I’m home…thankful for a safe and smooth trip full of learning. I always marvel at how smooth things go in Europe if you’re on the ball. In six weeks, I can’t think of a mishap.
This blog was more fun (and more time-consuming) than I expected. I’m glad I did it. In fact, I hope to make this a regular part of my travels from now on. It reminded me of the fun I had a few years ago when I went to Europe to write my Postcards from Europe anecdotal book. I went not to make a TV show, lead a tour, or update a guidebook…but with just free time and a notebook.
Every few days on this trip, when it was blog time, I’d rummage through my collection of stray notes and cobble together an entry. Entries generally grew to be larger than I planned…but it’s hard to tell a story correctly without a few paragraphs.
While all notes started out as stray notes, most ended up building something. But some never found a home. Now that my blog is done, I empty the bucket and find these last scraps (which for some reason, I can’t bear to just chuck):
* Soviets learned it’s easier to make something go away (like religion) if it’s not completely forbidden. (I may have been trying to make a marijuana parallel.)
* Parenting on a European vacation changes radically as the kids get older. On this trip (in Dublin) our kids (aged 19 and 16) routinely stayed out later than Anne and I did. In the morning, we’d slip a paper under their hotel room door (we promised not to wake them up) inviting them to join us for breakfast if they were awake. We’d breakfast alone waiting to debrief the kids on their wee hours adventures.
* I told Jackie “I tried to River Dance and almost drowned.” It’s the first time she’s laughed at one of my jokes in a long time.
* The pet peeves entry got me thinking about more pet peeves: Like hotels that put a decorative foot board on their beds that robs good sleep from guests like me over six feet tall. Like when I try to conserve by reusing the little soap bar and the hotel maid throws it out so I need to open a new one each day. Like European sinks that have separate cold and hot faucets (why on earth?). Like elevators that tell you what floor you’re on. And like having to walk back and forth through a long empty slalom of needless stanchions to get to a security check.
* In Helsinki, after a full night of restaurant visits, no one is still serving food. I ended up munching a McDonald’s meal in my hotel room. I actually felt ashamed to walk through the lobby with my McDonald’s bag.
* After visiting several European airports with a strangely relaxing ambiance, I realized why. They don’t have TVs playing CNN in each waiting area. It’s quiet and free of advertising.
Over the last six weeks, I’ve enjoyed the conversation. Thanks to all who participated with their comments. It was hard not to get involved in the discussion, but I made a personal rule to just upload the entries. I have to fess up that (in response to a few harsh comments) I did revisit a few of my entries to clarify points that were unclear or misunderstood. I think I enjoyed the experience so much because it gave me the daily excuse to be more than a guidebook researcher–to be a travel writer (which I really love). And doing this blog let me enjoy the best of both travel worlds: I was traveling both alone…and with a gang of travel partners. Thanks for joining me on my trip. And thanks also to the special reader who made sure I will never again misspell Chiwawa.
Happy travels, Rick
And thank you, Rick, for the great blog. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing of your most recent travels while you were on the road and I hope you continue this form of communication with your followers. Your work is appreciated by your many travel fans. I, personally, am also a fan because of the way you have expressed responsibility and generosity towards your fellow man in your charity work, especially the housing project. Also much appreciated is your willinginess to express and stand by your political beliefs. Ciao!
Enjoyed it also Rick. Reading your blog was often a mini-vacation at my desk at work. While I sometimes don’t agree with your (what I call) sheltered urban liberal philosophies, I know you are a good person who does good work.
Well, that was fun! Thanks for giving us the opportunity to participate.
Bravo!
Thanks Rick! I loved reading about your travels. I’m the same age as your son and have grown up with your show and guidebooks. Now at nineteen i have a supreme love for travel. Your blog was both interesting and refreshing. I now own every single dvd that is available at your travel store and i’m really looking forward to your new episodes. Thanks again!
Thanks for the blog. I also had been thinking that it was very much like “Postcard from Europe” which I also enjoyed very much. It’s the little slices of European life that I enjoyed the most but also enjoyed the “behind the scenes” look at your work days.
Rick,
I, too, would like to thank you for the insightful blog. I appreciate the work involved in putting it together. It was obviously read by many and commented on by quite a few. My love of travel was fed and nurtured by seeing the sights through your eyes (and through many of those who commented afterwards).
