Dear Back Door travelers,
While in the Cinque Terre the other day, as I was enjoying a Mediterranean sunset with a bunch of happy travelers from all over our beautiful country, it occurred to me that my Facebook friends and blog followers could help me make a travel-teaching dream of mine come true. In March of 2012 I hope to take my Europe Through the Back Door travel lecture on the road, visiting 20 cities in 20 days as I drive diagonally across the USA, from Seattle to Florida. I’m looking forward to exploring my own country along the way, and in my three weeks on the road I want to meet as many people as possible in towns I’ve never seen. I’ve been giving my talks in the country’s biggest cities for 20 years. Now I’d like to meet travelers in the Spokanes, Fresnos, Peorias, and Charlottes of our country ‘ provided they’re roughly on my diagonal route. Would you like me to stop in your city or town? If so, pass this idea on to an organization that could put together an event with at least 800 attendees. Universities, city lecture series, town halls, libraries, civic organizations, churches ‘ I’d love to meet you in any of these spots. If you think such an event would be doable in your hometown, send your suggestions to my publicist at media@ricksteves.com.
Thanks, Rick
Well, I am in Pittsburgh, PA so that`s not quite on the diagonal route. But I would love to go to the lecture! Maybe there will be somewhere south of us that`s not too far …
I suggest YOU suggest to Ashley Sytsma that SHE initiate contacts with: University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Nebraska; Indiana University, Bloomington, IN; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC – and don`t forget Charleston, SC (affluence) – and University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. plus University of South Carolina at Columbia, SC. Not only will you tap into a demographic – like professors/administrators who can afford your tours (or those your son offers) – but you will prime the pump for future customers. Bill Kester
I have a couple of suggestions to make you follow during any speaking tour you engage in. First, stop your following principle you stated in an earlier message: And, believe it or not, I share it expecting it to do the opposite of selling tours. Rick Second, ignore the women with fat lips. You don`t know if they are natural or not. Finally, don`t be critical of women with breast implants. If they are cosmetic they already lack self esteem and if they are done as a result of a mastectomy you will make a fool of yourself.
Rick, Jim makes some really good points. I, too, have been confused and unsettled by your very unnecessary hyper-criticisms of Americans and other travel tour models in your writings and in person during your classes at your HQ in Washington. I understand your love of Europe and Europeans – I lived there – I understand. You work so hard to promote tolerance and understanding of other peoples and their cultures. We are, after all, diplomats and ambassadors when we travel abroad. Yet snarky remarks about Americans, particularly women, present a hostile, unhealthy, and negative campaign that works at cross purposes to you and your wonderful company and staff. You have great products: travel books, shows on OPB, etc. Women, both travelling alone and in groups of their friends, are a particularly strong travel demographic well suited for your educational tours. Please consider engaging a deeper maturity and broader wisdom before alienating other Americans and potentially sabotaging your good works. Your audiences are smart. You don`t need to state the obvious.
I am baffled how Andrea`s comments about women with plastic surgery, and an Italian student`s observations about Osama Bin Laden have now become Rick`s “hyper-criticisms” or “snarky comments” about Americans. It may come as a surprise to some of the posters that not everything American is beloved by Europeans. I have learned during my travels that many of the policies and actions of our government are the subject of some serious reservations or criticism. This said, there is much to be learned by listening to citizens of other countries who view our great country from the outside. I don`t necessarily agree with criticism from Europeans, but I do listen and try to understand their perspectives when I travel. wbf
wbfey, You came to Rick`s defense very quickly. He`s a big boy and probably doesn`t need your protection. My post was based on many of Rick`s comments over considerable time and in different venues, not just the one about women. However, this does not seem to be about being well travelled, well read, or even well educated. Rick mentions in his blog that “a local guide” made the comment about women from the cruise ships drooling because their plastic surgery made their lips numb; yet, you mention someone by the name of “Andrea” having made the comment. Are you an employee of the company? Were you there when the comment was made? Regardless, it`s not worth repeating. PS: I`m delighted Rick will be taking an educational roadtrip across the US.
Bobbie, you sound paranoid. Andrea is introduced by name in the video where he makes the comments. I buy Rick Steves` books and watch his shows because I like his style of travel. I am certain that he doesn`t need me to defend him, or his views, some of which I share and some of which I don`t. I don`t work for ETBD or any other RS enterprise. I am a small business owner (my business has nothing to do with travel or travel related revenue) who has found that travel is truly one of life`s great pleasures and I, too, am delighted about the roadtrip across the US. I hope he stops in Reno so I can catch his talk. wbf
mistake on our recent trip to Italy..We made reservations for all of our stops. This took away our flexibility and we probably paid higher rates than the drop in crowd. The Soggogiorno Battistero hotel in Florence claimed a minimum 2 night stay (not mentioned in your book). One night there was more than enough. In Sienna, we went to a restaurant recommended by you and our hotel. The waiter, Amadeo, mentioned by name in your book gave us terrible service and tried to serve us stale bread. The food that eventually arrived was very bland and waiting to pay was an ordeal. Trattatoria Papal is the restaurant. Great hotel in Lucca: The Rex. With great people and (poorly maintained) bikes to use…Great restaurant: Paris Boheme. Our best meal in Italy.
Because your benchmark is 800 attendees, you`ll miss a big chunk of real America that could do, oh, half of that, say 400 on a good night. Good bye to Cedar Key, Ocala, Tarpon Springs, DeLand, Delray Beach, all the authentic places in Florida that cannot seat 800, well maybe in a church or two . . . .so for you it will be Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Miami or Tallahassee, the “chicagos” of Florida. Just observing. Lucy Tobias author of 50 Great Walks in Florida http://www.Lucytobias.com
Lucy is only partly right about Florida. There are lots of colleges in Florida with auditoriums large enough to handle 800+ (eg. Florida Atlantic University, in Boca Raton, about 10 min from Delray Beach she mentions). Many outstate areas have community colleges, and some have high schools serving several smaller communities, large enough for such a group. Then there are the private venues such as Mar-A-Lago [surely The Donald would be happy to do some cross-promotion with Rick :>)], Boca Raton Resort And Club, the Ft. Lauderdale convention center @ the port authority, etc. which can easily handle a large group meeting. But none of those venues is free, or cheap. The question is, who`s paying? I can`t imagine Rick expects someone else will organise such a large event and then foot the bill for what, all spin aside, is quite obviously a self-promotional tour. So I guess I don`t quite understand why Rick`s publicist wouldn`t be doing the legwork on this. In the Miami-to-Palm Beaches alone there are three PBS TV affiliates who regularly air repeats of Rick`s shows. I would think those PBS stations would be happy to stage something local with Rick, for their mutual benefit.
Please don`t put Charlotte and Peoria in the same sentence. But seriously, although I`d come to see you there, you might have better luck with Durham/ Chapel Hill. Both college towns.