Quotes from Rick Steves

For example, new EU member Poland survived the communist era without collectivizing its small family farms. But now that they've joined the EU, collectivization is mandatory.

Leidsedwarsstraat in Amsterdam

Regardless of your journey, you can put a little pilgrim in your travels and find your own personal jubilation.

France is Europe's most diverse, tasty, and exciting country to explore. It's a cultural bouillabaisse that surprises travelers with its varied, complex flavors.

I remember when the standard farewell when I set off on another trip was "Bon voyage!" But today, Americans tend to say, "Have a safe trip." (When I hear this, I'm inclined to say, "Well, you have a safe stay-at-home—because where I'm going is statistically much safer than where you're staying.")

St. Galgano was a 12th-century saint who renounced his past as a knight to become a hermit. Lacking a cross to display, he created his own by miraculously burying his sword up to its hilt in a stone, à la King Arthur, but in reverse. After his death, a large Cistercian monastery complex grew. Today, all you'll see is the roofless, ruined abbey and, on a nearby hill, the Chapel of San Galgano with its fascinating dome and sword in the stone.

To me, understanding people and their lives is what travel is about, no matter where you go.

Look through the unfinished entrance facade, note blue sky where the stained-glass windows would have been, and ponder the struggles, triumphs, and failures of the human spirit.

Siena's claim to caloric fame is its panforte, a rich, chewy concoction of nuts, honey, and candied fruits that impresses even fruitcake haters. There are a few varieties: Margherita, dusted in powdered sugar, is more fruity, while panpepato has a spicy, peppery crust. Locals prefer a chewy, white macaroon-and-almond cookie called ricciarelli.

Travelers recognize that the results of an election here in the US can have a greater impact on poor people half a world away than it does on middle-class American voters. My travels have taught me that, even if motived only by greed, you don't want to be really rich in a desperately poor world. With this in mind, I think of it not as noble or heroic, but simply pragmatic to bring a compassion for the needy along with me into the voting booth.

Noticing the twinkling lights strung up in honor of the holy month of Ramadan, I thought "Charming- they've draped Christmas lights between their minarets." But a Turk might come into my house and say, "Charming- he's draped Ramadan lights on his Christmas tree.

To say that Siena and Florence have always been competitive is an understatement. In medieval times, a statue of Venus stood on Il Campo. After the plague hit Siena, the monks blamed the pagan statue. The people cut it to pieces and buried it along the walls of Florence.

Ideally, travel broadens our perspectives personally, culturally, and politically. Suddenly, the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors.

I travel around the world in a way that tries to open my mind and give me empathy and inspire me to come home and make this world a better place.

Travel like Ghandi, with simple clothes, open eyes and an uncluttered mind.

Travel is intensified living … and one of the last great sources of legal adventure.

I have a New Year's tradition. I lay all my travel dreams on the table, sort them out, prioritize, and begin the process of turning those dreams into reality.

I would like travelers, especially American travelers, to travel in a way that broadens their perspective.

Self-consciousness kills communication.

It's never too late to have a happy childhood, and age only matters if you're a cheese.

Fear is for people who don't get out very much.