But I also make a conscious effort to talk to strangers, and to be nice to them – whether they ask for directions, I inquire about what to order or we simply ask each other where we are from. You never know if the couple sitting next to you at dinner will open their home in Zurich to you (true story) or if the cool girl on your walking tour is also going to Cordoba on Monday by herself (true story). At the same time, you never know if you can be that special reference or advice-giver for someone else, and I believe in paying it forward and offering / giving even more than taking.
I guess my belief and recommendation for future travelers is to go against what we were told growing up about not talking to strangers, and to be open as you truly never know from the outside what a person has to offer – or what you have to offer to them.