Rolf Potts, foremost travel writer!

Rolf Potts, travel writer

 

Rolf Potts is arguably one of the best travel writers in a generation. (According to media outlets and what Rick Steves says anyway.)


Rolf Pott’s newest book “Marco Polo Didn’t Go there” explores more than decade of his extensive travel to 5 continents.

Last year, Rolf went on a No Baggage trip challenge, traveling 30,000 + miles with no luggage, and it got me to thinking how this type of perspective can be applied to everyday life.

His feat begs the question:
What do we really need to have to live well? It turns out, not much.

Fascinated with his pure and simple approach, I contacted him to do a Ninja Interview. He responded positively within minutes to my request. So, stay tuned for what looks to be one of the most interesting people the Ninja Interviews has “attacked”. I get the feeling Adventure is Rolf’s middle name. Visit his site, and see if you don’t agree.

By the way, how many of you know that I went backpacking around Europe? Yep. 11 countries in 28 days, with just $500 and a Eurail pass. In Prague my diet was 85% ice cream cones (because they were ¢15 a piece). Crazy, but true. Hum. Maybe I should share some of those crazy tales sometime soon.

What’s the furthest you’ve been from home?

Facts and Fiction: 10 "impressive" things (I may have done)

by monteregina FLICKR

Okay, when you become wildly famous, rumors circulate, and some of them must be dispelled. I wouldn’t know much about that.

Just have some fun with this:

1. I invented Pop Tarts

Fiction. But I do like them.

2. I am an illegal alien of African descent.

Fiction. I was born in Puerto Rico, but the island is an American Territory. African descent? My Nana was a bit mum and shifty-eyed on that.

3. I’ve been hit by a bus.

Fact. I’m writing about that right now. Your appetite is now whetted, yeah?

4. Author Donald Miller wrote me a personal note.

Fact. It involved something about Paraguay and paper, but I don’t want to embarrass him too much at the moment.

5. I wrote Hebrews.

Fiction. But, It’d be great to write a book about my husband who makes me coffee each morning, and it could be called, He-brews: All about Hymns and Hers. (Okay, that’s but a working title) Also, I wrote a mediation in the Holy Bible: Mosaic. But, that’s not really the same thing, is it?

6. I’ve been shot out of a canon.

Fiction. But, I’ve both shot a Canon (camera), and written about the (biblical) canon.

7. I’m allergic to bananas.

Faction… half-in-half. Unripe bananas make the roof of my mouth feel like it’s sort of dry, splitting open, and raw. Ripe bananas? No problem.

8. I’m bilingual.

Let’s not get carried away.

9. My son can count cards, like Rainman.

Fiction. Nathan has autism, but his cool savant-type of qualities are limited to paper 3D models and legos. (So far, not all that marketable.)

10. I’ve stayed in Prague.

Fact. And I like to call it Praha.

Now you try.

1. List 1 fiction and 1 fact, and we’ll make a guess.

2. Guess what the photo is.

My favorite cathedral- St. Vitus, Praha

I traveled around 11 countries backpacking in Europe, and I saw scores of beautiful and inspiring cathedrals. As I would enter them, I appreciated the art, the architecture, and their magnificence. It wasn’t something I was used to. Typical buildings of worship I was used to didn’t involve such grander. Spiritually for me, it helped to sharpen the import of my overall faith tradition of Christianity that extends more than 2,000 years. The efforts to build such amazing places to bring glory to God, and reflect his splendor, put me into a state of awe and reverence. But it wasn’t so much for the religious habits of the people involved in those efforts, but because of the character, nature, and vitality of the Creator God we worship and love.

Even though I got to see St Peter’s cathedral at the Vatican, and various places of worship in Florance, and even St. Paul’s in London, my favorite cathedral was, surprisingly, in Praha (Prague). The St. Vitus cathedral was breath-taking. Here are images I found at prague.net.  

Where have you traveled, near or far, grand or simple, that has had a spiritual impact on you, and why? Share a response here. Please enjoy these photos of St Vitus, too, and try to visit one day, you won’t regret it. (click to enlarge)