Rick Steves’ Europe: Uplifting encounters from my latest trip

Rick Steves on May 27, 2025

“A fisherman, a priest, and a student” sounds like the beginning of a crude joke. But on my latest trip to Europe, these three characters weren’t punchlines. Instead, they were reminders of the value of travel, and examples of the spirit-boosting people-to-people moments that are waiting for you in Europe.

Travel has always been, and always will be, fun. Marveling ancient wonders, sipping new wines, pulling the car over for those postcard views ... that will forever be a joy. But with all the fear and misunderstanding in our world these days, travel is taking on a greater importance.

If your only exposure to things overseas is news headlines or social media posts, the world may seem divisive, scary, even intimidating. But after spending a third of my adult life living out of a suitcase, I’ve learned that fear is for people who don’t get out much. And, having just returned from my first of four European trips of 2025, I’m happy to confirm that this is still the case.

With the aggressive, me-first posture the United States is taking, I – like many American travelers – was curious how we would be received overseas. I wondered if I’d encounter any overtly anti- (or pro-) American sentiments. But, happily, the welcome I received was warm as ever.

I visited Italy and Turkey, and spent weeks chatting with local business owners, checking in with my tour guides, scrambling with my TV crew, and catching up with friends over drinks. Sure, many people I met were curious about what the hell is going on and eager to “get my take.” But the overarching feeling I got was how, together, we’re learning why Winston Churchill once famously said, "Democracy is the worst form of Government ... except for all the other forms that have ever been tried.” In the end, we’re all citizens sharing the same planet ... and we’re all in this together.

This boost in spirit didn’t come from touring the Hagia Sophia, snapping a picture from the top of Palatine Hill, or trying a new Roman restaurant’s take on carbonara pasta. It came from connecting with people – which I see as the essence of good travel. Exploring sights and trying new bites will always be fundamental to a well-rounded trip, but so often the most powerful memories from our travels come from the people we meet. On this trip alone, I’ll never forget:

The Turkish fisherman on Istanbul’s Galata Bridge who let me cast his line and just could not stop talking with me via his translator app. Turns out we both thought the fresh simit bread sold by passing carts smelled great.

Or the Roman Catholic priest who, without words, made sure I had the best angle to appreciate the centuries-old portrait of Mary behind him. We may come from different Christian traditions, but we both revered that painting and enjoyed that sacred space.

Or the cheeky university student who dared me to sit on the Spanish Steps just to draw the ire of the policewoman stationed there to make sure tourists didn’t do exactly that. (I did. She scolded me. The student and I laughed like childhood buddies.)

I didn’t literally “talk politics” with any of these people. But I didn’t have to. Serendipitous interactions like those do something far greater than address any differences we might have. They show how similar we actually are. They humanize places that, if we stay home, we grow to see as “foreign” and filled with people who are not “us” – which risks turning real people into stereotypes.

I get that Americans might feel uneasy about their country when venturing overseas right now. Yet for decades, I’ve found that one of the best ways to learn about your country is to leave it ... and look back at it from afar. When you do, you’ll find that Europeans can relate. They have gone through (and are going through) much the same political turmoil as we are right now. But it can be hard for us to really see that unless we get out there and mix it up. By connecting, we see that the world is filled with a mix of endearing people and dicey politics ... on both sides of the Atlantic. And no matter how choppy that ocean is, we’ll sail on together.

A fisherman, a priest, and a student just boosted this travel writer’s worldview and injected a bit of joy into what was already a joyful trip. And countless uplifting encounters like those are waiting on the road for you, too.

(Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. This column revisits some of Rick's favorite places over the past two decades. You can email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.)