Last night, I recorded an interview with a local Seattle TV show, On the Money,giving advice about how the financial meltdown will affect travel. Speaking “authoritatively” on the topic, it occurred to me that the media has an insatiable appetite for talking heads to give their take on things, and the general starting point is, “How do we get through this catastrophe?”
My message: Sure, the travel industry — like our tour sales — is down about 30 percent. That’s not great. But why do we measure it against a spasmodic spike after years and years of mercilessly goosing our economy to perform better than it should? We goosed and goosed the poor thing until we ran out of prods. The exhausted economy finally just stopped responding. Everything’s down 30 percent — so we hunker down. And because our unrealistic and unsustainable expectations are no longer met, I fear we’re actually making things worse — turning the perception of bad times into actual bad times by burrowing in.
So, what’s the impact of these “hard times” for travelers? Airfares are down about 20 percent since this time last year. (I just sent one of our researchers to Europe, flying from Seattle into London and home from Rome for $600 — wow.) Our dollar is about 20 percent stronger versus the euro, compared to a year ago (the euro used to cost $1.60, now it costs about $1.25). And the tumbling stock market means most of us have 30 or 40 percent less in our retirement accounts than we hoped to at this time. (Many are starting to think that investing in life experiences like travel might bring better and more reliable returns than investing in the stock market.)
What’s the result in Europe? I don’t see hotels formally dropping their prices, but I expect those who venture abroad without reservations will find prices soft. Tour companies like ours are discounting select dates to fill buses so they don’t have to cancel tours. Discounting is frustrating to people already on board who paid full price. And it’s frustrating to a tour company trying to make a profit, too. But it’s done in the interest of those already booked, so that their tour will not be cancelled. Cancelling is disruptive to travelers and tour hotel relationships in Europe. It’s costly in flight-cancellation fees for travelers with airfares already booked. Our company pays these fees, which can really add up. Everybody loses when a departure date is cancelled. Some companies (like ours) are easing up cancellation penalties for people who lose their jobs. It just seems decent.
While our tour sales are down, repeat customer sales (the majority of our tour members) are close to last year’s sales numbers. We figure many are holding off on their decision-making until closer to departure. While our “beginner tours” (like Best of Europe) are way down, our “advanced tours” (like Turkey, Adriatic, Baltics, Basque Country, and so on) are selling as well as last year. That indicates that fair-weather travelers will wait out this economic storm, while committed globetrotters will travel even if it means taking a financial risk or forgoing other things.
I believe our financial crisis is just a dose of reality as America realizes that it is not as rich as it thinks it is. (If you had a house worth $500,000, then it was worth a million dollars, and then it was worth $500,000 again — you didn’t lose $500,000. You were never really a millionaire. You’re just half a millionaire. I hope our government doesn’t do anything heroic to make you a fake millionaire again.) When good minds dedicate their lives to rearranging the economic furniture rather than producing things of real value and get filthy rich in the process, the fabric of our economy is weakened. I hope those days are gone.
In 2008, 12 million Americans went to Europe. About a million of them used my guidebooks, and 12,000 of them took a Rick Steves tour. In 2009, it looks like 8 million Americans will enjoy a little European travel, 750,000 will use one of my guidebooks, and 8,000 will enjoy a Rick Steves tour. Will we make anywhere near the money in 2009 that we did in 2008? Nope. Is that okay? It’ll have to be. Best wishes to those struggling to hang on to or to find a job. Let’s not let the media (which are constantly on mindless overdrive to sensationalize things in order to drive up their audience) stoke a panic that makes things worse. Let’s all work hard, produce worthwhile goods, and evolve as necessary with the times. And for those who can fly somewhere this year…happy travels.
A budget travel tip for 2009: Regardless of who you voted for, wear an Obama T-shirt, and you’ll be getting free drinks all over Europe.
Another tip: These are the “good old days.” People waiting for something else may someday look back with regret.
I definitely agree with the theory that spending money on travel experiences is worth it. Whether you travel to Europe, India or Indiana, you’re adding something to your life. My husband and I went to Germany last year for a week. Sure, the dollar was bad. And later on in the year we started a family, so we have to keep an eye on our budget. But do we regret going to Germany? Of course not! It was my husband’s first time in Germany and we still talk about it – the food, the beer, the small hotels and town squares. The only thing I might regret is not staying longer and seeing more sights – but that just gives us another reason to travel again.
