“The quickest way to introduce yourself to a new country, a new culture, is to see a birth, go to a wedding, attend a funeral or check out a grocery store. All give you a quick crash course in the culture,” said Dan Rather.<137>Robin Marchant<137><137><252><137>
Been there, done that, reported on it. After 65 years in journalism, including 24 years as the anchor of the CBS Evening News, Dan Rather been witness to history – and seen much of the world in the process.
Aboard a recent voyage of the MS Saint Laurent along the St. Lawrence River, he spoke to passengers about the changing face of news and to The Globe about some of his perpetual travel favourites.
What was your most memorable personal trip?
I appreciate the question. Travelling when not working is in a special category for me. I haven't that much time to do it, quite frankly.
But to answer your question, I think the first time that I went to Alaska to fish at King Salmon. My son and I went to fly-fish for salmon and rainbow trout. It was a never-to-be-forgotten trip.
First of all, the fishing was fantastic. Alaska – at least that part of Alaska – is the closest you can get to fishing heaven. We later made it an annual trip with my son and my oldest grandson. But that first trip, I had been there before but not on my own time, on my own dollar, doing what I wanted to do. We spent 10 glorious days there. It was just a wonderful, magic trip.
Is there a place you like to visit on a regular basis, where you find yourself headed again and again?
Well, I'm a Texan by birth and by choice and so my first choice is always to go to Texas. But let's put that aside. I'm going to say any time I can be at or on the high Himalayas. Jean, my wife, went with me on a working trip to the northern part of India when I interviewed the Dalai Lama.
I first saw the Himalayas in 1965. It's an awe-inspiring beauty to me. Keep in mind, I grew up on the Texas coast. Flat. I've seen a lot of mountains in my time, but to see the Himalayas, there's nothing quite like that.
I went to Banff recently – last summer, or the summer before – which was spectacular. I had some work to do there but we arrived a day early. I was with my eldest grandson, and we went up to Lake Louise. The Canadian Rockies blew me away. I'd go back the day after tomorrow. I've seen the Rockies but I really hadn't seen that part of the Canadian Rockies. They're unique to say the least.
Do you have any travel quirks?
As a young reporter, I was taught by older correspondents that the quickest way to introduce yourself to a new country, a new culture, is to see a birth, go to a wedding, attend a funeral or check out a grocery store. All give you a quick crash course in the culture. And a grocery store, or for that matter, a really big drugstore or pharmacy, tells you in a second what the level of medical care is.
Is there anything unusual you always pack?
I like to bring peanut butter with me, either in a tube or a jar. Because I find that no matter how good or bad the food is, you wake up in the middle of the night and you find yourself hungry for something – peanut butter is a must. I like chunky. I won't endorse a brand, but I prefer chunky.
Do you have a favourite hotel?
The George V in Paris. It's a classic Paris hotel. It was the first hotel I stayed in the first time I went to Paris in late 1964-65. Also the old King Salmon Lodge [in Alaska]. It was the first place we stayed on that first trip we went. It's since gone out of business – and gone back into business.
This interview has been condensed and edited.