Rick Steves and his Tours

November 3 2016 | ZULU

[mass55th]

"He complained directly to Rick Steves - no response."

You never stated that in your opening thread posting.

[Lopeover]

Good to know!

[cherry]

I thought it was pretty well known what Steves is....anti-American for sure....

[mass55th]

"Your friend should report him to Rick Steves..."

It wasn't a friend of mine's, but the poster of the thread, but appreciate your comments.

Another thing people should be aware of, is that a lot of times, tour companies hire local tour guides for specific cities. Usually there's a tour guide and bus driver in charge of the whole tour. Then, when you visit different cities, they bring in local tour guides to show you around the highlights of that city. They probably contract with these various guides. When I toured the British Isles, we had local tour guides to take us around on walking tours, or bus tours of the area. We had one in London, Londonderry, Belfast, The Isle of Skye among them.

[miss marmelstein]

One time my husband and I took a tour of Oxford U with a “local” tour guide named Caroline. As soon as she saw us she said: “Oh, Americans. I hate taking you around; you’re all so childish.” I can’t say the tour got much better after that although my husband did ask her what apartments Laurel & Hardy had in A Chump at Oxford. I’ll never forget this humorless dame sneering “I have no IDEA where Laurel and Hardy stayed.”

[Sans-Culotte]

I’ve always assumed that Steves was a leftie. Anybody linked to PBS has to be. Rudy Maxa, too. I do like to watch their TV shows in high def. They’re about as close to Europe as I want to be these days.

[Jaxter]

"He was married until his kids.."

Being married with kids doesn't necessarily make you straight. Look at 0bama for instance.

[tarheelswamprat]

If you want to see a tour guide on PBS you’ll probably like, check out Chet Garner’s Texas tour program called “The Daytripper”. I honestly can’t tell his political persuasion, but he’s both informative and hilarious, and all Texan, if you know what I mean. You can also watch his programs online at: http://thedaytripper.com/

In one episode, and I’m sorry I can’t remember which, he did a spoof of Rick Steve’s that was not flattering, but was hilarious. Well worth checking out.

[mass55th]

When we were in Belfast, we had a local guide take us around on a bus. She pointed out various buildings of interest, plus the murals painted on several of the buildings and brick walls. Several were memorials to those IRA members who had died. There was one of George Bush with the comment: "America's Worst Failure." Another mural contained a painting of an Israeli soldier pointing his weapon at a Palestinian. Flanking this mural were paintings of two hands with the Victory sign. There was arabic writing on these, and on middle of the mural. I have no idea what they said. At the top of the mural in English was written: "Palestine: The largest concentration camp in the world!! 33 million innocent people tortured, denied their freedom!!"

Of course I was totally offended. This was in 2006.

While on the tour, the guide mentioned that during WWII, Belfast had been bombed by the Germans, and many people were killed. It got me thinking, so when the tour was over, I said to the tour guide, "You seem to have an awful lot of memorials for fallen IRA members, is there a memorial to the people who were killed in the bombings during WWII? She had to stop and think, then replied: "There's a plot with flowers near the site." "No actual stone memorial to remember those people?" I asked. "No" she said. All I could do was shake my head. Belfast is a dismal place, and I wish we hadn't wasted our time going there. I was totally turned off by all the stupid memorials they had to terrorists.

[semimojo]

Don’t go to Rick Steves for political opinion - you’ll be disappointed.

On the other hand if you want insightful, practical European travel information you could do a lot worse.

[ZULU]

And so is your mother jerk

[ZULU]

Sorry. Forgive me. He also complained to travel advisor, but I do not know that outcome either.

[AFreeBird]

How recently? I have a friend who did that tour in Sept. herd about the museum, but not that part of it. I’d ask, but she’s currently out of town right now.

[panzerkamphwageneinz]

He’s a pansy faggot

[Sans-Culotte]

I’ve watch that show. He’s a tad obnoxious sometimes, but has given me some ideas for day trips here in Texas.

[jasonandtheb]

Thank you for this information. I live just a few miles from where Steves lives. I will encourage everyone I know to avoid his tours, as well as his books.

BTW, a few years ago, we were on a vacation in Europe and happened to stop by a cool little museum set up for tourists. We told the proprietor where we were from, who then explained how Rick Steves used some music he had produced in a travel video without giving him any credit. He did contact Steves about this, but never received a response. Another reason to avoid this guy ...

[RinaseaofDs]

He’s a tool, and a well known tool at that. Lives in Western WA, of course. Likes his weed. Unmitigated leftist.

[miss marmelstein]

Israel considers Ireland the most hostile country to their own. I am beginning to think the Irish are clinically insane - even though I am almost completely Celtic DNA-wise.

[miss marmelstein]

Just hit the abuse on you. Hope you get to take a little vacation.