Excellent post. I’m forwarding a link to several people. To paraphase my daughter, “we are living modestly to pursue our travel dreams. Material items do not hold a candle to life experiences”.
Yes, I agree, an excellent post. I agree completely.
I agree we are our own worst enemies making great big deals out of every little thing. If you want a great experience in life get out and travel. We do it even though we don’t always have the best luck. In August of 2007 we cashed in miles to fly to Rome in April 2008, I think we paid the highest price for the Euro ever! Then this year I went on line and purchased plane tickets to Costa Rica for May and thought I did great at $595.00 each. Then the other day I looked and the same tickets dropped to $401.00 each. But we always have a great time and travel as smart as we can and haven’t gone bankrupt over it yet. One thing that everyone can give to one another is to just be nice and repectful, that is as important as giving monetary gifts or volunteering.
Rick, travel, in defence of mind stimulation and joy, is no vice. By re-orienting a quote of a favorite, true republican, senator goldwater, travel is arguably patriotic. Where and how else can one, “up close and personal” see, taste, touch, hear, therefore fully experience cultures, people, food, sounds and sights which legally expand the mind. By so doing, in reflection and comparison with our own american life experience, an epiphany may occur. That happened for this traveler, from the very first day I stepped from a 747, onto the firm ground of another country. America is more vital and meaningful personally now because of travel,
If I ran a European travel business I would as optimistic as I could be, too. However, in reality, I fear a very long and hard economic recovery. As unemployment continues to climb, we may see multiples of the numbers that Rick quotes. I pray that I am wrong. BTW, no thanks on the tee shirt. I won’t be traveling this year. I am going to try to help local families that are in need.
My G’Daughter worked every day she could last summer, to make sure she could afford to travel in Europe, during her year at Pepperdine University, London Campus. I mentioned earlier about her travels during Spring Break, when she went to Poland, Vienna, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, etc. Well here is her latest schedule. ===== GRANDPA!!! I’m famous!! Thank you so much for posting about my travels in Eastern Europe, on the Rick Steves Site. ===== This coming weekend I’m on my way to Ireland. We’re flying into Cork, then taking a bus up to Galway and seeing the Cliffs of Moher, and then to Shannon to fly home. The following weekend I’m seeing the South of France and Monaco. We fly into Nice, spend the night in Monaco, then see Monaco, Nice, Marseilles, Avignon to see the Pont du Gard, and then Carcassonne. The FOLLOWING weekend I’m off to Switzerland. We fly into Zurich, then see Liechtenstein, then take a train to Lausanne, and then Geneva. Should be fun! And I’ll have lots of good travel stories to share with you. Oh and I did my count of countries and I’ve got 25! By the end of the trip I’ll have been to 28! Isn’t that incredible?! I know you’ve been to a lot more, but for being a 19-year-old college student, that seems to constitute the term “well-traveled” I’d say… ==== In my Email to her, I said, “Sweetie, Sweetie, Sweetie, I see a mistake. Sounds wonderful, but please check your map, Pont du Gare is near Nimes, Sur le pont d’A-vi-gnon is at Avignon. But don’t miss either if you can help it.†===== I also reminded her of my latest Writing Gem, “Whatever you saw, you missed the rest.”
I noticed that you did not include anywhere in your “authoritative” analysis the traveler who is retired. This is the older traveler who has not lost a job and depends on savings accumulated over a long life of work. Obviously this does not make up a large portion of your market or you would have mentioned that group somewhere along the line. The idiocy of wearing an Obama shirt to cage a drink so that the jealous europeans can hold this over us smells like a dead fish in a Portugese fish market.
Wow, Jim (not Humberd), you really can suck the joy out of the blog. I am one of those retired folks and just returned from a five week visit to Germany, Italy, and Austria. Great fun and quite affordable in the off season. Cheap air fare and good rates at hotels. With the dollar strong against the Euro, this is a great time for European travel.(And it’s cadge a drink, not cage a drink.)
