Well, it would be more accurate to say that my adventure last summer with Rick Steves’ “Europe Through the Back Door” really had its beginnings 15 years ago in my parents’ living room. I was a poor college student back then, working full time to pay for my tuition and yearning to break free of an intensive work-study-commute-work schedule. As I watched Rick Steves’ programs on my local PBS station, I almost felt as if I was walking right beside him, strolling the cobblestone streets of Europe, viewing original artworks, reveling in the sheer variety of foreign (to me) cultures, languages and customs, meeting local people, eating tasty dishes, and drinking fine wines. “I have to do that someday,” I vowed.

    Years passed. I graduated from college, started a new career as a magazine editor, and settled into a new home — but I continued to watch re-runs of Rick Steves on PBS. And I continued to dream of joining one of his tour groups. “I’m really going to do that someday,” I promised myself.

    I had enough money to go ... problem was, I didn’t have the time. I was overwhelmed at work, creating and launching brand-new magazines and assuming greater responsibilities. Europe still beckoned in the back of my mind, but it just didn’t seem possible that I could ever break free from work for long enough to make the trip. I feared it was becoming one of those dreams that you set aside for a “someday” that never comes.

    And then I turned 44. “I’m turning 45 next year,” was my first thought on the morning of my 44th birthday. “I have to make time for Europe.” Maybe that was the real beginning of my adventure through Europe last summer: the day I made the commitment to going.

    Choosing one of Rick’s tours was easy. I wanted to see as many different countries as I could within a two-week period, and I yearned for lots of time spent in Italy. Paris was high on my list of priorities, as was Venice. One guided excursion promised this and much more besides: the “Best of Europe in 14 Days” tour through France, Switzerland, Austria, Bavaria, Italy, and the Vatican. I signed up.

    My parents were very excited for me, for they had been to Europe a few times and knew how much I would love it. My mom spent four hours on the phone with her credit-card company arranging to provide me with a free airline ticket. I paid for my trip in advance, and started packing.

    On August 5, 2005, I left California for Paris. I could hardly believe it was really, finally happening. I was going to see Europe!