint Mike. I too can't stand people being left out, and would tend to make sure people were comfortable. I can't stand tales of singles being asked to move because a couple wanted to sit together. This to me is the height of boorishness. Being single on tour is not a disease , right?

BC

quote:

Originally posted by Saint Mike:


I must admit I get sick of being asked questions all the time - often the same ones every night. I like the person who sits and eats and maybe tells me an interesting fact or 2. I don't really care what they do (ie work) or need to know personal details (what they're worth), how sick they are ...). I like to talk sport at times and will if anyone raises it. I like brekkie by myself (wife of course ... ) - and a coffee and paper.

quote:

Originally posted by MATHA531:
And it's even worse when it's the TD that asks the single person to move...as a matter of fact, several years ago I was the only single on a full (49 person) tour and after the first two days, the TD had the gall to ask me to wait till everybody else has been seated before taking a seat...

But then again this same TD, well I couldn't believe this, but it did happen...the TD set up the rotation but if you're familiar with a TT coach, there are 49 seats and one seat, the one in the middle of the back row, is very very uncomfortable, has no place to lean forward and say fill out a form...

Well anyway, on the first day, the TD called me over of all people and explained the tour was full and that the extra seat in the back row would present a problem in rotation and suggested to me that I could make things easier for everybody by agreeing to always take that seat...I couldn't believe it. When I said no way Jose, at least he didn't press the point but to even suggest it, well I don't have words to describe it.

quote:

Originally posted by Missie:
Mallee ~ The fact that you were a single on tour may have had something to do with it. Some married ladies see a woman travelling on her own as a threat.

quote:

Originally posted by MATHA531:
And it's even worse when it's the TD that asks the single person to move...as a matter of fact, several years ago I was the only single on a full (49 person) tour and after the first two days, the TD had the gall to ask me to wait till everybody else has been seated before taking a seat...

But then again this same TD, well I couldn't believe this, but it did happen...the TD set up the rotation but if you're familiar with a TT coach, there are 49 seats and one seat, the one in the middle of the back row, is very very uncomfortable, has no place to lean forward and say fill out a form...

Well anyway, on the first day, the TD called me over of all people and explained the tour was full and that the extra seat in the back row would present a problem in rotation and suggested to me that I could make things easier for everybody by agreeing to always take that seat...I couldn't believe it. When I said no way Jose, at least he didn't press the point but to even suggest it, well I don't have words to describe it.