Didn’t somebody once say “Keep on traveling”? Wait, no, that person uttered that phrase multiple times. Well, I for one plan to still follow that advice.
I am one of those retired people too and I’m heading for Ireland with Rick & Co in Sept plus some domestic travel too.
It’s not just the media whose stoking a panic that is making things worse. The President of the US’s constant talk of catastrophe to further his party’s political agenda has resulted in massive layoffs and a tumbling stock market. That being said, it is a tremendous time to travel if you have managed your finances well. We are off to Italy and Greece in June, to Panama in October, to the Caribbean in January, and hope to travel to England in August of next year.
Rick, great to see responses here on point. This traveler loves smelling dead fish in ancient markets, cadging or buying drinks with europeans of open attitude, wearing t-shirts with unique slogans/images in historic beer gardens because it makes my day. Rick you do encourage positive thinking,remembering how thankful we americans should be for our many blessings. Credit our younger travelers, along with the more mature-like me-with the good sense, and practical responsibility, to spend our resources where we find value. Larry from springfield.
Telling people you ran an Obama office in America even gets you free drinks. : ) Can’t wait to head back to Europe and really milk it once I get my savings up since my last trip!
This post is full of wisdom. I wanted to share one anecdote about the mind-expanding possibilities of travel. My oldest daughter, who wouldn’t ever taste my annually-made pot of borscht, just came back from Costa Rica where she went for her degree program. And what did she try down there and now loves to eat? Beets! Fantastic. The people of Costa Rica accomplished what I could not. Thank you Costa Rica! :-)
Rick Wonderful post especially in regard to how the media slants things to make them seem worse than they are just for ratings…like bad mouthing our former president. As one who travels to the Pacific Northwest to visit relatives often, I can tell you the media there is much more negative and harsh in this area than most of the US.
Great post Rick! As bad as it seems here, we STILL are living better than 90% of the rest of the world.
Over 600,000 jobs have been lost in the domestic travel and tourism industry according to spokesmen. Each dollar spent in Europe will help ensure another job will be lost. Don’t worry, be happy those dollars will eventually return to the US when Europeans buy our debt. You are passing off repayment of that debt to future generations so it won’t cost you a thing. Our stronger dollar will make travel to Europe cheaper. It will also cause fewer Europeans to visit the US as it will be more costly. This will also ensure more jobs will be lost. Don’t worry be happy. When you buy a house for $500,000 you may have bought it with a subprime mortgage. When the value increased to $1,000,000 you did have equity. When it dropped back down you may be “underwater” meaning you owe more than the house is worth. Don’t worry be happy. Your neighbor who bought responsibly will bail you out while you are on your trip to Europe wearing your Obama t-shirt cadging free drinks. Don’t worry, be happy and have a nice trip.
Some of us have planned wisely for our retirement years and are using our funds to do what we really like–that is, traveling to Europe, sometimes taking our children and grandchildren along. We have to wonder why someone like Jim, who is bitter and obviously hates to hear about European travel, even bothers to visit this blog. Or is it just to lecture us for being “irresponsible?”
I unexpectedly was offered the opportunity to travel to Poland this summer. Although it will be a financial stretch I lobbied hard for the chance. Ironically, I will be helping to teach Polish teenagers about entrepreneurship and free markets. I hope we can help then learn from some of our mistakes. The idea of choice in the market is still very valid. The two previous adventures my husband and I have undertaken have been life-changing and the effects remain clear and bright on our points of view. So much of our economy is based on our perceptions of whether things are good or bad. I for one, am taking some good advice and I am going to “keep on travelling” :)
I couldn’t agree with you more Rick! You did a great job articulating what I have been thinking. Yesterday Obama said that US can not afford to keep on going from bubble to bust over and over again. The Wall Street does not like it because they still want to make the quick buck without thinking about the future of this country. It is time to be realists and not try and get the moon from the sky with hat tricks.
Great inspirational post, Rick! In times like these, I think travel means even more, especially connecting with others overseas. You weed out all the “clutter” in your life, and what remains is what life is all about — people, not things.
