Rick Steves' right-hand man has just published a memoir called The Temporary European. Cameron Hewitt is the travel writer in question and he takes readers across Europe, going beyond his original area of specialty, Eastern Europe. His description of the 'mixed blessing' of tourism is as good as it gets, in this case using Dubrovnik plus Split as his examples. One notices the influence that his boss/mentor RS has had on Hewitt's writing and general approach to travel.

Wonder whether Hewitt ever lurks or posts here? Or does Rick ever do the same? *back on Lonely Planet's old Thorn Tree, some of us were convinced that Anthony Bourdain was a semi-regular visitor. One particular poster there seemed to have a lot in common with Bourdain, both style-wise and opinion-wise.
I am done. the pages

Thanks for the alert.
Definitely sounds like RS philosophy; he's a long-time collaborator so no surprise there; sounds like a good writer too.

I've read some of his articles on the RS website and he is indeed a good writer. Thanks for the tip, zebec.

Thanks for the tip! Sounds very interesting!

This was the book I started but couldn't finish. It was all: me, me, me!

Is that not how a memoir works?

I just finished the book, and enjoyed it. I even underlined parts, for when I reread it.
I've always liked the Rick Steves travel philosophy, and that's how I learned to travel 20+ years ago.

hahaha

zebec…..Thanks for the book idea.
Just ordered it on Amazon on my Kindle for $1.99

His detailed description of a typical Day in the Life of a Travel Writer Circa 2023 is also quite interesting.
I am done. the wordz

Too bad you didn't post this in the Lounge zebec. I never read the Europe forum

A pair of added observations:

-the author was filming a recent update on Romania and became exasperated by the amount of government interference; finally his handlers came clean about the reason. It was because a certain American travel presenter had earlier trashed Romania as 'backward' during his own disastrous 2008 episode filmed throughout that nation. Hewitt discretely avoids naming that fellow American by name, but it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to guess who.

-Hewitt uses the word 'asshole' numerous times throughout this book, a first for the RS brand if memory serves.

I am done. the Bourdain

Are you sure you got the right book? This is "The Temporary European". It costs €12-something here in Europe. There is also 'A Temporary European", which costs a lot less (€2-something).

I just picked it up for $1.99 too. It’s a Kindle special here in the US.

Please keep buying it folks. I get .395 cents per sale, as a commission.
Tryna save up for an extended stay at that White Lotus, in their penthouse.
Seems RS throws in a red sparkly armband too. It says MASTER TRAVELER.
I am done. the Hewitt

$1.99 on Amazon Kindle…..350 pages

Too bad, I can't buy Kindle books from the US site. I've downloaded the free sample (of the English language version) from the Italian site , but if I want to buy the whole thing it will cost me €12.74. I wonder how much Zebec gets from that. Express lane to the White Lotus penthouse!