mwe's VirtualTourist Home Page

Of course, there's a catch. Travel might be cheaper in real terms, but the cruel irony is world has become less diverse.
As recently as the early 1970s, you probably had to go to America to eat at MacDonalds, or Burger King. Today MacDonalds are in Russia, former Soviet states like Estonia & historic English market towns. Burger King is now British-owned.
In 1970 there was one country where you could buy a Spanish car or television: Spain.
Since the 1980s, people all over Europe buy Spanish cars (made by French, German, Japanese & American companies) & televisions made in Spain by the Japanese.
In 1974 tourists flocked to see a Spain that was still run by a pal of Hitler, wearing of beachwear more than a block from the beach was frowned upon & little old ladies, dressed entirely in black were a common sight in Spanish villages.
As recently as the 1980s, we saw pictures of a South Africa that was racially segregated. We didn't see many pictures of eastern Europe, because it was hardline communist, except for a still united Yugoslavia. Berlin had a wall that even those of us who didn't buy the Communist 'threat' thought would be a non-negotiable permanent fixture. Yet in 1989, the political system of eastern Europe that had American nukes pointing at it was brought down by the spontaneous act of members of the general public standing on a wall.
Even the outer parts of England, such as East Anglia, have lost some of their character as a result of being more accessible due to 'improvements' to roads, making it easier to see, the downside being it's now more mainstream & more like the place you just left.
Not so long ago, China was characterised by people in Chairman Mao jackets cycling everywhere. Now they dress like westerners & drive Chinese-built western cars like Buick & in 2007 MG & Rover!
...Industrial areas of Britain like Birmingham & South Yorkshire were much more worthy of a visit in the 1970s than today, because they were different from many 'shire' areas of Britain. Today they are an eye-opener for all the wrong reasons: Industrial areas with closed (or redeveloped) factories & pit villages without pits!

I've always wanted to visit the Christmas markets of continental Europe & I think December in New York City must be better than a hot summer's day there. However, December is the busiest month of the year without throwing travel into the equation! ...The only answer is to jack work in or go part-time!
November is a great time to see Britain as it's the month of vibrant foliage. However, one cannot fully appreciate a season that only lasts one month if most of it is spent working!
I'd love to have visited New England in early February this year: to get the feel of New England in winter and to soak up the cumulative Americanness of Groundhog Day, Superbowl, the anniversary of Buddy Holly's death & February 5th: Super 2-5-2sDay! ...Surely a more potent combination of all things American than July 4th?
The ideal job must be one where you can have two months a year off (in return for long hours, weekends, etc. in the rest of the year is fine): I'd take November & December off every year!
...Don't be misled, I'm not obsessed with 'cold' places. I'd like to go to Florida: an American slant on a Caribbean destination? ...Hurricanes seem the only drawback to a place I've never visited, but feel as if I'm missing something good. I'm sure the surviving Bee Gees (born in the British Isle of Man) wouldn't live in FL if it was 'rubbish'!

Of course I cannot stick a comprehensive travel guide of most places I've been to on this site in a day, or a week! ...My pages are mainly very much still 'under construction'. If you're disappointed about lack of information, or pictures on certain places, revisit in a month or two & you might see a few improvements.
These are all serious, unbiased guides which tell things as I see them at the time of visits.
However, there are a couple of exceptions: the Wealdstone guide is a spoof, but don't tell El Tel & his TOG's, they think it's real. The United Kingdom page is a comment about the state Britain is in (today and in the last few decades): it doesn't contravene rules on political rhetoric, because it blames things on more than one party and doesn't suggest any established party will fix things (I thought Tony Blair's New Labour would do that in 1997, but ten years later they've failed to deliver on 90% of issues).

All material, including photographs & other images are copyright.