Upstairs, though, you will witness a very different scene. Although he is not reciting glibly, he is very comfortable with the stories he is telling, and his patter is punched up with catchy one-liners. Just because it's BC doesn't mean it has to be seen. If you have a money belt, having a street thief's hand in your pocket just becomes an interesting cultural experience. He suggests a group chant to emphasize this bit of travel wisdom.
People stop furiously taking notes to participate.
Unknown gems become beaten paths Rick Steves' message, style, even the words he uses, have changed little since he gave his first budget-travel class at the University of Washington's Experimental College in 1975. Steves' success has brought criticism that some of the small towns he promotes are becoming overrun with Americans carrying his book. But now his popular recommendations create crunch points along precious routes. Such complaints aren't unusual. Let's Not for nothing.