This summer I’ve enjoyed posting my submissions and then staying out of the conversation, letting all of you toss your ideas around. As a silent observer, I’ve learned lots and enjoyed the discussion. Here are a few questions asked via the blog that I think deserved a thoughtful response.
Question:You have talked about preparing for a trip, but how do you decompress from one? How do you make the adjustment back to your “other routine” in the States?
Answer:My big concern is not getting swept up in the home-front priorities before I can follow through on all my writing and get all my notes cleanly shuffled into the grey matter of Europe Through the Back Door. (With the glut of data plaguing our society lately, I am really into “design” of travel information these days.) My wife runs the show when I’m gone, and it’s an adjustment for her and me to be a partnership again, rather than two autocrats under one roof. I settle reluctantly from an active life to a more sedentary one — promising to keep in shape as I am in Europe…but never following through. My body agrees to stay healthy for the intense 60 consecutive days of work on the condition that I take it easy for awhile once home. If I cheat, I get sick.
Question:Regarding the girl in Bosnia who wanted you to pay her to take a photo: Did you give the scarved young lady the euro she requested? What is your policy on paying the locals for the privilege of taking their photos?
Answer:She was dressed up and positioned for the purpose of tourists taking her photo. I took her photo because she looked great — and happily paid her the euro. If I’m just grabbing a candid shot of a local, I never pay.
Question:Does it ever get old traveling?
Answer:For me, travel is accelerated living. I live and learn triple each day on the road what I’d experience at home. If I wasn’t assured of going home, I might think differently, but for me, travel is as fresh as ever. I still fly home pondering my next trip.
Question:You have wonderful descriptions of towns and cities in your books and blogs, with a mix of modern and historical significance, but I wondered if you could comment more on the area’s natural histories, its parks and preserves? Is there any wilderness left in Europe?
Answer:I report on what I am personally enthusiastic about: history, contemporary issues, efficient travel, art, culture, cities. For an enthusiastic rundown on flora, fauna, geology, folk tales and myths, adventure sports, and shopping — topics that, while perfectly legit, just aren’t that interesting to me — you’ll do better with another travel writer. I have a particularly bad attitude about geology. I know it’s silly to think this, but to me geology is “anti-history” or maybe “history without people.” As a tour guide, I recognized my shortcoming here and once offered a geologist on my bus the microphone for five minutes a day as we drove to discuss the geology of the regions we were traveling through. I tried to enjoy his rocks and ridges moments — but it was absolutely dreadful…one of the biggest mistakes of my tour guiding career.
Question:As a Swiss fan of yours, I struck by how negative your blog became while in Switzerland. I am not particularly patriotic, and I know that you are a very critical traveler, but I get the impression that (except for your favorite alpine village of Gimmelwald) you do not particularly like Switzerland. Why? Is it too sterile? Not friendly? Too expensive? Is it because of the banking industry? And please note that my family has been eating cheese fondue in summer for generations.
Answer:Sometimes I fear I’ll stutter with superlatives about the wonders of Europe. I try to hold back on the giddiness sometimes. Maybe for me, Switzerland is like the kid at high school who’s a great athlete, has perfect hair, the best girl friend and who all the teachers love. Sometimes you just want to see him trip or get a pimple. Switzerland’s cities are great — and the tourist board is expert at shaping their image. While I like the cities, I find that there are more real travel thrills per mile, minute and dollar up in the mountains. Perhaps my agenda for Switzerland was to find flaws. (It’s the opposite of humble Olomouc in Moravia, which has so little beyond its rough charm going for it.) About fondue: I’ll stand by my belief that it’s a winter meal. If it wasn’t for tourists, I think most fondue restaurants in Switzerland would shut down in the summer. Having said all this, we did bring home a show that I’m thrilled about, which makes the great Swiss cities look absolutely wonderful. Stay tuned.
[Drop by in a couple days…and we’ll sum things up.]
Some people travel from restaurant to restaurant and see hotels in between, others go from scenic spot to scenic spot, and see the towns in between, we travel from town to town and see the scenic spots between.
At the Plitvica National Park, sixteen lakes are connected by thousands of little, hundreds of medium, and dozens of large waterfalls. Most of the time that slippery wooden walkway seemed even narrower when we met other people also walking under an open umbrella. A scary walk through a gorgeous natural treasure.
