We’re all in the same traveling school of hard knocks, and it’s OK to compare notes. Shoes are the most important item you’ll pack. You’ll be walking lots and need a good combination of looks and practicality. I like my ECCO shoes (Track II Low). What’s your favorite travel shoe and why?
Check out my complete packing list.
It’s Luther party time!
In 1517, the German monk Martin Luther collected 95 points to stoke discussion about the corruption of the medieval Church. He then nailed his famous “95 Theses” to the door of his hometown church in Wittenberg — unleashing a storm of change and kicking off the Protestant Reformation.
I’m honored and thankful to make a small contribution to the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation with a new documentary. Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation is airing now on public television (check your local listings) and streaming online for free. This is a story of power, rebellion, and faith that you’ll never forget.
Earlier this year, we sent free copies of the DVD to 8,000 Lutheran churches (ELCA) across the country. It’s been a lot of fun to hear about Luther viewing parties in many of these churches, from a “soup supper” viewing in Kempton, PA to a morning viewing with coffee in Douglasville, GA. (If you haven’t told me about your party yet, please share details in the comments below.)
If you’d like to host your own screening event for your friends, family, community group, or congregation, pick up a copy of the DVD and use this viewing party toolkit.
Enjoy the show!
I’m preparing for my spring research trip, as I do every year at this time, and I can hardly wait to get back on the guidebook-research trail. This season, I’ll be working on guidebooks in Ireland, Scotland, Italy, France, Germany, and even getting started on a new guidebook to Sicily. This little video clip lets you join me for a few minutes as I research in Lake Como.
You can shop online for all of my guidebooks.
I’ve been hard at work updating my “Travel as a Political Act” book, and I’d love some help. Can you recommend any travel organizations that focus on helping thoughtful Americans get a political education on the road?
Ever since I traveled on three trips to Central America with the Center for Global Education (CFGE) at Augsburg College back in the 20th century, I’ve recommended their program for what I call “reality travel.” They were expert at taking groups to troubled regions with top-notch teachers, and connecting their travelers with the various players in confusing and complicated situations. On my CFGE tours, we’d visit with the United Nations peacekeeping mission, the local military’s PR office, professors in local colleges, farm workers’ unions, and church groups. One day we’d meet with Socialists in the morning and the US Ambassador in the afternoon. The next day we’d meet with the pro-business, right-wing political party (supported by the USA) in the morning and “The Mothers of the Disappeared” (women whose sons were killed by right-wing death squads) in the afternoon. These experiences contributed mightily to my political awareness.
For years, I’ve recommended the CFGE for travelers inspired to visit places like Iran, Palestine, Cuba, and Central America. But now they are providing travel education only to their students, and I need other “educational tour” companies to recommend.
Today more than ever, the world’s challenges deserve a firsthand look. And I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the education provided by “reality travel.” If you can recommend an organization that provides in-depth educational tour experiences like the ones I’m describing, I’d love to hear about it. Thank you!
Think of 60,000 people. Fill a stadium with them and their dreams and aspirations. Because our president canceled that many visas, those lives — which were structured around a trip to America — just had their travel dreams scuttled. And that’s just incoming travelers. Many outgoing travel plans have also been halted.
We’re not just talking about vacations. These are academic visits, business trips, and people seeking a better life for their families…tens of thousands of lost opportunities — in education, in commerce, and in understanding.
Why? They claim it’s for “safety.” As a traveler — who has, again and again, experienced the power of people-to-people connection — I believe that, ironically, this action will make us less safe. Understanding and sharing between the USA and seven countries where understanding and sharing is particularly vital, just took a huge hit.
I fear we’ve entered a backward world. Actions “for safety” will make us less safe. Actions “for jobs” will bring fewer jobs. At Rick Steves’ Europe, the value of our mantra to “Keep on travelin’” is growing by the day.