Travel with Rick Steves Podcasts

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A weekly one-hour conversation with guest experts and callers about travel, cultures, people, and the things we find around the world that give life its extra sparkle. Rick Steves is America's leading authority on travel to Europe and beyond. Host and writer of over a hundred public television travel shows and author of 30 best-selling guidebooks, Rick now brings his passion for exploring and understanding our world to public radio. Related travel information and message boards on www.ricksteves.com. Primary Format : Public Radio Language : Unknown Also Listed as: City : Unknown State/Province : Unknown Country : Unknown Region : XX User Tags: User Votes: RSS Feed Website People found this Podcast Searching for: View this Podcast on a Google Map. Podcast iTunes Link Text Only listing of Travel with Rick Steves Podcasts Methings.com listings of Travel with Rick Steves Podcasts If you like this podcast, you might also like:

The Whiskey Trail; More British Slang There's a great deal of history and national pride in a shot of whiskey. Kate Hopkins, "The Accidental Hedonist," joins Rick to share what she learned about The Drink while visiting distilleries across Ireland, Scotland, Canada and Appalachia. Also, Chris Rae investigates more of the British slang that drives the rest of us bonkers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Photographing Machu Picchu; New Mexico; Who is Ataturk? An architectural photographer shares tips on capturing the spirit of Machu Picchu with a camera, a guidebook author with an appetite for the unusual tells us how her home state of New Mexico has a different aroma from the rest of the American Southwest, and we learn why the Turks stop in their tracks for a few minutes every November tenth. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 1000 Places to See Before You Die; Haunted Europe Patricia Schultz, author of the best-seller "A Thousand Places to See Before you Die" joins Rick to talk about narrowing down some of her favorite places to visit. And, for Halloween, All Souls Day, and Day of the Dead observances, Rick fields calls from listeners who tell us about haunted encounters they experienced on their travels to Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Flight Tips; Rural Japan; Even More Kindness of Strangers Rick experiences traditional Japanese culture with help from Lonely Planet author, Andrew Bender and learns from travel writer Don George about the Kindness of Strangers and how interacting with the locals -- regardless of the language barrier -- can make a big difference. Also, ultra-frequent flyer Johnny Jet offers tips for making your next flight more enjoyable. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- vis ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Art Outside the Museum; The Monuments Men Rick explores art found outside museums in the everyday scene of Europe and author Robert Edsel shares stories of the "Monuments Men" who helped rescue masterpieces of Western art from the Nazis during and after World War Two and whose work continues even today. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Week in Provence Whether you make it your home base for a few days or for good Provence in southeast France is what most Americans imagine of the French countryside. Two specialists in touring France join Rick and take your calls to unveil what makes Provence a distinctive region of France, and why it's so popular with American and European visitors. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Berlin Wall: 20 Years Later As Berliners prepare to celebrate German Reunification Day Rick chats with three residents about the upcoming 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and hears stories about the Cold War days and current challenges from listeners who have experienced Berlin as both a divided and freshly reunited city. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Scent Trail; More Kindness of Strangers Celia Lyttelton shares her story of how she traveled the world to collect the ingredients for her own perfect personal perfume -- the perfect souvenir for the person who already has everything -- and explains the powerful connection fragrances hold between places, memories, and our emotions. Also, travel writer Don George and callers discuss how the Kindness of Strangers saved the day on more than one overseas occasion and a new set of listener travel haiku takes us sailing in the Caribbean ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Outsiders in the Muslim World Two American travelers reveal the hidden sub-cultures in the Muslim World of the Middle East and North Africa. Looking behind the veil, our guests are an American Muslim who spent a year on her own getting acquainted with the region and a gay travel writer who was surprised by what he encountered in Afghanistan and Iraq. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mexico City One of the largest cities in the wolrd, Mexcio City is often compared to some of Europe's great cities in terms of culture, history, street life, and great food. Yet despite being considered the western hemisphere's equal to many European capitols, it's still not on most Americans' must-see list. Two former New Yorkers, who are inspired to change all that, join Rick to share their story of how they were so charmed by Mexico City they moved there and wrote guides to help other visitors enjoy ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Urge to Preserve: British Banter, Holy Bones, and Inspired Globe-Jotting Rick examines the slang that separates the Brits from their American cousins in an effort to help travelers avoid being "gob-smacked" by what the locals might say, and appearing as a "plonker". Also, Rick discusses how perserving the rags and bones of saints and other relics have changed the world and shares tips for how a travel journal can become a fun and important way to savor vacation memories. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bill Holm: American in Iceland; Winter in Alaska Writer Bill Holm explains how the view from his cottage on the coast of Iceland illumanates the view of his home in small town Minnesota, and contrasts American culture with that of economically-strapped Iceland. Also, from Homer, Alaska, Geo Beach inspires travelers to enjoy wintertime fun in his home state while there's still time to enjoy dog sledding and skiing. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- vis ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tangier Tourism; Arctic Wisdom One of Tangier's local tour guides offers suggestions for visiting the enigmatic gateway city to North Africa that is currently being restored to its former Art Deco glory. Also, for something completely different, photographer Steven Kazlowski shares what he learned from spending years in Alaska's Arctic photographing polar bears, along with the wisdom the land and its people taught him. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budget Phone Tips; Travel for the Birds; Albania for Tourists Join Rick as he learns about the fascinating relationship between two of North America's most iconic birds -- owls and woodpeckers -- and how they help us better understand the different landscapes on our continent. Listeners also offer budget tips on how using cell phones overseas can actually help travelers save money and highlights Albania as a cultural time warp, recommending a visit before other tourists discover its appeal. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budapest Rick examines the enduring appeal of Hungary's capital city and how, after centuries of being a melting pot of cultures, Budapest continues to be one of the world's truly grand cities, with some of the tastiest food in Europe. Joining Rick, two Hungarian tour guides take listener calls and explore why Budapest remains the economic and cultural centerpiece for much of eastern Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and rela ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Misadventures of Rolf Potts; Open Phones: Budget Eating Rolf Potts shares his tales and misadventures as a travel writer and Rick shares ideas with listeners on how to eat on a budget while traveling on vacation overseas. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eccentric Islands; Backstreet Istanbul The busy city of Istanbul is now home to millions of Turks and is emerging as one of the hottest places for visitors. Rick delvs into the backstreets with suggestions for enjoying the city like the locals do -- from corners of the Grand Bazaar and Topkapi Palace to the romantic traffic-free islands just off the coast. We'll also pay tribute to the late writer Bill Holm, who shared his thoughts about "eccentric islands" with Rick. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website David Sedaris: An American in Paris and Tokyo Humorist and frequent traveler David Sedaris tells us how he's settled in as a 50-something ex-pat in Europe. David helps us tackle the gender of French nouns - sort of - and compares notes with Rick on the most irritating things about tourists in Paris, staying in hotels, and a dirty little secret about some flight attendants. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website More Geography of Bliss; Finding More Classical Music in Europe Is the current economic downturn taking a toll on you? We'll investigate what makes people from different cultures happy, with NPR's Eric Weiner, as he updates us on the findings from his book "The Geography of Bliss." We'll also consider our options for taking in a classical music concert while vacationing in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Paris City Guide If you haven't seen Paris, you really haven't yet tasted the best of Europe. French tour guide Patrick Vidal joins Rick for an insider's perspective on the style and substance that makes Paris the world capital of culture. We'll also hear from listeners with their own suggestions for what makes Paris one of the world's favorite cities. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Visiting Washington DC; More Places to See in the USA & Canada Rick celebrates Independence day, gathering tips for visiting Washington D.C. from Pauline Frommer and Jay Inslee, who represents Rick's home district in Congress. Also, Patricia Schultz inspires listeners with a follow-up to her book "Thousand Places to See Before Your Die" focusing on the USA and Canada. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Art in Italy Whether you studied art history in college, or you just want to be a good sport on your next trip to Europe, we'll see how art can change the way you look at the world. Rick is joined by the co-author of his Europe 101 book on art appreciation, and by certified guides from Rome and Florence, to discover new ways of looking at the masterpieces that surround you in Italy. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related deta ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Odysseys Rick chats with Scott Huler about his voyage in the Mediterranean to re-trace the steps of Ulysses and what he learned about himself 3,000 years after "The Odyssey." Also, a writer from Forbes.com shares with listeners the lengths some intrepid travelers are going to in order to reach the far corners of the earth. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Flying in Coach; The Ridiculous Race Rick gets advice from a flight attendant on how to enjoy flying in the coach section of the plane, including tips for getting a good seat, and hears from two Hollywood comedy writers who challenged each other to see who could make it around the world first -- without ever using an airplane. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website D-Day Sites; Open Phones: Summer Travel Plans The beaches of Normandy, France hold the memories of thousands who fought -- and many who died -- to bring an end to Europe's Nazi tyranny in 1944. Rick commemorates the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings with an expert guest on D-Day sites who gives travelers options for a trip that many Americans rate among the most moving of their lives. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Fred Plotkin's "Chow Italia" Italians have always believed in eating locally and in-season, and that's exactly what Italian food expert Fred Plotkin recommends when he joins Rick to talk about chowing well in Italia. Fred gives tips for helping travelers savor the variety of regional Italian cuisine specialties, where to look for great Italian food on a budget, and some of the local traditions Italians have for what -- and when -- to eat and drink. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode de ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Castles in Europe; High School Visionaries For centuries castles were considered the high points of their communities. Join Rick as he talks castles with an expert guide from Wales and offers recommendations for which sites travelers to visit -- from historical ruins to converted B&Bs, all the way to Transylvania. Next, Rick learns about American high school students who travel to Guatemala each summer in order to learn first-hand how connected we really are in our modern world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- inc ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rome: Beneath the Surface Rick brings centuries of Roman history to life as he takes a closer look at some of the sites found on the streets of Rome, checks in on the city's now-trendy Jewish Ghetto, offers practical tips for planning a visit, hears what some of our listeners have discovered in their own travels and chats with a local guide who not only knows her city inside out, but also explains how it teaches us about ourselves today. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descripti ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The European Union in 2009 After World War Two, European visionaries dreamed of cooperation and peace between countries in the hopes to prevent another devastating war. Today, we celebrate this vision through Europe Day and the European Union with a panel of European citizens who discuss the political and social issues facing the E.U. Out of the rubble of World War Two, European visionaries came up with a way to get their countries to cooperate and to prevent another devastating war. We're commemorating Europe Day w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Smart Help for the Developing World We explore practical solutions to addressing world hunger. Rick's guests include a preacher-economist who heads a non-profit agency that advocates for the interests of hungry people around the world. And we'll hear from a Kenyan agricultural specialist who's helping to address policies and markets that will benefit people in developing nations. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Travel with Kids For some parents, fear of flying means wondering how their kid will behave on the plane. Rick shares practical advice and pointers on traveling with children ranging from toddlers to teens. From acclimating kids to the streets of Rome to leaning how to cope with jetlag, Rick's guests discuss what parents need to know and how to turn kids into lifelong travelers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Easter in the Holy Land; Footsteps of Saint Paul Rick celebrates Easter by learning about Christian pilgrimages to Israel and the Mediterranean region, where Saint Paul traveled, calling one of our listeners to hear about her year spent volunteering at non-profit projects around the world, and exploring inspirational religious sites in the Middle East. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Barging Thru France & Open Phones: Kindness of Strangers The captain of a passenger barge based in Burgundy joins Rick to explain the fine art of cruising France's intimate network of canals and how this dimension of traveling through the French countryside brings with it new pleasures. And we'll hear stories from listeners who experienced simple acts of kidness by strangers in their travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Brilliant Teacher Around the World; Southern California Sidetrips If travel is the best education - imagine what you could learn when you take a year off to take your family around the world? We'll hear how an average family of five engaged in "world schooling," and how it brought them closer together as they spent time in a variety of cultures all over the world. In addition, Rick checks in with a Lonely Planet author in Southern California, with tips for family fun and finding cultures from across the world in Los Angeles. For more information on ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ireland: 2009 Recent changes in the global economy are showing up now in Ireland -- which the European Union used to call one of its best examples of investing in small countries. We'll get an update on the downturn of the "Celtic Tiger," which promises to keep prices in check for visitors to Ireland this year. Rick and his experts on Ireland will take listener calls and remind us how the Emerald Isle still provides a genuine welcome, where a good story is just a pint away. For more information on Trave ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Everyday Italian Cuisine Italy's distinctive regional cuisines are a high point for many travelers, but the disinctive customs Italians have for their food and drink sometimes baffles American visitors. Two Italian food guides chat with Rick to lay out the tenents of good everyday food -- Italian style. And, we'll help you enjoy eating like an Italian, without letting low exchange rate get in the way of enjoying authentic Italian cuisine. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descrip ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Estonia Estonia is emerging from years under Soviet domination and turning into a popular destination for travelers looking to mix old world charm with the energy of the "new Europe." Join Rick as he uncovers Estonia, one of Europe's little surpises, from the medievel capital of Tallinn, to rusting ex-military bases on quiet islands in the Baltic Sea. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Romantic Travel Destinations Rick chats with listeners about finding time for a little romance in our travels and takes calls and emails about the most romantic destinations, including the perfect place for a proposal or honeymoon. Join us for a Valentine's theme with your suggestions of favorite romantic travel destinations on the next Travel with Rick Steves. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Springtime in The Netherlands; Cycling Across Colombia Bicycles are a popular way to get around town in the Netherlands as part of the efficient Dutch culture. We're checking in on one of Europe's most well-ordered countries, including suggestions for taking in the extraordinary spring flower festivals in the Netherlands. In addition, adventure cyclist Willie Weir tells us about his ride across one of South America's least-understood countries, Colombia. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, progra ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Comfort Food Rick explores some of the comfort foods his European friends enjoy in Paris, Madrid, and Tuscany, and shares how travelers can enjoy them during a visit to these regions. We'll get advice on preparing and eating escargot and steak tartare, get a recipe on how to mix up your own batch of sangria, and hear from listeners about some of their memorable food encounters overseas. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related detail ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Helen Thayer: Walking the Gobi Desert Helen Thayer, one of the most remarkable adventure travelers of our time, dreamed of trekking across Mongolia since she was a schoolgirl. At the age of 63, she and her husband became the first people to walk the entire length of the Gobi desert -- the long way. Find out what they learned about the desert, the local nomads they met, and the deadly dangers they faced while on foot in the Gobi for three months. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Prague and the Czech Countryside Prague has become a contender as one of Europe's most popular cities for visitors. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, two tour guides based in Prague join Rick and our listeners to describe the scene in the Czech capital. They'll offer tips on avoiding the summer flood of tourists, and how to best experience the city's substantial old world charm. We'll also explore day trips into the Bohemian countryside. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descr ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rick Steves in Iran, part two: Iran for Tourists We conclude our two-part series about Iran on the next Travel with Rick Steves... with an exploration of what the country offers as a tourist destination. Rick is joined by the Lonely Planet's "Iran" guidebook author, and by a tour organizer who specializes in the ins and outs of taking Americans thru Iran. They'll compare notes on Iranian culture, and what Westerners need to know about it. We will hear how Iran's impressive historical sites and magical cities are matched only by the cou ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rick Steves in Iran: Perplexing Issues We start a two-part series about one of the most perplexing countries in the Middle East on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Rick learns about the culture, politics, and people of Iran from two Iranian-American experts, a journalist and a professor. Their recent books deal with the conflicts within Iranian culture, and on how the pressures of globalization help to feed terrorist sympathies among some traditional communities. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- includi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website International New Years Eve Traditions One of the delights of traveling to other countries is finding new ways to celebrate familiar holidays. This week, we explore some of the many ways to welcome in the new year with friends from Scotland, Holland, Hungary, Spain, Sicily, Turkey and even Australia and Japan. And we'll get tips, direct from France, on how to put a little sunshine on our table by eating like they do on the French Riviera. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, prog ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website International Christmas Join Rick and some of his friends from Spain, Hungary, Holland, Sicily, Scotland, and Australia join us to explain their holiday traditions. And we'll get advice for a family holiday trip to Paris. Come along for a taste of the many flavors of Christmas celebrations from around the world on Travel with Rick Steves. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Last Polar Bear; Christmas in Rome and London Polar bears may be the top of the food chain, but they're taking a serious hit from climate change at the top of the world. This week, we meet wilderness photographer Steven Kazlowski. He's spent years getting acquainted with the Arctic, and tells us what he's witnessed, learned, and documented in his latest photo-essay book, "The Last Polar Bear." And we'll get a head start on Christmas celebrations in London, Rome, and Germany. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- includi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Johnny Jet's Internet Guide to Travel Johnny Jet is the ultimate frequent flyer. He turned a fear of flying into a travel career that takes him overseas more than he stays at home. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Johnny updates us on trends in air travel, and shares his tips for cutting the cost -- and the headaches -- from travel. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Celtic Fringes of Britain: Wales & Scotland For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eric Weiner's 'Geography of Bliss' For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Odysseys Have you ever found yourself between a rock and a hard place, or heard the tempting call of the sirens to forget about your plans? These are some of the experiences Scott Huler had on a six month voyage to re-trace the steps of Ulysses. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear what you can discover about yourself in the Mediterranean, 3,000 years after "The Odyssey." Next, a writer from Forbes.com tells us the lengths some intrepid travelers are going to in order to reach the far ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rescuing Da Vinci: How the Allies Saved The World's Masterpieces from World War Two Robert Edsel, author of "Rescuing DaVinci" and producer of the documentary film "The Rape of Europa" joins Rick to describe Hitler's obsession with art, and how a special unit of Allies, known as the Monuments Men, re-patriated Europe's treasures after the war -- and the work that remains to be done today. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Turkey: Beyond Istanbul For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 1000 Places to See Before You Die Patricia Schultz, author of the best-seller "A Thousand Places to See Before you Die", brings focus to your travel dreams by narrowing down some of her favorite places to visit. Later, Rick takes listener calls and emails sharing travel plans and inspiring travelers to get out and see the world, armed with confidence and useful travel tips. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tony Wheeler's "Lonely Planet" Tony Wheeler, founder of what has become the world's largest travel empire, Lonely Planet, shares some of the tales that he chronicles in his new book, "Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story." Rick compares notes with Tony as he recalls the early travel adventures that formed the foundation of a pre-eminent publishing house known for helping independent travelers find their way through even the smallest and thorniest of countries. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tony Horwitz: Rediscovering the New World, and Sailing to Antarctica Travel writer Tony Horwitz retraces the North American routes of 16th century explorers, and examines how they changed America before the big wave of European settlers arrived. Also, sailing expert Anthony Sandberg reveals what we'll find in today's hot spot for discovery — Antarctica. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website First Impressions of Iran Rick shares notes with his Iranian-American filmmaking consultant about their recent trip to Iran to film a special for public television. We'll hear what "family values" means to the average Iranian, and how some of them circumnavigate the taboos of their fundamentalist religious government. It could be one of the least understood cultures in the world, and Westerners are often surprised by the welcome they find -- from the congested capital, Tehran, to the dusty and magnificent sites of a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Berlin City Guide Berlin is asserting itself as one of the world's powerhouse cities, and one of Europe's more affordable destinations for newcomers. Rick chats with an American who calls Berlin home, and gets an update on the city's attractions including the intense re-construction projects revealing a re-invented German capital. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website David Sedaris: An American in Paris and Tokyo Humorist and frequent traveler David Sedaris tells us how he's settled in as a 50-something ex-pat in Europe on the next Travel with Rick Steves. And he shares a few surprises about what he found in Japan - where he went to learn to quit smoking. David helps us tackle the gender of French nouns - sort of - and compares notes with Rick on the most irritating things about tourists in Paris, staying in hotels, and a dirty little secret about some flight attendants. For more information on ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Chow Italia: Fred Plotkin's Gourmet Italy Italians have always believed in eating locally and in season. Italian food expert Fred Plotkin joins us on this week's Travel with Rick Steves to help us travel with an informed palate to savor the variety of regional Italian cuisine specialties. We'll learn where to look for great Italian food on a budget, and some of the local traditions Italians have for what and when they eat and drink. Join us for a gastronomic pilgrimage with the author of "Italy for the Gourmet Traveler" on ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lord Alderdice: Road Maps to Peace Lord Alderdice, one of the key political figures who helped resolve Northern Ireland's long-standing "troubles" between its Catholic and Protestant citizens, joins Rick as a special guest to discuss the tensions facing the United States and its allies. The Belfast native provides a look at the personal reasons fueling political conflict and provoking terrorist acts and shares his approach to overcoming terrorism and designing road maps for peace. For more information on Travel with Rick Ste ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Outsiders in the Muslim World Two American travelers reveal the hidden sub-cultures in the Muslim World of the Middle East and North Africa. Looking behind the veil, our guests are an American Muslim who spent a year on her own getting acquainted with the region and a gay travel writer who was surprised by what he encountered in Afghanistan and Iraq. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exploring Sicily & Germany's Black Forest If you like the people and rhythm of Italy you'll love Sicily. Tour guide Alfio di Mauro offers insider tips on getting the most out of a vacation to the frenzied-yet-laid-back island. Also, German tour guide Christoph Dressler tempts Rick with ideas for visiting Germany's Black Forest region, including mineral spas and power hikes. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hungary: Beyond Budapest Filled with a proud Imperial history, friendly formality, hundreds of hot springs, and some of Europe's spicier home cooking, Hungary is a cultural goulash. Rick explores options for getting beyond the busy capital of Budapest into the heart of Hungary's countryside. Tour guide Peter Polczman takes travelers' calls highlighting the scenic Danube Bend, Lake Balaton, and the proud winemaking town of Eger, famous for its strong "bull's blood" wine. For more information on Travel with Rick Stev ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bulgaria; An Ounce of Prevention Caught in the cultural crosshairs of Europe, Bulgaria is emerging as one of Eastern Europe's bargains. Travelers to Bulgaris can expect Ancient Byzantine and Ottoman influences and experience Mummers and midwives keeping traditions dating back to the ancient Thracians and Romans times alive. Rick also takes a house call from the travel doctor, who offers preventive advice for the long plane ride overseas and visiting the third world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- includ ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Art-Lovers Guide to Europe Art history specialist, co-author of "Europe 101" and original "Europe Through the Gutter" travel partner Gene Openshaw joins Rick to inspire us with a close-up view of masterpieces including paintings, sculptures and architecture travelers can't afford to miss in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Jamaica and Jordan Home of rasta and reggae, the small island of Jamaica offers big personality, a distinctive accent, waterfall zip lines, and snorkeling with dolphins. Thanks to all this and more, Jamaica is one of the most popular getaways in the Caribbean. And, for something completely different, the Middle Eastern kingdom of Jordan delights travelers with desert excursions, modern resorts on the Red Sea, anciet cities and more. From Petra to Bedouin, tourists to Jordan are in for a treat. For more inform ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Salman Rushdie's "The Enchantress of Florence" & Sailing the Eastern Mediterranean Salman Rushdie joins Rick to discuss how to confront the cultural clash between East and West and explain the motivation for his latest novel, "The Enchantress of Florence," which revolves around the earliest contacts between Europeans and 16th century moghul India. Later, sailing expert Anthony Sandberg recommends how to experience the eastern Mediterranean, much like the ancients did -- by island-hopping with a boat. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode des ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Week in Provence Whether you make it your home base for a few days, or for good, Provence charms any traveler hoping to expeirence traditional French countryside. Two France experts join Rick to take listener calls and unveil what makes Provence such a distinctive region, and why it's so popular among American and European visitors. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website America the Beautiful & Route 66 Rick talks with the editor at Life Books about their new photo essay on one hundred of the most compelling places to visit in the USA. And we'll get re-acquainted with Route 66 and the appeal it still holds for a classic road trip thru the heart of middle America and the southwest. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Artist's Safari in Africa; Travel Medicine Fred Krakowiak, a wildlife painter who shares his love for Africa with us through his vivid descriptions of a safari, shows Rick what Africa looks like through the eyes of a painter, and Doctor Edward Chapnick, the head of travel medicine at a major hospital in Brooklyn answers questions about precautions for visits to lesser developed countries, as well as the plane ride over. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related de ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Midsommer's Guide to Sweden Stockholm-based tour guide Marita Bergman provides a glimpse into the attractions of her home city and takes listener calls on suggestions for exploring the Swedish countryside. Marita also explains how Swedish society provides for raising a familiy, and how the Swedes celebrate the longest day of the year. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Costa Rica With seaside resorts on two coasts, volcano, rainforest, jungle, and more species of birds and butterflies than almost anywhere else on earth, Costa Rica is a naturalist's eco-dream. Travel writer Christopher Baker gives us a taste of Costa Rica's "pura vida" and tips on when to visit the country and how to get close to nature -- whether by river raft or by zip-line. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- vi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Travel with Kids For some parents, fear of flying means wondering how their kid will behave on the plane. Rick shares practical advice and pointers on traveling with children ranging from toddlers to teens. From acclimating kids to the streets of Rome to leaning how to cope with jetlag, Rick's guests discuss what parents need to know and how to turn kids into lifelong travelers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Travel Budget Tricks The weaker value of the US dollar doesn't have to bust your budget and get in the way of enjoying the European vacation you've always dreamed of. From finding affordable accommodations in hot spots such as London, Madrid and Paris to exploring emerging destinations in Eastern Europe where the dollar still holds up against the local currencies, we're spending the hour exploring European travel budget tricks on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. For more information on Travel with Rick Stev ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exploring D-Day Sites The beaches of Normandy hold the memories of the thousands who fought -- and the many who died -- to bring an end to Europe's Nazi tyranny in 1944. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, we'll explore options for visiting the sites connected with D-Day -- a trip many Americans rate among the most moving of their lives. Rick also fields listener calls and emails to help plan upcoming travels to Europe, and shares another round of listener travel haiku. For more information on Travel with Ri ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rome City Guide With an extravagant collection of more history, art, and culture than any other city in the world, Rome defined the word "civilization" two thousand years ago. Today, two of Rome's best tour guides join Rick to take listener calls, point out the city's high points, and offer tips travelers with any amount of time to spend in the Eternal City can put to use. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.r ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Istanbul City Guide Now one of the world's largest cities, Istanbul retains its intimate character with the echoes of generations still evident in its narrow streets and ornate monuments. Rick's friends Tan and Lale Aran join us for a guide to their rapidly growing city and take calls to help listeners plan their visits to Istanbul. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eric Weiner and The Geography of Bliss When self-described grump Eric Weiner took a year off from being an NPR correspondent to search for the happiest countries in the world he found some surprising reasons why people are content with the places they call home. Eric joins Rick to discuss what makes the Dutch, Swiss, Icelanders, East Indians, Thais, and even the Bhutanese happy with their lot in life. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Earth Day 2008: Sailing & Endangered Sites Rick reviews the World Monuments Fund list of the "100 Most Endangered Sites" and finds out what's putting them at risk, and what we can do to help. Also, Rick is joined by the founder of the Olympic Circle Sailing Club in Berkeley, California, and looks at the role sailing clubs are playing as they bring people together to let wind power take them near and far. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An American Travel Guide to China The old China travelers once knew is undergoing radical changes, mixing some of the world's oldest cultural heritage with futuristic city sklines and making way for the next generation of tourists. In fact, it's changing so rapidly, travelers need more than a good guidebook to get around. Rick learns how to get the most out of a visit to China from three experts on Chinese culture and society and finds out what visitors to today's China can expect. For more information on Travel with Rick S ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Paris City Guide If you haven't seen Paris you haven't tasted the best of Europe. French tour guide Patrick Vidal joins Rick for an insider's perspective on the style and substance that make Paris a cultural capital. We'll also hear from listeners with their own suggestions for what makes Paris one of the world's favorite cities. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Alaska Overview & Road Tripping with Kids Alaska is a dream destination for many, but the cost and logistics of traveling to America's last frontier can seem almost as imposing as the spectacular scenery. Lonely Planet author Aaron Spitzer joins Rick to discuss travel options for first-timers to Alaska and compare crusing the Southeast to road tripping through Mount Denali and the Kenai Peninsula. Also, Jeff Campbell offers practical tips on how to make a summer road trip with small children memorable for all the right reasons. Fo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Road Trip Pilgrim Rick's guest Dan Austin describes what it takes to be a "Road Trip Pilgrim," and how a tiny travel budget can actually enhance your experience. Even if you don't want to climb a mountain, there are many ways to add a deeper sense of purpose to your travels. We'll share pratical ideas on taking take time off to recharge your spirit in another part of the world, no matter what your age or income. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archiv ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dublin City Guide Irish tour guide Stephen McPhilmey takes listener calls to explain how the high-tech boom and pop-culture scene have skyrocketed Dublin's stature in recent years and how that's changing the character of the Irish capital. Find out why people across the country are calling Dublin one of their favorite cities -- even though it has become one of its most expensive for American visitors. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and rela ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Berlin City Guide Berlin is re-asserting itself as one of the world's powerhouse cities, and one of Europe's more-affordable cities for newcomers. Rick gets an update on the city's attractions and energy from an American who now calls Berlin his home and discovers how Berlin's intense re-construction project promises to reveal a re-invented German capital soon. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Celtic Fringes of Britain: Wales & Scotland Two of Rick's favorite tour guides from Scotland and Wales join Rick to contrast the charms of Wales and Scotland and discuss the distinctions travelers can find in the United Kingdom, including a far more interesting taste of the authentic culture than you'll find from the standard romanticized tourists cliches. And another round of listener poetry about Winter in Ireland. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related detail ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Traveling on your stomach: Everyday Italian Cuisine Italy's distinctive regional cuisines are a high point for many travelers, but the disinctive customs Italians have for their food and drink sometimes baffles American visitors. Two Italian food guides chat with Rick to lay out the tenents of good everyday food -- Italian style. And, we'll help you enjoy eating like an Italian, without letting low exchange rate get in the way of enjoying authentic Italian cuisine. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descrip ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Thorny Issues: Turkey and Tibet With the help of two politically-savvy Turks from Istanbul, we'll discuss some of the trickier political issues facing both Turkey and Tibet today and hear how Turkey is preparing for a formal relationship with the European Union. And, a Lonely Planet author explains how China's political control is changing Tibet, and offers tips for finding its traditional Buddhist culture. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related deta ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Romance and Authenticity Rick and travel guru Don George share advice with listeners about romantic getaways, B&Bs, and connecting with the locals. We'll also hear Jennifer Cox's story of traveling the world to find a soulmate -- and where she found him -- and get a first-hand report from Siena in central Italy about how to savor the moment, Tuscan-style. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rescuing Da Vinci: How the Allies Saved The World's Masterpieces from World War Two Robert Edsel, author of "Rescuing DaVinci" and producer of the documentary film "The Rape of Europa" joins Rick to describe Hitler's obsession with art, and how a special unit of Allies, known as the Monuments Men, re-patriated Europe's treasures after the war -- and the work that remains to be done today. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Australia & Mardi Gras in New Orleans From kangaroos to Carnival, Rick focuses on the attractions of Australia, and the celebrations surrounding Mardi Gras parties and parades in New Orleans. Rick explores Aussie culture and New Orleans with Lonely Planet experts. We'll also hear how Mardi Gras is a series of celebrations for all ages, and why it's so important in helping revive the spirit of New Orleans. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- v ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Retiring in Mexico Rick and his guests Carl Franz and Lorena Havens, authors of the "People's Guide to Mexico," discuss what it takes to retire in Mexico and reminisce about how they first met in the 1970s and what "following your bliss" entailed back during the early days of Carl and Lorena's adventures in Mexico. