I just got back from a torrid little lecture tour, giving talks in four cities I’ve never been to before ‘ Fort Wayne, Charlotte, Peoria, and Norfolk ‘ all in four days. I flew home savoring a big idea: This county is filled with beautiful people filling fine towns I’m likely never to see.
In Fort Wayne, 2,000 people packed a theater, and several hundred were turned away ‘ one of the biggest crowds I’ve ever had the thrill of talking to. (They said the only other person to fill the place was Henry Winkler. I think that’s a compliment.)
In each city, I shared my “Travel as a Political Act” talk (watch the recording of a similar talk on YouTube), and in several cases, I also got to meet with community leaders, local students, and teachers for more intimate discussions. The university in Fort Wayne reported that anthropology students went to a restaurant after the lecture ‘ with their professor ‘ and talked into the early morning. It’s fun to bring a European perspective to towns that have an appetite to open up to the world.
From the Chicago airport, Peoria is a three-hour drive through cornfields and past tornado damage. Sitting in the back of my long, long limo heading south to give a talk about how traveling on a budget gets you closer to the ground while writing TV scripts for upcoming shows, I surveyed the view…and thought what an interesting gig I’m enjoying.
If you can’t see the video below, watch it on YouTube.
Rick, thanks again for another wonderful post. For what it`s worth, Henry Winkler is my second favorite “celeb” after you of course.
Rick, I never thought of you as a limo rider! It seems inconsistent with your down-to-earth, close-to-the-people attitude. As I struggled with my sense of shock, I recalled that you often recommend taxis for budget travelers as good bargains under certain circumstances – fatigue, several riders, or limited time. Yes, just you, 10 feet away from the driver, in a quiet space with abundant power for your computer, alone, working on TV scripts without interruption. That does not seem ostentatious to me. It seems down-to-earth practical. And I will be a beneficiary of the new scripts! Keep on riding.
I love this blog…you just never know what you are going to find when you log on. Thanks!
Thanks for another great blog. It is funny how much has changed since this blog first started, it was so basic, no pictures, you tube or face book!
Yes, nice post. Especially the part about “Beautiful people filling fine towns I`m likely never to see.` And also the earnest college students discussing the topic until late at night. You provide a valuable service, I think.
Thanks for this blog . it`s amazing work done by you. This give me a great fundamentals in piece of area which is experience by you.
A limousine liberal actually experiencing the heart of this country instead of always just flying over it, and he visits it by…a limo ride!
Hmmm… Rick flies economy class, saves money on laundry by washing his own socks and undies in the sink, and recommends stealing lunch from your breakfast buffet. And he`s so tickled by being in a limousine that he considers it blog-worthy. Nope, no `limousine liberal` here. Of all the things Rick`s critics could call him, I don`t think that one fits.
Come on my feisty friends. I`ve never hired a limo in my life. That limo was the property of a hard working small business man from Peoria named Dave. It gets nearly the same bad mileage as a town car. He is having a challenge with his business and rents his limo to the local university at the same cost of a normal car. And I thoroughly enjoyed the ride across Illinois with Dave.
Hey Rick, thanks for the send-up re small Midwestern towns. A lot of people from other regions of the U.S. think of the Midwest as just cornfields but that isn`t the case. We`re highly intelligent with a big interest in attending lectures such as the ones you provide about travel for pleasure, learning, and as a political act. Many of us are of European ancestry, particularly German, Scandinavian and Polish. Those Midwesterners of other ethnicities are equally as interested in Europe. We welcome you back any time!
Judith, We`re actually inspired to lace together a 20 small town in 20 days lecture tour (each stop about a 4 hour drive apart) around the USA, perhaps Seattle to Florida, next year. Wouldn`t that be fun?
GO RICK GO!!! We have found that there are many resonable ways to get around. Each area of the country or world has their resonable travel. I always check car rental vs ride, considering gas and parking fee`s in big cities. Limo`s sure can be fun! Wish you would come to the small town of Grass Valley California, between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, lots of middle age retiree`s that like to travel.
The 20 towns in 20 days lecture tour would be fabulous and you might generate much interest in your ETBD tours. I think folks from small towns in particular would enjoy the small group intimacy of your tours.
Peoria is home to the corporate offices of Caterpillar Inc. CAT has been a global company since before the word global came into common use. Since 1925 CAT people have traveled the world for business and pleasure. We are, and have always been tuned into what exists on the rest of the planet. Hope you enjoyed your stay