I see your point. I wouldn’t want commercialization be the reason for a trip, but the historical points of interest. I’m not a ‘shopper’ so items are not my appeal. Glad though he had a week with his daughter. I did notice how those who traveled to USA for the World Cup, fell in love with the people, our food, and of course the big shopping centers just to look in awe at the size.
It seems like the trip was more a material pursuit than a cultural one. If you’re focused on things, instead of place, you can miss a lot, especially the spontaneity of adventure, stumbling upon something new and inspiring.
The trip sounds sort of two dimensional, flat, as opposed to broadening, which to me anyway, is the whole point of travel. I suppose inadvertent cultural exchange can happen. But it’s the focus that bugs me about this sort of itinerary - like being on a mission more than an adventure. IMHO.
And that is the crux of it. Even though it is US owned, sounds like TikTok is a CCP geared platform. It is a platform that appeals to children and young adults which is a bit of a red flag to me. The c I use for my SubStack name is for cynical, so maybe I am going overboard. I went deer hunting with my father when I was that age, and we didn’t see one deer because we were talking too much. A son would have shut up and hunted. I treasure that memory, as I know Alex and his daughter always will.
"My daughter's Tik Tok algorithm booked our Paris vacation" "By late 2025, 43% of Americans ages 18 to 29 said they regularly got news from TikTok." How much of that "news" is 'modified' by Chinese propaganda? That just might shine some light on WHY so many of America's college students are so ill-educated, and INDOCTRINATED. We definitely DO NOT get our news from Tik Tok, as we do not use that program!
"TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is subject to Chinese laws, such as the National Intelligence Law and Cybersecurity Law, which could compel it to share data with the Chinese government. These laws, combined with TikTok’s vast American user base and ByteDance’s control over its algorithm and source code, raise concerns about the potential for foreign surveillance, blackmail, and influence operations." The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
That is mostly about 'National Security;' however, having our personal information available 'within' the United States brings on all the 'surveillance' we MUST accept, but still do not like, without adding any foreign product to surveil us. Also, being a mite paranoid, in my old age, I'm not following some 'itinerary' set up by some unknown "algorithm," especially in a foreign country, when the prospect for some nefarious action could be on the "itinerary!" As John Stossel would say, "GIVE ME A BREAK."
Great article. I spent 35 years as an airline pilot, most of it international, so I was fortunate to travel all over, especially Europe and South America. I always used the opportunity to wander around wherever I was, exploring and trying to see as much as possible, and my wife and I took dozens of vacations in Europe. The guidebook sources at the time were Frommers or Europe on $10 a day, or the like. For planning you were at the mercy of the "travel agents" whose information was influenced by whoever paid the highest commissions. You were basically lucky if you stumbled on the real gems in most of the major cities, and especially in the lesser ones. With the advent of the internet, all that insider info suddenly became democratized, which initially was wonderful, but now has a somewhat negative effect.
I personally saw this in a small restaurant in Paris, in St Germain, not far from the EIffel Tower. It was on a quiet side street, a small place, maybe 12 tables, with Madame working the front, and her husband cooking in the back. The food was classic, simple French fare, well-prepared, good quality, not expensive. Locals enjoying a nice meal. Years later, I took some crew members there, only to find in the window recommendations on Trip Advisor and pictures of the couple with Rick Steeves. Long story short: The restaurant was now full of tourists, not locals, and the food quality had declined. The experience was not the same.
My current peeve are the cruise ships. Dock in Barcelona at 10AM, drop off 4000 tourists who storm the Ramblas and old quarter, or get a quick tour behind someone with an flag on a selfie stick, walk by a couple of Gaudi buildings, have a hot chocolate or a frozen paella in a cafe on a square, run back to the ship, and think they've "done" Barcelona. On to Marseilles or Cannes, etc. They have no idea what they are missing.....
On the one hand, it is great that people are travelling, but they are missing so much....
First of all, what a wonderful time with your daughter, filled with memories for a lifetime. Second, this trend seems to fit with the whole immersive experiences that are common now. Your daughter wanted to immerse herself in France, albeit through treasured possessions. I don't doubt she ends up with more meaningful souvenirs that the average traveler. I should try this approach myself on my next trip.
Just got back from a week in Playa del Carmen Mexico with my sons, now 10th and 8th grade. I shared a few restaurants and things that I liked with them, but they would have been fine mostly staying in the AirBNB. Best parts ended up being trips to Cozumel and Chichén Itzá which were never on their radar.
My first thought was that your daughter’s future husband had better have a good paying job.
I am sauté he will.
Reading this makes me sad.
I see your point. I wouldn’t want commercialization be the reason for a trip, but the historical points of interest. I’m not a ‘shopper’ so items are not my appeal. Glad though he had a week with his daughter. I did notice how those who traveled to USA for the World Cup, fell in love with the people, our food, and of course the big shopping centers just to look in awe at the size.
