Fcrit-

A little more info on the movement to forgive debt of third world countries:

Yes, they've borrowed themselves into trouble, but often at the hand of despot rulers and at the expense or extremely poor citizens. The idea behind debt forgiveness is to allow those people to work their way out of poverty. I'm not sure how I view the movement but it does have many credible supporters, from Bono to Pope John Paul II.

Steves' pitch for the cause is not unlike the similar "help the world you travel in" bent of travel books like Lonely Planet and Let's Go, the segement of travel advice he is part of. So if you don't like to get political pitches, this segment isn't for you.

Steves has also been vilified for encouraging people to enjoy the full, legal travel experience, including smoking a joint or two in Amsterdam if they want to. I'm sure that really irks a lot of Flyer Talk folks, though maybe knowing that, ATC won't think he's quite as much of a dweeb.

Ahem!

Pope? credible
Bono? NOT

Bono could personally absolve the debt of some small countries. Bono, Richard Gere, Alec Baldwin, and all those guys, if they really wanted to do something, could give 50% of their annual take to a fund for curing all the world's ills, and have a HUGE impact. And they'd still be living LARGE.

These guys piss me off when they talk talk talk about this that and the other cause, but take home millions for a stupid, uninspired movie or album or concert.

Grrr. Bono credible. That's like saying Rick Steves isn't annoying.

[This message has been edited by Rut Dog (edited 01-25-2003).]

I doubt it will enhance ATC's opinion of Steves. After all, even dweebs smoke grass!


Kathy

In my opinion, ATC in the post has embarrassed FlyerTalk and our FTs.

I doubt ATC even knows Rick Steves. Rather, ATC is basing his opinion of so-called "hate" of Rick Steves personally upon the Rick Steves company books and Rick's appearances on tv. Is that the real Rick Steves?

Who is the real ATC? Can we judge him based upon his numerous statements in this post? Maybe ATC needs to mature like Rick Steves has done over the years.

I don’t believe ATC would intentionally embarrass anyone, whether it be at the front, side, or back door!

IMHO, he’s having a little fun with an admittedly hokey show, fanny packs and all.

IIRC, in one of the early editions of ETBD overall guide book of touring europe, there is a picture that Rick took of all his stuff needed on his journey laid out on his bed. Apparently, Mr.Steves took the picture in the "natural state".

Hey, I'm a seasoned traveller who likes to stay in 4 and 5 star hotels, but I still wash out my smalls and hang them on the heated towel rack every night. That way there is more room in my travelpro (not rickamended) for gifts picked on my travels.

lala

Rut Dog-

If the all folks mentioned who express concern for poverty gave 50% of their annual take-or half of the wealth they control-to relieve misery and poverty, I think I know who would write the biggest check.

And it wouldn't be Bono.

Seems one of the people mentioned continues to put his money where his mouth is. I thought I read somewhere (many different articles actually) that Bill Gates has already given billions towards helping find cures for poverty/disease in 3rd world countries? I think this latest donation by Bill is more than the combined donations/fund raising by all of the publicity seeking actors & musicians combined? Most of these charitably minded actors and musicians could care less about the latest cause they are lending their name to. Most don't even know what exactly the charity/cause that they are the spokesperson/chairperson/celebrity impersonator/etc. does.

New Gates Fund Seeks Better Cures for World's Ills

[This message has been edited by onedog (edited 01-27-2003).]

I was thinking about the post I made last week in OMNI about one ebay seller suing another over a negative review he made. Now if Rick Steves reads this thread and decides it will negatively affect the sales of his books, and other items (future clothing line http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif ), what recourse would he have?

[This message has been edited by GaryZ (edited 01-27-2003).]

Bill Gates personally feels the pain of every dime his wife forces him to give away.
Calling him "the world's most generous person" is nothing more than media spin-doctoring designed to help erase his legacy of greed and give him a soft-landing into the history books as a real nice guy who tried to help. Sort of like Andrew Carnegie.

I haven't seen his show, but his book "Europe through the Back Door" (If memory serves) was one of the first travel books I picked up as I was preparing for my first solo European trip (after High School and before University) I do remember the book being quite helpful and fun to read as I was contemplating whether I should stray from the well worn path taken by every other North American tourist.

Having met Rick Steves several times (at book and map shows) Yes that pretty much is the Real Rick Steves. He is sort of like the dorky guy from High School who read everything about a place way before ever setting foot there. His books are simple and straight forward and designed for the entry-level traveler, setting out on a first trip to a new place that does not want to do the "If this is Tuesday, it must be Belgium" trip.

However, probably the best books that the Steves' publishing empire produces are his Phrasebooks. Compared to Berlitz, Lonely Planet, Rough Guides, and so on, the Steves' Phrase books will give phrases that you will actually need.

As a merchant that sells his books, they do sell and there is a market.

And he is just like your brother-in-law.

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

I met Rick Steves at the LA travel show a few years ago. He stayed until the last possible minute at the show before catching his flight back to SEA. I was able to ask him a couple questions and I am thankful that he stayed at his booth after his talk.

I buy his current edition of books every time I go over to Europe. I like his range of hotels & eating places that is in his book. His books are practical to me--especially his phrase books.

Many years ago when I wanted to do something special for my wife and had a very liimited income/budget I stumbled across Rick Steves' "Europe Through the Back Door". Using his book and the links it provided, I was able to take my wife on a wonderful trip to Europe that without the information and the other links he provided we could not have taken. Although we have returned many times, we still look back on that first trip with many fond memories. We continue to use his books as references, our traveling is "not as rustic" as a poster put it, however, we do find information on out of the way places, restrauants,and tips that make our trips more enjoyable. I for one like Rick Steves and continue to use his books along with others in planning our European trips. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif Just my 2 cen.

NYT magazine article
 

He has made a fortune selling travel guides and package tours to formerly reluctant tourists. Now, if only his army of "Rickniks" could heal the trans-Atlantic rift

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/04/ma.../04STEVES.html

Rick Steves's Not-So-Lonely Planet
By SARA CORBETT

Published: July 4, 2004

The guy is just another tourist. Or that's how it appears, anyway, to Cristina, the prim Portuguese woman holding down the front desk at the Residencia Roma, a spartan three-star hotel on a quiet side street in Lisbon. No two tourists are the same, of course, but there is something familiar, even iconic, in this man's eager-beaver smile, his unstylish windbreaker and leather walking shoes, his broken-spined guidebook to Spain and Portugal. Like most Americans, he doesn't pretend to speak anything but English. He inquires about rates -- 60 euros for a double -- then asks to see a room. Cristina shrugs, hands the man a key and waves him toward a set of stairs leading up into the hotel's interior, unaware that she has just set a dervish loose in her establishment.
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Safely beyond her gaze, Rick Steves accelerates up the stairs and rockets down a dim hallway, quickly shedding all pretense of leisure. This is what he calls a ''blitz,'' a 10-minute undercover rampage during which he will poke mattresses and inspect toilet seats, prowling the hotel like an unleashed hound.