Do you know what's more fun than seeing the enchanted Westminster Abbey of London?

Hearing Raquel (Portuguese) and Marc (German) talk about how they met at the University of Westminster.

Want to one-up the wild and crazy Carnaby Street of London?

Buy Brad a warm ale at a bar on Carnaby and hear his wild and crazy stories.

I've discovered that there's more to traveling to a different country than seeing the glorious sights. Talking to the locals and getting a glimpse of their culture is just as fun, if not more so.

I don't mean to decrease the splendor of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, or the Tower of London in any way. Goodness no. There is certainly a sense of achievement and wonderment with standing in a locale with so much history imbued in it.

It just should be added that talking to the locals adds a whole new dimension to your travels.

I have always loved learning what makes people tick. What drives them to do the things they do? What steers them to think the thoughts they do?

There are such a variety of opinions and backgrounds in the people here that it has really opened my eyes. This planet we share now seems so much smaller and precious.

It has taught me a lot about myself too. Like how I've been such an Ignorant American all my life (and how that's going to end now!).

Because I haven't had the fortune of visiting a non-English speaking country yet, there's still a whole new level of education for me to make. Paris will probably be the next city I'll visit.

And when I get there, I hope I can meet some locals and talk to them. (And gosh, I hope they speak English too, because I can't speak a word of French.)

. . .

Do you have any stories of meeting interesting people?