Hi Samantha,
This is my first time posting but I just had to write and say thank you for your Prague Passport to Europe. I just moved to America from Prague and it was great to see some of the places in Prague that I miss.
I also thought it was so great that you went to Susta Strudl in Zizkov! I lived in Zizkov just around the corner from Palac Flora and the Flora metro line. The program was so great and showed Prague in all its glory. I am also really glad that your showed the Kavarna Imperial. I used to love going there and no I didn't throw any donuts at anyone either
I am now a Passport addict!

Capt. Tuttle!

I’m sure you did brilliantly for the camera and if its any consolation I still get nervous, sometimes very nervous right before the camera rolls.

I read your very poignant message in a bottle back in June and was so frustrated because I didn’t have the go ahead to announce the new series. And just so you never feel like that again Travel Channel and I have already bounced around the possibility of Passport to China, India, Africa, Australia. So you can see I will be an old woman with a cane by the time I am done traveling. An old woman who can still knows how to jump on a few beds.

I went back recently to your June message and was treated to an incredibly moving account of how a lot of you first stumbled upon me. I believe it was either Mary or Mother O who said how frustrating it was that Travel Channel never promotes my shows and that it takes so long for people to find me. That reminded me of a scene we were shooting while in Provence. We were at a vineyard that produced the world famous Chateaunuef Du Pape and I was surprised to see that instead of soil the vines were growing up thru a deep layer of large rocks. The winemaker told me that because the vine has to work so hard to grow it produces a much more complex grape that makes a more intriguing and rewarding wine, a wine that is to be savored. –sounds familiar doesn’t it?

I expect a message in the bottle by the end of September


it's always such a pleasure,
samantha

Dejardin

yes, its been very hot. But this is my first year with air conditioning in my apartment. My old place was too big to do anything without spending enough money to purchase a car so I and my cat just suffered thru. You would think Fiona died and went to heaven with the cold air blasting her calico fur.

So you are heading to Europe? That's excellent news and I'm sure as you have seen on this forum that you have quite a few travel experts (Capt. tuttle, Intl Doc, Mother and Father O) to name a few who i am sure would be happy to give you more than a year of stuff to do. If I can help you in anyway don't hesitate to ask.

keep cool,
Samantha

Maureen,

Tips for Prague-visit the Strudl forum on this website under the Passport to Europe title. Best Strudl ever. Also the Hanging Cup Cafe for Pig knuckles. As for the Czech language I wrote everything down and used it as a cheat sheet. that's one tough language.

sounds like you have a lot on your plate especially around the holidays-don't get too stressed

take care,
samantha

Kelsey

BREAK A LEG!!!!

tonight is opening night, I am sure if you are like me you are already experiencing major jitters. the hardest part for me was simply trusting i would be able to say that very first line. I was always so nervous i just couldn't imagine even talking. but once that first line is over the fun begins.

thanks for blaming the post office but I'm sure it was probably my mistake. I have your email so thanks!

mansionsinheaven

we'll see about given the Fiance a cameo on this cruise special

ncphotographer,

I really didn't like curry wurst in Berlin. Strange because I love hot dogs and sausages-maybe it was the curry...

megz

the most student friendly I think because of ease of being amongst the locals and cheap would be Bologna (home of the oldest university in Europe) as well as Berlin and Amsterdam.

have a great time in wherever you go,
samanth

Bluebelles,

CD's: i just bought Michelle Shocked, KT (oh now I forget her last name but she rocks) Keane, and Zero 7. I live in Brooklyn NY and yes I will definitely post some pictures from my wedding!

KT Tunstall, Sam. I like her.

Linda

Glad to see you are enjoying the Europe series, i had so much fun doing it. Yep, wedding in October, peak of fall foilage so it should be beautiful. I wish my man could join me but unfortunately he has this "job" thing he needs to show up for everyday. what a bummer. I am trying to teach him how to do my make-up so in the future he could be my stylist

Hotelsfan

nice to hear from you again, I hope you are alright and enjoying the summer. okay so here are some of your questions answered

I really have no idea why they would take them off the schedule. Maybe there's a back log of things they would like to air first. South America will be only one year and twenty episodes. Freedom of the Seas will take me somewhere thru the Caribbean Islands and it will air many times as the first cruise show was very successful. An Eco resort is a type of accommodation that is very sensitive to the earth.

take care,
Samantha

Gracias Ashley, gracias.