I’m looking forward to your blogs during your future travels. Thanks, and keep up the good work (and works).
TW
Very entertaining. Thank you. Hope to read more someday.
Thanks! The blog idea was great – fun to read, like reading a few paragraphs from your guidebook every couple of days.
We overlapped a day or so in Madrid – I didn’t get a chance to make your hand clammy, though. I left my Spain guidebook with a family (mother, 2 girls) arriving just as I was leaving, after I helped them navigate the Metro system from airport to Sol.
Several people asked me for help during my stay; I was happily able to most of the time. It is fun to share & help others while traveling – I now know why you do all of this (besides making a living!).
Rick — love your blog and all of your good travel advice…but just one comment on your last entry. The reason that elevators tell you which floor you are on is to accomodate blind travelers. So, while it is not useful for you, it is very useful for those without vision !! Happy travels
I’ve recently finished reading your Postcards from Europe book and enjoyed it very much. I was very excited to see you having a regular blog here this summer. Now I’m going to have to find something else to help me get my Rick fix. I’m addicted to all that is Rick Steves right now. On that note…..I’ll be anxiously awaiting the publication of a book or cd called: Blogs from Europe. Thank you for letting us share your trip with you!
If no one else said this… and from the thousands of RickNics traveling Europe. And from someone going on Sunday to Scandanavia (and wishing I could meet your cute cousin).
WE LOVE YOU RICK!!
Rick,
Thanks for sharing your travels with us. I enjoyed reading about your adventures. Poor baby, having to eat McDonald’s!
Erica
Hurricane Rita destoyed our local tower, and we no longer receive the Houston PBS channel, and thus, we are unable to see your shows. So it’s been great to travel along with you and read your blogs….we traveled with Ferdi this summer in the 14 day Best of Europe…still enchanted….so many of our tour group are from Washington state and wondered how we knew about Rick Steves…been reading and watching you for years while we planned our grand tour…we really miss the shows, but staying in touch through your website and blog are wonderful, too.
Thanks again, Rick, to you and all your tour group personnel, for all the wondrous memories. We can hardly wait to use our passports again. Until next year…ciao and grazie!
I’m so sad that I won’t be able to get my Europe fix anymore. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us this summer!
Thanks for the blog, Rick! This was thoroughly enjoyable and informative, and was a nice addition to your books (and TV show and radio show, all of which are terrific). I wish I enjoyed my work as much as you do!
Dear Rick,
Congratulations on your much successful and popular blog. I truly have been enjoying reading it everyday. Now I am going to miss it, where can I get my fix?
I’d like to thank you for your wonderful guidebooks, your PBS TV shows, and most of all this blog. Having been to Europe numerous times, and each time I come back, I’d want to go back again. And I just went this past June/July with my family. It is these little connections you gave us thru your books, such as meeting the friendly waiter who’d wear Winnie the Pooh tie at one of the French restaurants in Rue Cler area in Paris. Or the clerk , Natalie at the hotel in Antibes, or our fellow Americans with your guidebooks in their hands waiting at the gondola station in Murren….they’d help us break a conversation or two…….
Keep up the GOOD work, Rick. My family and I will look forward to seeing you on KQED this fall.
This can’t be over. My entire day at work has revolved around your latest blog entry. We will be going to Prague next summer and can’t wait. Your trusty book will hold the place of honor in the luggage (carry-on, of course). When you first started this blog, I couldn’t believe your generosity in taking time to blog to all of us “shut-ins”. It was truly a wonderful summer because of your blog. Thank you, thank you.
Rick,
I’ve been living vicariously through your adventures. If I can’t be in Europe the next best thing is to read about someone else’s travels. Thanks for sharing! I was in Greece in April (on one of your tours) and I return to Europe in October (starting with your Rome city tour)and your travel blog has helped fill the gap between trips.
Marie
Thanks for the blog; I too have been following it all summer in preparation for a trip of a lifetime to Ireland the end of Sept. We have this opportunity to take my Parents back to visit the area where our ancestors came from. My Parents are in their upper 70’s and in reasonably good health yet, so hopefully they will enjoy the trip. However they have entrusted me with the planning and itinerary, and so have been leaning heavily on the RS websight and Ireland 2006 book. Hope I don’t let them down as “tour guide” I’m optomistic that won’t happen since I’m convinced we are getting the “best” advice possible thanks to your efforts over the years. Will let you know how it went, when we return in October! Dan Washington USa*$
As another Canadian fan of your work, Rick, I would like to thank you for all the wondeful programs and guidebooks over the years. The summer blog was excellent! Behind all your thoughtful and insightful travel advice is a world view which I share: you travel with a respectful and open attitude to other people and other cultures. I have always thought of you as an enlightened American whose values I respect. I hope you find the time and energy to write future blogs. We’re off to England in a couple of weeks for the fourth time with your books.
