Rick Steves - Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective
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Welcome to The Daily Quote — a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm your host, Andrew McGivern, for May 7th. Today is National Tourism Day — a reminder that the world is a pretty big place, and your couch, as comfortable as it might be, is not the most exciting destination on the map. Whether you’re a passport-stamper, a road trip warrior, or just someone who likes browsing Airbnb listings and pretending you might someday book one — today is your day. Tourism isn’t just about seeing new sights. It’s about perspective. It’s about stepping out of your usual routine and realizing that not everyone puts ketchup on their fries — or calls them fries at all.
Frites anyone?
And that brings me to today’s quote, from travel writer and cultural critic Rick Steves who once said:
“Travel is rich with learning opportunities, and the ultimate souvenir is a broader perspective.”
Now, I know — the phrase “souvenir” usually makes you think of a snow globe or a fridge magnet that broke in your suitcase on the way home. But Rick’s talking about a different kind of keepsake — one you carry in your mind. Because every time you travel, you learn. Sometimes it’s a new language or a local custom. Sometimes it’s the realization that you’ve been pronouncing "bruschetta" wrong for years. But more importantly, you expand your view of the world. You discover that people live differently — and that’s not wrong. It’s just different. And you also discover that despite our differences we are the same.
And that broader perspective? That’s something no airline can lose and no travel delay can take away from you. So today, whether you're planning your next big adventure or just wandering around your own neighborhood with curious eyes, remember — travel isn’t about distance. It’s about discovery.
I'm Andrew McGivern, signing off for now but I'll be back tomorrow, same pod time, same pod station with another Daily Quote.