The PBS series Poldark shows the heyday of Cornwall's tin-mining industry. But in the late 20th century, that industry collapsed. And today, the last mine to close is now open to visitors -- dedicated to telling the miners' story.
The Geevor Mine, which closed in 1990, represents the last hurrah not only of Cornish tin mining, but, in a sense, of Britain's Industrial Age. Exploring it, I gained a better appreciation for the simple yet noble lives of miners. And my visit nudged me to consider more thoughtfully the plight of miners in the USA.
Causing you to see things differently -- whether you tend to be liberal or conservative -- is a powerful value of travel. If you travel and don't find yourself reconsidering things you thought you understood in at least a little different light, perhaps the value of your experience is being needlessly blunted by a closed mind.
What are some ways that your travel experience has shaken your strongly held ways of seeing things?
This is Day 79 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I'm reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, and beyond. Find more on my travel blog.
(This post originally appeared at blog.ricksteves.com/blog/geevor-mine.)