Growing up in a painfully homogeneous small Midwestern town, I longed to see more of the world. While my reality was cornfields and cows, my daydreams were kingdoms and castles. As a family, we took more than our fair share of domestic trips. By the time I graduated high school, I had visited nearly all 50 states, but I would never step foot outside of this country until my 30th birthday. In 1992, my dreams of finally seeing Europe were about to come true. All throughout the flight to Paris I busied myself highlighting passages in the 4th publication of a guidebook called Europe Through the Back Door by Rick Steves. Even though I'm sure I would have had a wonderful trip, I don't think I would have had nearly as in-depth an experience had I not read this book.
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When Rick Steve's first book was published in 1980, he was hardly a household name. Yet he had already laid a solid foundation for the multimillion dollar business he has created for himself today. The son of a piano importer, Rick first visited Europe at the age of 14 in 1969 when he went with his parents on a business trip. As travel is for so many people, it was a transformative experience for him. The day after he graduated from high school in 1973, he left with his best friend for a 10-week backpacking tour across the continent. He was hooked for life.
By the age of 20, Steves was teaching travel classes at the University of Washington through a program at the student-run Experimental College. It was there that he realized he had found his calling. He would teach Americans how to travel by doing it himself and showing us what he learned. He started his own fledgling tour company where his gentle passion and respect for differences infected those who traveled along side of him.
As his business took off, Steves opened a storefront in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington where he promoted his expanding book publications, held lectures and slide-show presentations and gave piano lessons. His reputation as a serious travel author grew. In 1991 he began to produce his own travel program which he donated free of charge to Public Television. His hokey charm and sincerity juxtaposed with Europe's most compelling sites hit a note with his American audience. If this seemingly all-American, goofy nerd could get on a plane and negotiate Rome, then dammit, we can too.
Rick Steves' philosophy towards travel was and still is much needed for average Americans. While guidebooks like Fodor's and Michelin were dryly giving their recommendations on the top sites and restaurants of Europe, Steves was teaching us to wear a money belt and to wash out our socks in the pension's sink. He was urging us to let go of our xenophobic conditioning and celebrate the fact that we are privileged whenever we have the opportunity to soak in new customs and culture. It is through our shared humanity, our commonalities not our differences, that make travel joyful and enlightening.
Vicki Mabrey: Are you promoting the experience or has this now turned into big business?
Rick Steves: This is big business. On the other hand, my mission, my calling is to teach Americans how to travel smartly.
Mabrey: What do Americans get from going overseas?
Steves: Americans who travel thoughtfully get a broader perspective and a better understanding of what this planet is truly like.
Mabrey: Do you think that's something we're lacking?
Steves: America is desperately lacking that understanding. America doesn't know what's out there.
Rick is the real deal. An ambassador who has graciously shown the world another side of the archetypal ugly American. One who engages, is curious and isn't afraid of your snails and armpit hair. One who understands that the world is a complex yet beautiful planet that should be discovered with respect.
I still have my dog-eared original 1980 copy of Europe Through the Back Door. I won't be taking it on my trip to Italy this March. Rick Steves has ultimately taught me that I don't need him anymore, that I can teach myself. I've taken away his philosophy of travel, not the mimicry of his itineraries. I will be traveling to Italy this March. My mind is open, my excitement level extreme, and my gratitude to Rick Steves profound for laying a path.
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TOP COMMENTS
January 17, 2015
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From Village Vet:
In jamess' diary about Republicans trying to restrict the designation of new national parks and monuments, Billreeves makes an observation:
"If the Northern Lights were made of oil, Republicans would support NASA in order to make space-based oil extraction platforms."
Sincerely, Village Vet.
From liberaldad2:
This comment by GeorgeBurnsWasRight on Egberto Willies' moon/star/planet diary cracked me up - would have loved to see the students' responses.
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TOP MOJO
January 16, 2015
(excluding Tip Jars and first comments)
Got mik!
1) Dude, I cannot believe people left by Colorado is the Shiznit — 89
2) Best wishes, by Youffraita — 78
3) put him in pink undies & away in his own jail /nt by annieli — 77
4) The cops are a menace to black men by a2nite — 76
5) Any of us who have the awful experience of by NearlyNormal — 71
6) I know poor by Brubs — 68
7) All black. Hmmm. Interesting. by TomP — 61
8) i LOATHE SNAPshaming by terrypinder — 61
9) We just need to give it a little more time by BoiseBlue — 60
10) Thanks. by BoiseBlue — 55
11) Judge Snow is a very patient man. by officebss — 55
12) Actual thoughts have declared Bobby Jindal's by ontheleftcoast — 54
13) It's encouraging news by Satya1 — 54
14) Trust, but verify... n/t by JeffW — 54
15) Today's C 'n J household hint by bramish — 53
16) Nickel and Dimed - On (Not) Getting By in America by flitedocnm — 51
17) Cops can still steal your stuff via state law by FishOutofWater — 51
18) Help Us Put Pressure on Republican Governors by JekyllnHyde — 50
19) Their typical response. by psnyder — 50
20) That's the difference (one of too many to count) by markthshark — 49
21) Oh, please, please, please pleeaase, let him by FarWestGirl — 48
22) Evil kitty plot... by DaveinBremerton — 47
23) In one of his tents by HugoDog — 47
24) As a coach, I teach my kids to practice by Spud1 — 46
25) I shouldn't snicker at this but this by konving — 46
26) By the middle of January I'm sick of the snow too. by jwinIL14 — 46
27) WOW! by Chacounne — 46
28) In general population. n/t by mojo11 — 45
29) Btw, you really shouldn't have a by Colorado is the Shiznit — 45
30) i'm 69 now. and i'm on calfresh (the new, by edrie — 45
31) He's retiring. by jpmassar — 45
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TOP PHOTOS
January 16, 2015
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