Here are answers to a few of your questions:
Question: What is the one place that you would never go back to?
Answer:I was recently in Orlando and couldn’t stop thinking how miserable I’d be if I had to write a guidebook chapter on that city.
Question: If you were taking your very spry, 73-year-old grandmother to Europe, where would you go?
Answer:Down the Dordogne River in a canoe, and then cap the day with a fine riverside meal — letting her enjoy the liver of a force-fed goose (explaining what it was to her later) with the finest glass of red French wine she’s ever had. While I don’t think I’ve ever ordered the most expensive bottle on a wine list, I love to be in a fine Italian enoteca or French restaurant and order the most expensive glass of wine…especially if I’m with someone who’s never had the experience.
Question: How much of your travels revolve around places you’ve never been before?
Answer:All of them…originally. Now I need to revisit places I report on to expand and update the coverage. While I like to think impressions and assessments made 20 years ago are still sound, things do change. (For example, Berlin is now much better than Munich. Tangier is no longer the armpit of North Africa, but a delightful city. And Mostar in Bosnia-Herzegovina is the best side-trip from Dubrovnik.) So, I need to stay focused on my beat (Europe — which I see as America’s wading pool for world discovery) and spend four months a year “working” there.
Question: What’s the weirdest food you’ve ever eaten? Have you ever been served anything that you just had to refuse?
Answer:A hallucinogenic mushroom omelet in Bali was the weirdest (in a delightful way). I refuse energy drinks. I’ve never tried Red Bull or anything like that.
Question: What inspired your love of travel?
Answer: I realized I loved traveling in Europe when first dragged there by my parents — I was a 14-year-old schoolboy with a bad attitude. Things quickly changed. Watching the 1969 Apollo moon landing in Norway and celebrating it as a human as well as American achievement; being enamored by a beautiful blond German woman, and then seeing her reach for something on the top shelf and expose a shaggy armpit — and still being enamored; learning to enjoy mushrooms (non-hallucinogenic) in the home of aristocratic German piano-builders; gazing at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and not understanding how it could look like an ancient arch but be modern…and then learning about the French Revolution and Neoclassicism; witnessing a riot in West Berlin, and then seeing how effectively the German police and media bottled it up, making it a non-event on the evening news; collecting bottle caps for the fun design and the name of the city of the bottling plant. From that first trip, exploring and learning from Europe became my passion.
Thanks, Rick, for answering readers’ questions. Maybe you could make this a regular weekly or monthly feature?
rick- most people i talk to think you have the ideal job. i’ve watched you for years, followed your advice, have common friends with you (through you)- all over Italy. Thank you. but after following your blogs, watching your video about what it takes to create a show, I can only say- you do not have the ideal job…. but thank you very much for all that you’ve done for me, my wife, and all your fans. i don’t know if we would ever have traveled abroad without your expert guidance. And now we can’t conceive of life without our “travels in europe”. Grazie mille, amici mio.
Rick– I’ve been a huge fan for years. In your political blogs you’ve revealed some of your liberal leanings. As we are all complex individuals that are not always confined to a liberal or conservative box on all issues, I was wondering which issues on the left you don’t necessarily agree with and why.
Rick, you are the veritable maven of cool. Keep trekking!!
I appreciate you Rick, for answering those questions here. I like reading that kind of blog. Yes, some things in Europe changed from what it was 20 years ago. In the 1980s I was told “low priced red wine made in ITALY is poison”. Is that not true now ? I am glad you said Berlin is now better than Munich. I read in books (yours ?) that Munich is the best big city in Germany. I was in Munich in 2001, I did not like it very much. I saw your video of Berlin, and I saw Rudy Maxa’s video of Berlin. (Berlin looks more appealing in Rudy Maxa’s video). I like your approach : of showing the realities of being a tourist in a city or town.
I knew about the pot, Rick, but…’shrooms? In Bali?! I’d love to hear more about that one. Creative as your writing is to begin with, I can only guess what your psyschedelic mushroom-fueled imagination could produce.
