I recently took an interview with Kevin Berger from Salon.com on my way home from a speaking gig in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I was exhausted at the airport and thought it would be just a quick interview. I called him, and he just got me talking and talking (which I do with abandon when I’m tired). Kevin must have had a tape recorder going, because he caught everything I rattled off. He was fun to talk to and just egged me on. I remember stepping onto the plane as I hung up, thinking, “Wow, I talked that man’s ear off.” I didn’t really take the interview too seriously. But now, considering the readership Salon.com has, I’m glad I mustered the energy to have this conversation with him. Sometimes when I’m unguarded, my thoughts come out better. I like the feeling and flow of this piece. (Nice work, Kevin.) The article was posted this morning, and it has held the #1 “Most Read” spot on their homepage all day…and has sparked a lot of conversation in the blogosphere. In case you’re interested, you can read the article.
My Interview with Salon.com
Comments
Dearest Rick, What a wonderful article! And I sincerely need to thank you for your trip to Iran. Due to your thirst for knowledge & understanding, you have inspired me to take a class through the Furquaan Institute for Islamic Education. I am currently learning about the Qu’ran—fascinating! Although I too am a Luthran, my teacher, Muhammad Oblak, has been a wonderful educator. I have found these people to be kind, and just as willing to extend a hand in understanding as “we” are. I’m sure I’ll probably get alot of flack for this post—c’est la vie. In my opinion, we need to all grow up & accept that being different is what makes this planet such a fanastic place to be. Thank you so much, Leah
watching waves of people pour into the tiny village to look for their serendipitous Stevesian encounter while clutching his guidebook. I’ve seen this and I have my own term for it- the dreaded “Blue Book Sign”. I just hope you never add Leuven, Antwerp, Ghent or Hasselt to your books. Still, keep up the good work, Rick.
If you spend your whole life thinking the good old days are ahead of you, you’re going to wake up with regrets that life passed you by. YES!! I totally agree with this. As someone who is in their mid-20’s, I feel that if I am going to travel, right now is the time when I need to do it. I keep telling my friends this, that if you’re not going to travel now when their young, then when? In my opinion, this is the best time. Also, your comment about people wearing Canadian flags caused me to stop and think. And while some people on here will probably be offended by several of your points, I realized something. When Bush was President, I wasn’t ashamed of my country; I was ashamed of its foreign policy. People were always talking about how it wasn’t patriotic, yadda yadda. But no, that’s not it. I just didn’t like how we were presenting ourselves to the world; that we were elitists. I myself never did the flag thing, but I knew people who did. In fact, I had a great conversation with an older British gentleman in Vietnam in early 2000 BECAUSE I was American. I love talking about my country, and my views. However on that same trip, I did have a typical ugly American experience when a female member of my tour group exclaimed that if the Vietnamese waitress would just stop and focus, she would understand what the lady was trying to ask. (The question was rather detailed…)
Our country is now in worse chaos than it was 100 days ago. Obama has reached out to Iran as has Isreal and the ayatollah has turned his back on that outreach and downplayed the outreach to the Iranian people. We are holding congressional hearings on AIG retention bonuses that the very people yelling the loudest had a hand in crafting back in November. Right now I feel like France’s mirror- Michelle Obama is being ridiculed in the news for a fashion gaff with her boots and our president is appearing on Jay Leno to try to garner more people popularity and every word is pick apart the next day in the news making him look like a buffoon. We laugh at Sarkozy and his wife are we now doing the same to our new president and his wife. I applaud your excitement and passion over your views, despite the fact I don’t share them, but get real people are scared, life savings have evaported, unemployment is 10% in some places, credit worthy people can’t get a car loan and peoples homes are gone. Your tour sect is down 30 per cent and in 3 years from now I see you closing it completely. There is just no savior out there and the sooner you realize that the sooner you will come down to real life.
A few nice nuggets about travel in a big load of knee-jerk, reactionary and naive assessments of U.S. foreign policy. I hadn’t thought I would come to this, but, Rick, stick to the travel business. I hate to say this, but your thinking on foreign relations is really shallow.
I posted my comment on the Salon article earlier, at the previous blog, “Talking Traveling Heads, posted Mar 12 2009”
Ah, nice to see the French straw man is alive and kicking…Way to go Rick, keep speaking truth to power, despite those who lack hope, shun vision, and refuse to roll up their sleeves to overhaul this Republic!