Hi Sam!

I love my weekday afternoons when I can catch your shows during a lunch break. You are so delightful to watch and very refreshing when compared to other shows' hosts. I also love watching you because you have one of the cutest feminine figures out there on TV today. I was wondering if you could divulge some of your secrets to keeping yourself fit and healthy both everyday and while you're on your trek to see the four corners of the globe. My fiance's mom and I are determined to have a body like yours sometime!

Congrats on your engagement too! You are more than deserving.

Best regards,
Connie

dear ms.brown .This is the first time I ever did something like this .I'm a big fan i once wrote to you to let you know that your image is use to sell windows in chicago .i wrote it on Kea Lani letterhead, love that place and send it to the Maryland office but i never got a answer.I wish the best in your upcoming wedding and hope you can come back to chicago.your big fan magicone001

Dear Sam,
this is my first post. where does your next season take us. if u could, please e-mail me a picture of u in sicily. my e-mail address is lamartina113@yahoo.com . thanks and hope to hear from u soon.
also, how did u get your job? what did you have to major in?
your friend,
Sam La Martina

Thanks for the congrats! Our wedding plans are coming around nicely I'd say. September is very right around the corner. It's kind of like finish line time. I can see light! What month is your wedding going to be in? Can I come? haha You're invited to mine, by the way. You can use our wedding to kick off a new show- Passport to Brenham, Texas. haha

I'll keep an eye out for your email about the pics. I appreciate it! See you tonight on the tube...

~ k

Hi Sam!

This is my first post, but your shows have been such a huge help. In fifteen minutes is your cruise, which I can't wait to see because in nine days my family and I are going to the exact same places. And it'll be a big help.

I also love watching passport to Europe, I adore Europe and I really want to do what you do someday.

Being a travel journalist would be amazing. Thanks!

-Kaitlyn

Hi Sam!

I'm a first time poster, and I'm thrilled to have caught your latest news this week! I read elsewhere on this site that there would be a moratorium on your career due to your upcoming nuptials (congrats, btw!), and have been seriously traumatized at the thought of no-more Sam on tv since then! But now I see there are lots and lots of plans for you to continue your merry travels and for the rest of us to thoroughly enjoy every show you make! You make arm-chair travelling *so* much fun, and I hope that we'll have the privilege of seeing your wonderful shows for years to come!

Hi to Fiona & the soon-to-be-Mr. Sam, and I sign off as I watch lightning racing across the skies of beautiful Zion National Park...

hey Sam!

i've lurked on these forums from time to time but always seem to miss when you are going to be on, so imagine my surprise yesterday when i saw this post!

i started watching Great Hotels a few years ago and have been hooked on your shows ever since. when i saw that Passport was avalible on iTunes this week i hurried on over and bought all the episodes hoping if enough people do this then maybe the people at Travel might look into some DVD releases eventually... who knows?

anyway i'm really excited to see the last European episodes coming up, and to know you will keep moving on to other regions of the world is really exciting! cant wait to see what the Latin America shows will be like. i've always been a big bossa nova fan, so try to fit some of that history in if you go to brazil! any chance you will be going to Cuba or will you be sticking to the mainland? as far as your long term plans i always thought it would be great if you did some episodes on Japan, time will tell.

Thank You so much for taking the oportunity to talk to us your fans, as i'm sure you can tell it means so much to many of us! keep traveling, we'll keep watching!