It seems like the trip was more a material pursuit than a cultural one. If you’re focused on things, instead of place, you can miss a lot, especially the spontaneity of adventure, stumbling upon something new and inspiring.
The trip sounds sort of two dimensional, flat, as opposed to broadening, which to me anyway, is the whole point of travel. I suppose inadvertent cultural exchange can happen. But it’s the focus that bugs me about this sort of itinerary - like being on a mission more than an adventure. IMHO.
I suspect she would be better off at Hillsdale than Yale.
I agree, I even tried to interest her in the Naval Academy.
She's a smart girl with a great dad. Yale has evidently been her dream.
I agree. Yale just isn’t what it used to be. If she doesn’t go along with the liberal agenda, it might be difficult for her.
She comes from tough stock, and if anyone can logically talk her through issues, it's her dad.
Your stuff is always interesting. How do you have time to write all that you do? Thank you.
TikTok = hive mind
And that is the crux of it. Even though it is US owned, sounds like TikTok is a CCP geared platform. It is a platform that appeals to children and young adults which is a bit of a red flag to me. The c I use for my SubStack name is for cynical, so maybe I am going overboard. I went deer hunting with my father when I was that age, and we didn’t see one deer because we were talking too much. A son would have shut up and hunted. I treasure that memory, as I know Alex and his daughter always will.
Red flags everywhere. Courage.
"My daughter's Tik Tok algorithm booked our Paris vacation" "By late 2025, 43% of Americans ages 18 to 29 said they regularly got news from TikTok." How much of that "news" is 'modified' by Chinese propaganda? That just might shine some light on WHY so many of America's college students are so ill-educated, and INDOCTRINATED. We definitely DO NOT get our news from Tik Tok, as we do not use that program!
"TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, is subject to Chinese laws, such as the National Intelligence Law and Cybersecurity Law, which could compel it to share data with the Chinese government. These laws, combined with TikTok’s vast American user base and ByteDance’s control over its algorithm and source code, raise concerns about the potential for foreign surveillance, blackmail, and influence operations." The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies
That is mostly about 'National Security;' however, having our personal information available 'within' the United States brings on all the 'surveillance' we MUST accept, but still do not like, without adding any foreign product to surveil us. Also, being a mite paranoid, in my old age, I'm not following some 'itinerary' set up by some unknown "algorithm," especially in a foreign country, when the prospect for some nefarious action could be on the "itinerary!" As John Stossel would say, "GIVE ME A BREAK."
Great article. I spent 35 years as an airline pilot, most of it international, so I was fortunate to travel all over, especially Europe and South America. I always used the opportunity to wander around wherever I was, exploring and trying to see as much as possible, and my wife and I took dozens of vacations in Europe. The guidebook sources at the time were Frommers or Europe on $10 a day, or the like. For planning you were at the mercy of the "travel agents" whose information was influenced by whoever paid the highest commissions. You were basically lucky if you stumbled on the real gems in most of the major cities, and especially in the lesser ones. With the advent of the internet, all that insider info suddenly became democratized, which initially was wonderful, but now has a somewhat negative effect.
I personally saw this in a small restaurant in Paris, in St Germain, not far from the EIffel Tower. It was on a quiet side street, a small place, maybe 12 tables, with Madame working the front, and her husband cooking in the back. The food was classic, simple French fare, well-prepared, good quality, not expensive. Locals enjoying a nice meal. Years later, I took some crew members there, only to find in the window recommendations on Trip Advisor and pictures of the couple with Rick Steeves. Long story short: The restaurant was now full of tourists, not locals, and the food quality had declined. The experience was not the same.
My current peeve are the cruise ships. Dock in Barcelona at 10AM, drop off 4000 tourists who storm the Ramblas and old quarter, or get a quick tour behind someone with an flag on a selfie stick, walk by a couple of Gaudi buildings, have a hot chocolate or a frozen paella in a cafe on a square, run back to the ship, and think they've "done" Barcelona. On to Marseilles or Cannes, etc. They have no idea what they are missing.....
On the one hand, it is great that people are travelling, but they are missing so much....
First of all, what a wonderful time with your daughter, filled with memories for a lifetime. Second, this trend seems to fit with the whole immersive experiences that are common now. Your daughter wanted to immerse herself in France, albeit through treasured possessions. I don't doubt she ends up with more meaningful souvenirs that the average traveler. I should try this approach myself on my next trip.
Just be glad you didn't wind up in Paris Texas by mistake. If she plans a trip to Cairo, double check which one.
Just got back from a week in Playa del Carmen Mexico with my sons, now 10th and 8th grade. I shared a few restaurants and things that I liked with them, but they would have been fine mostly staying in the AirBNB. Best parts ended up being trips to Cozumel and Chichén Itzá which were never on their radar.
Ppl in