Letters
Dear Rick Steves and Company,
I lived in the Pacific Northwest my entire life until I moved to Stavanger, Norway in August 2001. I love it here in Stavanger (it's a great place to live, even if it's never in your guidebooks!), but one thing I missed was the radio programming I used to listen to in Seattle.
Last year, I bought an iPod and quickly discovered podcasts. Now, every week I download your podcast and listen to it in my car or on the bus or while out jogging or whatever. I am so thrilled to listen to the Rick Steves radio program, and I've become inspired to travel more in the backroads of Europe.
I just wanted to express my gratitude and enthusiasm for this wonderful service provided by your company.
Tusen takk!
— Sonja Hanson
Dear Rick Steves & Steve Hutchison,
I heard the fear of flying discussion on the Rick Steves radio podcast and found it very interesting. As someone who's always had a (relatively mild) fear of flying, I thought I'd share one of the things that has helped me. United airlines for the last few years has been broadcasting air traffic control radio communications via the in flight audio system on most of their flights. I find it very comforting to listen to just how routine everything is, even in difficult conditions and heavy turbulence. Somehow it kind of feels like being in the front seat of the car and you can see that everything is under control. I don't know if this has worked for any of your clinic clients, but I would suggest it.
It's also easy to listen to live ATC streams on the internet (www.futurastudios.com/atc.html). I don't know how the pilots feel about the passengers listening in, but I would hope that more airlines can make this available in the future.
Thanks,
Ben in Los Angeles, CA
I currently live in Japan and have missed my European travel days and seeing Rick on PBS. I just checked back in with the website (which I link to from my webpage/blog), and I can't believe all of these podcasts are free. I can't wait to get caught up on all of the travel goodies! Thanks for making travel so accessible. I'm always encouraged by the ETBD team and philosophy!
Thank you!
Kimberly
Mr. Steves,
I just wanted to say thank you for making your radio program available via podcast. I live in Southern California so my commute often seems longer than my work day. Your podcast really makes the time in traffic fly.
Although I love to travel, my wife has never been out of the country. We are planning a trip to Germany this spring and the tips from your radio show have already been a great help in my planning.
Thanks again. I really appreciate the quality of your work and being able to listen on podcast.
Safe travels and best regards,
— Chris Patterson
I just wanted to say, I have been a big fan of the TV show on PBS over the years and watch it on my local PBS station TPT2. I have just discovered your radio program about two months ago on itunes. Your last radio show was great; I really enjoyed your focusing on religious/cultural aspect of traveling. I am an evangelical Christian and I learned a few things regarding Islam through listening to the two tour guides. As I listen to them, they sound to me as cultural Moslims, just like I would say most people in the US are cultural Christians. The Roman Jewish aspect was also great. Programs like this help Americans to understand that each country has a unique history/culture that stands on its own, not just there to serve the Americans and we don't need to change them or wonder why they don't act like Americans. Thank you and I hope to hear more cultural programs in order to better understand a country I might vist.
Hey folks,
The other day I was thinking that you all need to put Rick's radio show on a podcast. Well, low and behold you did it without me even asking you to.
Your work goes beyond just recreation. It is about helping people understand the world around them better. I appreciate your mission and how you go about fulfilling it.
— Bob Ingelhart in Grand Junction, CO
"Caught your wonderful Cuba show this weekend while I was mowing the lawn wearing headphones... certain patches of grass were cut several times over so that I could hold on the reception! What an informative and balanced report."
— Chris in Anacortes, WA
"Dear Rick and friends, I love the radio show. It stirs me to action even more than the TV show - maybe because I was raised on radio. I listened for the first time in the ferry line and wow, it was great! It may become a Sunday tradition, like Jack Benny, Phil Harris and the good old Sunday radio shows of the 40's/50's. Good luck. Keep going."
— Roberta in Redmond, WA
"An hour of Rick Steves and then 2 hours of A Prairie Home Companion - what more could a couple of 60+'s want on a Saturday evening on the East Coast? We'll listen online until WHYY picks you up."
— Jane in Philadelphia, PA
Hi Tim,
I'm back from our trip to Europe and it was full of unexpected surprises and delights. I wrote some more haiku poems which I think give you a taste of my trip. I thought you might enjoy reading them just for fun.
I've been listening to Rick's radio show on your web archives. Love the show! I recommend it to everyone I know.
We followed Rick's advice about traveling light and discovered (as have many I'm sure) that it's the only way to go — especially when traveling by rail. And Rick's Hide-Away Tote absolutely saved the day. All of the places Rick recommended were great, but I wanted to pass along some info about Elisabetta Carro's place in Vernazza. Elisabetta's husband Joseph met us at the train station even though he didn't know what train we would be on — or what we looked like. He was delightful and so eager to please. Joseph kept saying "You happy? Email Rick Steves if you happy." And so I felt I should let Rick know that we had a lovely time in Vernazza (despite my husband coming down with bronchitis) and Elisabetta Carro is a beautiful place to stay.
Laurie
Bloomington, IN