P.s. - if you wouldn't mind, i too would really like it if i could get a picture. my email is anonimousey@gmailDOTcom

Thanks!

travel erin

I really loved Berlin and I think it warrents a lot of your time while in Germany. Then I think it's important to head to Bavaria just to see the enchanting beauty of the country and a very different people and culture.

have a great time and thanks for watching!
sam

Aaron and Maria

I believe we were in Lisbon close to November. I remember stopping into this wonderful cafe of only locals above 6o and there were these incredible doughnut like pastries that I believe I was told were only made for the Christmas season. Angels...something. Would you know what that was.

thank you for the invite. I knew as we left Lisbon that we hadn't even tapped Portugals beauty and diversity.

take care,
samantha

Morgan,

Do I have any honeymoon suggestions? I should ask you since you seem to have traveled and seen the world more than i have. Do you know that my fiance and I have no idea where we want to go-unbelievable. We definitely want to go somewhere neither of us have been. It's not terribly remote but I found the island of Mallorca once you left its heavily touristed areas just gorgeous and worthy of a sultry mediterranean inspired honeymoon.

good luck!
sam

Dramaqueen,

Hey there! glad to see you are doing well. To be honest I don't think there will be anymore Great Hotels at least not for many years as we have so many projects lined up for the future. Fiona gets very upset with me while I'm away but comes around after some fresh catnip and some tuna. I'm so sorry to hear about Samantha sixteen is too young to lose a beloved cat. Fiona is 14 so she's getting up there but she just had a check up with her new vet and they couldn't believe she was that old.

tale care and it was great talking to you
sam

Linda,

You were in Italy when they won the World Cup? INCREDIBLE. that really must have been an over the top italian experience that few others will ever get to experience. Look into the Hotel Arts in Barcelona, I didn't stay there myself but I have a few friends who did and just loved it. Have a great trip, sam

Hey Aaron,

sorry as of yet the series hasn't come out on DVD. You can download a lot of episodes from itunes if you've got an mp3 player.

samanthalover (strange writing that myself)

thanks for all the praise. Being personable is my ultimate goal. It has been brought up the Honeymoon episode and each time i just sort of stare and go uh-huh. all i can say is I don't know...I don't know.

take care,
samantha

Ernie

We only did Amsterdam but headed out to see the "kitchen gardens" So many times we have only had the time to show the capital city of a country and not its countryside so it's always bittersweet. There is a slew of new episodes that have yet to be aired and I just don't know when. They are Venice (Hidden and 101) Bologna, Verona, Valencia, Mallorca, Scottish Highlands, Glasgow, Stockholm, Helsinki, Iceland, and Copenhagen.
so lots to look forward to!

take care,
samantha

Hi Sam, I have become such a huge fan of yours, i can honestly say i'm in love with you and your show...i'm watching you right now as i type as you cruise the mediterranean....you really know how to do it right....have you ever considered a crusie on the Radisson Seven Seas Line? They offer small ships with small passenger loading and really go first class all the way...I've done their tahitti trip...WOW...the beauty of tahitti would only be enhanced by the beauty of you being there...thanks for reading Sam and if you ever have some free time would you like to get married??? HA... Jeff

Dave

A swimsuit calender! my gosh I just heard the sound of money being flushed down the toilet. First of let me say how flattered I am by that suggestion but I can only imagine what a money loser that would be.

I don't have many novels under my belt as I read two pages and instantly fall asleep. But I would say my favorite book of all time was Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged.

thanks for your kind blessings,
samantha

Scottish_Steph

The fact that you are from Prague and loved the show is one of the greatest compliments I could have. thanks for taking the time and hopefully you are being welcomed here in The States it must be hard being so far away from home.-and no good strudl to look forward to.

take care,
samantha

Connie,

all this praise. I actually work out a lot because I eat a lot and will never stop. Just a few tips-always take the stairs, and I always do push-ups and Pilates based excersizes for the stomach. Then I treat myself to ice cream!

magicone

I received your letter! thanks. I remember the Kea Lani letter head well. take care and thanks for being such a great fan.

-sam

anonimousey,

you bought all the episodes? What a wonderful gesture and actually it paid off as the Travel Channel people have been very impressed by the response so who knows...I don't think there is any talk of going to Cuba there's so much to do isn't there? no problem on the pic

thanks for taking the time to write,
samantha

Thank you, Samantha,
No more time or efforts are requested for me this week. Just enjoy your time dodging tropical storms up there. I'll leave your version in the June Bottle as the knot tying that package into the perfect bow, and it is a far more glittering prize to have it so adorned. But I can't resist a few more words for you tonight - having seen your Prime Time performance earlier, of course - and you looked as if you were perfectly at home there, in addition to being curled up in a sofa at Dad's.