> After visiting several European airports
> with a strangely relaxing ambiance, I
> realized why. They don’t have TVs playing
> CNN in each waiting area. It’s quiet and
> free of advertising.
Gee, which airports were those? All the airports I visited in Europe had TVs. :(
This is only my second time that I have written a comment but really the blogs have been awesome. I have your website on my favorites list and I would go and look to see if you have written a new one every time I got online. It’s been a treat to see the new interesting ideas that you present. Again thank you for taking your time for us.
Travler in Training,
C.J. White
Hi, Rick!
Thanks for the great blog. As another reader mentioned it’s great to be able to follow another traveler’s adventures when I’m stuck here at home. I also enjoyed Andy’s and his friend’s blog.
I’ve been living in/traveling to Europe since 1971 and can relate to many of your observations on Europe. I can’t count the times I’ve read or seen something of yours and said to myself “Wow! Yeah, that’s exactly how it was!”.
Speaking of ‘Postcards From Europe’… I just happened to pick it up again yesterday for my 2nd re-reading. Great book which also brings back memories. (Hmmm, sometimes I wonder if things I remember doing in Europe are real or if I’ve just assimilated them from your writings! lol.)
Keep up the great work. I’m thrilled to hear you be blogging again!
Ciao for niao,
Bob Curtis
Rick,
Thanks for the blog – I found it this summer while writing my own European blog :) I love your books, TV shows and travel tips – keep them coming!
Well, Rick, you’re more than welcome to keep writing blog entries! They don’t have to be from the road–just little tidbits that occur to you as you go throughout your day or the “inside scoops” on your latest releases. (They don’t have to be nearly as long as your summer travel posts, though!)
In any case, thanks for the good read this summer.
Thanks for the blog Rick I’ve really enjoyed it, I’m so sad it’s over!!! I agree with above writers, you can add to the blog anytime something hits you…we’ll continue to enjoy it! It gives us our European fix between visits. I’m off in a few weeks to visit my daughter who live in Wales and we’re going back to Prague, this time with our husbands and her in-laws along! Thanks for all your help. Enjoy that wonderful feeling of sleeping in your own bed again!!!
I worked and lived in Europe for 38 years. I was almost as excited and entranced on my last day as I was on the first day there. So many of your experiencs and feelings really resonate with me. Thanks for sharing in all your formats.
C.T.
P.S. Did you ever think of a list of books, fiction and nonfiction to set the mood in advance or to enhance the memories after? I have a long list for Italy but would like to add to it.
Having just returned from Paris and Switzerland (missing you at Versaille by 2 days) I must thank you for your invaluable travel books and blog. Your Paris guide made all the difference with our trip. The familiar blue book was found in many a travelers hands.
I must comment, though, on the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris as being one of the dirtiest and most exhausting airports to navigate. Forget the fact of no TV’s, escalators have not left their mark on Paris!
Thank you again for your entertaining blog and for making world travel that much easier for all of us.
Rick, I’ve truly enjoyed your insights and memories. My husband and daughter leave in a few days for Europe, one for 3 weeks, the other 3 months. Your books and website have been a great source of information. The blog was entertaining and I hope you’ll do it again sometime. My only suggestion is to have the font size larger as I am almost up against the screen trying to read it. Keep on writing and enjoying life, from a fellow Canadian, Rosalie
>Rick is traveling through Austria, Spain,
>Ireland, Scandinavia, Estonia, and Paris.
If this is the “final blog,” what happened to Paris?
C. T.
Have you looked at the “books for the trip” on the Grafitti Wall?
Rick, Thanks for the entertainment, we leave for Greece next Saturday and it was fun getting in the spirit all summer before we go. You keep us excited to go back every year dispite navigating through all of the changes in the world.
I am definitely going to miss my at least weekly Rick fix. I always rewarded myself if I’d been particularly good at work these past weeks by logging in. When will the new shows be available for viewing?
Thanks for the escape!