Rick Steves’ First Trip to Europe, 1973

1973 was a pivotal year for Rick Steves. He graduated from Edmonds High School (now Edmonds-Woodway) in 1973, and it immediately set off the adventure that would define his life. On June 20, 1973, the day after his high school graduation, he packed the biggest backpack he could find with what he later admitted was needless stuff, and flew to Europe for his first trip without any parents. He would later call it, in retrospect, the best European trip of his life.

On a $3/day budget, the future PBS fixture traversed Europe through the gutter. He remembers most vividly “the fear and thrill of being over there with no safety net,” nobody even knew where he was.

“Here I am, heading off to Europe the day after high school graduation in 1973 — with a budget of $3 a day, a ten-week Eurail pass in my pocket, and the biggest backpack I could find, jam-packed. I came home with no money, a malnourished body, and an enduring love of Europe.”

Since that 1973 trip, he has spent roughly 120 days a year in Europe, about a third of his adult life living out of a suitcase. That first solo journey essentially launched everything: the guidebooks, the PBS series, the tour company, and his lifelong philosophy of immersive, budget-conscious travel.

Northern Argentina in the 1930s Through Fascinating Photos

In contrast to the European elegance of Buenos Aires, everyday life in Northern Argentina during the 1930s moved to a different, more ancestral rhythm.

In provinces like Salta, Jujuy, and Tucumán, the decade was defined by a deep connection to the land and colonial traditions that had remained unchanged for centuries. The dusty streets of Andean villages were often filled with pack mules and horse-drawn carts, while the local markets served as the vibrant heart of the community, a place where indigenous heritage and Spanish influence blended into a unique cultural tapestry.

These fascinating photos, via Wolfgang Wiggers, capture the raw, sun-drenched beauty of the North: from the vast tobacco and sugar cane plantations where laborers worked under the immense sky, to the quiet dignity of families gathered outside their adobe homes.

A 100-year-old Indian woman in Northern Argentina, circa 1930s

A group of Indians, Northern Argentina, circa 1930s

A native of Salta, Northern Argentina, circa 1930s

A Pullman wagon, Northern Argentina, circa 1930s

At the edge of the forest, Northern Argentina, circa 1930s

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20 Photos of Hollywood Actresses Posing in Shamrock Patterned Dresses for St. Patrick’s Day in the 1940s

In the 1940s, it was a common publicity practice for Hollywood studios to release holiday-themed pin-up portraits of their starlets to keep them in the public eye.

For St. Patrick’s Day, these “cheesecake” photos typically featured actresses like Maureen O’Hara, Maureen O’Sullivan, and Angela Greene posing with festive props or in themed attire. While many of these portraits were in black and white, they often showcased dresses with bold shamrock prints or accompanying giant shamrock cutouts to signal the holiday.

Adele Mara

Alice Faye

Angela Greene

Ann Blyth

Arlene Dahl

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Generation X Photographed by Adrian Boot in West London, 1982

Adrian Boot is one of the most significant photographers of the British punk and reggae era. His work with Generation X (the band featuring a young Billy Idol) is highly regarded for capturing the band’s transition from the raw punk scene of 1976 to their more polished “New Wave” success in the early 1980s.

One of his most referenced sets is a professional photosession taken on location in West London in 1982. By this time, the band’s image had shifted; these photos often feature Billy Idol and Tony James with a more stylized, “rock star” look, utilizing the urban, industrial backdrop of West London—an area Boot knew well from his frequent work with The Clash and The Damned.

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Tatiana Samoilova: The Soul of Soviet Cinema

Tatiana Samoilova was a luminous icon of Soviet cinema, best known for her unforgettable performance in the 1957 masterpiece The Cranes Are Flying. With her soulful, almond-shaped eyes and a hauntingly beautiful presence, she brought a new level of emotional depth to the screen, earning her the Prix Jury Spécial at Cannes and international acclaim.

Often compared to Audrey Hepburn for her delicate features and gamine charm, Samoilova possessed a tragic intensity that was uniquely her own, making her a symbol of both vulnerability and strength. Beyond her breakthrough role as Veronika, she delivered a definitive portrayal of Anna Karenina in the 1967 adaptation, further solidifying her status as a legendary dramatic actress.

