It was very cool to see my book Marco Polo Didn’t Go There alongside titles by the likes of Anthony Bourdain, Orhan Pamuk, and William Least Heat-Moon (as well as Marco Polo himself) on the Kerkermeister Pension’s “Travel Writing Stairs” in Auerbach, Saxony.
The Kerkermeister Pension is run by teacher and world traveler Adam Lee (pictured here at the top of the stairs), whose travel advice features in the “Vagabonding Voices” section of my first book, Vagabonding. I particularly like the generosity of his insight in Chapter Ten (“Let Your Spirit Grow”):
“I’ve been convicted over the years about giving back something to the people in the countries where I travel and take so much from them in terms of knowledge and experience. After guessing roughly at my budget for a particular trip, I set aside ten percent, a ‘travel tithe’ if you will. During that trip, I give away the money if I meet individuals or families with specific needs, and sometimes to religious groups or organizations that I feel are worthy. As a Christian, I believe I’m just a ‘pilgrim and traveler on this earth’ anyway.”
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