We took a trip through Germany and absolutely loved it. We are already planning our next trip back and centering it around Oktoberfest. But I would agree – Munich is not a big draw otherwise. Without Oktoberfest, I would skip that city. I have not been to Berlin, but people I know that have gone there absolutely rave about it.
Thanks, Rick! I think eating snails is weird. Magic mushrooms, too.
Thanks for making me laugh. Of course then I had to explain to my co-workers why I was spitting diet coke all over my computer screen…
Amy: I love Munich! It is one of my favorites. I love the English Gardens, Marienplatz, and the biergarten/fresh produce market near Marienplatz. I haven’t been to Berlin but it is on my list but I would return to Munich again! Regaarding Rick’s comment on Orlando , my least favorite American city is Philadelphia. I hope this doesn’t stir a big blog debate. Cheers!
Audrey: I am probably overstating it, because I really do have the best memories of Munich (of those that I can remember after a whole day in a beer tent). It was a nice, safe town. We spent one day at the Deutches Museum and that was NOT my cup of tea. And usually I like most everything. But I swear most everything was broken when we went (because a lot of their stuff is interactive). You would push a button, and nothing would happen. The Glockenspiel was mildly amusing. The open market right by our hotel was amazing. I would eat there every day if I went back. But the number one thing I take away from my time in Munich is the people! They were the absolute nicest, warm, helpful people ever! Again, the flowing beer probably didn’t hurt. But I talked with strangers and one of the older gentleman introduced me to snuff. We can chalk that up to a one time experience. Fun experience but Never again! When we do go back, I want to see the Residence (palace place) and I hope that is a really great piece of history to see. Then we are heading to Eastern Europe.
Oh and regarding American cities….I would be lying if I said I didn’t like Orlando. I do. Its commercial and full of tourist traps, but I still love it. My family and I have done a few Disney trips and had really great times doing it. That is probably blasphemy on this website. Feel free to tear it apart. The city I most dislike is probably Los Angeles. I need to go back and see the Getty Museum, but overall when I was there – I just got a sense that you really had to “BE SOMEONE” to live successfully there. It seemed all about who you know and what list you are on.
Amy: You’re absolutely right . . . the people of Munich are wonderful, warm, friendly people. You probably had som Munich experiences like I had Salzburg and Baden-Baden experiences. I don’t care to return to either place.
I have been to mUnich but not Berlin. From stuff I have read and what I have seen on TV, it doesn’t look too appealing to me. I know they are really trying to build things up and a lot of work is being done on the city. However, it strikes me as quite modern and that isn’t my cup of tea. So what are the highlights others have enjoyed in Berlin? As far as US cities, LA isn’t too bad. The traffic is horrible but it is so spread out. There is no real appeal to downtown for me but there are some great cities spread out through the LA area that are great. I love Huntington Beach.
We visited both Berlin and Munich in 1970, and visited each, multiple times since. I would prefer Berlin, if I could see only one.======= At the former Checkpoint Charlie we asked a Berlin Policeman if it was possible for us to “liberate†a piece of the Berlin Wall, somewhere. As he gave us directions to nearby Mühlen Straße, he put his hand over his eyes, as if to say, “If I don’t see you … … .†With his tacit permission, on Sept. 4, 1991 we helped remove the Wall. Displayed along with my cane collection are two ten inch pieces of the wall, along with the hammer that did it. ========The city hall in Munich, Germany, is called the Rathaus, a restaurant in the cellar (keller), is called “Ratskeller.†Along with our dinner, we asked for ice water, then refills. The waitress smiled and returned with a pitcher of water with a chunk of ice. When Emmy used the restroom, she had to pay 20 phennig (5 cents) for the toilet and 10 phennig (2.5 cents) just to wash and dry her hands. She didn’t have her purse with her, but … … . We still have the menu that shows that 28 Deutsch Marks, $7, covered the cost of a complete steak dinner, plus desert for four. That was in 1970, quite a few years ago.
