“One way of making famous landmarks more comprehensible is to look for surprises, good and bad, that go beyond what you are expected to encounter there, details that open you up to the raw imperfections of the encounter itself.” –Rolf Potts
In this episode of Deviate – which is a redo of episode 229, which didn’t air properly due to technical problems – Rolf and The Vagabond’s Way book club participants discuss how to break out of standard tourist routines and see places in unexpected way (1:30); how to get beyond the transactional, “taxi drivers and bartenders” layer of travel (10:00); how to become more independent of technology and smartphones as a traveler and find the “wisdom of place” (16:00); and the travel photos Rolf wishes he had taken when vagabonding 20 years ago (23:00).
Discussion moderator Luke Richardson is a traveler, author, and DJ based in England.
Notable Links:
The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.
Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.
Van Life before #VanLife: Rolf unpacks his very first vagabonding journey
Ryan Holiday on how to conceive, research, and write a “Big Idea” book
“American Beauty” has not aged well: Reconsidering the film, 20 years on
Wesley Morris on why Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing” remains a classic
Explore Europe on Foot: The hows and whys of trek-travel on the continent
The case for why trekking on foot is the best way to embrace slow travel
Pico Iyer on travel, impermanence, and what Japan can teach us about life
A first- (or second-) timer’s guide to experiencing Paris at a slow pace
How keeping a travel journal can transform your experience of the journey
The Shawshank Redemption’s brilliant reworking of Stephen King, 25 years on
Celebrating the subtle (and not-so-subtle) genius of Pulp Fiction, 25 years on
Bonus: Nomadic Matt’s top-19 lessons learned from a decade of travel
Matt Kepnes on how to travel for years (instead of days or weeks) at a time
Alastair Humphreys on making outdoor adventure a more active part of your life
Will New Orleans still be there in 100 years? Examining the fate of a city.
Backpacker, Go Home: How Tourism Is Ruining Everything (or Not)
Seth Kugel on how to (truly) get off the beaten path as a global traveler
Sports-movie screenwriter Bettina Gilois on the art of depicting true-life stories
Why David Lynch’s The Straight Story is a travel classic (and how it got made)
Celebrating the best travel movies ever (and what, exactly, makes them good)
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