Rick Steves surprise this morning

[kcowan]

We never go to Europe without the latest Steves book. Although he travels below our current level, he was very useful when we were on a budget. And we like his dining choices.

We had to go to Fodors for Taormino. Hey Rick, get yourself down south. And Croatia/Turkey. Great encounter! I guess it is all true!

 

[TimeMeasure]

That is such a nice story. Rick Steves sounds like an interesting person in real life - and hard-working. One of his PBS episodes was a "the making of" show, which showed all the effort that goes into producing what comes across on the surface as an informative but breezy, enjoyable half-hour of travel. Everyone on the crew puts in a lot of effort, but even so, one of the comments was that Rick was always working, drafting script revisions, etc., even after a day of filming.

 

[Bamaman]

Love his shows & books but have never taken one/any of his tours. Seem 25%+ overpriced. Anyone done any? Comments?

Most all travelers pay out the nose for escorted tours. Although self directed travel has never been easier (planning by internet), not every traveler is capable of executing a great travel plan to numerous cities. So there is still a real need for escorted travel like Rick Steves, Globus, Parillo, etc.

 

[davebarnes]

We attended a Rick Steves presentation (1 hour 45 minutes) at a travel show last month.
He was extremely gracious to photo and autograph seekers.
His talk was excellent.

 

[WestUniversity]

That is totally cool!

We always consult his guidebooks for our European trips as well as watch his shows on PBS and on YouTube.

Have a great trip!

 

[Luvdogs]

That is so cool!
I've got some of his books and listen to his podcasts but I agree that the tours are high-priced--all tours are.

We plan them ourselves. I really like doing that but I consult his books.

Maybe I'll run into him too when I'm over there in a couple of weeks!

 

[lwp2017]

Nice story !

While in Spain, Did you sense any tension from the recent separatist elections ?

 

[street]

That is pretty exciting when you meet well known people.

I have to say I didn't know who Rich Steves was but I looked it up. LOL

Have a great trip.

 

[O2Bfree]

We saw him at a Cascade symphony concert in Edmonds. He'd come to attend the concert and give a plug for a concert/travel presentation that was coming up. During the intermission he was chatting with people in the lobby, and when he walked by us he smiled and said Hi. I was somewhat starstruck!

 

[audreyh1]

Nice story !

While in Spain, Did you sense any tension from the recent separatist elections ?

What?

Must not be affecting Andalusia. Are you thinking about Catalonia? That’s very far from here.

 

[audreyh1]

We saw him at a Cascade symphony concert in Edmonds. He'd come to attend the concert and give a plug for a concert/travel presentation that was coming up. During the intermission he was chatting with people in the lobby, and when he walked by us he smiled and said Hi. I was somewhat starstruck!

Well, obviously Rick Steves decided not to retire early. He must love what he does. Lucky for us!

 

[audreyh1]

View from our balcony at the Parador de Nerja at sunrise this morning:

 

[Chuckanut]

Well, obviously Rick Steves decided not to retire early. He must love what he does. Lucky for us!

Several years ago, while on a RS tour of Turkey (highly recommended by the way) I was staying in hotel where RS and his camera crew were also staying. (Note: Apparently, he does stay in his recommended hotels. This actually happened twice as we moved from city to city.)

Well..... As interesting as RS is to talk with, his camera crew was even more enlightening. At breakfast one morning, they told us that the previous day they had worked many long hours and retired to their rooms exhausted. About 11:15 PM they get a call. It's RS. He has spent the evening and early night hours reviewing the days video and wants to make some changes. His plan is to get up an hour early and re-shoot some scenes.

Yea, Rick Steves Europe is his baby all right. Very much so.

 

[tmm99]

Wow, how cool is that? Especially having an extensive conversation with him like that.

 

[Freedom56]

Are you sure it was Rick Steves? He is currently on a 100 day tour of Europe and is posting on his blog daily. On May 14 he was in Southern France on a Choo-Choo Train.

https://blog.ricksteves.com/

He has been in France since May 6th. Before that he was in Sicily.