Question: What is the one place that you would never go back to? Answer: I was recently in Orlando and couldn’t stop thinking how miserable I’d be if I had to write a guidebook chapter on that city. Wow. Did you venture out of the touristy theme park and outlet mall areas on the south end of town? (In other words, did you approach Orlando through the “back door” before coming to this conclusion?) Tourists don’t tend to go to the places locals enjoy, but the locals in Orlando are genuinely hospitable and friendly. There are some beautiful parks, neighborhoods, small museums, and boutique shopping districts on the north end of the city around the Winter Park and College Park area. Local Rollins College has one of the most gorgeous college campuses in the nation (along with a strong and innovative academic teaching tradition). Wekiwa Springs State Park (also to the north) is perfect for nature lovers. If that doesn’t appeal to you, there are charming, isolated beaches only an hour away (and no, I’m not talking about Daytona. . .). St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, is less than two hours away, complete with old stone forts (the Castillo de San Marcos dating from 1672 and the more hidden Fort Matanzas dating from 1740). St. Augustine is touristy, but no more so really than Rothenberg or Sorrento. It offers a glimpse at what America was like while colonial Europe was hitting its stride. You watched the ’69 moon landing from Norway. The people of Orlando watched the Saturn V launch from their backyards. A live shuttle or satellite launch today will still take your breath away, especially at night. If you’ve done some of these things and were still “miserable,” my apologies–don’t bless us again with your presence. Otherwise, the next time that you’re in Orlando, I invite you to leave the tourist trail. Ask a local nicely, and we may even share where the good restaurants are. . . After all, misery loves company.
We are not Pollyannish about our travels, but there is really no place where we have visited in 70 countries and Islands that we would not be happy to revisit tomorrow. Of course some are more interesting than others, but when we travel we know it is their home, if we don’t like it we can leave. We have never been mistreated, we have never rushed to get away from anywhere. We are there to learn about their home and way of life, and we try not to tell everyone that our home and our culture is best, even though we are positive that it is. We have been asked a thousand time, what is your favorite country, what is the best place to visit. Our answer, “There is no best, each is unique, there are many differences.â€
Great questions and answers, thanks Rick. I have a couple questions: If you could live in Europe, and money was no object, what city would you live in? If money WAS a consideration and you had to make a living, what city would you live in?
I’ll answer Robert’s question: 1) Berlin. 2) Berlin
My answer to Robert’s question: 1. Luzern 2. Strasbourg, FR
My answer to Robert’s question: 1. Haarlem 2. Ireland
I submit for your consideration: 1. Vienna and 2. Madrid
1. Brugges 2. Prague
1) Lisbon (2nd choice – Budapest) 2) Lisbon, Budapest, or Paris I appreciate reading everyone’s answers to Robert’s question. However, I would like to hear why people think that way. For example, I could never live in Madrid because I didn’t like the city at all. So just curious why others picked the places they did.
Jeremy, I chose Luzern because the question said “city.” However, I would REALLY prefer to live in one of the small towns in the Swiss heartland. Switzerland feels like home to me when I go there and I have cousins in that area (my grandfather was 2nd gen American). As for Strasbourg, my reasons are the EU connection, the cuisine and I can get by in German there quite well. Berlin would be my second choice for a city if I had to make a living. Another city I love is Vienna. I haven’t been there in over 25 years, but I will make it back someday.
