Phil Farina's Guestbook

Tokledo ?????
I didn't know there was a "K" in Toledo

Thanks for the Viking thumbs up
Very encouraging news how Viking helped you maintain bookings over Covid with 25% discounts instead of total refunds, Phil...twice. Also that Vacationstogo.com also chipped in to encourage you to postpone your booking rather than cancel. There are several Europe river cruise operators so it is great to see your tips for others. We travelled St Petersburg to Moscow in late 2019 with Viking and the cruise and itinerary could not have been better. Booking hiccups but glad we persisted. We are not cruise people but have been considering some Rhine and Danube cruises because the Russian one was so good. We had been considering other operators but sounds like Viking should remain foremost in our plans thanks to their 'customer first' attitude you refer to in your blog. I'll check out your following blogs to see how you went.

Happy Birthday Phil??????
Traveling and celebrating with family and good friends! It doesn’t get any better than that! Love reading your blog and all the great stories that make it so special! Love from all of us on your Birthday and always?

Feel the History Everywhere you Go!
Scotland is beautiful weather there are stormy skies or bright blue skies (although more breath taking with blue skies). The history is amazing! The people are resilient...what a beautiful yet harsh geography to live in. Have you seen any of the beautiful Highland Cows? Enjoying those wonderful breakfast's, steak pies and sausage roles! I never cared for the blood pudding :). Enjoy!

Tower of London
Great photo. I have posted some of your pics in TB's "Palaces & Castles" thread in the Photography Forum. Check 'em out.

Leaning Tower of Pisa
Great pic Phil. Captures it magnificently.

read your blog
well written and bought back memories ,thanks

Doi-Suthep
Very likely all the thoughts of the monks in relation to you are pure, I don't think that this is only mercenary interest, relying on their eastern wisdom. I also managed to visit Doi-Suthep. A wonderful observation, amazed me sure. My cousin and I traveled on a rented Cat Motors motorbike, I drive quite well, and we went to visit and photograph a little more than 120 temples in Chiang Mai in 4 days. That is, we visited the third part of the sights from the must-see list.

Elephant training
Hi there! I’m really enjoying reading your blog a andam returning to Thailand soon, but I was alarmed by some of your statements regarding how easy it is to domesticate elephants. Please, please read some articles about how the babies are taken from their mothers far too early and tortured until their spirits are broken. Anywhere allowing tourists to ride and forcing elephants to paint isn’t really a sanctuary, the Thais just call them this to fool tourists into thinking so. I have a friend who works for a proper sanctuary near Phuket. Honestly, it’s shocking. Enjoy the rest of your trip and I look forward to hearing about it. Rachel

Arriving Home
Got home safely, Karen (wife) happy to see me but not as much as Elvis (the dog); who jumped between us and licked my face constantly. I would like to say I had a great time and appreciate the new friends I found in Phil, Richard, Dick and Michael; great time together. Not often you can be with people who can rationally discuss differences of opinions in politics and religion but most of the time just clown around, Unique mix. Thanks Again. John From Philly P.S., I've started my diet and I'm going back to marry the one tour guide "Sue", I guess her husband will just have to have an accident.