A good trip is all about good planning. Part of that is the long range planning you do in your life. My wife and I are fortunate to have stable jobs at this time and, due to decisions we have made throughout our life to live within our means, we now have savings that allow us to travel in “hard times”. We will be spending a week in Paris at the end of March. Our flight costs are almost half of what we paid for a trip to Europe in 2007, the Euro is lower than it has been in quite a while and our hotel costs are 25% lower than our last stay in Paris (same area – same quality). Thanks for helping us do the other part of the planning – where to go, what to see, where to stay, etc. There will always be challenges you can weather and opportunities you can take advantage of if you plan for them.
I promised myself that I would never give Travel Information, but I just can’t resist this time. Mike says he is going to Paris, so I couldn’t resist giving this Web Address. We stayed there several times over 25 years, the last time in 1996. Right on the Seine, in the Bois de Boulogne, almost in sight of the Eiffel Tower. I won’t give any details. Far better than any hotel in the City. That’s an opinion, because we never spent even one night in a Paris Hotel, during at least 30 nights, in nine visits. http://www.mobilhome-paris.com/en/default.htm
I just came back from a trip out west to ski and im planning my trip to Ireland to June ..and yes airfare is cheaper then its been in years …. and i had a co-worker said dont you know its a recession ..i said yes but not in my home..i comfortable in my job security and if we all just clam up this hurts even more sending the economy lower….i ve traveled when i didnt have 2 nickles to rub together and traveled when i didnt bother to worry about nickles ..it makes life richer then a fancy car or new watch anyday… as for the free drink i perfer the time tested irish method ..buy the first round…
In a Munich beer garden last October my husband got a free beer in exchange for an Obama campaign button. The Italian man (also a tourist) wanted to buy the button at first, even though he expressed skepticism about Obama’s chances for election. Now he’s probably the only guy in his northern Italian village with that button.
That’s awesome Junelee, what a great memory from your trip. :)
Rick For President! It is so refreshing to hear someone speak with such an understanding of the cycles of our existence. I thought of Chancey Gardener in that Peter Sellers and Shirely McClain in “Being There”, where Sellers kept making the argument about the value of each season. I have to disagree with Jim about the effects of Obama speaking the truth. If we can’t handle the fact that life goes in cycles and we should accept it, then we live in an artificial world and deserve to learn lessons the hard way.
But why do we measure it against a spasmodic spike after years and years of mercilessly goosing our economy to perform better than it should? We goosed and goosed the poor thing until we ran out of prods. The exhausted economy finally just stopped responding. Everything’s down 30 percent — so we hunker down. And because our unrealistic and unsustainable expectations are no longer met, I fear we’re actually making things worse — turning the perception of bad times into actual bad times by burrowing in. EXCELLENT POINT RICK!!! The only thing I would add to that is that this country has been living beyond its means for so long that it should come as no surprise that this bubble has burst!
Rick’s Quote: “I hope our government doesn’t do anything heroic to make you a fake millionaire again” This government we now have (Obama, Pelosi, Reed, and company) appear to be hell bent, to do just that…with Trillions of our children and grandchildren’s money. You will now reap what you have sown during that time up to Nov 2008! Many folks I know, had instructed thier broker to get them out of the stock market if Obama was elected. The multitudes that did just that, deflated the bubblle, to the tune of 25% since election day. When they get done redistributing the wealth in this country, I predict the travel numbers will be down another 30 % or more. Oh….and lambasting a “media” that was primarily responsible for getting Obama elected in the first place…interesting! I suppose you can guess by now that I wouldn’t be caught dead in Europe with an Obama t-shirt…for all the beer in Germany! However it doesn’t look like I’ll have to worry about it. As a small business owner for 25 years, we survived the debacle in the 80’s. But we have gotten our butt kicked in past few months; we haven’t had to pay much in sales and B&O taxes,and laid off employees, hence local, county and state agencies are running budget deficits…Hope we survive this one, so that we can once again dream about a trip to Europe!
We spend alot of our money here in the US. Despite what the media has to say about it all. Actually it is kind of interested to watch the News in Europe you get a whole new spin on what we look like to the rest of the world. But I think that we also have the right to do what we want with our money!