It did occur to me last month that you might be in negotiations for new things to come and maybe were unable to announce them yet, and I delight in your news. I love Europe most of all, but like a growing assembly here, would vicariously follow you to the ends of the earth (and am already on record as including tours of rest stops of the Jersey Turnpike, although I'd really rather not). Michael Palin has already done North Africa fabulously, but I'd love to see you venture to Australia and New Zealand some day, taking Kel along as "production assistant and animal handler". (And Kel, it was rough just running in the neighborhood here an hour ago tonight - I cannot imagine pedalling in Iowa heat all day. Enjoy. Mother and Father O I hope have cooler climes now on the Maine coast and I thank them for their comments and thoughts.)

As for the fall, perhaps you can find one of Elaine Benes' J. Peterman Urban Sombreros to take along on your travels South of the Border, Sam. I'm sure you'll be turning Peruvian cocoa beans into deep milk chocolate, and somehow finding the best Chilean vintages (some decent ones are in Virginia, too, but that is for another season, another time). But wherever you may go, I know your gilded touch will cause your every future project to glow, and there is indeed a quality of fine wine about your work which I do sense is the distillation of much off camera difficulty through layers and layers of troublesome rocks. We know, and appreciate it, Samantha, and we savor the results. But your famously good posture and walking up stairs will keep you caneless for a good fifty to sixty more years, I suspect. And your talents and remarkable mind will last you even longer, I know. I hope your memories and happiness will last you endlessly.

But Australia, Asia, Africa... I don't know... That's a long way to be throwing bottles and I'm not getting any younger (just a very few gray hairs, still). I'll need some help from others as before with any future bottles, and we have some wonderful new travel posters of late to join the valued veterans. But of course I'll send you messages if you want them, Sam, for as always I remain,
your obedient servant,
"Capt. Tuttle"

P.S. And make sure your cruise ship stays upright next month, too. Some people overlook that, but it's a fairly important point.
D.

Hey Sam!!!! I have pretty much watched your show everyday. The show acatually provides me with some excellent daytime tv. Your show is very intriguing(sorry if I can't spell), and it has inspired me to want to become a hotel owner. Watching your show has given me lots of ideas ***Good Bathrooms**and you seem like a regualr person traveling around the world (Lucky You ). Well I am looking foreward to your latin series beacuse
I live in Miami and I know nothing about Latin America. . I am also looking foreward to your Freedom of the Seas special because I am acatually going on that ship next summer!!! .



Congratz on your wedding and I hope to get up tommorow and watch you.


P.S.- Im really going to miss Passport to Europe. I want to possiblly live in London when I get older, so I taped your London specials!

Ms. Brown! OH MY GOSH!

I'm so excited to actually log in when you're online and replying to posts! I about fell off the couch! I'm so excited, I can hardly type.

I've been a LOOOONG time fan, years in fact. I was always too shy to post here(which is weird cause I'm not shy...) So, I just lurk and read everyone else's nice posts.

I'm an actress out in Los Angeles and love the fact that you're a fellow performer. Congrats on all of your work and success. Dream job indeed! My TV husband kills me with a golf club this fall in the pilot episode of the new show "Justice" on FOX. My parents are so proud! I'd love to trade acting war stories sometime.

Congrats on your upcoming wedding! My best friend is getting married on October 22nd. She still needs to pick a cake, florist, photographer and DJ. Lots of work ahead!

My favorite of all of your shows is Passport to Europe. I love Europe. Been there a few times myself. I've got just about all of the episodes taped to DVD. Recently our DVD recorder broke and I hadn't finalized any of my discs yet because I was trying to organize by country, so there's a lot of juggling. Our recorder requires finalizing so you don't tape over and you're able to play in all DVD players. I was beside myself. All that work down the drain. BUT, happy ending. My boyfriend's work had the same DVD recorder, so he was able to finalize them all for me. YEAH!!!!

I patiently wait for the newest episodes. I've lent out many of the DVDs already to friends who are planning trips because I talk about you all the time and the many places you've traveled. You're good reference around these parts.

Well, I'll stop blabbing now. I wish you much happiness, success and buckets of love (and babies) to you and your sweetheart. (Although buckets of babies would be a funny sight!)

