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Rick Steves’ Travel Blog

Here you can browse through my blog posts prior to February 2022. Currently I'm sharing my travel experiences, candid opinions, and what's on my mind solely on my Facebook page. — Rick

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Cappuccino with a Capuchin: Kicking off 100 Days of Travel in Sicily

A cappuccino with a Capuchin!

Since the 1980s, I’ve spent every spring and summer in Europe — and I’m back again this year, ready for another 100 days of exploring, researching, learning, tasting, and sipping. I’m starting things off in Palermo — sharing a laugh at a neighborhood bar with my new friend, Brother Antonio. (I can’t think of a better way to kick off my spring travels.)

Rick Steves drinking a cappuccino with a monk

Over the next 100 days, I’ll be making TV in Sicily, updating guidebooks in France and Spain, joining a Rick Steves tour in Portugal, visiting the great cities of Central Europe (Budapest to Berlin), making TV in Scotland, and enjoying Iceland with our newest guidebook: Rick Steves Iceland. And every day, I’ll be checking in with you here and on my Facebook page, sharing an intimate and candid look behind the scenes at my day-to-day life in Europe. We’ll be stoking lots of travel dreams together — so be sure to let your traveling friends know.

By the way, the coffee drink “cappuccino” gets its name from the color of the robes worn by the Capuchin friars. I really, really wanted to drink a cappuccino with a Capuchin, and Brother Antonio was happy to join me for a nice laugh about it. (Like other Franciscans — the “Jugglers of God” — Capuchins are quick to embrace a spontaneous good time.) As I said “ciao” to Brother Antonio, he bid me “pace e bene” — peace and wellness.

Tonight, I’m going to explore Palermo’s back streets. I’ll be sure to post an update — see you then.

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Video: Iceland with Cameron Hewitt

I always enjoy reading Cameron Hewitt’s travel blog — and lately, it’s been particularly fun. He’s been sharing lots of stories and tips from the time he spent in Iceland, working on our brand-new Rick Steves Iceland guidebook.

Cameron shares all of his best advice in this 75-minute video. If Iceland is in your own travel plans, you’ll want to find a bit of time, sit back, and watch.

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Join our traveling community — connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

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Video: Scotland’s Highland Games

Planning a trip to Scotland this summer? Consider attending a Highland Games, which is like a track meet crossed with a county fair.

If you’re interested in experiencing one of these “kilty pleasures,” you can find Scots squaring off in various competitions across the country. Each year, more than 80 games take place in different towns, villages, and castles on weekends throughout the summer (May through September). And in smaller towns, you can simply drop in and join the fun. You’ll pay about $10 at the gate and enjoy a day full of sport, fun, culture, and Scottish gut-bomb taste treats. I find that tourists are not only made to feel welcome, they are encouraged to give a couple of events a try themselves. (You’ll see me do just that in this clip from my European Festivals special.)

Before you go, be sure to pick up the brand-new edition my Rick Steves Scotland guidebook.

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Video: Easter Celebrations Across Europe

Happy Easter! All this week, I’ve been sharing daily clips from Rick Steves’ European Easter, my one-hour public television special that’s airing now nationwide (check your local listings) and streaming online. And the “He is risen” finale is today’s clip: It’s Easter Sunday, and families in Spain, Italy, Slovenia, and Greece come together to celebrate, just as they have for generations. Enjoy…and thanks for sharing this beautiful holiday season with us.

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Join our traveling community — connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.

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Video: Greek Orthodox Easter

In honor of Holy week, I’m sharing daily clips from Rick Steves’ European Easter, my one-hour public television special that’s airing now nationwide (check your local listings) and streaming online.

Today’s clip traces Greek Orthodox Easter celebrations. In the town of Nafplio (two hours south of Athens), we attend the series of packed, candlelit, incense-augmented services that mark the events of Greek Orthodox Holy Week. In Greece, late night on Holy Saturday is a time of community-wide celebration, as the entire town comes together on the main square for fireworks at midnight.

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Join our traveling community — connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.