What a great job, Mr. Steves. There were three great highlights of 2008 for me: My trip to Spain (and above all, The Alhambra) meeting Mr. Steves in person when he visited Houston, and seeing Barack Obama becoming President. This latest blog has been sobering and encouraging at the same time. But as so many others choose to do, I am going back to Europe this year! In a way, my love for travel helps me economize all year long. Since I never really had a diarrhea of the wallet to begin with, i.e. living beyond my means, conspicuious spending, or as my folks like to call it, “putting up a front.” Traveling abroad is the most expensive thing I do, and considering the lifelong, life-transcending experiences I have, well worth the personal investment. I agree with Judy, watching foreign news is rather fascinating particulary in these times. It’s good to see things from other perspectives, especially when what happens here in the States can send a ripple effect throughout the world (AIG, anyone?) And like Judy, Louisa, Des and others, I will spend my hard earned money in whatever decent, safe, and interesting fashion I choose…
Rick, as a life long traveler I know the value and rewards we gain from traveling and learning about other people, their cultures and ourselves. What a wonderful treat to have the ability to travel. But my reason for posting has to do with your political comments because to me they are really life comments and I commend you for putting them out here in an open forum. We allow the media to shape our beliefs and thoughts and then we act on them which often times is counter to what we really believe or want to act on. Everyone knows the economy is being hit hard and many folks need to make adjustments in their lives to get through these hard times. But let’s not let what the media says warp our thinking. We have a wonderful gift called a mind and the best thing we can do for our families ourselves and our world family is to use it often and wisely. Thanks Rick for an honest company, for sharing your passion and for open real conversation and sharing of your beliefs. Peter Farrell
Rick, As always thanks for your travel and political insight…I really enjoy reading your travel books, it makes for fun reading. I wanted to share an article with you and fellow travelers, this article is by singer Jewel. Jewel rights about travel stories, how wonderful to find a gem like Little Itlay in Cleveland….http://www.usatoday.com/travel/celebrity/2009-03-06-jewel_N.htm
I, too, use and enjoy your travel books. They have been helpful to me on my many trips to Europe. What would it take to get these books in the Kindle edition? The Kindle is light-weight and easy to carry and can contain many, many books. On checking with Amazon, I found six of Rick’s books in Kindle format–how about the rest?
Louisa, Rick’s books are available on Kindle. They have been since Kindle came to life over a year ago. Check out Amazon.com.
Thanks, Audrey. Having checked again on Amazon and on the Kindle store, I find only 7 of Rick’s books available. As I said, I would hope that all woould become available.
I’m actually scheduled on a RS tour that is in danger of being canceled. Right now there are only 5 people signed up. I won’t be put out if it is canceled – I’ll just do it on my own like I always have – I’ll be happy to be in Europe under any circumstances! I have a sister who frequently voices her jealousy of our (almost) annual travel to Europe. I always stress that we make it a priority. We don’t drive fancy cars, we live in a modest house, and I shop at ROSS! We have a big chunk of our budget set aside for travel because we know the value it adds to our lives! Thank you again Rick for helping us realize our travel dreams!!! Keep on Travelin!
I completely agree along with the other comments! I am a new traveler taking my first 2 month backpacking trip around europe. some would say poor timing but i don’t think so! why stick around here and mope when I can grow, learn, and experience new stuff! I have been pleased so far with the airfare prices and watching the dollar grow stronger against the euro.
Awesome post, Jill!! I’ve got an envious sibling myself…what’s up with that, anyway? You said it all–prioritizing is key….set your mind to traveling abroad, you can make it happen.
Hey Rick, I recently had the pleasure of watching your Iranian travel show, and I think what you’ve done is nothing short of heroic. I’ve been watching ‘Rick Steve’s Europe’ for a few years now without appreciating how truly unique it was among travel shows. Its funny how one can take that kind of thing for granted. Keep up the good work!
Hey,Rick I’am a Big Fan of yours and I want to Know when new episodes will Come out???
I will never wear an Obama t-shirt. My values are worth more than a discount.