Thanks for taking the time to read my post(if indeed you're still reading them this week.)

PS. May I have an autograph? Don't know how to go about that? Do I post my email here? Snail mail? Not sure how you work that since you do them yourself(very noble.) Or maybe a SASE?

Kelly Christopher
www.kellychristopher.com

Samantha, thank you for all the responses, these forums are really great at bringing people together! I think the pastries you are referring to are called "papos de anjo" (angel bellies), and I can't honestly say that i've eaten them. when i would travel here I'd 'stock up' on all the great pastries and sweets as my time was limited and I wouldn't know when i'd return again, but living here i need to be carefull or I won't fit through the small doors in the houses.

But if you are on the East Coast, there are lots of Portuguese bakeries (so im told) in Massachuesettes, ie New Bedford, and Boston, probably New York and even down into Rhode Island if you are indeed craving yet one more little angel belly!

Portugal is very diverse, and that's one big reason we decided to make this jump and open our business..within such a small distance you can see so much, ocean, mountains, bullfights, high speed metros, women with baskets on their heads..and that's just the beginning....If you get the chance ever to see some more great hotels of the world, you cannot miss the Pousadas of Portugal, which are all the old castles and manor homes turned four and five star hotel. They are really spectacular. As both Maria and I are also architects, we are in such awe of the contrasting old and new here. There is such this essence of time and history and influence, that unfortunately, is not so evident in the US..(but we do have hot dogs back home, something Portugal needs to catch up on...big chicago dogs with all the trimmings!)

On a final note i would like to say it's fun reading about your relationship with your kitty..i had to give Elwood and Nina away before moving here to Portugal and i think of them often, leaving a trail of mischief in their wake...

Best to you Sam,
Aaron

{Sam I hate to do this too you}

RECIPE FOR PAPOS DE ANJOS (Angel bellies)

7 yolks
2 egg whites
1 tbsp flour
butter
Syrup
4 c sugar
3 c water
1 orange peel
2 tbsp rum

1. Whip egg yolks until lemony colored
2 Add flour and continue whipping 1 minute.
3. Whip whites until they form soft peaks
4. Fold white into yolks
5.Butter 12 muffin tins and pour batter to half full tins
6.Place tins into a pan with water and bake at 350 until firm.
7. Make a light syrup . Let it cool to warm
8. Poke holes in each little cake and drop them into the syrup.
9. Let stand at least 6 hours before serving
10. Keep them in the syrup in a glass bowl


Good luck (if that's truly what you had...otherwise im sure they'll hit the spot with a good double espresso)

aaron

Hello everyone in Samantha World! I just wanted to hop on one more time and say Hello to Sam. Not much time to chat this week. We are off for the Great Bike Ride Accross Iowa and it is sure to be hot and rainy, but tons of fun.

Sam, I'll pass your good wishes to my mom if you do the same with yours.

And I promise to be included in the next Bottle.

Stay safe everyone!

Kelly

i'm a HUGE fan of your Passport to europe show. i was wondering if i could get an autograph and a picture of you. also, when did the great hotels series end? (when did you stop shooting the series, or have you stopped?)
thanks,
sam
p.s. please respond to this

Hi Sam,

Couldn't let an open forum pass by without briefly popping in to tell you how much my husband and I both adore Passport. Your announcement that the series is going to Latin America made his day. He has been taking Spanish courses recently and is fascinated with our neighbors to the south. You'll have plenty of opportunities to see a wide variety of hummingbirds during your travels there. Costa Rica in particular is rich with colorful members of the avian species. I look forward to seeing them in background shots in the new series.

I know you must be very pleased with the number of new posters who have joined the fold at this juncture. It speaks volumes about your ability to engage the minds and hearts of people of all ages and walks of life. You have a gift and use it well.

Not too much else to report. Humans and hummingbirds alike are melting in this unrelenting triple digit heat we've had in the California Central Valley. I've been out in my yard since 5:30 am working to hydrate the fuchsias, hybiscus, roses, gardenia and pretty much anything green in the vain attempt to ease their suffering during the current 10 day string of temperatures ranging between 101 and 114 degrees When the morning thermometer on the patio shows 78 at 6 am, it's not lookin' good. Hope Kelly doesn't confront such conditions in Iowa. A bike ride under those cirumstances must be challenging.