Though her career was deeply tied to the Soviet film industry, her appeal was truly global, captivating audiences from Hollywood to Paris. These vintage photographs capture Tatiana Samoilova at the height of her fame, a woman whose timeless beauty and profound talent continue to inspire lovers of classic world cinema.

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Soviet Cosmonauts Georgy Beregovoy and Pavel Popovich Present a Hunting Rifle as a Gift to Neil Armstrong, 1970

On June 1, 1970, Soviet cosmonauts Georgy Beregovoy and Pavel Popovich presented Neil Armstrong with an engraved hunting weapon during his historic goodwill visit to the Soviet Union. While often described in viral historical posts as a “hunting rifle,” it was technically an engraved double-barrel shotgun crafted by noted gunsmiths in Tula.

Armstrong was in the USSR for a 10-day tour following his Apollo 11 mission. He visited the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City on June 1, where he was hosted by Valentina Tereshkova.

During an evening reception, Beregovoy and Popovich presented the 12-gauge, side-by-side shotgun. Beregovoy humorously noted it was a tool for “hunting on Earth, not on the Moon.” The stock was inscribed with Armstrong’s name in Cyrillic script. Despite strict regulations on gifts from foreign governments, the U.S. government permitted Armstrong to keep the firearm.

Though the two nations remained fierce rivals in space technology, their astronauts often shared deep professional admiration. The exchange foreshadowed later cooperation between the United States and the Soviet Union, culminating in the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project of 1975, when astronauts and cosmonauts worked together in orbit for the first time.

Neil Armstrong’s 1970 visit to the USSR included a trip to Leningrad and the Baikonur Cosmodrome, where he met Soviet engineers and viewed the spacecraft that had carried Gagarin into orbit in 1961. The exchange was a rare moment of camaraderie during the Cold War. In return, Armstrong presented Soviet Premier Aleksey Kosygin with Moon rock fragments and a Soviet flag that had flown on Apollo 11. The shotgun remained in Armstrong’s private collection until it was auctioned by Heritage Auctions in 2019.

David Crystal: Architect of the American Look

While many associate the name with a single designer, David Crystal was, in fact, the powerhouse behind one of the most influential garment manufacturing empires in American history.

Founded in 1905, the David Crystal Company evolved from a small family business into a cornerstone of 20th-century fashion. The firm became synonymous with the “American Look”, a style that emphasized clean lines, high-quality fabrics, and a sophisticated yet accessible suburban aesthetic. By the mid-1950s, the company had established itself as a premier manufacturer, producing everything from elegant day dresses to the iconic “Haymaker” line.

The company’s most significant contribution to fashion history was its role as the original licensee and manufacturer for Lacoste in the United States. Under the David Crystal umbrella, the “alligator” logo was transformed from a niche French tennis brand into a mainstream symbol of American status and the “preppy” lifestyle.

Beyond sportswear, the David Crystal label represented a gold standard of manufacturing, ensuring that even mass-produced ready-to-wear garments possessed the tailored fit and durability of boutique pieces. These vintage portraits feature iconic models in signature David Crystal designs, embodying the essence of mid-century chic.

Jean Patchett in white sleeveless linen dress marked with dark blue by David Crystal, jewelry by Monet, photo by Clifford Coffin, Morro Bay, Cuba, Vogue, November 15, 1950

Mary Jane Russell in two-piece of imported pure silk shantung, bloused and belted in a contrasting colored geometric pattern, by David Crystal, photo by Richard Avedon, Vogue, March 15, 1950

Lisa Fonssagrives in white jacket and black skirt both in Tootal linen by David Crystal, added belt by Schaffer, photo by Frances Mclaughlin, Vogue, April 1, 1951

Alice Bruno in simple, elegant Mandarin silk dress by David Crystal at Best & Co., Harper's Bazaar, January 1952

Kathy Dennis in red jersey dress with high round collar and bound like the sleeves in red satin, the skirt is string-pleated, by David Crystal, photo by Clifford coffin, Vogue, September 1, 1952

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