Wow, what a nice blog post! I subscribe to the life experiences over things I don’t need mindset. I am truly blessed in all the amazing things I have gotten to do around the world. So what if I don’t live in a $800,000 house. I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. This is a wake up for all Americans. Start living within your means. What is so hard about this? I have been doing it for years. It takes DISIPLINE and patience. Who wants to finance everything you do? Not I.
I really like what you’ve said in this blog entry, Rick. Like someone said “life is what happens while we’re busy making other plans.” :) Happy travels!
for the above “dose of reality as America realizes that it is not as rich as it thinks it is.” with your permission may I recommend the book “Chain of Blame” – an analysis of the subprime mortgage crisis – a nasty dosage that makes one ill…
Rick, another great post. I can’t tell you how much I treasure my memories of travels abroad and the people I have met. You bring so many of them to mind and you expand my desire to see so many other places I have yet to walk. I will never forget the feel of first waking up in France and opening the widows to see the market opening; or my first time walking through the doors of St. Peter’s; or tasting my first platter of paella; walking the narrow streets of Florence; or gazing at the countless works of art in museums; or being stopped on the street by an elderly Frenchman, asking me if I was an American, and with tears in his eyes, thank me for coming to aid France during WWII. For me, travel is the oxygen that makes living…living. I am doing everything I can to make a trip with you this year; don’t too readily give up on those of us who value traveling so much, but must live on a budget and are thus still not signed up. Peace to each of you and may each of your journey’s have a warm wind at your back.
Thanks Rick for your post. Perhaps, it is time that “we (Americans) re-evaluate what’s important to us in life”. Traveling to Europe is definitely on my calendar this year! [and Rick Steve guidebooks] happy travels,everyone!
Thanks so much, Rick. We’re going to London in June and I have been kicking myself for buying my airline tickets before the prices started dropping like crazy. But you put it all back in perspective. I didn’t do anything I couldn’t afford to do and had planned for, and the trip will be wonderful. I’ll proudly wear an Obama T-shirt and quaff a lager. Cheers!
It’s sad that a fun and informative blog about travel has to devolve into political diatribes. Travel. Enjoy.
Wow. I remember going to Europe with my wife, my second trip, her first, and we found Rick Steves videos at our library to watch for ideas. They were great. He was great. So matter of fact about things and careful to take other cultures into consideration. It was even better down the road when I started to read about Rick, and who and what he supported, and why. When someone like Rick is willing to speak up, despite the fact that he may lose money/customers, it is to be respected. When he is brave enough to speak the truth, it is important to listen. This economy has been built on a poorly laid foundation. We cannot expect to ‘get back’ what wasn’t really ours in the first place. It is uncomfortable. It does not make me happy. But I have to be an adult about it and try to go on. I work for an small AOL/TW publishing company and we have closed a magazine (closed, the whole floor is empty-50+ people ), closed several ad depts, a small division (40+ people), half of my dept (20+), all of our execs. I am scared for my job and my family’s future (my wife is a chef and runs a healthy food delivery service). Odds are I will be gone in less than 6 months. Seriously. Health insurance, gone. How is it that in other countries (many I have been to) people manage to get affordable healthcare and we do not? Does my company need a bailout? No. They need to run their company better. Executive comp caps. Across the board? Maybe. Internationally? I think we have the support of Europe at least. Companies should not be ‘too big to fail’. They should be ‘too big to save’. I heard that quote from the Swedish Finance Minister months ago. I voted for Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Gore, Kerry, (Clinton) Obama. I cried when he won. I hope.
Congrats on a great article on you, Rick, at salon.com. Check it out.
Angie, I agree. That article on salon.com truly was well done. Kudos, Rick.
