Temporary European

Write guidebooks, make travel TV, lead bus tours? Cameron Hewitt has been Rick Steves' right hand for more than 20 years, doing just that.The Temporary European is a collection of vivid, entertaining travel tales from across Europe. Cameron zips you into his backpack for engaging and inspiring experiences: sampling spleen sandwiches at a Palermo street market; hiking alone with the cows high in the Swiss Alps; simmering in Budapest s thermal baths; trekking across an English moor to a stone circle; hand-rolling pasta at a Tuscan agriturismo; shivering through Highland games in a soggy Scottish village; and much more. Along the way, Cameron introduces us to his favorite Europeans. In Mostar, Alma demonstrates how Bosnian coffee isn t just a drink, but a social ritual. In France, Mathilde explains that the true mastery of a fromager isn t making cheese, but aging it. In Spain, Fran proudly eats acorns, but never corn on the cob.While personal, the stories also tap into the universal joy of travel. Cameron s travel motto (inspired by a globetrotting auntie) is "e;Jams Are Fun"e; the fondest memories arrive when your best-laid plans go sideways. And he encourages travelers to stow their phones and guidebooks, slow down, and savor those magic moments that arrive between stops on a busy itinerary.The stories are packed with inspiration and insights for your next trip, including how to find the best gelato in Italy, how to select the best produce at a Provencal market, how to navigate Spain s confusing tapas scene, and how to survive the experience of driving in Sicily (hint: just go numb).And you ll get a reality check for every traveler s "e;dream job"e;: researching and writing guidebooks; guiding busloads of Americans on tours around Europe; scouting and producing a travel TV show; and working with Rick Steves and his merry band of travelers. It s a candid account of how the sausage gets made in the travel business told with warts-and-all honesty and a sense of humor.For Rick Steves fans, or anyone who loves Europe, The Temporary European is inspiring, insightful, and fun.