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Here are a few random notes from the past few weeks as I near the end of my summer travels:
My Swiss friend, Olle, takes me on my annual walk through the village of Gimmelwald. We see a rack of scythes. He demonstrates how they are sharpened not with a file, but by pounding. A sharp scythe is critical for a farmer — it cuts through hay like butter. Across the way, old boots with studs nailed on them for a grip on the steep slopes are nailed to the wall of a hut with their new use — alpine flower holder. In this case, traditional alpine culture survives…but only on show.
Traveling to the remote Czech backwater of Moravsky Krumlov to see Mucha’s Slavic Epic, it occurred to me that the Czechs keeping this grand series of canvases here is like keeping the Mona Lisain Walla Walla.
I never dreamed of wearing socks more than one day until my cameraman suggested it. After 10 minutes, you don’t notice.
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Copenhagen’s streets were noisy with grads filling decorated trucks, screaming and drinking as they went from family to family for beers at a progressive graduation party hosted by their parents. They can handle the alcohol and have promising futures. Then I saw the Greenlanders. Young people from Greenland with the best prospects often travel to Copenhagen, their colonial capital, for a higher education (there’s none in Greenland). Hoping to build their young lives, they often fail — ending up unable to handle the temptations of Danish life. It’s a sad sight — wasted Greenlanders littering the square.
I didn’t realize that in central Rome, there are no buildings from after 1938. Looking for restaurants, I noticed vines climbing the buildings and it occurred to me that the places I like to recommend have roots. Places whose regulars remember when the place was their father’s favorite. Places named for the man whose faded photo is now on the wall…or who is so old he can only pretend to contribute, and shuffles around grating cheese on the pasta his grandchildren are cooking.
I’m sad your blog will be ending. It’s cool the way vines made you think of places having roots. Whatever criteria you use to decide which places to recommend it seems to be working. During our last trip we stayed at places recommended by your books at all but one stop. That one stop was our worst hotel experience – all of your recommendations were awesome! Now in planning our next trip my husband says every place we stay must be recommended by you! Thanks for letting us travel vicariously! It sure was fun!
Rick It seems like yesterday you were home on your mid-trip break and now you are finishing the second half already. By the way I hope your Dad is doing well. The blog is very direct, where you communicate ideas and in ways that would likely not be on your TV show or in your books. I learned a lot and enjoyed it immensely. A long time student of yours. Thanks again.
I too am sad your summer blog is ending. I went on a mini trip each day you posted a new one. However, we all have to return the our “real” lives and, for us the Pacific NW winters, and dream about the next trip. I hope you will have a summary blog so we can read about Andy’s experience as an assistant guide, Anne and Jackie’s experiences while dad was away, and how your father is doing. Thanks for making my summer extra special. Always happy travels to you and everyone.
The blog is done already? Will you be doing more on your research trip in Oct.? It’s been a ball. I’ve enjoyed hearing about your travels. The best to you, Rick, your family, and crew.
I’m joining the chorus of sad folks who will miss our almost daily fix on Rick’s blog. Thanks for brightening my life and reminding me why we travel. My wife and I are off to France in mid-September armed with your books and staying in recommended hotels. Thanks in advance for all you do — and have done — to make our vacations memorable. Darn! I miss this blog and this community already!!!
I am so sorry the blog is over…I really enjoyed following along over the summer but sometimes the best part of traveling is getting home and appreciating friends and family! I am taking the London Paris tour this October, though so should have some wonderful insights of my own. Keep up the good work!
During my last trip to Gimmelwald I knocked on the door of Olle and Maria and said, “Hi, Rick Steves sent me.” They smiled and invited me in. Everything you said about Gimmelwald is true! Heaven on earth!
Rick I have really enjoyed this. I looked forward each day to reading the additions. It was almost like being there with you since I haven’t gotten to go for a couple of years. Well maybe next year. Til then, keep travlin.