As we traveled, we said hundred of times, “Would we like to live here?†Not that we were rich, but since we really never intended to move, we never did give consideration to earning a living. We loved Trondheim, Norway, but that’s too cold. We were surprised at how nice Lubljana, Yugoslavia, was, but said no the the then Communist Government. From our first visit in 1970, and several since, Bern, Switzerland seemed to most beautiful and livable of any place in Europe, but too cold for us. Southern Italy had the climate, and fascinating tourist sights, but not the living conditions. By 1995 we had determined, “All in all, our trips proved ‘It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there,’ is not a cliché, it’s the truth.â€
Thanks for your explanation Nancy. I guess I should give my own. For me, Lisbon was a beautiful and diverse city. Every part of the city is so different. It’s big, there is a lot to do and see, and yet it is quiet. People are out and about but it’s not a big place to party and just seemed like a great place to raise a family. I can’t put into words all the reasons why I loved it. There were tourists but it wasn’t touristy. Since I am originally from the South, I appreciated the diversity in the people. I loved Budapest as well and wish I could have spent more time exploring the city. It was one of my fave cities I visited. And while many people don’t like Paris, I do. Despite the tough parts of being in a city like France, it is a place I never got tired of. Of all these, Lisbon was #1. If it was as nice and beautiful the rest of the year as it was for me in October, I would love to spend more time there. But please keep this quiet. I don’t want to let too many people in on this great city. :)
My wife and I did Vienna, Salzburg, and Budapest last September. My wife’s family is Hungarian so we visited relatives for much of the time. All three cities were equally fascinating.
Money no object – London. It’s so easy to get around and there is something for everyone. Hey, they speak English! Money is an object and I’d have to work – Sarlat, France. Quiet, so much history, fantastic food, lovely weather, and I could drive a taxi with Phillipe of Allo Phillipe. Et je parle francais!
My answers: 1. Vienna or Lucerne (I just love them both) 2. Prague or Budapest Jim, your post took me back. We were in Berlin right after the wall fell and got to chip away on the wall while East German soldiers stood solemnly and watched. I’ll never forget going through the checkpoint and seeing first hand how depressing the communist side was. And I remember driving back towards West Germany and seeing all of the traubie’s (sp?) broken down on the side of the road and letting my imagination run wild with stories of the owners of the “cars” trying to reach their loved ones in the west or just wanting desperately to get out. We lived in Europe for 3 years and travelled extensively while there, and I think that trip by far was the most memorable and the one I am most thankful for.
Have to agree; Orlando may not be the best but like Justin said, get off the tourist concentration camp trail and FL is pretty cool. I live in St Petersburg and just love it’s charms. A plug for our city: if you’ve been to Europe and love seeing works by Dali, come to St Pete. We have the Dali Museum which has the largest collection of his works outside of Europe and the second largest collection in the world. Two of our beaches are always in the top 10 list of beaches every year. No, we may not be as cosmopolitan as Europe, but we’re a great place to come and visit. So, go pay homage to the mouse, then get away from it and see the rest of the state.
European City: If money no object, it would be English villages on a trainline an hour from London or Bath or Montreau, Switzerland. Never tire of them. I also dream of the little towns on the Rhine.li. Plug for FL: Sarasota . . . many Europeans vacaton in Sarasota. I lived there for 4 years . . . Ringling Art Museum is wonderful, beaches are great, the opera, the theatre, and the small shopping plazas. But after 4 years in Oregon, I was ready to return home to the Pacific NW.
Oops…after 4 years in FL I was ready to return home to Oregon.
1. Paris, I spent a lot of time there when I was younger. I loved everyting about it – the history, the food, the fashion. If I had the means, I would happily live there forever. 2. Helsinki, after 17 years in the States it still feels like home and I could easily get back into the work life there. Also, my family is there. I might still do it when the times get a bit better with the dollar and housing here. Funny thing, but when ever I visited London, I had the hardest time understanding a word that they spoke. I do love the history and the traditons there though. The food was not that good, except for the ethnic foods.
