Travel Tales
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| Our intrepid TV crew, caught by Donna in Dubrovnik. |
Every month we feature funny, cautionary or inspiring anecdotes from travelers. Here are six stories readers sent us in response to our June Travel News Hi from Rick: Risking the Slammed Door.
First Rick, then Rum
I was strolling through Dubrovnik late Sunday afternoon when I spotted a tripod sitting (without a camera) near a fountain just inside the wall. As a photographer, this caught my eye and as I looked closer, I realized the three guys next to the tripod, sitting by the fountain were none other than Rick Steves and his crew! So I took this picture and emailed it to my friends back home telling them that Rick Steves was following me around Croatia!
A few days later I was in Austria, where I experienced my own "risking the door slamming in your face" story. Klagenfurt is the home of Stroh Rum, a very strong, tasty rum that I fell in love with over 35 years ago. I decided that since I was so close, it would be dumb not to at least stop and see where it was made. So I did. I boldly walked into their building and asked for a tour.
"No tours...sorry."
I told the receptionist that I've bought rum on every trip I've made to Europe and that I always have an unopened bottle in my cabinet until a new supply comes. I guess she was intrigued by my loyalty and left to get me a souvenir. When she returned she presented me with a box full of Stroh mementos: hat pins, ski caps, sun glasses, flasks, mugs and two bottles of Stroh Rum!
— Donna in Minneapolis, MN
Basque Serenade
Your choral experience in Croatia brings memories of one of my favorite 'serendipity' moments in Europe. My husband and I had obtained a room, perhaps the only room, in a very small inn near St. Jean de Luz, France, near the Spanish border. The restaurant had closed for the evening, but the host graciously offered to prepare a fish dinner for us. As we sat at a wall-table waiting for our meal in the small bar, I decided to transfer my day's notes from my hand-held recorder to my travel notebook.
Two young men at the bar kept glancing at me, and then started singing — very good a cappella — with strong, deep voices. After a little while, they returned with two more young gentlemen who joined them in song, and fortunately I again turned on my recorder.
I sit here now listening to, as the innkeeper informed me, one of the best Basque choral groups in the area! Serendipity! I surmised they may have thought I was scouting for talent, or perhaps they just wanted to entertain this older American lady.
I just know that I have one of my best — of the many — 'serendipity' moments in our European travels to relive again.
— Joan in North Port, FL
Private Recital
I had a similar experience in Anacapri. I wandered into a courtyard to escape the hot sun and heard beautiful piano music. I came upon a man playing a grand piano, all alone. I turned to leave so I wouldn't disturb him. He saw me, smiled and invited me to stay. I enjoyed a beautiful classical music program instead of a sunburn!
— Pat in Monroe Township, NJ
Mom's Legacy
While walking down an alley in Siena, I heard music coming from an open door. I ventured in to find a Catholic nun — from the same village in Africa where my mom had lived as a missionary many years ago. As we spoke, the thought occurred to me, that if I hadn't ventured through that door, I would never have met this wonderful lady who thanked me for 'allowing my mother to come to her village to help her people.'
Naturally, by the time I caught up to my husband I was crying because I was so moved by that experience. I am grateful that I investigated the sound from that door!
— Suzi in Kalama, WA
Michelangelo Moment
For years, we had told our kids they could choose a special way to celebrate their sixteenth birthdays. Our oldest chose your company's Family Europe tour — with me, her mom — yay!
My daughter and I arrived in Rome a few days before meeting the group. We wandered the back alleys and got lost over and over, both literally and figuratively. It was hot and muggy in the way that only Italy can be in the summer. We stopped in a church, seeking refuge from the heat.
It was unlit inside and being renovated. There were ladders and supports draped with heavy plastic and it was a little creepy. I believe we had read in a guidebook that an early Michelangelo statue was in the building, and as an art history buff, I wanted to find it. We found a woman who was probably some type of administrator or secretary. In very broken and limited Italian, I explained that we loved Michelangelo's work and were wondering if we could see the piece.
Of course, we could, because this was positive serendipity at work. She took us down an unlit, long corridor to a locked elevator. She rode the elevator up with us, and just as I was wondering if I was taking my daughter on a ride with a mass murderer, a la some Dan Brown novel, the door opened and we entered a small art gallery. She turned the lights on and we were treated to a private showing of Michelangelo's first carving, a primitive nude.
Amazing, amazing, amazing. Positive serendipity.
— Robin in Aspen, CO
Father Knows Best
Many years ago when I was a 6-year old child, I was at the refreshment stand at the drive-in movie with my father. I was learning to read, but "projection room" was a little beyond my capabilities. I asked my father what the words said, and what was in that room, and he stooped down to look me in the eye and said, "If you want to know what's behind a closed door, you have to open the door."
I was excited to watch the rest of that movie from the projection room, and those words have led me to some wonderful exciting experiences for over 50 years. I have loved the back doors that you have led me to and have often followed the sounds of singing and music to find just the type of pleasure you've described.
— Bonnie in Daytona Beach, FL
If you have a true (short) travel tale to share, send it to stories@ricksteves.com. If you have a photo that illustrates it, please attach it. And don't forget to tell us your first name and the city where you live. We'd love to hear from you!
Fine print: We reserve the right to edit and post all Travel Tales submissions. Please provide us with your full name and city/state. We will not print your last name or email address in Travel News.