Booking It in Italy

I’m 45 days into my 100-days-of-Europe blog series. I hope you’re enjoying traveling with me. I’ve picked up some new tips along the way while updating my guidebooks. Most people consider this a “dream job,” but in reality it’s a lot of hard work.

research notes.jpg

While I’m meeting up with my TV crew now and then, most of the days I’m alone and checking all the places in our guidebooks. This shot captures my view almost each evening. In this case I’ve found two wonderful new restaurants (with my scrawl on the back of their “biglietti da visita” (business cards, if I have my Italian correct). I put the restaurants in a logical order and visit when the restaurants are busy (8 p.m. to 10 p.m. or so). When all the places are crossed off my list, I get to eat.

bis two pastas.jpg

When dining with friends, I like to eat family style, and waiters are happy to make that easy. If I’m on my own and want to double the experience without overeating, when it comes to pasta, I simply ask for a “bis” — two half-portions on a plate for the cost of one full portion. This way I get to try the wild boar sauce on the local “pici” pasta and a pasta with white truffles as well.

book binder.jpg

Risa Laib, who for nearly twenty years in my office has been a key behind-the-scenes player overseeing the growth and quality of our guidebook series, proposed producing a clever little binder so people who rip chapters out of their books (as I encourage) can have a tidy little package as they are out and about. It’s fun to see people in Europe enjoying Risa’s little innovation. Rather than toting 1,300 pages of “Rick Steves Italy,” this woman is packing light for the day with just the Siena chapter.

museum window.jpg

I find the bureaucracy and frustrations of running museums in Europe — especially Italy — fascinating. With the chaos in local and national governments, and the severe budget-cutting, things are in flux and often a mess. It seems that each year there are more notices on the window leaving the sorry soul behind the glass with less and less light…and more and more grumpy.

RS group Siena.jpg

Researching with my local guide on the Campo (main square) in Siena, I was bumping into so many of my readers that I wasn’t getting any work done. I met some people from one of our Best of Italy tours and was so rushed that I didn’t even make time to pose for a photo. Afterwards I felt terrible. They mentioned in passing that they were on Stephanie’s tour and had free time until 2:30 p.m., when they were meeting on the far side of town at the Dominican Church. At 2:20 p.m. I told my guide we need to hoof it across town to meet the group. I know our guides are fanatically punctual — and if we’re two minutes late, we may miss them. I made it there (the local guide straggling behind me) just in time to catch Stephanie and her group. It felt great to find the people I was rude to and make sure we got that souvenir photo. They seemed like a great group and were having a beautiful trip.

Comments

4 Replies to “Booking It in Italy”

  1. Steve, we are going to be in Cinque Terra for 5 days (Oct.15 to 20 ) prior to a trans/Atlantic cruise on Celebrity’s “Reflection” from Civi to Maiami. We are laso spending a couple of nights in Civi before boarding ship. You have many followers of your books and videos among cruisers. This will be our 3rd time in Italy, which we love!

  2. We are in Italy now and all we do is talk to one member of your tour groups after another, really great people that sign up for your tours! They are eqaully amazed that we are touring along on our own, 2 middle age couples!

  3. I don’t know if Rick reads these comments, but wanted to let him know that when I bumped into him in Florence and then again in Montepulciano, I forgot to mention how much I love his guide books. I was a little star struck when I saw Rick returning to his hotel from the Uffizi in Florence and then again at the E Lucevan le stelle wine bar attached to the Lo Locanda di San Francesco B&B in Montepulciano that I missed out on telling him what a fan I am of his. So thanks Steve for doing a great job of making international travel more accessible for us Americans.

  4. Dear Rick,
    Your humanity has alway’s come across. I think all of us loyal fan’s would understand if you were too busy to meet, but that was really nice of you to make sure you connected with that group.
    Happy travels!
    The Lamorey’s
    PS: Our kids are stationed in Aviano. What a beautiful area!

Comments are closed.