286c Mother's Day; Sweet Home Croatia; An American Mother in Paris

This Mother's Day edition of Travel with Rick Steves weaves heartfelt personal stories with international cultural insights, celebrating the enduring power of motherhood across continents. Rick opens with a touching tribute to his own mother, June Steves, whose early influence sparked his lifelong passion for travel, recalling their 1969 journey through Europe and her quiet strength in the face of Alzheimer's. The episode then shifts to two powerful narratives: Jennifer Wilson, an American mother who relocated her family from Des Moines to the remote Croatian village of Merkapi, where she found deeper roots, slower living, and a profound connection to her ancestors—despite grappling with Croatia’s complex wartime history. Later, Mary Barone, an American wife of a Frenchman, shares her experiences raising a child in Paris, where public life is deeply intertwined with family, and elderly residents offer unsolicited but well-intentioned parenting advice. The episode closes with Sarah McCormick’s bittersweet memory of visiting San Francisco with her parents to say goodbye to their beloved friend Barbara, who served as a 'California mom,' and the emotional weight of losing a mother figure while still holding on to love and memory. Together, these stories paint a global portrait of motherhood as both a personal journey and a cultural thread. Key takeaways include: 1) Traveling to ancestral roots can deepen identity and family connection; 2) Raising children in European cities like Paris offers strong family support systems but requires cultural adaptation; 3) Letting go of consumerist lifestyles can lead to meaningful family renewal; 4) Intergenerational wisdom and community care are vital, especially in tight-knit villages; 5) Emotional resilience is forged through loss and connection; 6) Simple acts—like sharing a morning shot of Rakia or singing a song on a cable car—can become sacred rituals; 7) Motherhood is not just biological but also relational, communal, and historical; 8) True travel often means stepping outside your comfort zone to find deeper belonging.