About the Book:
What is it like to write guidebooks, make travel television, and lead bus tours for a living? Find out with Cameron as he:
- samples spleen sandwiches at a Palermo street market.
- hikes alone with cows high in the Swiss Alps.
- stews in Budapest’s thermal baths.
- hand-rolls pasta at a Tuscanagriturismo.
- shivers through Highland games in a soggy Scottish village.
- selects the best produce at a Provençal market.
- navigates Spain’s confusing tapas scene.
- survives driving in Sicily without going insane, and much more.
Along the way, Cameron shares many lessons learned from his favorite Europeans. His stories are packed with ideas and insights for your next journey. You’ll also get a reality check for what seems to be a traveler’s dream job—working with Rick Steves and his merry band of travelers. Not just for Rick Steves fans but for anyone who loves Europe, The Temporary European is inspiring, insightful, and fun.
About Wes Berkshire:
Wes Berkshire is a recovering derelict who is still refusing to let go of the title, “ski bum”, even though he can afford better beer than PBR (which he still drinks with relative frequency) and can no longer fit all of his worldly possessions in the back of his Subaru. His current professional goal is to convince other grown adults that he too is “responsible” and “mature”. He currently resides in a small house on the snowiest street in South Lake Tahoe, teaches high school English through his native tongues of sarcasm and mostly-good-natured ridicule, and tries to spend as many waking hours outside as possible. When school isn’t in session you can find him on a long-haul flight to anywhere fun.
Why Wes Chose This Book:
As travel kingpin Rick Steves’ right-hand man, Cameron Hewitt spends months every year across the pond. While most of that travel is in a professional capacity, his experiences and outlooks remain everyman-ish. He’s not snobby, nor pretentious, and it’s clear that he’s no more talented or skilled than you or I. In The Temporary European, Hewitt pulls back the curtain on the world of guided tours and travel guidebooks, but he also extols readers to travel independently, consciously, and to strive to be a “cultural chameleon”. He tells relatable stories from his many years and countries of expertise, and he does so humbly, with a goal of enhancing his readers’ personal adventures through genuine local connections in the places they visit. You can’t help but want to follow in his footsteps, living like a local, and straying forcefully from the well-beaten tourist track.
