My standard “European Travel Skills” talk has evolved over the decades, but I have a few favorite lines and photos (such as this one from circa 1975) that have survived from the start.
I love to say, “The mark of a good traveler is not how many countries you’ve been to or how many ticks you have on your bucket list, but how many people you’ve met. If your trip’s boring, you’re not meeting enough people. Be an extrovert — even if you’re not. If you see four cute guys sitting on a bench, ask them to scoot over. They’re just sitting there like they do every day…they’ll remember your visit as long as you will. Meet the people — that’s what carbonates your travel experience.”