If the Roman cops' outfits were in black and white instead of gold and blue, they would look like prisoners in the USA. :funn:twt512 said:
Mermaid, tell us more about Provence
- Thread starter Teresa
- Start date
-
Trouble logging in? Send us a message with your username and/or email address for help.
Tootsie said:
Why do homework when your favorite travel nerd has done it all for us?
twt512 said:
Oh, no, please don't give me heart attacks.
Rick Steves is a great guy and funny as all get-out if you've ever met him, but every place he mentions in the guidebooks is stampeded by his adoring public. Cinque Terre was a quiet place until he touted it. 
twt512 said:
ha!!!!!!!!!! ole Ricky Steves, travel guru of europe! you must explain to our pal, the Mermaid (she and Merman are from Indiana, and are great mer-people - met them over the holidays while they were in town) , how during our last trip to Italia (CJ's wedding), we all used Rick's guides and how we were all cussing him profusely during the entire trip. I am sure she can relate!
yes, we went to Cinque Terre right when Ricky started to talk a lot about the area (we saw the show right before we went to Italy - about 10 years ago - and that is why we made the effort to go to that area). Hardly anybody there - great hiking, gorgeous views from mountains overlooking mediterranean, beautiful villages nestled in the mountains, etc. we went back to Cinque Terre about 8 years later and it was a dam zoo of tourists from all over! :bicycle:
Mermaid said:Oh, no, please don't give me heart attacks.
You have actually met Rick Steves?
Mermaid said:Oh, no, please don't give me heart attacks.
Rick Steves is the travel messiah. Follow him or be cast into eternal Package Tour hell!
No seriously, you are correct -it became a bit of a joke on our last trip when everybody walking thru Vernazza was sporting a Rick Steves Italy Book. (Except of course for the German tourists who were all armed with Berlitz and viscious looking walking stick/cattle prod things. "Berltz Guides- for those seeking Leisure and Lebesraum.")
Tootsie said:You have actually met Rick Steves?
Yes, he came to Indianapolis last winter. He spoke at a lecture at the Jewish Community Center. It was a small enough venue that there was ample opportunity to mingle and talk before and after his presentation. He's much less nerdy than you'd think. I went because friends of ours asked us, and I was prepared to glower and heckle (I love his basic info but I hold a grudge for the way he's "ruined" --in a manner of speaking--many places in Europe I love) but he was so engaging and charming! He spoke for two hours and honestly, we could have listened to him for another two. I was SO surprised. He's a lot more funn in person than he is on TV.
Yeah, I don't trust Rick's guides to get me off the beaten path either. Too many readers. I use travel forums for the latest advice. Fodors.com is good, expecially for recommendations on restaurants and lodging, but if you want to really get off the beaten path, try places like bootsnall.com.
Mermaid said:
I guess you can say that Rick has given a lot of people the confidence to actually travel to other countries, instead of just dream. He seems like an average person and makes his travels seem like something anybody on earth can do if they want to. My guess is he's a nice guy... and it sounds like he's a charmer from your experience! I would have gone to see him too!
Tootsie said:
Tootsie, you've hit the nail on the head. He HAS caused a lot of people to venture farther than the good ole USA. Now he's just sitting on his laurels, churning out the same tired travel info, and collecting the revenues.
But he's still a great entertainer on the lecture circuit. ;-)