Audrey I’m comin with you to the english villages
1. Stockholm with a nod towards Vienna 2. Prague
Scott heading out on the 6:15 Delta flight to Vienna then down to Prague and Budapest…now I am getting excited
Wow, thanks to everyone for all the answers to my questions! I really appreciated the details too. So many diverse answers, I’ll have to start planning some scouting expeditions…
Hi, Rick: I just became aware of your blog today otherwise I would have emailed earlier. Thank you so much for being a voice for what I have always believed about this war and, if I may add, how our present administration has so arrogantly ignored the needs at home in favor of the war abroad. In addition, there are many ways to live a life as you well know having traveled all these years. Travel is so important because it opens our minds – if we let it. We adopted our son from Russia 11 years ago (he’s 12) and while we live in a very conservative part of the country (the Central Valley of California) we try to show him as much of the world as possible so he will grow up being truly open minded. We are hoping to take him to Turkey, Greece and Italy this summer – a lot to see in a short time and probably the worst time to go, but it beats not going. We want to visit Istanbul, Pamukkale, Athens, an island, Florence and Venice. ANy ideas for cheap travel?? Again, thanks for using your voice. I’ve always loved your shows – and now your political viewpoints – what a combo!
Wow, good question Robert. I really had to ponder that one. I think if money were really no object…I would love to live in a chateau overlooking the Mediterranean. Either the French or Italian Riviera. If money was a consideration, I would hope I could find a small town in the south of France that I could live affordably. Like somewhere near Arles maybe.
Hey Rick! It was because of your Berlin video that I went there in November. What a city! I loved it! I went to hear the Berlin Philharmonic 125th year concert! I also met Knut the polar bear on 11/5/07. He was born 12/5/06, so I met the huge 660 lbs bear right when he turned 11 months old!! He was sleeping a lot when I was there. He’s a handsome huge bear now. On Samantha Brown’s website, people have said they do not want to go to Berlin because of her show! She makes Berlin look kind of drab!! But your show made Berlin sparkle, and the city is wonderful, and would love to go back! I miss seeing your new shows this year, but very much look forward to seeing your new shows next year! RICK STEVES FOR PRESIDENT!!! LOVE YA’ Lisa P.
I’m with Rick on Orlando. I’ve spent a lot of time in Florida, and have never been upset to leave. The Dali is nice though, so is the St. Pete MFA.
Todd. . . you’re certainly entitled to your opinion, as is Mr. Steves. To quote from Rick Steve’s Europe Through the Back Door: “If your trip is low on magic moments, kick yourself and make things happen. If you don’t enjoy a place, maybe you don’t know enough about it. Seek the truth. Recognize tourist traps. Give a culture the benefit of your open mind. See things as different but not better or worse. Any culture has much to share. . . Be fanatically positive and militantly optimistic. If something’s not to your liking, change your liking.” Mr. Steves, I agree with this philosophy. I don’t agree with this philosophy because you agree with it or because you’ve sold me several guidebooks stating it. I have felt similarly for a long time and since have bought your guidebooks and watched your show because your stated philosophy complemented my own personal approach to people and travel. I also believe that these points hold true as much within North America as they do in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or South America. From coast to coast and from north to south, you will find a wide range of cultural differences on your own continent if you look with open eyes and an open mind. If you truly believe something positive as a general approach to people and cultures, believe it wherever you go, including domestically. If you are in Florida because you are being paid to speak at a travel convention on the “tourist trap” part of town and the mouse, roller coasters, and outlet malls don’t appeal to you, find something that does. It’s there. . . and you can only blame yourself if you didn’t escape the tourist traps to find it and leave miserable. Personally, the Seattle “Space Needle” does not appeal to me, and I dislike drizzly rain. Still, I am sure that I could find other things that I truly enjoy in Seattle should I ever have the opportunity to visit. Every place has its positives and negatives, along with the capability to serve as a mirror of our own biases.
I must say I was not really impressed with Orlando until I lived here. I live in a very old area of town and very near Winter Park and Baldwin Park. I have worked her for 19 years but loved in Daytona Beach. Now that I live here I love it. It is very touristy but off the beaten track it is great fun and has great places to eat. I never close my mind to anywhere and I find something cool about everywhere I have been. Being a big Steve fan I cannot imagine such a finite statement from such an adventurous spirit. He totally helped me through my two trips to France.