[Idyllchat] Rick Steves Books

[Jay Cloidt]

I agree. Rick Steves encourages people to get to know the local culture and
customs. He advises people to learn a little bit about where you are going
before you get there, and gives great advice on how to get around on your
own. His books also contain out of the way places that you would not have
thought of going to on your own. I saw his show on Le Cinque Terre, and I
had to go. It was fantastic.

The only problem I have is that his itineraries are too fast paced for me. I
like to take it slower and wallow in the local culture. I use his own advice
to justify this, and that is, "Don't assume that this is a once in a
lifetime trip. Assume that you are going to come back." He uses it to
justify hitting 4 cities in a week. I use it to say that I'll hit 2 cities
this time, and I'll hit those other 2 when I come back.

 - Jay

On 3/12/07, Russ Crum <rrcrum at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>
> I completely agree about the popularity of RS books when one is traveling
> in Europe. On the other hand, they have probably been responsible for
> thousands of Americans striking out on their own on European forays.  I also
> think that  RS's travel philosophy, to the extent it has rubbed off on us
> tourists, has done a great deal to help most of us get to know and
> understand a bit better the people in the countries we visit.
> Russ Crum
> rrcrum at sbcglobal.net
>
> On Mar 12, 2007, at 14:12, GRAYGOOSE at aol.com wrote:
>
> I chuckled at the ideas that folks seem to be "bound" to the Rick Steves
> books. We are guilty to an extent as we don't always rely on them to get
> about. However, when we on the Paris Untour we did have it with us. We
> decided to take in the Impressionist collection at the Musee d'Orsay but
> opted to have lunch first in their resturant. A young woman seated us and
> lingered a bit looking at the RS guide book I had in hand. She finally asked
> the question that was on her mind. "Pardon, Madame, what is that book you
> are carrying? I believe every American that I have seated here has one". I
> explained to her what it was and she thanked me and as she left said,
> "Ah,but there is too much in Paris to be in one book". Truer comment could
> not have been made.
>
> A few days later we went up to Montmarte. We stopped for lunch in a small
> Rick Steves recommended restaurant which was quite crowded, with what seemed
> to be, locals.We were seated at the last available table (for 4) which
> happened to be by an open window. I placed the guide book on the table next
> to the window. Soon a couple strolled  by and then came back to the window.
> The woman held up her copy of Rick's Paris guide and said, "I knew you were
> Americans because we saw the guide on the table" She then held up her copy
> and asked, "Would you mind if we came in and joined you?" Of course we
> invited them in. They turned out to be a very lovely couple from Oregon and
> we had a great conversation with them.
>
> Just two examples of Rick Steves popularity in Paris.
> '
> Nina
>
>
>
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