Unlike Rachael, I hope Rick doesn’t have to close his tour business. For the first time since President Lyndon Johnson and his “Great Society,” we have a President in the White House who’s going to take from the “haves” and give it to the “have nots.” Rick is one of the “haves” and I am one of the “have nots.” I’m looking forward to President Obama taking Rick’s money and giving it to me so I can pay my mortgage, fill my gas tank, and buy that flat-screen TV that’s now 30 percent off at my local electronics store. Income redistribution is perfectly fine. AIG redistributed $100,000 of their money to Obama’s campaign fund. So Rick, PLEASE keep working hard and trying to fill those tour slots!!! I’ve got my eye on a nice luxury sedan that I’m looking forward to you indirectly buying for me!!!
GREAT interview – seemed to be popular with salon.com readers, too. BTW, I’m reading a very interesting book on Iran: “Honeymoon in Teheran” by Azadeh Moaveni. Would love to visit this fall, but I’m a bit concerned about what the Israelis may decide to do.
Great post Rick!!!! If anyone read DeLillo’s book The Name, quite interesting, I think it took place in the 80’s in Athens and Greece…If your going to Athens, read what it was like in the 80’s and compare to today, like the following article, hope you all enjoy..happy travels…http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/greece/athens/5021793/Athens-basks-in-its-ancient-glory-family-holiday.html
Rick, my husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed the article! One of the things I really admire about you is the way you stand up for your convictions, and make no bones about where you stand on the issues of the day. I too remain hopeful that Obama will help turn things around! I think if anyone can, HE can. I hope your tour business continues with people like myself continuing to travel because we know the value of traveling, and having a “world” view. Keep on doing what you do!!!
I’m glad you spoke your mind, and I hope you can take pride in living in a country where people are free to do so (especially now that Cheney & Co. don’t have a say in it). That said, I think you whitewash the differences between countries and cultures. Sure, your job in Iran wasn’t to be an investigative reporter. But you also live in a country where you can criticize the government and the beliefs of the majority of Americans without worry. Ask Salman Rushdie about a counter-example of what your friends in Iran do to those who dare criticize, a fatwa that enjoys wide popular support in that country. I think you’re taking your “we’re all the same, decent folks at heart” campaign a bit farther than is really justified.
I live here in Tulsa and wished I knew that you were coming. I would have come to see you Rick. Get you to sign my 80 shows DVD pack.
Mike, I did ask Salman Rushdie about this and he seemed remarkably willing to move on with the entire matter. You can listen to our interview (mostly about his new book, The Enchantress of Florence) in our radio show archives. What a brilliant mind and an honor to interview.
I enjoyed reading your interview in Salon. My wife and I were not surprised to read your views, which we felt were consistent to someone who looks at the travel world with so much appreciative passion and hunger as you have. I loved your comments about Mazatlan, having spent time there visiting my future wife. It was quite depressing to see 1st hand the mind numbing overeating and drinking in tourist only zone that purposely removed any spontaneity with Mexican culture. You are correct this is not travel but low- budget hedonism. Unlike Louisa I think you are uniquely qualified to comment on US foreign policy as you spend so much time abroad speaking with our fellow world citizens and hearing their honest views of our country. I am incredibly pleased of the program you did on Iran. Americans need to hear and learn more about Iran. I wonder if more Americans knew about the US role in deposing Iran’s democratically elected Government of Prime Minister Mosaddeq in 1953, would we be more sensitive to Iranians distrust of our government. Imagine if Iran had a role in the killing of Pres. Kennedy how understandably difficult it would be for the US to work with Iran. My family and I are looking forward to using your travel guides in Europe this summer and thanks for the advice on wearing my Obama shirt.
This is a great article. Sorry to gush. Firsts it was written in Tulsa, which I’ve discovered is a cool town. Actually I discovered that Oklahoma has a nice liberal contingent to it and some some very cool people I’ve me.
How do we get the non world traveler to start traveling? Wouldn’t that be a great way to change the world? For me, I’ve been abroad probably 30 times in my 50 years, I need to pack my Obama shirt I bought in DC and head off.