I just read, and enjoyed, the story on Salon.com. Now in no way do I want my story to be considered a complaint about Rick in any way, but think of this. When Rick travels he often stays in the same hotel or hostel where he has stayed before. The people are the same he talked with last trip, and the environment he lives in is the same as all those previous trips. Now not for the moment would I suggest anyone travel as we traveled, in an RV. We enjoyed 968 nights in 32 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa – slept at least one night in 452 spots in over 396 towns, cities, and other locations. That includes sleeping 605 nights in 406 different places in 28 European Countries in our RV. Over 300 nights were spent with Sweeties Cousins in two countries. Most every evening I would wander the campgrounds, looking for people to talk to. I remember Kiwi Farmers from New Zealand who were neighbors in both Florence and Venice, but rarely did we meet people we talked to before. I had a thousand conversations, and I wish I could remember them all. I would have a PhD in International Relations. Of course being Curious by nature, I talked to another 1000 people as we visited the 1000 towns and villages we visited. Even today, as I walk in the local Mall, I talk to at least 10 people a day, and the fact that many of them are beautiful ladies with low cut dresses, doesn’t change the fact that I learn each and every day. It is a shame that I have learned all these things that I will never need to know in the future. One of my favorites, While spending the night in Buna, Yugoslavia, the lady next door said she had recently visited a college in New York City, and everyone there hated President Reagan, he would soon be impeached. I said, “Going to a college in New York City to learn about the political health of the US, is like going to a Doctor for a physical exam, and he only looks at your armpits!†She had one opinion of the USA, from one group of people.
Jim Humberd, I liked your comment. A lot of truth there, but don’t be surprised if you get jumped on.
Jim, You ol’ sly fox..always a chuckle.
For those that are able to travel to Europe now, what a great time to go!!! There should be less crowds, airfare will be cheaper, the euro is down against the dollar, and the experiences in Europe are just as rewarding! Rick is right in that everything is measured these days in terms of finances and the economy. We focus on the negative about the economy and finances (and rightly so for many). However, there are rewarding experiences that can never be replaced by a bigger portfolio or checking account! So by all means, go, travel, and become a different and better person as a result!
Excellent blog, Mr. Steves. I have enjoyed your books, DVD’s and PBS Travel Shows for years. I have recently received my first package of Rick Steves tour brochures, which I opened with all the excitement of a 5-year-old at Christmas!! I plan to book a Rick Steves tour within the next year, regardless of the economy. I read, with great interest, the posts of other travelers on this site. What I have to add is this: Do travel as soon as you can, because another factor that goes into the mix is that some of you will face disabilities later on in life. You will not be able to walk the beautiful streets of Paris or wherever is your dream trip. I am facing such a disability with one of my legs. So, that is what I have to add to this blog that is important. Do your trip; don’t put it off.
I am Portugueses and I was tour guide and historian in Portugal for many years. I have many of Rick Steves guides and DVDs and I love his programs. Yet today I was reading an article on the net where he says that the women in Nazare walk in “house sleepers”, and really those are their “street wooden footwear”, that lasts forever, like the Dutch clogs, because at home they ususally are just barefeet! That is why their homemade lace stockings have no feet. Also, still today, although some of the modern women who become widows of fishermen MAY remarry, they have to go live in another town or village, or they will be ostracized forever in their homeland. Therefore they generally look for a new husband on nearby villages so that they naturally move out if they marry again. The men living up on the Sitio, are BOTH farmers and fishermen, since there is a watch-out at the far end of the promontory that cries them when there is a shoal of fish at sight, and they leave their farming tools and run to their boats to fish. Meanwhile their wives prepare the fish, sell it, help in the farming, sell souvenirs, rent rooms and dance for the tourists in Summer. It is a hard life because everything is sold cheap and the sea is a very rough killer! Nobody could live just o fishing on that village. Personally I prefer to visit Nazaré off season, because many of the traditions you mention are still alive, such as the pulling of the ships by trucks and bulls. The men keep their fishing hooks, change and tobacco in their caps because their shirts and trousers have no pockets, to make swimming easier when they go offboard! Take it as extra details, with my most sincere compliments to your excellent work. Maria
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510445,00.html After that, maybe they won’t be so excited to offer us free drinks!
Sorry, but wearing an Obama t-shirt for me would be like wearing a shirt that says “I’m an atheist” or “I’m a racist”. My values would never allow me to wear such a vulgar thing! To quote Barack: “Uh, uh, uh, uh, ……..”
Wearing an Obama t-shirt – or any other political “message” shirt while traveling abroad is just plain dumb. Leave your politics at home, folks. Some people may buy you a drink – others may find you boorish or even wish you harm. Innkeepers have enough to keep them busy without monitoring political pollution. Just being good company will get you a free drink now and then.