I'll close by saying I hope you're enjoying your time with family and friends in New England. Our Goodwill Travel Ambassadress deserves some downtime.

Take Care Everyone,
Carol of the hummingbirds

nvm forgot what i was gonna post

Sam, It has been a wonderful week having you here with all of us. You have the most wonderful fans...so thoughtful and intelligent. It has been a blast reading all of the posts! I caught you on prime time last night and it was wonderful having you there. Now Thursdays will be EXTRA special! I hope that they keep showing GH and PTE until the NEXT millennium. You are an absolute treasure and a delight! I am a member at the Internet Movie Database where you have your own section next to the likes of Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon. I have informed everyone there that Passport to Latin America is in the works and they are so excited! You have a very large and passionate fan base. Keep up the great work! Love and peace always, Tim

to mansions in heaven,
what's the website to the Internet Movie Database
thanks, sam l.

Hey Sam

College was quite an experience this year. It took a little while to get adjusted to it, but once I got used to it, I loved it! I am going into my sophomore year starting this fall. I was just looking back on some old forum posts and realized that I was a mere 15 years old when I first wrote you...just a freshman in high school. Time flies. Yes, Athens is going to be hot. We will only be in that city for a day or two touring around, but then I can relax on the beach for the remaining stay in Rhodes (which I will be sure to write to you about how that island was!). And I will most definitely order a frappe in your honor, although you must get a few strawberry daquiri's (with little umbrellas) for me on your cruise.

I've got about two and a half weeks before I head back to school after that trip. It's starting surprisingly late this year.. September 6th (but who's complaining?).

Well Sam, will we be hearing from you before your wedding? If not, I hope it is all that you dreamed it would be! Please enjoy yourself on your upcoming cruise and good luck as you and your crew kick off Passport to Europe: Latin America. I can't wait to see what's in store!

Smile,
Ashley

Hello Samantha,

I have been watching some of your shows over the summer. As a school teacher, it provides me with opportunities while ignoring important things like finances. But, I do love how you present a show. I lived in Sicily for 3 years while I was in the Navy in the early 1980s, so I got to visit much of Europe during that time.

I still think very fondly of my many trips to Bavaria and Austria. The best beaches were in southern France, though Palma, Spain was fun the one time I got to visit it. I haven't seen your Ireland or UK shows yet, but I have bookmarked them to remember to check it out.

I look forward to your next show in the Latin American locales. Your delightful way of enjoying a place, along with the way you absorb the great luxuries make your shows fun to see. It doesn't hurt that you're fiance is marrying such a beautiful woman either.

Here's to 30 more years of Hotels and Passports with Samantha!

Hi Samantha,
I enjoyed the show about your first cruise, followed by your visits to Monaco, Ez, and Grasse. Judging by your comments, I suspect that you had some reservations about the cruise. On one hand, it does cover quite a bit of ground. On the other, these kinds of trips seem a bit too close to seeing Europe while never leaving home. Plus you miss the evening activities in the areas you're visiting. I suppose there's something to be said for getting back together each day and sharing experiences with others, but I'm not sure that would work for me.
I've been traveling abroad since college (more than a few years ago) and always do so independently (with my wife, that is). Lots of exploring and often we are richly rewarded with great finds. We were in Berlin in March (snowy and icy), partly to catch up with local family members and partly to continue appreciating that great city. Amazing how it's changed since our first visit, in 1997.
We're off to Umbria in September (our second visit), staying at a pair of agriturismos outside Assisi and hope to enjoy several home-cooked meals along the way.
Meanwhile, we'll be in Southern New Hampsire and Maine next week and expect to visit a few of our favorite places there. If you haven't already done so, make sure to have breakfast at the Omelette Factory, which is a couple minutes north of the center of Ogunquit. Very possibly, the finest omelettes on the planet. For dinner, the best of the best (and certainly the most expensive) is the Arrows, which is a few minutes west of Route 1 (on Berwick Road, I believe). For lobsters, the Ogunquit Lobster Pound is about as good as it gets (in our opinion). You may know all about these places already. If not, try them and enjoy.
Regards,
Russell from CT