Happy travels,
Josh
Rick I really enjoyed your article, you are really right on. Last night after reading your article I caught the 60 minute show with Obama, and then watched dateline on how this whole mess got here. And I am really surprised we are even staying afloat as we are. I do believe this is going take drastic measures un like we have ever seen before. If the people of this country don’t start looking at this from a broader perpective and get educated we are in big trouble. I live in a small California town, split half liberal and half very conservative and our unemployment rate is the highest in the State. I have a small business and see people pulling together going on with life and trying to keep us all afloat during these times.
A broader perspective. They can see themselves as part of a family of humankind.It’s just quite an adjustment to find out that the people who sit on toilets on this planet are the odd ones. Most people squat. Right on Rick!This is what my two daughters have learnt when they traveled with me into the remote village of a place where their father was born. My youngest daughter came out of a squat toilet immediately after she had entered it. She asked me “which way (to squat)”? I replied “doesn’matter which way, you are behind a closed door” I wonder how many tourists have got the same question when they saw it. I too, am fan of your PBS shows, don’t miss it if I am home at the time. Last year I mapped out an itinerary which I referenced it from your “Europe Through The Back Door”, I took off for 21 days, traveled, by myself for the first time, through Germany(have a picture with the night watchman in Rothenburg), Austria (love Hallstatt!, Got a thrill ride on the mine slide and the pictures in the bone house)and Switzerland Alps(BOB). I met many Americans carried that famous blue book. It is like the Holy Bible for those who want to see the world on their own. Thank you Rick, Keep up the good travels! Hope to see the release of Iran show soon.
Well at least you didn’t laugh your way through your interview like PRESBO did last night
Your quip about “life is short” is not fully realized by most people. In Sept. 2005, my wife and I were at Neuschwanstein and met some retirees while waiting in line. The wife of one, commented to us that it was great that my wife and I were traveling while we were still young and healthy. She went on to explain that her husband had a heart condition and was unable climb the stairs at a number of places they had been. I decided long ago that I would not miss out because noone would go with me to do whatever it is I wanted to do. My first trip overseas at the age of 24 I did alone after my best friend backed out. I’m turning 50 this year and appreciate each and every trip I take whether it is here or abroad. Luckily for me my wife enjoys traveling as much as I do. Given the opportunity, and provided the money is available we will continue to travel until we no longer can. Keep spreading the word Rick and hopefully you will “convert” more people.
Let me echo John’s sentiment. Don’t wait until retirement or any other fixed date to travel. Often retirement finds us ill or infirm. My first visit to Europe was with a 6-month-old baby and it was wonderful, if challenging. I’ve been back with my family and alone more than 20 times and as long as I am able, I will continue to do so.
Great interview!
I must take umbrage on your wife’s behalf. You debase her choice of vacation and then say all she returned with was extra weight (practically callin her fat). That’s insulting. Each person makes their own decisions. If the wife of the great traveler Rick Steves opts to sit on a beach once in a while, where’s the harm? How holier than thou can you get? You owe her a public apology.
This type of article is what keeps me coming back to this website. I can find the travel information I’m looking for in Lonely Planet or Frommers for that matter. It’s Rick’s honesty, insight and sense of context which is unique. Please keep doing what you’re doing.
From the article “But there’s an activist side to Steves that many of his fans may not be aware of. Behind his abnormal geniality thrums a daring political agenda.” TRUST US RICK. WE DO KNOW!!! :)
One comment on the article. I don’t always agree with your politics Rick. But I greatly appreciate the effort you take in understanding other cultures to form your views. Some I agree on and some I do not. But agree or not, I can at least understand where you are coming from. Essentially, that is what travel does. Whether it be America, Iran, France, or China, you can always seek to experience another culture to understand where they are coming from. I think that is one reason we all go to Europe and like your ideas for doing so. We don’t want to just see stuff but experience a culture. That perspective is awesome when traveling as it really does change your point of view. However, it’s a little more difficult to have this same attitude when you are personally affected by what goes on in your own country (like you alluded to with fear). Because of my travels I see the world differently, I accept those cultures that are different even when I disagree. I guess where we differ at times is that my open and understanding perspective towards others doesn’t mean I think they are right or always want those things for our country. I do see the good and bad in America and can even agree with Iranians on their point of view on some things. I appreciate that you have brought that openness and perspective to the world of Europe and beyond. Keep on traveling Rick!
Rick where are you? You haven’t posted for 5 days. We’re having a withdrawal by not having some news from you. What country are you in now? And, what are you finding? Happy travels.