The thirty minute ferry ride on the Geiranger Fjord from Hellesylt, to Geiranger, Norway, was really spectacular. We have seen hundreds of beautiful scenic locations in Europe and in the US, but for pure outdoor beauty, the Norwegian fjord coast must be number one.
The Alps at the Matterhorn, Switzerland, at Chamonix, France, and at St. Bernard pass on the border between Switzerland, and Italy, are the best alps scenery we remember in Europe.
I’m so sad that the summer blog is about over…I love reading your adventures Rick…helps to satisfy me until my next trip! But coming home means we have the new shows to look forward to…that excites me! Can’t wait to see all you’ve done this summer. We’ll leave in about 10 days for a trip to Wales to visit our daughter with a side trip to Venice for my husband and I…all booked with your Italy book. I’m anxious to revisit London and several Welsh sites with my son, it will be his first time across the pond. I guess I’m just dorky enough to get excited to show him so many things I love!
Geology? Flora and fauna? Hmmm. Never thought about it, but now that you mention it, I would be delighted to get a bit of that sort of thing on a tour. Just a bit. The argument can be made that the land people live on plays a roll in their history, and is therefore of some importance. That said, I completely understand if it’s not your thing, and I’m no eco-tourist.
I had a friend, since passed on, who was a history instructor. He always said, “if you want to study history, start with geography”. Usually, the geography determined why people settled in that particular area and whether or not they thrived or died/moved on or fought over it. And geology is kind of the “nuts and bolts” of geography. The geology/flora/natural resources are why Venice is still there instead of washing out to sea hundreds of years ago and why so many people have survived in the Alps. I will miss the blog. I saw your interview on World Hum and I know that you have been wanting to expand your type of travel writing. Please keep this up, even from home. It’s very informative and very entertaining. We leave for Vienna (our first time there) and then Venice and Lake Como in a month. As always, your guides make the trips easier and more fun. Thanks again.
I had a geography professor who also instilled the philosophy that everything in the world happens because of geography. Without geology, you have no geography, and therefore no history. James Burke’s Connections series comes to mind. When taking a trip including RS tours, I do like to know a little bit about unusual geological formations. My next trip is to Ireland and I definitely want to know more about the unusual rocky formations. Thanks again for a great blog and answering questions.
“If my Sweetie wants it, I will buy it.†The only ridiculous thing she ever wanted was ME! There’s jewelry from the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, cost $200 in 1970, fifteen years ago the jeweler said $6 to $8,000.
Use your shopping opportunities to buy products you need and will use and enjoy, rather than just buying “tourist gadgets.†The rule: “Half the clothes, twice the money.†A man filled his suitcase with clothes from the Salvation Army and Goodwill. When something became dirty, he left it, used that space to carry items home. Plan carefully.
We have a couple of hundred remembrances. There are many copper and brass bowls, pots, pans, trays and scales. Most unusual is a 10 pound black volcanic lava rock that we found when we climbed to the top of Mt. Vesuvius. A lava rock, reddish in color, from the Island of Hawaii, a small pink stone as used to build Assisi, Italy, anchor chain from the Island of Saipan. Two 10†pieces of the Berlin Wall, and the hammer that did it.
In answer to someone’s question regarding any wilderness left in Europe…I have been reading a lot about Abruzzo (Italy) maybe becoming the next Tuscany (in about 5-10 years). The inland parts of Abruzzo have been described as having “deer, wolves and bears.” With the mountains included, it may just feel like Wyoming or Colorado. My mother’s family is from Abruzzo and since my husband is from Croatia and we travel there occassionally, we will definately be checking it out…maybe as soon as next year. Abruzzo also extends to the Adriatic coast. I hear property in certain places of Abruzzo is pretty cheap right now. I’m sure those inexpensive prices are in the “deer, wolf and bear” sections!
I have enjoyed reading your blog Rick, especially when you have talked about places to which we have already travelled. or those we soon hope to visit! My husband and I are leaving for our fourth European trip next week, all of which have been inspired by your guidebooks. We are adventuring into Central Europe this time with a visit to Czech Republic, Slovenia, and Croatia, as well as returning to some of our favorite places in Germany, Austria, and Italy. Without your books, we would never have experienced all that Europe has to offer. We are going to keep on travelling!
