Credits

RESEARCHERS

For help with this edition, Rick relied on…

Cameron Hewitt

Cameron Hewitt was born in Denver, grew up in Central Ohio, and moved to Seattle in 2000 to work for Rick Steves’ Europe. Since then, he has spent about 100 days each year in Europe—researching and writing guidebooks, blogging, tour guiding, and making travel TV (described in his memoir, The Temporary European). Cameron married his high school sweetheart, Shawna, and enjoys taking pictures, trying new restaurants, and planning his next trip.

Suzanne Kotz

Suzanne, an editor with Rick Steves’ Europe, began her travel career riding in a station wagon with her six siblings from Michigan to Florida for spring break. Since then, she’s broadened her destinations to include much of Europe and parts of Asia. A librarian by training and a longtime editor of art publications, she’s happiest in her Seattle garden or when planning a meal for family and friends.

Gretchen Strauch

Before Gretchen became the online-content editor and an occasional tour guide for Rick Steves’ Europe, she lived in Europe for four years: studying philosophy in Scotland, then teaching English in southern Germany—meanwhile exploring the rest of Europe at every opportunity and accruing stories of misadventure that she’s been happily retelling ever since.

Cary Walker

Cary discovered international travel during college and has been feeding her wanderlust ever since. A former teacher, she believes that Europe is the best classroom for those who travel with an open mind. When not researching guidebooks or leading Rick Steves’ Europe tours, she resides in Dallas, with her husband Brian and three well-traveled stepsons.

Ian Watson

Ian has worked with Rick Steves on his guidebooks since 1993, after starting out with Let’s Go and Frommer’s guides. Originally from western New York, Ian has lived in Europe for many years now, first in Iceland and more recently in southern Germany.

CONTRIBUTOR

Gene Openshaw

Gene has co-authored more than a dozen books with Rick, specializing in Europe’s art, history, and culture. In particular, their Europe 101: History and Art for the Traveler and Europe’s Top 100 Masterpieces have helped bring European art to life. Gene also writes for Rick’s television shows, produces the audio tours, and is a regular guest on Rick’s radio show. For public TV, Gene has co-authored Rick Steves Fascism in Europe and the ambitious six-hour series Rick Steves Art of Europe. Outside of the travel world, Gene has composed an opera called Matter, a violin sonata, and dozens of songs. His latest book is Michelangelo at Midlife. Gene lives near Seattle, where he roots for the Mariners in good times and bad.