Comments on: Traveling abroad through film often the next best thing to being there

By: urbantravelgirl

urbantravelgirl — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 04:29:21 +0000

Salut, Ebony Jewel! Yes, I’m with you — looking at my pictures from Paris makes ME miss and crave it, too!! There are many wonderful cities in the world, but truly no place like Paris. I swear, the next time I go I might just disappear into the underground and never leave!!!

Not sure where you live, but as I mentioned, Netflix is a godsend when it comes to foreign films. But I’ve got one of theirs sitting on my coffee table where it’s been for the past month because like you, I haven’t had time to watch it. Here’s wishing both of us more time for our foreign-film pursuits!

Maureen

By: Ebony_Jewel

Ebony_Jewel — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:14:34 +0000

That first picture made me miss Paris so much! I LOVED it there & want to go back next summer!

I unfortunately don’t live in a big city, so we have no decent theater, but I travel for a living & have visited many big cities. I haven’t seen many foreign films though because I work so much!

By: urbantravelgirl

urbantravelgirl — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:20:00 +0000

I guess I’m such a diehard Paris-lover and Francophile that even the gritty parts of Paris — like the monstrous Chatelet-Les Halles Metro station — is beautiful to me. I REALLY sound like I need a vacation, don’t I?

By: kellyecarter

kellyecarter — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:13:14 +0000

And of course I’ve never seen the gritty side of Paris. Makes me want to see the movie even more because I know there is life outside of George V and L’Avenue restaurant. LOL!

By: urbantravelgirl

urbantravelgirl — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:02:54 +0000

Sorry to offend you “Transformers” fans out there, including our Delta soror who loves it! LOL I started to include “G.I. Joe” in my example, but figured I’d tick off TWO groups of people instead of just one.

But seriously… I think anyone who loves Paris will love this movie because it just feels REAL. You see the gritty street markets, not just the ritzy hotels and arrondisements. And it SERIOUSLY made me want to run out of the theater and hop the El to O’Hare… so I had to make do with French crepes, instead. We citizens of the world must find fulfillment where we can, no?

Maureen

By: kellyecarter

kellyecarter — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:28:46 +0000

Had to chuckle at the line about Transformers. One of our sorors, and one of my dearest friends since we pledged together, is the biggest Transformers fan. I can’t imagine her going to see a film like Paris but you’ve made me want to see it, although I’ll leave the theater depressed that I’m not still living in Italy, sipping Chianti, eating pasta and flirting with the ragazzi. Sigh.

By: urbantravelgirl

urbantravelgirl — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:05:04 +0000

Donna, thank YOU for the reminder about connecting to foreign cultures at home by keeping up with publications based abroad! Keeping up with football (soccer) games — as well as tuning into cable or satellite TV stations broadcast from other countries — is a reasonable and often educational way to not only feel connected to foreign cultures but to pick up some language skills, too! (We often hear of immigrants to the States say they learned English by watching our crazy TV shows and movies!)

Maureen

By: Donna

Donna — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 08:32:53 +0000

Thanks for reminding me about foreign films, Cynthia. I absolutely adore them and you’re right about needing to budget. My wanderlust was growing faster than my bank account so I too have had to forego a trip to Italy for at least another year. Thankfully, I do live in a big city (Los Angeles) and have access to foreign films and decent theater.

I also go to foreign restaurants so I can get a feel of being there without paying full price. My husband and I often go to a British tea house or pub so he can indulge in his childhood favorites or to watch a football (soccer) match. We pick up British newspapers so he can feel connected to home. I read them because I’m fascinated with learning about other cultures.

Foreign films and restaurants are good enough substitutes for the cash-strapped traveler while we are saving for our next adventure.

By: urbantravelgirl

urbantravelgirl — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:55:19 +0000

Ciao, Cynthia! You’ll have to stay tuned to UrbanTravelGirl to find out about the budget goal! LOL (I’m with you… I’m nosy, too, so that’s what I get for putting it out there.) That’s why living vicariously through movies in foreign locales are the way to go until you’re able to make that move — or at least take that vacation!

Maureen

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +0000

I wish I could satiate my wanderlust that way. I have no other choice at the moment but I’m with you on budgeting and hankering down. I’m planning to move next year.

I do want to know what you are budgeting for but I’m nosey like that.