I’m wrapping up my time in Central Europe: Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Prague, and Berlin — a great itinerary. We have individual guidebooks for each of these cities (except Bratislava, which is included in both our Vienna and Budapest books). And with so much to experience in each city, keeping all of those books up to date is no easy task. But with the help of co-authors and guidebook researchers, we update each book, in person, every two years. And this year, it was my turn to take a spin through the great cities of Central Europe. Here are a few travel memories that are sticking with me.
Along the way, I got to meet lots of our happy tour groups and their wonderful guides. At my Budapest hotel, Gerlóczy, on three successive nights I got to pop in on Rick Steves Tour groups who were having dinner in the dining room. Each group was convinced that their guide — Peter, Etelka, and Katka — was the greatest guide on the Continent. For me, that’s a wonderful disagreement.
A highlight for me in Vienna is dropping in on Karin and Gerhard, who have lovingly built — from nothing more than their love of the movie The Third Man — a museum that tells its story, and the story of Vienna in the dark and spy-filled days after WWII. It’s only open on Saturdays and by private tour appointment…and it’s in the top ten list of things to do on TripAdvisor for Vienna. Bravo! Our tour groups enjoy a private tour of this fascinating museum.
In Vienna, I learned to spot pickpockets working the crowded tram system. They work in pairs and dress up as tourists, studying maps, wearing little touristy backpacks, and relieving careless tourists of their wallets all day long.
Traveling alone with four different books to update this month, I’m in a very focused state of mind. With impressive discipline (as I have a very hard time not being out and about in these amazing cities), I make sure to take time in my room to get all the new information massaged into the files for that book’s new edition. My hotel desk (strewn with “lady laptop,” maps, and notes) makes a wonderful on-the-road office.
In a few days, I’ll be meeting my TV crew in Scotland. It’s always a bit stressful to get a pre-TV shoot haircut in a land where I don’t speak the language. And hairdressers are one of those occupations where you’re likely to encounter some communication challenges. As I always say, if it’s important, have a local friend write your message on paper: “Please not short. Only a trim.”
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