Rick Steves - Cleveland Tour

© Stuart Pearl 2013 - Click on Image to Enlarge for Slideshow

If you've been to Europe or planned to backpack in those countries then you've heard of Rick Steves.  His travel segments are regularly broadcast on PBS and available on DVD.  For several decades he's written a very successful series of guidebooks under the heading of Europe Through the Back Door. 

Flying into Cleveland around 3 PM from Boston, Rick entertained more than 1000 people last Wednesday night at the Ohio Theater.  He was in the midst of a tour visiting twelve cities in twelve days.  

Speaking for nearly two hours, Rick provided tips on how to see Europe economically, with the least hassle, and in a way to avoid the typical "canned" tours.  His suggestions offer a different path with fewer crowds, and a more intimate feel to your trip.

I've watched a number of his taped travel segments on my local PBS Station WVIZ.  One difference I noticed about Rick's live performance compared to the produced shows is his warm sense of humor.   He blends story telling humor with a high energy delivery that shows his love for the topic.

"All those happy friendly tour guides that seem glad to be with me...I PAY them to be my friends for those shows."

He spends four months out of the year in Europe and is thoroughly comfortable every time he visits. Each taped 30 minute segment we see on PBS or DVD requires six days of filming. 

Rick prefers to book one-way flights to his destination cities as opposed to getting round trip tickets. It's much more interesting to take a bus or train to the next city and then fly out from that location. 

 

It's all about travelling light and being unencumbered.  Rick's travel bag measures 9" x 22" x 14" which makes it perfect for a carry on, and he limits it to a maximum of 20 pounds.  A well made flat money belt is also essential for peace and security.  It can be worn under your clothes out of easy reach while you keep just the money you'll need for that day in a pants pocket. 

 

"At least a couple of times a year I'll feel a small hand gently insert itself into one of my pockets.  This adds to the uniqueness of the cultural experience for that particular.  It's not that pickpockets target Americans.  We have all the cool stuff though: money, fancy cameras and watches, expensive phones...and if we look like helpless tourists hampered by heavy luggage, then we are targetted as the next victim."

 



Rick speaking in the Smith Studio at Ideastream after the show.

In his early years of European travel Rick visited many of the great museums and viewed their masterpieces.  He enjoyed it.  However it was only after he began taking some art appreciation courses that the great works took on a far greater meaning for him.

"Art is like a time tunnel.  It takes you back.....you learn much from it, understand who paid for it, and what their motivation was.  It is then that you have a much better understanding of the people of that country and their place in time."

Spring & Early Summer Images from Cleveland

© Stuart Pearl 2010 (Click Image to Enlarge)

Spring in Cleveland brings interesting weather, fascinating cloud patterns, and high contrast light. The low angle sun often provides interesting photo opportunities.

This image of Frank Geary's building on the Case Western Reserve campus was shot one early cloudy morning on my way to work. That's a great time to do photography. The sun is just coming up and it's low angle creates wonderful shadows, textures and highlights. Shot with an ultra wide angle lens and a circular polarizer the building looks like something from a Tim Burton movie.

Just a couple of mornings later bright sun creates contrasting reflections amidst pools of darkness.

A short walk away is the Cleveland Botanical Garden with an island of tulips greeting you at the main entrance. Continuing south on East Blvd, the Cleveland Museum of Art's new wing comes into view. It's lines offer start contrast to the original classical design.

Beyond this point the south stairs come into view with vistas of Wade lagoon and other scultpture.

With the Lagoon in the background, the morning sun washes across Chester A. Beach's "Fountain of the Waters" which sits by the south entrance to the museum. Beach was an American sculptor (1881 - 1956) and is known or his medallic art and busts.

A few miles west is the Playhouse Square area containing Cleveland's theater district. NPR affiliate WVIZ/WCPN Ideastream is headquartered there with its distinctive " Idea Center" vertical signage.

Remodelled Euclid Avenue sports modern bus shelters for the RTA Healthline as well as some interesting public art.

"Chorus Line Luminaries" by urban designer and public artist Stephen Manka challenges your vision with shifting colors as buses approach.

Manka's stainless steel sculpture is a stylized interpretation of dancers kicking in a Broadway chorus line. It is fascinating to study the light display from different angles. As the sun sets the backdrop of office buildings provide a canvas of many contrasts.