Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Along with the rest of our baggage, we tend to bring along knee-jerk assumptions about
what we expect to encounter abroad. Sometimes these can be helpful (remember to drive
on the left in Britain). Other times, they can interfere with our ability to fully engage with
the culture on its own terms.
People tell me that they enjoy my public television shows and my guidebooks because
I seem like just a normal guy. I'll take that as a compliment. What can I say? I'm
simple. I was raised thinking cheese is orange and the shape of the bread. Slap it on
and—
voilà!
…cheese sandwich.
But in Europe, I quickly learned that cheese is neither orange nor the shape of the
bread. In France alone, you could eat a different cheese every day of the year. And it
wouldn't surprise me if people did. The French are passionate about their cheese.
If they're evangelical about cheese, raise your hands and say hallelujah.
I used to be put off by sophisticates in Europe. Those snobs were so enamored with
their fine wine and stinky cheese, and even the
terroir
that created it all. But now I see
that, rather than showing off, they're simply proud and eager to share. By stowing my
