Hi from Rick: Europe Opens Up in Autumn
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| Venice minus mobs equals magic. |
Dear Traveler,
In an Edinburgh pub — steamy with conviviality — the locals, like mad chemists, dribble a little water on their Scotch. One of them tells me, "It opens the flavor, like a garden after a light rain."
Europe feels that way to me in the fall — freshly opened up, from Edinburgh to Athens. By October the tide of tourism has pulled out, letting the more subtle bits of local cultures — designed for the enjoyment of people who actually live there — return to the center of everyday life. Sweaters and jackets add a layer of style as Europe kicks back into its rhythm of good living.
For the traveler, Europe's quieter pleasures come into sharper focus. Climbing a bell tower above Venetian gondolas, the air is crisp enough to actually see the Alps. Standing at the edge of an Aegean harbor, a steamy cup of espresso warms your hands as boats return with the morning's catch. Walking through a Cappadocian village at dusk, you realize the connection between the smoke curling out of chimneys and the carefully stacked rows of cow pies drying on rooftops.
Back Door travelers understand the special allure of Europe in the fall, and it's always been our most popular tour season. So don't wait too long. Let this month's Tour News help you find that perfect getaway before the sun sets on 2010.
Happy travels,
Rick Steves