Hi rick – just got back from a Swiss Alps hiking tour – and we walked by your favorite Chalet-Cheese stand in Gimmelwald. The town was almost empty the day we were there (maybe preparing for your tour as we noticed the Flemish bus in Lauterbrunnen earlier!) Walters was also closed – but it was great to walk though the town we have seen on your show. Hotel Jungfrau was great in Muerren where we stayed (the Inferno-Triathalon was on and made for great parties with the locals!) thanks and hope you do a few blog updates during the year as others suggested! thanks! Tom in Newport Beach CA
Rick, Just wondering why you have not done a show about Russia (or maybe you have and I have not seen it). Too much red tape? I can understand why it might not be economical to write a guidebook about a country few Americans visit, but are there other reasons you don’t go there? BTW- thanks for the recommendations on Hotel Le Blason in Amboise and Hotel Adornes in Bruges.
As an airline employee and a veteran of the lostluggage office for more years than I care to admit to, Im wondering if an update has been considered to cover the tsa restrictions on gels, creams, liquids etc in carryon items, and also for those carrying those types of meds that fall into those categories? Also, the UK carryon restrictions LEAVING the UK are even more strict than those from the US… I have lots of ideas on lost luggage recovery, for those few that MUST check, due to banned items in the carryon, or just too much stuff… Also ideas on what to look for at checkin counters when checking a bag… I personally dont, and wont, would rather mail items back, or ask the store to ship and pay the extra fee… Thanks!
Environmental history is very much in the forefront today. A recent college level world history book has it as a theme. The physical world plays a huge role in shaping human activity. There’s a wonderful article in History Scotland volume 7, number 3 “Written in the Hills: An Environmental History project in the Scottish Uplands.” The authors are an ecologist and an evironmental archeologist and they were studying how land use in the highlands since the 1600’s has affected diversity. I love the cultural and political aspects of history, but understanding the geology and biology of place are important as well. Some world historians are thinking of writing a world history survey book that starts with the big bang!
Rick, I love your shows. They are as close to my ancestral homelands as I’ll probably ever get. Realizing this would probably not be feasible, but could be very beneficial. Have you considered with the growing success and interest in FUTBOL here in the States, that covering the traditions of “FOOTBALL CLUBS” and their stadia in Europe could help advance the sport here and possibly help your business (like an expanded version of your GAA coverage in the Dublin episode). With the different English stadiums, such as St. Andrews in Birmingham and Hartlepools’ stadium (among others) having been destroyed by Nazi bombing, and some of these stadiums are as old as the mid 1800’s and the fans and corporate sponsors don’t whine for new stadiums. These clubs and their fans and stadia can have as much draw as the artwork you cover. It was just an idea, as a huge soccer fan from Indy, and a die-hard Euro-merican. Keep up the fantastic work. God bless, Chri
hi Rick, my family’s yearly Turkiye trip is coming up and looks like you will be there a the same time, April! maybe we will see you around Istanbul. I married a Turkish man 8 years ago and for 9 years, once a year we travel to Turkey to see family and take our son to see his “other half”. I’m American (mostly irish mix)from the SF Bay Area and Turkey is my second home, we actually have a home we stay in in Eskishehir, also a very nice place to visit, 3 hr train ride from Istanbul, Eskisehir is “old city”, also known for the meerschaum stone and their talented carvers. I offer you an open invitation to our home, my whole Turkish family lives in the same town, and all us siblings live on the same street just doors apart from each other. My mother is a big fan of yours and is very excited you are showing more of Turkey, now her daughters second home. Best Regards, Shannon Gokay p.s every year we look for a great cheap place to stay in Istanbul, any favorites of yours you’d like to share with us?!
Dear Rick or Whom Ever Can Advise Me, I am planning a trip to Italy from August 5th to the 20th with my family. All adults. Last years trp was wonderful in July but I am now hearing nightmares abiut the stores, some restaurants, businesss, tourist sires etc being closed DUE TO THE ITALIN HOLIDAY DURING AUGUST. Can someone shed some light on this for me , I would be so greatful. We are renting a van. going to Florence, Rome, Sorrento Tuscany, Southern Italy. Thank You Frankie