 

[hesperus]

He has. Did an Iran show & Turkey which is Asia Minor. Think I recall him doing Morocco too.

Really? That's great. I had not seen those episodes. Would like to. I'm assuming he's getting to an age where his comfort zone may keep him in europe till he retires. Like I say, his skill set is welcomed by a number of people who like to travel to places other than europe, or the 'road less travelled'.

 

[audreyh1]

Are you sure it was Rick Steves? He is currently on a 100 day tour of Europe and is posting on his blog daily. On May 14 he was in Southern France on a Choo-Choo Train.

https://blog.ricksteves.com/

He has been in France since May 6th. Before that he was in Sicily.

Well he doesn’t actually say he was there on May 14. We’ll see what he posts on his blog.

Yes, we’re sure it was him. He was wearing that same scruffy beard.

 

[Freedom56]

Read what he says May 13:

"It’s Day 24 of my 100-day trip to Europe, and I’m in Carcassonne, updating the Rick Steves France guidebook with my co-author, Steve Smith.


Read his facebook and twitter feeds also.

https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves/

 

[audreyh1]

Read what he says May 13:

"It’s Day 24 of my 100-day trip to Europe, and I’m in Carcassonne, updating the Rick Steves France guidebook with my co-author, Steve Smith.


Read his facebook and twitter feeds also.

https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves/

Yes, I read that. And Carcassone would be at the end of the path along the French Mediterranean coast. We’ll see what he posts.

There was the big annual festival in Nerja today. Don’t know if that has any bearing.

 

[Freedom56]

By the way, Facebook posts are geo located. Look where he was May 14 - Collioure, France

He is headed to Spain tomorrow.

 

[WestUniversity]

View from our balcony at the Parador de Nerja at sunrise this morning:

Wow...

 

[audreyh1]

By the way, Facebook posts are geo located. Look where he was May 14 - Collioure, France

He is headed to Spain tomorrow.

Rick Steves’ blog made it to Barcelona yesterday, but Rick Steves himself was spotted in Ronda yesterday, which is not far from us. So obviously the blog is running a few days behind the person.

 

[DrRoy]

That is totally cool!

+ many. That would be fun.

 

[Freedom56]

Rick Steves’ blog made it to Barcelona yesterday, but Rick Steves himself was spotted in Ronda yesterday, which is not far from us. So obviously the blog is running a few days behind the person.

He is with a crew (Amy and others) recording his 100 day tour of Europe. His Facebook posts are geo tagged with the time and date. Facebook uses the mobile devices location to target advertisement from local businesses. This is how geo tagging software on Facebook works. A GPS is accurate to a few meters.

Rick Steves posted a new episode — at Musée de la Romanité.
May 12 at 5:50pm · Nîmes, France

Rick Steves posted a new episode — at L'escargot.
May 13 at 1:33pm · Carcassonne, France ·

Rick Steves posted a new episode.
May 14 at 4:45pm · Collioure, France

Rick Steves posted a new episode.
18 hrs ·
It’s Day 26 of my 100-day trip to Europe, and I’ve just wrapped up a productive week of guidebook research in France with my co-author, Steve Smith. We’ll be saying “au revoir” soon — but first, we’re driving into Spain together.

When we came upon an abandoned border station — covered in graffiti and smothered in old travel memories — we just had to stop, get out, and reminisce.

Rick Steves posted a new video — at Casa Batlló - Gaudí Barcelona.
14 hrs · Barcelona, Spain


https://www.facebook.com/ricksteves/

His Facebook posts are 100% consistent with his blog. 18 hours ago he as at the border between France and Spain. 14 hours ago he was in Barcelona. Both are far from Balcón de Europa. On the 14th of May he was in France. This is fact. He will be in Barcelona over the next few days according to his own social media posts.

 

[MichaelB]

It is possible that Mr Steves can be in one place while someone else from his team updates his blog from a different location. It’s also possible that he can visit multiple locations in the same day. There’s even a chance he avoids party crashers and other unwanted guests by doing the tour and having someone post the blog entries a few days later from the proper route locations.