Back where I come from, there are men who do nothing all day but good deeds. They are called phil... er - phil... er yes, good deed doers. Therefore in consideration of your kindness, I take great pleasure at this time in presenting you with a small token of our esteem and affection. And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others. from The Wizard of Oz
On Valentine’s Day 2006, we defined a Slow Travel Hero for the first time, and bestowed that designation on two special Slow Travel members.
Now, on Valentine’s Day 2009 (well, okay one day late), we would like to recognize three additional Slow Travel members who have earned this designation by going above and beyond the call of duty and enriching our community through their kindness and generosity:
Americana in Parigi
Andrew
Kevin Widrow
Americana in Parigi lives in Paris, but contributes helpful information on topics in many of our forums. In addition, she has lent a hand on several occasions, including
Andrew is a US resident with a wonderful storehouse of information on public transit on both sides of the Atlantic. He is always ready to share his knowledge with other Slow Travelers, whether it be how to get to small Umbrian villages by public transportation, or how to get the best rate from a rental car company; on several occasions he has even taken time while traveling himself to to scope out and document different transportation options, and has been known to take along lists of questions from the forums that he answers upon his return. He also
Kevin Widrow lives in Provence, and when not leading hikes in the area for visiting Slow Travelers, or posting fabulous photos of his own ramblings, has gone out of his way to help Slow Travelers. Among his contributions, he has
We hope you will all join the moderators in congratulating our three new "Slow Travel Heroes"!! We are giving them a special member title and a year’s Premium Membership as a small way of saying "Thanks for all that you do - you are our heroes".
Congratulations to Americana, Andrew and Kevin! We appreciate all you do to reach out and help your fellow Slow Travelers.
I will share a little personal story about Kevin. Back in 2004 when I was a fairly new Slow Travel member, I was planning our long trip to Europe. We had rented a farmhouse in the Luberon for six months in the middle of our trip and decided to send our daughter (then 11) to the village school. I had no idea whether this was possible or how to go about it.
Kevin was also a newer ST member, living about 20 minutes from the village where we would be based. I knew him only from a few posts on Slow Travel. He offered to visit the school and meet with the director on our behalf, which he did. He found out what we would need to do to enroll our daughter and also got an e-mail address for the director. This gave us the confidence to go ahead with our plan, which was life-changing for her. Once we were in Provence, he reached out to our family in friendship many times. He and his family were instrumental in making our stay so special, and he continues to reach out to enhance the visits of others to Provence with information, assistance and the special hikes he's done with many Slow Travelers.
I know Americana and Andrew have done the same for many others!
Congratulations again and much appreciation to all three! They truly represent the very special spirit of Slow Travel.
I'd like to add my congratulations to our new Slow Travel Heroes. We're glad to have you among us, AinP, Andrew and Kevin, we thank you for your participation and contributions!
Congratulations to you all!! I will quote myself from that 2006 thread:
"It's a very sweet thing, Slowtrav Heroes, There are so many well deserving "heroes" here at Slowtrav.com I'm thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful and fun community."
Count me, too, among those who have benefited from Americana and Kevin's exceptional kindness and generosity, and from Andrew's sharing of his amazing store of transportation knowledge. Thanks to all of you for being such wonderful members of the Slow Trav community.
Americana, you are not only helpful, you have a great sense of humor! You're a hero for that alone. And Andrew, your depth of knowledge and the trouble you take to share it are, well, heroic! You too, Kevin, although I am rarely on the France board.
I am deeply flattered and quite embarrassed. Not normally one to think in terms of the give-and-take balance of life, if I must think in such terms, I would have thought that ST has given me much more info than I have given back.
It was on the bumpy road to what seemed like land's end - with my friends complaining that I had dragged them to nowhere on a car-wrecking raod - when I promised myself: if the destination - the Castelas farm recommended by ST - was to "deliver", then I would try to give something back to ST. The end of the road was heaven. The farm and ST delivered. My credibility restored. Since then ST has given me invaluable tips on Tarragona, Rome and southern France from the southwest's prehistoric caves all the way to the Italian border. I am convinced that I got more out of ST than it me. As the late Alice Trillin would have said: "is this a good deal or what."
However, Kevin, the witty provençal squire is the deserved hero who helps everyone and wrote a page explaining how the French train system works, in a much clearer way than any of SNCF's own documentation in any language. If only he'd stop dissing Paris and its wimpy inhabitants…
Merci encore, et bonne continuation, tout le monde.
Moderator's, the choices are perfect and for the right reasons.
We have only met Andrew, and that was during a lunch in Savannah and at a few other events that weekend. I always read your posts Andrew, because you are helpful in the extreme. This is a good thing.
Americana in Parigi and Kevin, we hope to meet both of you, as I find your guidence helpful, to others (France hasn't been on our itinerary, yet ), and your posts always warm and friendly.
Yours, Wendy and Rob
Posts: 3853 | Location: Monterey Peninsula, California, USA | Registered: 07 September 2003
Congratulations to all three of you on this well deserved recognization! I'm especially proud that ST has chosen to honor a fellow Missourian and lover of Umbria. Yeah, Andrew!
Deborah Horn In a previous life I was an Umbrian sunflower farmer. I want to do a past life regression and stay there. ----------------------------------- www.petsburg.com My blog: Old Shoes - New Trip
Posts: 5590 | Location: St. Louis, MO | Registered: 04 September 2001
Congratulations to Americana, Andrew and Kevin for receiving this well earned title of Slowtrav heroes. I am thinking of that Bette Midler song and certainly feel that on many occasions because of your thoughtful gestures and your unlimited generous sharing of travel knowledge so many have benefitted so much. Thank you for being on many occasions "the wind beneath our wings." You are all truly deserving of this title, "our HEROES".
You are all really too kind... I don't particularly feel like a hero - I kind of reserve that term for people who land planes on rivers, but anyway, I am glad to help whenever I can.
An Americana, as far as dissing Parisians is concerned, well that's practically a pastime de pays around here - you have to grant us poor country bumpkins something amusing to make it through these long, sunny winters !
Congratulations to all three of you on behalf of the Saldanha family; we have used you tips and advise exhaustively especially Kevin's tip of the French train system..
Posts: 120 | Location: Fremont, CA, USA | Registered: 15 September 2006
Kevin's words reflect very well what I think. The news reached me in Haiti; the trip there was certainly quite an experience. It's not a place to find efficiently run operations or great comfort, and my family (I went with my parents to visit my sibling who works there) dealt with many adventures. Electricity was routinely out, and the best chance of a shower was with a trickle of tepid water. It was impressive to see the crowds out, and how people get by, and the highlight of the national carnival in Jacmel. We went around with a minimum of harassment. There will eventually be a trip report. Anyway, I'm overwhelmed by the recognition.
Congratulations to you all!! I will quote myself from that 2006 thread:
Heroes". 