Hey Rick, Thanks for letting us tag along. We enjoyed spending the summer with you. Let’s do it again next year.
Rick,
I have enjoyed your Blog, and I hope my comments were of interest. I tried to not mention anything that you talked about, but just to add to the information about the joys of travel to the same places you visited.
Since we always traveled in a RV, our experience was different from yours. As I said earlier, for us hotels and restaurants are tools of travel, tools that we used very seldom, not destinations.
I have always enjoyed this story, one that I believe is true for more people than can be imagined.
In an expensive restaurant, one lady leans to a lady at the next table and says, “Settle an argument for us, is this the London Hilton, or the Paris Hilton.â€
Thanks for letting all of us hide out in your day pack for the last few months. You are a really good writer as well as a great travel-mentor! If you can, please give us an up-date on Jackie, Andy and your father. More than you might realize, we are all one big traveling family! And thanks again. Sharyn from Berkeley
Rick, let me add my two cents’ worth in saying how much I’ve enjoyed your blog all summer. Traveling with you was like sitting on your shoulders for several months, seeing what you saw, hearing what you heard, tasting what you ate (except maybe the fried sperm!) and smiling right along with you. I can’t wait until next summer. By the way, I really enjoyed Andy’s blogs and missed it this summer. I realize he was busy with his own tour groups, but I believe there’s an audience out there for a blog of a college-age student/tour guide. Please encourage him to resurrect his blog next year, would you? Have a safe return journey, and my best wishes for your family, especially your dad. I can’t wait to see the latest episodes on PBS. Happy travels!
Dear Rick, Keeping up with you this summer has been wonderful. We took a cruise through the western Mediterranean for a week then toured Barcelona, Nimes,Arles Nice and Eze. We used your reccommendations even while on our own ship excursions. All of them were wonderful. The hotels were superb.Hotel Musee in Nimes was fabulous! You were absolutely on about the Van Gogh cafe in Nimes …so- so food and high prices! We even logged onto the blog to see where you were traveling. Thanks to your advice we had a wonderful 3 weeks! Looking forward to next summer already!
Rick, Thanks for the great insights into Europe and its people that you provided with this blog. It was great reading your entries because they helped me get a clear picture of the places you visited. As often happens when I finish a trip, I’m saddend that your trip blog is over. But, just like when my trips are through, I know I have fond memories that will linger.
I also enjoyed your blog!! It was great getting to read all of this behind-the-scenes stuff and also to hear a more truthful voice about the places I love to read about (and hope to visit someday when I’ve got a little more cash). Also, here’s another vote for Andy to start writing again. I loved his older blog and would love to hear more if he’s up for it.
I second the motion…Enjoyed Andy’s blog as well—budding writer in the family? Hope to read more…thanks again, Rick :) Leah
You can learn a lot of things from a cameraman, Rick, but most of them you really don’t want to know. As an old cameraman myself though, I always wear wool socks. The new brands made of “smart wool” (like “Wigwam”) don’t itch and look good enough to wear with formal wear. You can find them at any outdoor shop. And – you can wear them more than once easily, with impunity, confidence, dignity and even aplomb. John.
Hey Rick! Have fun on your tour to Greece in late September! Wow, another long flight, so soon! Will you be writing in your blog on your Greece tour? I hope so! We can’t get enough of you! Going on your very own “Rick Steves tour” should be so much fun for you! When you get back to the USA, is when I’m going to Berlin and Prague. I have been reading both your guide books! I would be lost without you and your staff. Amazing how dependent I am on your knowledge. In 2008, I may be going to Russia and Latvia, unless the cold war gets too bad. I know you can not be everywhere, but since you do not do Russia, I have been researching like crazy on my own! I know much about Latvia because my daughter in law is from Riga, and I will be staying with her parents! I will be right in with the locals! Well my good man, have a great trip home and I give your Dad my best. Fondly, Lisa P.
Whoa! So Walla Walla is a backwater!! (You knew somebody had to object.)