Speaking of Rick Steves…

Rick is back on the job in Europe, and you can follow along on his blog, Blog Gone Europe, as he researches his consistently excellent series of Europe guidebooks.

If you’re a fan of his books, you’ll especially appreciate the behind-the-scenes looks at how he puts them together (see in particular the August 2 entry from his 2006 blog). But that’s not the only reason to read Blog Gone Europe. Rick blogs like he guides; candidly and expertly, sharing loads of helpful travel tips and cultural insights. Plus, his blogged Europe vignettes stoke as much wanderlust as his television series, Rick Steves’ Europe.

On Rick’s itinerary this year are Italy, Spain, France, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Vienna and Istanbul, with stops in Morocco and, to his apparent dismay, Andorra (that entry’s title: “Andorra: I go there so you won’t have to”).

Rick only blogs while he travels – just 100 days this go around – so drop in on him while he’s still on the road. Got a travel question for him? Go ahead, ask him. Looks like he’s fielding a few these days.