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website More on London 2008 We're including material we weren't able to fit into last week's program about London in this podcast and web extra feature. Tour guides Tom Hooper and Gillian Chadwick return with Rick to take calls from a couple of Seattle-area listeners to KUOW. They clear up the meaning of the "Bank Holiday" at the end of May, the significance of Guy Fawkes Day observances in November, and commiserate about the confusing congestion when making connecting flights at Heathrow Airport. (runs 6:11) For mor ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website London 2008 Two of Rick's favorite London guides clue us in on what's new for 2008 and offer tips on how to navigate the city sprawl while finding characteristic neighborhoods without getting lost in the Underground. And we'll compare notes with listeners on budget tricks and free attractions that make London one of the world's top travel destinations. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website International New Year's Traditions Explore the many ways our friends from Scotland, Holland, Hungary, Spain, Sicily, Turkey and even Australia welcome in the new year and get a report from one of our traveling listeners about his recent trip-of-a-lifetime to Ecuador. We've all got to share one planet, so come along as we explore our world, and welcome in the new year in style. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Christmas Traditions Rick takes listener calls about travel during the holidays, and phones a few of his friends in Europe to find out how they're celebrating Christmas. We'll also hear about guarding traditions in Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Ireland and Portugal, and how some traditionas are changing with modern times. And we'll even find out about some of Santa Claus's relatives, back in the "old country." For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website International Christmas Traditions Rick's friends from Spain, Hungary, Holland, Sicily, Scotland, and Australia explain how they observe the holidays including what happens on Saint Nicholas Day and Epiphany as part of their Christmas festivities. And we'll also get some advice for a family holiday trip to Paris. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Rome and London Have you ever thought about spending Christmas in Rome or London? We'll get you in the right holiday mood with this special podcast extra preview of next week's brand new show on International Christmas traditions. Local Rome tour guides Susanna Perruchinni and Francesca Caruso describe how the holiday is observed in the Eternal City and Blue-Badge London guides Gillian Chadwick and Tom Hooper describe some of the Christmas sites you'll find in their city. For more information on Travel wit ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Open Phones and Traveler Faux Pas Rick fields listener calls and emails dealing with stories of travel adventures -- and a few misadventures. From faux pas to favorite food overseas, Rick spends a full hour on the lessons learned from "travelers' school of hard knocks." For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tony Wheeler's "Lonely Planet" Tony Wheeler, founder of what has become the world's largest travel empire, Lonely Planet, shares some of the tales that he chronicles in his new book, "Unlikely Destinations: The Lonely Planet Story." Rick compares notes with Tony as he recalls the early travel adventures that formed the foundation of a pre-eminent publishing house known for helping independent travelers find their way through even the smallest and thorniest of countries. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Conscientious Travel; Oceania to Amsterdam Some of the best souvenirs from a trip overseas are making connections with people and cultures on local terms. Rick takes a closer look at how we can have a positive impact on the places we visit, and Jeff Greenwald of EthicalTraveler.org shares his tips for being a first-class ambassador to the third world. Plus, Moon Handbook South Pacific author David Stanley gives Rick an overview of "Oceania" and Rick compares notes with Lonely Planet author Andy Bender on some of his favorite "Back D ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Travel Stories and Today's Republic of Turkey With recent concerns about how Turkey deals with Kurdish separatists inside and across its borders, it's a good time to get a local's take on how the country functions in a rough and tumble corner of the world. Meli Seval returns to explain how nationalism helps shape Turkish democracy and what it means to Turkish citizens as the country celebrates its 84th anniversary as a republic. We'll also hear from listeners on how spending time abroad has spiced up their lives. For more information o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Off the Beaten Track Emails, Amazon Adventures, and Maori Culture Travel writer Don George joins Rick to field listener emails about travel to the developing world. We'll also get pointers for touring the massive Amazon River region of Brazil, where river transportation is like a non-stop party boat, and learn about the indigenous Maori culture of New Zealand. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Time and Money; Looking Up Relatives in Sicily Listeners share secrets on traveling on a budget, and learn the price of being an over-worked American. Also, we'll get tips on researching family trees in Europe from two of our Sicilian friends, and look at the influence of Sicilian culture as an alternative to the frantic American pace of life. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special Don George joins Rick to answer listener e-mails about different accommodation options around the world. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Southern Exposure: New Zealand & Baja California, Mexico Lonely Planet author Errol Hunt paints a vivid picture of his homeland, New Zealand, and its distinct social mix including the Polynesian Maori culture. And, for a sunny getaway closer to home, Rick explores Mexico's Baja California peninsula from it... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: Tibet with Michael Kohn Lonely Planet author Michael Kohn updates us on the scene in Tibet, from the influence of the Chinese government over the indigenous Tibetan culture, to practical tips that will help travelers plan a trip there. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website First Impressions of India Rick exchanges stories and tips on encountering India for the first time with Lonely Planet author Sarina Singh. From conquering India's train system, to enjoying Bollywood films, and learning to eat without utensils, they discuss issues that push tr... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Madrid to Mauritius Join Rick for an insider's guide to the Castille region of central Spain, and to the Indian Ocean nation of Mauritius. Sampling the sites of Toledo and Madrid, we get an understanding of what gives the heart of Spain its vibrant character. We'll bask... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Look East: Eastern Europe to Eastern Turkey If you're looking to travel where the old has become new again you'll do well to look East. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, three of Rick's friends discuss their home countries of Hungary, Slovenia, and the Czech Republic and how to get the m... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tony Wheeler's "Bad Lands" Tony Wheeler's company writes guidebooks for practically every country on the planet -- including some that get very few visitors. On top of that, he's written up his latest adventures to some of the most dubious destinations in "Bad Lands: A Tourist ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Guide to Back Door Amsterdam Rick chats with Lonely Planet author Andrew Bender about some of the lesser-known sites in Amsterdam. Andrew recommends exploring a few off-the-beaten-path attractions that even Rick hasn't visited, such as the DePijp Market in the south of the city,... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Budapest Just in time to celebrate Saint Stephen's Day with the Hungarians, we look at the enduring appeal of Hungary's capital city of Budapest. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, two Hungarian tour guides join Rick to take listener calls and explore w... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Travel Writing with Don George; Cambodia After being plundered for centuries, most recently by the brutal dictator Pol Pot, Cambodia is now on the rebound. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, we learn from a travel author on assignment in Southeast Asia what Cambodia's capital ci... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website North Meets South: British Ex-Pats on the Continent; Ski, Surf, and Settle in South America This week we'll hear from three of Rick's friends who left Great Britain to make new homes in Spain, Italy and France. They'll tell us what it's like living as an 'ex-pat' on the Continent, and offer advice for Americans thinking of moving to Europe on a budget. For a change of season, we'll also get tips on skiing and surfing options in Latin America. And a listener explains what's it like being an American living in Panama. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cuba - What's Next? (re-edited from original broadcast release March 10, 2007) Now that Fidel Castro no longer heads the Cuban government, questions are emerging about whether Cuban authorities might start to relax control of its society, and how soon the U-S govern... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Brendan Sainsbury's "Cultural Cuba" Lonely Planet author Brendan Sainsbury Brendan brings us his perspective on how Cuban society copes with the U.S. economic embargo, and reveals some of the influences behind the rich cultural attributes that give Cuba its distinct appeal. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website American Desert Road Trips; Bali, Indonesia This week we'll explore the American tradition of taking a road trip to the desert — whether it's at a national park in Utah or among the lava fields of Hawaii's Big Island. And we'll see why visitors to Bali in Indonesia call it paradise on earth, and hear how its tourism industry is faring after several scares in recent years. From a great American road trip, to a beach vacation in Bali, we're taking off for a change of scenery on the next Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Barging Through France The captain of a passenger barge based in Burgundy joins Rick to explain the fine art of cruising France's intimate network of canals and how this dimension of traveling through the French countryside brings with it new pleasures. And we'll hear stories from listeners who experienced simple acts of kidness by strangers in their travels. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Edinburgh: Cultural Heart of Scotland One of Europe's most entertaining cities is also a great place for a civilized stroll around town. Join us for an insider's guide to Edinburgh with guides Anne Doig and Ken Hanley. Each year, they lead hundreds of Americans around Edinburgh, sharing the ins and outs of their city. We'll hear how to best enjoy the fabled summer festivals, among the most popular in Europe, and catch a wee dram of Scottish pride and spirit. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Emerging Destinations and American Favorites: Route 66, New York City Rick's friends from Lonely Planet publications join us to discuss exotic, emerging destinations around the world, and a fresh take on two American favorites. We'll look at maintaining the 20th century magic of the open road along U-S Route 66 and go uptown for a budget traveler's guide to New York City. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Only Special for June 23 Rosemary Jones is a native-born Bermudian and author of the recently-released first edition of the Moon Handbook to Bermuda. She chats with Rick and answers listener emails in a quick overview of essentials for visiting the island of Bermuda. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Small Wonders: Belgium & Belize (Note: This program first aired on July 8, 2006) Good things often come in small packages. This week on Travel with Rick Steves, we'll investigate two small countries in Europe and Latin America that are often overlooked as destinations in their ow... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Business Customs Rick explores how some of the little things travelers do, or neglect to do, affect the way Americans are perceived in Europe. Author Mary Murray Bosrock, a specialist in intercultural communication and behavior, joins Rick to examine what's considered appropriate behavior when conducting business in Europe, how formal travelers should be in different cultures, and which cheek to kiss (and when). Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website A Midsummer's Guide to Sweden Stockholm-based tour guide Marita Bergman provides a glimpse into her home city, explaining how Swedish society is organized to provide for raising a familiy, and telling us how the Swedes celebrate the longest day of the year. We'll take listener calls with suggestions for exploring the Swedish countryside, too. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Shaking off the Soviets in Eastern Europe and the 'Stans of Central Asia After 40 years of Communism, the countries of Eastern Europe are coming into their own as the newest members of the European Union. We'll examine the dramatic changes to everyday life for the people of the former Soviet bloc countries and get an overview of tourism to the former Soviet "Stans" of Central Asia to see how they're faring as independent nations. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Alaska Overview and Road Tripping with the Kids Alaska is a dream destination for many, but the cost and logistics of traveling to America's last frontier can seem almost as imposing as the spectacular scenery. Lonely Planet author Aaron Spitzer joins Rick to discuss travel options for first-timers to Alaska and compare crusing the Southeast to road tripping through Mount Denali and the Kenai Peninsula. Also, Jeff Campbell offers practical tips on how to make a summer road trip with small children memorable for all the right reasons. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Rolf Potts: "Vagabonding" Rick spends the hour with Rolf Potts, one of the sharpest minds among the new generation of travel writers and bloggers. Rick and Rolf take listener calls and compare notes on how to see the world "through the back door," and then stay a while - an approach Rolf calls "Vagabonding." Join us as we explore the art of open-ended adventures around the world on the next Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Italy: North vs. South Two of Rick's liveliest friends from Italy explain the regional differences between North and South, compare the loyalties, cuisine, accents, and attitudes of Italy's regions and show us how a common love of good food and soccer unites them. From aristocratic northern business types, to southern families that almost smother travelers with their hospitality, we're contrasting the character you'll find in Italy, from North to South, on the next Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Prague Prague has recently become one of Europe's most popular cities. Two tour guides based in Prague offer tips on avoiding the summer flood of tourists and finding the city's substantial old world charm and bargains. They'll recommend day trips into the Bohemian countryside which are now easier than ever thanks to improved rail service in the Czech Republic. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dutch Tolerance and The Overworked American Rick chats with tour guide Ton Van Garderen from The Netherlands about how Amsterdam makes its "live and let live" libertine policies work and what's behind the Dutch reputation for being "tolerant." We'll also assess the state of the overworked American with author and documentary producer John DeGraff to see how we can reclaim some of the time we never seem to have enough of. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Dutch Tolerance and The Overworked American: Podcast Extra In this Travel with Rick Steves podcast extra, Rick and Ton tackle a few Dutch cliches and talk to a listener in Florence, Oregon, who remembers coming across Amsterdam's April 30 Queen's Birthday celebrations. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Earth Day 2007: Home Exchange, Hot Planet, Vanishing Places For this year's Earth Day observance, we're getting close to some of the cool creatures on our hot planet. Rick meets Marty Essen, whose adventures to the far corners of the planet and love of sometimes-frightening critters were enough to fill a very engaging book. Rick also learns how to conduct a home exchange and discusses the World Monuments Fund list of "Vanishing Places" with author Michael Shapiro. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website French Culture 201 for the American Traveler Rick takes a deeper look at the cultural faux pas some travelers experience in France and gets an insider's guide to French culture from two native-born tour guides based in opposite corners of the country. That, and your calls about the best and worst food you've found in your travels, are coming up on the next Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Extra: Nepal In celebration of the Nepali New Year, Rick chats with Lonely Planet author Joe Bindloss about the latest developments in this Himalayan country. Nepal has recently been stirred by political changes to its monarchy and a Maoist insurgency. Joe Bindloss updates us on the situation there for travelers, and Rick reminisces about his youthful exploration of Kathmandu. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sicily: The Island of Organized Chaos: Podcast Extra Missa from Seattle tells us how she, as an American, encountered people in Sicily during a 2004 visit. Tommaso and Alfio talk further about the movement of Sicilians away from, and back again, to the island, and Missa adds some interesting observations about the influence of Sicilian immigration on the character of New York City. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sicily: The Island of Organized Chaos As a crossroads of cultulres for millenia, Sicily is emerging as one of the most vivid islands travelers can visit in Europe. Rick interviews two tour guide friends from Sicily on what makes their island home so distinctive from the rest of Italy and what the island offers to keep visitors content for weeks. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Pilgrimage on El Camino de Santiago in Spain, Tourism in Iran We learn about El Camino de Santiago de Compostela from a man who takes tourists on updated versions of this mideaval pilgrimage route and catch up with a Lonely Planet Iran researcher who finds that, despite the country's heavy-handed rulers, the Iranian people are some of the most welcoming you'll find anywhere. Plus we have a new round of listeners' travel haiku to share. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spiritual Discoveries in your Travels: Hinduism 101 and Rumi 800 Rick discusses Hinduism with a travel writer who learned lessons in the land of her ancestors and delves into the enduring appeal of an Islamic mystic known in the west as Rumi who is commemorating his 800th birthday. Listeners also share their experience with the kindness of strangers as a godsend in their travels to Europe. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Celtic Colors, from Ulster to France We're looking at different angles of Irish culture for St Patrick's Day. Rick practices the "gift of gab" with Stephen McPhilemy, a friend from the North of Ireland who spins a few yarns about Ulster, and explains how the long-boiled animosities among Northern Ireland's residents are starting to fade away. And Patrick Noel, a Franco-Celtic tour guide from Cork, highlights the connections between Ireland and France. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Extra: Cuban Cocktails Rick and Chris conclude the interview with a quick dessert and Cuban cocktail. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Extra: The Embargo Chris explains to Rick how Fidel Castro has benefited from the U.S. economic embargo of Cuba. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Afghanistan for Travelers and Adventure Cycling to Laos You can't get much further off the beaten path than travelling to Afghanistan or Laos. We'll hear from Central Asia expert Paul Clammer who will give us a reality check on what travelers can expect from Afghanistan. Also, Willie Weir returns with more tales from his recent bike adventures through Northern Thailand into Laos. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cuba: What's Next? On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we examine some of the anxieties, possibilities and realities regarding Americans and Cuba. Rick welcomes Cuba expert Christopher P. Baker for a discussion of what's next for Cuba in these days of political limbo, and what it means for American travelers who want to go there. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Naples and the Amalfi Coast You really haven't seen Italy until you travel south to Naples. It's one of the most intense and chaotic urban scenes in all of Europe. American-born tour guide Nina Bernardo, who now lives there, joins us to help clear the misconceptions about N... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: Stephen McPhilemy Rick speaks with Irish tour guide and famed story teller Stepehn McPhilemy about Northern Ireland Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Canadian Arctic and Mardi Gras in New Orleans We'll travel to opposite ends of our continent to learn about the appeal of the Canadian Arctic from a guidebook author who's made a home in Yellowknife and get a detailed guide to celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans, including how one French Quarter merchant is faring as tourism slowly rebounds. We'll also hear listeners' tales of heroic acts of kindness experienced on the road, and a fresh batch of traveler's haiku. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Marrying into Spain and Greece at a Glance When travel leads to romance, the result may be a whole new life. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, we meet an American woman who married a Spaniard and is now raising a family in the heart of Madrid. We'll also hear from an Australian tour guide who enjoys Greece so much, he spends much of the year showing off its wonderous sites. He'll advise us on how to go beyond Athens to find the real Greece. And we'll hear from listeners who stared down scam artists face to face in their Europe ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Political Trends in Latin America Thomas Kohnstamm majored in Latin American politics in college and now writes about Latin America for Lonely Planet publications. Next year he is scheduled to publish a book with Random House on what's it like to be a young travel writer. Thomas joins Rick for a conversation on recent political trends in Latin America and how these trends reflect the region's relations with the US government. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Program 80 Podcast Special: Travel disasterswith happy endings Enjoy an extra helping of Rick's 'outtakes and extras' from the open phones session with Lonely Planet's Don George. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website People's Guide to Mexico During the 1970s, Carl Franz and Lorena Havens made a habit of driving from Washington state to Mexico in their VW van. More than thirty years later, they still spend the better part of each year exploring the back roads and magnetic appeal of Mexico. Their classic guide book, "The People's Guide to Mexico," reads like an adventure manifesto. Carl and Lorena join Rick to help explain the appealing differences about Mexican culture for norte americanos on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hawaii for malihinis and a Cancun update Rick gets the latest info on what to look for while island-hopping in Hawaii from Lonely Planet's Sara Benson, and checks in with Gary Chandler who is in Mexico updating the Moon guidebook to Cancun and Cozumel. He'll report on how well the area is recovering from Hurricane Wilma, and what visitors can expect from Mexico's top resort region. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website People's Guide to Mexico: Podcast Special Being old friends, Rick, Carl and Lorena talk about how they first met in the 1970s and what "following your bliss" entailed in the early days of Carl and Lorena's adventures in Mexico in this podcast-only extra. We'll also hear advice for anyone thinking about retiring in Mexico. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Insider's Guide to the French Riviera Mention the French Riviera, and images of glamorous celebrities may come to mind. But the Mediterranean coast of France was also the inspiration for some of the great impressionist and modern artists, and has plenty of charm to spare year-round for a... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Travel Calls with Don George and This Year in New Orleans This week Rick chats with Don George from Lonely Planet publications. They take calls about how Americans are being received overseas and investigate how interacting with locals in our travels sometimes means depending on the kindness of strangers. Then, we'll find out if New Orleans still has its 'soul' since being battered by Hurricane Katrina. We'll also learn from guidebook author Jay Cooke how "volun-tourism" may be one way to boost the spirit of New Orleans, while you can still have a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eastern Europe: Then and Now If you haven't seen Eastern Europe lately, you probably won't recognize it - and that's just how the European Union wants it. Now that most of Eastern Europe is part of the E.U., the region is enjoying an extreme make-over. Looking at Eastern Europe then and now, Rick gets updates from a few of his friends who grew up "behind the Iron Curtain" on how these changes have impacted their daily lives, and what the region offers American tourists today. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: A Gringos Guide to Mexico with Carl Franz and Lorena Havens Carl Franz and Lorena Havens have spent the better part of 30 years traveling through Mexico finding out-of-the-way places to pass the winter without spending a lot of money. Together, they're the authors of "The People's Guide to Mexico," recently in its 13th edition, and join Rick for an overview of what travelers need to understand about Mexican culture before crossing the border. For more information, visit www.peoplesguide.com Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website French Food and Faux Pas This week, we'll learn some of the basics of eating out in France and how to enjoy such foods as crepes, escargot, truffles and steak tartare. But the culture of everyday life in France is different enough for travelers that it sometimes causes misun... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: Rick Steves and Don George on Holidays Rick and Don George of Lonely Planet guidebooks swap tales about celebrating holidays around the globe, plus we get a taste of Christmas music from the Norwegian Girls Choir of Oslo, as found on the Rick Steves European Christmas CD. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sri Lanka In 2004, Sri Lanka became one of the countries hardest hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami as it suffered damage along much of its coastline. Two years later, Sri Lanka still has some of the most picture-perfect beaches in the world, plus colorful temples, tea plantations, and festivals where visitors are welcome. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Lonely Planet guidebook author Ryan Ver Berkmoes tells us how the island is faring today, including how the Tamil ethnic conflict is affecting ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe We all have our favorite traditions for Christmas...and travelers know that there's always room for a few more. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Rick takes listener calls about travel around the holidays, and he calls a few of his friends in E... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Encountering Sheep in your Travels One of the delights of driving through the countryside is spotting sheep grazing in the fields. We'll learn about the sheep and lambs that dot the hills of rural Britain from an accomplished breeder who has created a popular tourist attraction on his farm in Wales. And, Rick learns a few new tricks about how to whistle sheep herding dog commands. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Adventures in the Southern Hemisphere: Peru and Fiji Adventure travel specialist Kurt Kutay fills us in on Peru's attractions, from trekking to Machu Picchu in the Andes, to interacting with indigenous cultures and spotting wildlife in the Amazon. And, Rick learns from travel writer David Stanley how travelers can find a warm welcome in Fiji, and how the island compares to its neighbors in the South Pacific. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Visiting Vienna If there's one city that knows how to enjoy the everyday pleasures of life, it's Vienna. From experiencing its café culture to getting an affordable ticket to the Opera, we'll find out what makes Vienna shine as one of the world's most graceful and elegant capitols with tour guide Ursula Klaus. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Comfort Food Some of the best souvenirs you can gather from your travels reside on your taste buds. On the next Travel with Rick Steves, Rick explores some of the comfort foods that his European friends enjoy in Paris, Madrid, and Tuscany, and how you can enjoy them when you visit their regions. We'll get advice on preparing and eating escargot and steak tartare, and get a recipe on how to mix up your own batch of sangria. And we hear from listeners about some of their memorable food encounters overseas ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bernard-Henri Levy: Part Deux Could Americans and Europeans benefit from an honest conversation with each other about different ways of viewing society and the world? Rick invites Bernard-Henri Levy, best-selling French author and philosopher, into the studio to discuss some of the French stereotypes that fuel American prejudices. They examine issues France faces as part of the European Union, and suggest ways that our two societies can learn from each other. Plus, Rick offers suggestions to listeners considering an off ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Touring South Africa In recent years, South Africa has emerged from its apartheid-induced embargo to become one of the continent's most popular destinations. While the country offers plenty to visitors, including a mix of vibrant cultures and spectacular natural beauty, it's the kind of place Back Door travelers will experience more confidently if they've done their homework first. Rick learns about the emerging tourism industry in South Africa from Capetown native Carmin Arnot, who plans adventure travel for N ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Nicaragua Because it had a tense relationship with the United States for many years, Nicaragua remains a rather mysterious destination for many Norte Americanos. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Rick chats with Randall Wood, who married into the culture and authored two guidebooks to Nicaragua. He'll take listener calls and provide an overview of how the country is doing today. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spain in Today's Europe In this podcast-only special interview with Julio Astor of the Spanish Tourism office in Chicago, Rick delves deep into the contemporary scene in Spain, exploring its internal cultural issues and its role in the European Union. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Islam in Turkey & Rome's Jewish Ghetto One of the most rewarding aspects of travel is getting to meet people from different cultures and learning to appreciate their traditions. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Rick learns about the basic beliefs of Islam as it's commonly practice... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Architecture in your European Dreams Knowing what's behind the walls, as well as what goes into them, can be quite the illuminating experience. Rick invites architecture professor Kathryn Rogers Merlino from the University of Washington to help make sense of flying buttresses and Roman ruins. And, for something exotic, we'll also get a snapshot of what it's like to visit Katmandu, and read our latest round of listeners' travel haiku. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sicily and Germany's Black Forest For some Americans, the frenzied yet laid-back style of Italy's big southern island can be a bit overwhelming. Alfio di Mauro joins Rick to take listener calls and offer insider tips on getting the most out of a vacation to Sicily. And, for something completely different, Christoph Dressler returns with an overview of the Black Forest region, where Germans are prescribed time off from work to soak in mineral spas and to "power hike" in the mountains. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Eastern Germany Christoph Dressler was raised a few miles east of the Berlin wall. Now, he earns a living taking tourists around his re-unified country. He describes the scene that few American tourists ever experience in the Eastern parts of Germany, and takes listener calls about the must-see sites in Berlin, Dresden, and in the land of Luther. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Off the Beaten Track: Galapagos, Central Asia, and Southwest USA A traveler can experience a true sense of discovery by venturing "off the beaten path" into places not often visited by the average vacationer. And that's what we're doing on the next Travel with Rick Steves. This week, Rick takes us aroun... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: Living in Japan In this podcast-only edition of Travel with Rick Steves, we get an insider's view of traveling in Japan. Should its high prices and language barrier keep Japan off your "must-see" list? How can travelers get past Japan's ultra-modern façade to appreciate its religious and cultural richness? Ruthy Kanagy, author of "Living Abroad in Japan" helps us get the most out of traveling to Tokyo and beyond on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Armenia It's one of the newest nations in the world, and one of its oldest civilizations. And this week, Armenia is celebrating 15 years as an independent republic. We'll find out why it's a classic "back door" destination. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spain Carlos Galvin, a travel specialist from Madrid, joins Rick to describe today's scene in his homeland, and to take listener calls about visiting Spain. Also, we'll learn how the Spanish tradition of taking a midday nap - the siesta - has been helping Spaniards beat stress for centuries...and how its days may be numbered in modern, urban culture. Julio Astor of the Spanish Tourism Board joins Rick to explain the role of "the siesta." Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special with Meli Seval on Ataturk Aug 30 is Zafer Bayrami, or "Victory Day" in Turkey. In this podcast-only special interview, Rick learns from Turkish tour guide Mehlika Seval about the importance of the founder of the modern nation of Turkey. To this day, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk is genuinely beloved by the Turkish people. Meli explains what it means to the Turks to be a 'secular nation,' and how Ataturk kept the functions of government separate from religious identity in forming the secular nation of Turkey in the early 20 ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Italian Wine This week, Rick learns the fine points of sampling fine wine with vintner Cecelia Bottai (che-CHEE_lya bo-TYE) and Ruth Arista (ar-REES-ta). Cecelia's vineyards have been growing grapes for 2000 years in Italy's Umbria region, and R... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Sabbaticals It's long been a tradition in academia and many religious institutions, but it turns out anyone can benefit from a little time off the regular routine with a "sabbatical." On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we examine the practicalities and benefits of taking a sabbatical. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hungary: Post-interview podcast special with Etelka Parine Berecz "After concluding their interview for the broadcast, Rick and Etelka Parine Berecz continued to chat. We thought you'd like to eavesdrop on the rest of their conversation..." Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Hungary Whether you're ready for a night at the opera, or a day "taking the curative waters" at a hot spring, Hungary has a classy way of making you feel welcome. And its hearty wine and cuisine will keep you satisfied for hours. Join Rick as he and a tour guide friend and teacher from Hungary take listener calls and tell us what her country is like in today's post-Soviet era. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ken Hanley's Scotland Rick updates our itineraries on Scotland with native-born tour guide Ken Hanley. They discuss the tensions Scotland has had over the years with England, and take listener calls about visiting the trendy cities and lonely outer islands that make Scotland so special. And, we'll get more of your stories about the best, and worst, food you've encountered in your travels and award another round of listener travel haiku. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website RV Travel and Adventure Bicycling in Laos and Northern Thailand R-V camping has become a popular way to take the great American roadtrip - even if the roads are overseas. Rick learns about the R-V subculture from Chuck Woodbury, who runs an online site for R-V travel. Also, adventure bicyclist Willie Weir tells us about his most recent bike trip thrrough Northern Thailand and Laos. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Celtic History and Wales Proud Welshman Martin deLewandowicz is a cultural ambassador, and takes an avid interest in the role of "heritage manager" in Wales. In this podcast-only special interview, he guides Rick through the Celtic history surrounding Britain, and how it developed into the states and cultures you find today. You may also pick up a few phrases in Welsh, if you dare to try to pronounce them. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Naples and the Amalfi Coast Naples is one of the most intense and chaotic urban scenes in all of Europe. American-born tour guide Nina Bernardo, who now lives there, joins us to help clear the misconceptions about Napoli and to discuss Sorrento and Capri. Also, ways to fend off the scam artists at the Naples train station. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website French Culture 201 - for the American Traveler Tensions between Americans and the French are often rooted in perfectly avoidable cultural misunderstandings. We'll take a deeper look at the cultural faux pas some travelers have experienced in that proud and complicated country, with insights from a couple of native-born French tour guides. We'll also hear about listeners' best - and worst - food experiences while traveling. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Small Wonders: Belgium and Belize Good things often come in small packages. Belgium is a tiny country with a remarkably easy-going flair, and great food. Native son and tour guide Ferdi Menghi joins Rick to take listener calls about Belgium. Then, Kurt Kutay introduces us to an indigenous tour guide in Belize, for an overview of this popular destination for adventure travelers. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Las Vegas and Yosemite For travelers to Las Vegas, high stakes entertainment has replaced the ultra-cheap deals for which the Strip was once famous. Rick Garman has a new guidebook to the city, and tells us how to enjoy today's Vegas without losing your shirt. Then we'll cool off in the mountains with Ann Marie Brown's insider tips on California's Yosemite National Park. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Slovenia and Croatia This week, we're celebrating 15 years of independence in Slovenia and Croatia with two of Rick's Slovenian tour guide friends. They will fill us in on why their small country, a pastoral land with storybook castles and turbo-folk musichas has become the destination for a no-pressure, bargain European escape. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Meeting the Maasai in East Africa Get up close to African wildlife and forge an emotional connection with an ancient indigenous culture as we explore what it takes to go on an eco-friendly safari. A representative of the Maasai people and the head of an adventure travel company join Rick in the studio to take your calls about visiting Maasai country. We're planning for the trip of a lifetime on a safari to East Africa on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website From Turkey to the Persian Gulf Adventurous travelers know that Turkey is the welcoming entree to a secularized Muslim society. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, tour guide Lale Surman Aran joins Rick to help plan listeners' sight seeing itineraries to Turkey's significant ancient sites, by land and by sea... And, travel writer David Stanley reports on what he found on a recent visit to the Persian Gulf region, whose small nations are emerging as important centers for international business, and pleasure, in the mid ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tuscany and Umbria Take a holiday to Mona Lisa's backyard on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. We'll examine the enormous appeal of Italy's Tuscany region, and its quieter neighbor Umbria. Rick chats with Cecelia Bottai, a winemaker from Orvieto, about how visitors can experience authentic local culture in central Italy's hilltowns and estates. Grab a glass of Orvieto Classico and a seat on the piazza as we talk about Tuscany and Umbria. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Arthur Frommer It's been almost 50 years since Arthur Frommer first published his groundbreaking travel guidebook "Europe on Five Dollars a Day." In the 1970s, Frommer's books helped instruct a young Rick Steves how to travel light, on a tight budget, and "through the back door" to interact with the people and authentic cultures overseas. Arthur Frommer is Rick's special guest on this week's edition of Travel with Rick Steves, as they reminisce and chat about how much international travel has changed over ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Tour Industry Insider Is an organized tour right for you? This week, Rick explores the advantages of, and some potential problems with, "big bus tourism," with industry consultant Rick Hazen. He offers tips on safeguarding against potential rip-offs, and explains how the tour industry works. Find out how bus tours and cruise ship operators make money, and how to get the most out of your vacation budget on a group tour, as we get the inside scoop on tour companies. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: David Willett on Greece Rick gets an overview of Greece with tour guide and guidebook author David Willett, who loves the country so much he's made Greece his home. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mexico City and the Yucatan This week, Rick discusses the appeal of our neighbors in Mexico, from the frenzy of its must-see capital to the deep blue waters and nightlife around Cancun, and the Mayan artifacts of the Yucatan Peninsula. Plus, we'll take listener calls from people planning trips to Europe...on Travel with Rick Steves. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: Jeff Greenwald Jeff Greenwald of EthicalTraveler.org has compiled a list of tips that will help American travelers become culturally-sensitive ambassadors while traveling abroad. Rick learns what these tips are in a conversation with Jeff, and why they are important to consider before departing on your next trip. For more information, visit Jeff's website at www.ethicaltraveler.org/guidelines.php. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Royalty Rick removes some of the mystery, but not the glamour, of European Royalty with help from guests Roy Nichols and Norway's Princess Martha Louise. Tour guide Roy Nichols gives Rick an overview of the British royal family and discusses why they remain an important instituion to the average Briton. Princess Martha Louise of Norway, who has written a children's book, "Why Kings and Queens Don’t Wear Crowns" explains the modern realities of being from a royal family. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ethical Travels on a Green Planet Does travel have to be bad for the environment? Does eco-tourism really help the planet, or just hurt it less? What's an ethical traveler to do? On this week's Travel with Rick Steves we'll discuss the goals and impacts of eco-tourism with Jeff Greenwald of Ethical Traveler, and ponder the future of some noteworthy "Vanishing Places" on our planet with travel writer Michael Shapiro. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Traveling with a Musical Theme 2006 is being celebrated as Mozart's 250th birthday, reminding us that your next destination's music scene can provide a theme (pun intended) for your trip. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, our guest is Margaret Hemmen, a professional musician who leads music-oriented tours through Europe. Whether your next trip includes visits to concert halls, tossing coins at street musicians, or shopping for that special hand-crafted instrument...this show will have you tapping your toes in antic ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Insider's Guide to Paris When Ella Fitzgerald sang "April in Paris," she knew the perfect place to combine fresh flowers, spring showers, and romance. Half a century later, no other city comes close. Whether you're dreaming of your first trip to Paris, or planning a return, you'll enjoy Parisian tour guide Arnaud Servignant's inside look at his home town. We'll also take listener calls about cultural faux pas they've experienced in their visits to the City of Light - all on this week’s Travel with Rick Steves. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Podcast Special: The Night Karol Died On April 2nd 2005, Rick's senior editor Cameron Hewitt arrived in Krakow, just hours before word got out that Pope John Paul II had died. We'll hear Cameron's report on what it was like to be with the Pope's countrymen that night. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Gardens What better way to enjoy the world in bloom than to wander through an English country garden? Rick Steves asks British tour guide Roy Nichols about the English passion for elaborate gardens. Then Rick and Roy take listener calls and share tips to help you to experience the wide variety of gardens in Great Britain. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Bernard-Henri Levy, author of American Vertigo: Traveling America in the Footsteps of Tocqueville Rick Steves meets French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy, a household name in his home country (where they simply call him "BHL"). During the height of recent tensions between political factions in the US and "old Europe," BHL traveled all across America, meeting with average Americans of all types, and wrote a book about our country's cultural identity, patriotism, and the creed that holds the U.S. together as a nation. His assertions may surprise you. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ireland 2006 From the deep green, rocky hills to the evocative smell of a peat log burning in the fireplace, you'll know you're in Ireland. But it's the people that every visitor remembers best, whether you visit the touristy destinations like the Ring of Kerry, or plot your own route on the island's back roads. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Rick invites back two Irish tour guide friends to offer a little help understanding the modern Ireland, whose newfound affluence has made it one of the mo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Egypt 2006 Egypt is a land of mysteries - and the biggest mystery travelers face is what to expect while visiting there. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Colin Clement joins Rick from his home in Alexandria, Egypt to take your calls and discuss how you can get the most out of your vacation in Egypt. Plus listeners add advice for planning vacation trips to Europe, and we announcce our latest round of listener haiku awards. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website World Cup Soccer 2006 After Italy hosts the Winter Olympics, Germany heats up for the championship games of the World Cup soccer tournament in June. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, Rick assembles a panel of European soccer fanatics to explain what the excitement is all about. Whether your summer travel plans include trying to take in some of the action around the games, or trying to avoid it, you'll want to hear what's behind the world's biggest, and most passionate, sporting competition. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website River Rafting in Idaho and Four Corners USA 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark charted the rivers of what is now Northwestern America. In the 21st Century, travelers seek the same mountains and rivers to get away from their crowded urban lives. Rick discusses the basics of back-country river rafting with Peter Grub, who runs River Odysseys West, a river adventure company in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. We'll also chat with Julian Smith about the Four Corners area of the US Desert Southwest, talk with listeners about travel plans and challenges, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Putting Together the Newspaper Travel Section Millions of people scratch their travel itch each week by reading their newspaper's travel section. Rick takes us behind the scenes at the San Francisco Chronicle to find out what its senior travel editor is looking for as he assembles the paper's storyboards each week. Whether readers are looking for the latest on exotic destinations, or just want an interesting place to take a Sunday drive, John Flinn knows that his newspaper often plays an important part in shaping their travel dreams - ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ed Salvato Pod Special: Gay and Lesbian travel, Part 2 Ed Salvato, travel editor at Planet Out.com, returns to examine the characteristics and challenges of gay and lesbian segments in the American travel market, and award the most recent best and not-so-great destinations for gay travel. Find out which country he names as "destination of the year" for gay-friendly travel. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Lee Evans Pod Special: Berlin Architecture and Memorials Lee Evans is back to bring us part two of his interview on the rapidly changing face of Berlin. In this podcast special, Rick and Lee describe how Berlin's new architecture reflects both the city's history and its new-found status in re-unified Germany. Lee also discusses the newly-completed Reichstag, US Embassy, and memorials dedicated to the victims of WWII and the Holocaust, and uncovers the historic significance of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Wall, and 1930s Berlin. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website The Changing Face of Berlin and Gay/Lesbian Travel with Ed Salvato In the past decade and a half, Berlin has re-emerged as one of Europe's major capitals - it's changing so quickly even tourism officials have difficulty keeping up. Rick gets the latest on Berlin's rebirth from EurAide's Lee Evans. Berlin is also one of the major worldwide destinations favored by gay and lesbian travelers. We'll learn what's happening in this travel market with Ed Salvato, editor of OutandAbout.com, a website run by the largest gay publisher in North America. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exploring Mexico’s Pacific Coast and An American Singer in Istanbul Mexico is the perfect destination for North Americans seeking sun, fun, and a colorful, distinctive culture. Rick explores some of the popular Pacific coast destinations of Mexico, from Puerto Vallarta down to Acapulco and Oaxaca, with guidebook author Bruce Whipperman. We visit with a singer who spends part of the year working to make a living in Seattle, but lives like royalty when she's got a gig in Istanbul. Julie Cascioppo tells us how her career as a singer helps her to travel in styl ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Insiders Guide to Greece From the newly spruced up capital of Athens, to the sun-drenched villages of the mainland and the islands, it's no myth that Greece is a pleasure to experience. Greece provides countless opportunities for travelers to experience its rich history in the ruins of its ancient past. Yet modern-day Greece carries its own weight as a desirable destination. Visiting ancient sites in Greece is something every seasoned traveler should do at least once, and this week Rick gets an insider's perspectiv ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cortona and Fear of Flying Italy has become one of the hottest destinations for European travel — and for good reason. Smart travelers know how to avoid crowds and, as a result, enjoy a genuine experience of Italy. Rick chats with a local from Cortona, the hilltown known to Americans as the setting for "Under the Tuscan Sun," and for those afraid to fly, Rick receives tips from Steve Hutchison, who leads a Fear of Flying workshop. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Growing up Under Communism We'll visit with three of Rick Steves' tour guide friends from Eastern Europe. We'll find out what it was like being raised in different types of Communist countries, and how their lives have changed since capitalism was introduced to Poland and the republics of the former Yugoslavia. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Growing Up Under Communism We'll visit with three of Rick Steves' tour guide friends from Eastern Europe. We'll find out what it was like being raised in different types of Communist countries, and how their lives have changed since capitalism was introduced to Poland and the republics of the former Yugoslavia. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Join us this holiday season for Travel with Rick Steves Christmas in Europe radio special! During the program, Rick hears how his European friends prepare for and celebrate Christmas. Listeners learn the common threads of religious tradition and family, get acquainted with some of Santa's cousins in the old country, as well as experience extended interviews. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.r ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Discovering "A Sense of Place" Travel journalist Michael Shapiro set out on a literary project to interview 18 travel authors to see what makes their work such a pleasure. He turned his interviews into a book called "A Sense of Place." This week, Rick turns the tables on Michael to find out what he discovered about his favorite travel authors - including Rick. We'll learn about the roots of some of today's most celebrated nomads, and perhaps refine our own palette for wanderlust. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Join Rick as he chats with his friends about traditional Christmas celebrations in five of his favorite corners of Europe. Rick talks with Gabi in the Tirol (who actually sings a Christmas Yodel), Matteo in the Cinque Terre (whose childhood memories include the Christmas witch La Befana), Claudia in Lisbon (who heads for grandma's to drink coffee and chat with all the villagers around a bonfire into the wee hours after the midnight Mass), Tim in Dingle (where Wren's Day makes the day after ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Podcast Special: Switzerland Olle Eggimann is the teacher in the tiny town of Gimmewald in the Swiss Alps, and explains the Swiss German advent traditions that encompass his village during Christmas. Some of the region's unique characteristics include the figure of Samichlaus and his sidekick Schmutzli. We'll also learn how the Swiss manage to use real candles on an indoor Christmas tree, and the appropriate consumption of fondue. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Podcast Special: Ireland Although Ireland has recently grown in sophistication, the more-traditionally focused areas of the Western part of the country continue to retain their unique festivities. Tim Collins of Dingle explains how it's still common to eat ling cod with potatoes on Christmas Eve, and the children have a uniquely Irish treat for Santa Claus in place of the milk and cookies he'll get in America. Also, St. Stephen's Day on December 26 has been observed there for centuries as "Wren's Day," and provides ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Podcast Special: Reutte, Austria German Catholics maintain a traditional observance of the Christmas season, and Gabi Koch explains how that downplays commercial concerns and emphasizes the use of natural decorations in the Tirol region of Austria. Listeners learn how the typical family observes the holiday season, including the role of St. Nicholas and Krampus (Knecht Ruprecht) in Austria, and the tradition of lighting candles in the cemetery on Christmas Eve. Gabi will then share a sacred Austrian Christmas yodel. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Podcast Special: Cinque Terre, Italy Hotelier Matteo Pasini tells Rick that the effusive Italian sprit makes sure everyone has special foods to celebrate the holiday and explains how some families add so many contemporary characters to the manger scene that the kids can pose them all in a soccer play! And while Babbo Natali is starting to resemble the Americanized Santa Claus, Italians also have the character of La Befana to help conclude their observances on Epiphany Day. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Christmas in Europe Podcast Special: Lisbon, Portugal Even if it's the only time you attend church all year, family traditions in Portugal expect you to gather with family and attend Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. From her home in Lisbon, tour guide Claudia DaCosta explains how her family traditions include leaving the commercialism of the big city behind to spend the holiday in her grandmother's small town, staying up late to visit with friends in the town square, and setting a place at the table in honor of relatives who have passed away, a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Honduras Overview and an American in Rio This week, Rick learns from guidebook author Chris Humphrey about Honduras - a laid back part of Central America with endless beaches, a huge undeveloped roadless jungle and cloud forest, and a growing American ex-pat community. Or, if you prefer a more cosmopolitan side of Latin America, we'll also chat with an American now living in Rio de Janeiro to see how easy it is to fit into Brazilian society. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Edition: French Food It's Thanksgiving weekend, so there's no better time to talk about food! In this podcast, Rick places another call to Pascale Rucker in Nice, France to learn about the culinary traditions of the French Riviera. Rick learns what comprises a proper salade nicoise, what's in a bouillabaisse stew, how the chick pea-based socca bread got started as a Riviera fast food tradition, and a rich tale about Peach Melba for dessert. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website French Food and Faux Pas This week, we'll learn some of the basics of eating out in France and how to enjoy such foods as crepes, escargot, truffles and steak tartare. But the culture of everyday life in France is different enough for travelers that it sometimes causes misunderstandings and embarrassment. We'll touch on some of the faux pas visitors face when encountering French society on its own terms. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Adventure Divas in Cuba, and Ask the Pilot about Flight Safety This week, we will "Ask the Pilot" about how an over-active imagination can create a fear of flying. Commercial pilot, author, and salon.com columnist Patrick Smith joins Rick to explain what's going on from the cockpit to the runway. And Holly Morris, author of "Adventure Divas," will discuss her exploration of the planet in search of impressive and influential women to interview. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website An Insider's Guide to The French Riviera Mention the French Riviera, and images of glamorous celebrities may come to mind. But the Mediterranean coast of France was also the inspiration for some of the great impressionist and modern artists, and has plenty of charm to spare year-round for all kinds of travelers. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, tour guide Pascale Rucker is our guest, bringing us an insider's guide to help you experience the sensual pleasures of the French Riviera. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Exploring the World Through Religion Rick learns about Islam - where it's commonly practiced in Turkey - from friends who live in Istanbul. He then places a call to Rome to chat with a resident of that city's little-known Jewish Ghetto, whose family emigrated there from Jerusalem two thousand years ago. We'll also hear from a listener who recently returned from a trip to Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Belize and Alpine Ski and Lake Resorts This week, Rick Steves learns about Belize, Central America's relatively new country, from guidebook author Joshua Berman. It's a little bit Caribbean, a little bit Latin American, and all with a British heritage. Then, European tour guide Donald White stops in to describe his home in Northern Italy, with suggestions for lake and ski resorts in the Alps. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Edition: An American In Rio In this podcast special of Travel with Rick Steves, we learn about the challenges for an American to travel between his native country and his adopted one. When Steve Spencer moved to Brazil, he found it easy to stay in touch each day with American culture from his home in Rio de Janiero, and how complicated it has become to travel with his fiancee between the US and Brazil. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Galapagos Islands and Central Asia This week, Rick learns what special arrangements you need to make to visit the Galapagos Islands, what the cultural influence of Turkey means for the emerging Central Asia republics, and how to experience a road trip in the desert southwest and Indian reservations of the USA. It's not your average itinerary as we travel around the world and off the beaten path. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Panama and Renting a French Country Home Guidebook Author Bill Frier spent his childhood in Panama, and lets us know about post-Noriega Panama... where one U.S. dollar will buy you dinner. He'll also discuss how travelers can easily find a tropical landscape shared more by birds and butterflies than with other tourists. We'll then learn more about the 'gite' ("jheet") system of renting a French country home by the week, from an American who bought one in Burgundy. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Prague Prague is so popular with western visitors, and we'll find out why from Tour Guide Honza Vihan, a native of the golden city of a hundred spires. Rick also makes time for listener calls, including one report about their month in Egypt. Rick calls a youth hostel high in the Swiss Alps to see how things are going on a typical evening as new friends gather together. We're getting plenty of mileage this week from Prague to Cairo to Gimmelwald. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Accessible Europe and Roadtrips in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest A trip to the cobblestoned streets of Europe can be a nightmare for anyone in a wheelchair or who has difficulty walking. This week, Rick talks to Ken Plattner, an activist for disabled persons. Ken recently teamed with Rick to create a guidebook for persons with accessibility issues. We'll also get suggestions from Jamie Jensen on another set of USA Roadtrips -- this time in the Rockies and Pacific Northwest. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Edition: Churros y Chocolate For Breakfast Preview of an upcoming interview with tour guide Carlos Galvin about his home country of Spain. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website London and Bermuda Rick will get an insider's view of London from Gillian Chadwick, a certified blue badge guide. She and Rick share pointers on what's new and how to get the most out of this crowded, expensive, and amazing city. Then Rick heads west to Bermuda with guidebook author Rosemary Jones. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Argentina and Travel Writing One place Americans can find European-style charm at bargain prices is Argentina. Rick learns from tour guide Robert Wright why he moved to Buenos Aires from Spain. We'll also get the inside story on the business of writing guidebooks for a living as Rick chats with one of his favorite travel writers, David Stanley. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website To Tour or not to Tour? When time is short, some people prefer a guided tour of their chosen destination. So how can you find the Rick Steves-type of "Back Door" experiences while being led in a group? Rick learns how things work behind the scenes and behind the wheel from Belgian-based guide and tour bus driver Ferdi Menghi. Plus, Jennifer Cox returns with tips on packing light for an extended round the world trip -- where looking good is part of the itinerary. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Amore in Italia It's hard to beat Italy as a romantic destination, unless you actually fall in love and make it your home. Rick chats with two American women who have married Italian men and settled in Italy. Former Seattleite Lisa Anderson describes her experience moving to Italy and eventually starting a family in a small town in the Piedmont region. And former Washington D.C. resident Annie Adair also met her spouse in Italy and now runs a wedding planning and tour guide company from Volterra in Tuscany ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Slovenia and the American Southwest Yearning for some of the lesser-explored adventures at home and overseas? Today we will learn about the country of Slovenia, where the slow food movement and the polka are popular. And, we get ideas for exploring the back roads of the American desert southwest, its national parks and Indian Country, from Road Trip USA author Jamie Jensen. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Costa Rica Costa Rica stands out from its neighbors in Central America due to its relatively stable government and high standard of living. It's a favorite destination for North Americans because of its dedication to preservation. Erin Van Rheenen spent enough time there that she wrote the guidebook, Living Abroad in Costa Rica. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Italian Wine Rick learns the finer points of sampling wine with Italian vintner Cecelia Bottai and Ruth Arista. Cecelia's family has been growing grapes for 2000 years in Italy's Umbria region, and Ruth operates a wine shop near Seattle. They discuss the differences between European red, white and rose wines, and what to look for when sampling a good glass of wine. Plus, Rick takes listener calls on planning family trips to Northern Italy and to Ireland. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Netherlands and Oceania The sea helps define two destinations Rick discusses with his guests on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Netherlands is one of the real powerhouses of Europe, despite its small geography. You'll find industrial innovation, Spring flowers on a massive scale, and a role model for how to live together in a crowded modern society. Tour guide Rolinka Bloeming takes listener calls to discuss what an American can expect from a visit to the Netherlands. David Stanley has written the definitiv ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Americans in France What kind of reaction do you get when you mention France? During the program, Rick and his guest Steve Smith, an American who divides his time between Seattle and Burgundy, will look at how Americans can understand France on its own terms, and become comfortable with its rich civilization without being frustrated by the inevitable cultural faux pas. Then, French tour guides William and Marie Altman and Patrick Vidal will discuss the pleasures of taking a vacation on a canal barge in rural F ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Turkey and the United States Southeast Travelers to both Turkey and Dixie have one thing in common: they come back from their trips full of stories and enthusiasm for the people they met. This week we will meet a married tour guide couple from Istanbul, Turkey who are here to dispel some American misconceptions about their country. They will then give us an overview of what you'll find in the cities and the countryside of Turkey. We will also learn the essence of "Shun-piking" with backroad car trip suggestions from guidebook a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ecuador and Traveling Around the World in 80 Dates From the newly-beautified old town district of Quito two miles high in the Andes to the ecological marvels of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador is one of South America's must-experience treats for any world traveler. So how can you make contact with the native Quechua people and what safety precautions should you take? Rick finds out from Julian Smith, author of the Moon Handbook to Ecuador. And we often hope that our travels will lead to positive life-changing experiences. So why not travel ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Japan and More USA Road Trips Japan has long held a fascination for travelers from around the world. But its culture and language have often proved impenetrable for outsiders. This week we'll get an insider's perspective on having a rich experience when traveling to Japan. Ruth Kanagy has written a Living Abroad in Japan guidebook based on her years of experience as an American raised in Japan. And, we get another taste of USA Road Trip fever as Jamie Jensen talks to Rick and callers about approaching the roads less t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ireland This week we will talk about Ireland with two of Rick's tour guide friends from the North and South. We'll find out how much Ireland has changed in recent years due to its impressive economic surge. The cost of travel has skyrocketed for Americans, but as guests Declan Field and Stephen McPhilemy and our callers confirm, it's the Irish people that make visiting a priceless experience. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Ireland This week we will talk about Ireland with two of Rick's tour guide friends from the North and South. We'll find out how much Ireland has changed in recent years due to its impressive economic surge. The cost of travel has skyrocketed for Americans, but as guests Declan Field and Stephen McPhilemy and our callers confirm, it's the Irish people that make visiting a priceless experience. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Packing Light and Samoa How can you travel for ten weeks with one suitcase? Rick says it is important to travel light, and to pack only one carry-on's worth of clothes and accessories. He shares packing tips for different climates, and learns about packing light for women from Joan Robinson, who leads frequent workshops on the topic. Also, Rick talks to one of his mentors in the field of travel writing, South Pacific guidebook author David Stanley. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Scotland Rick learns about the history and present-day allure of the Scottish highlands from Arthur Smith, a proprietor and true gentleman of the auld cloth, who ran a bed and breakfast in Glencoe, Scotland until his recent passing. Rick then fields calls from a young woman planning a trip with her sister and mother, and from a listener who gets philosophical on the last trip he'd want to make in his life. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Mexico City and the Yucatan Rick discusses the appeal of our neighbors in Mexico, from the frenzy of its must-see capital to the shores around Cancun. Listeners will also learn about Mayan artifacts of the Yucatan Peninsula. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Poland Rick learns how quickly Poland has modernized in the past ten years in a conversation with Polish tour guide Kasia Derlicka. Kasia offers ideas for travelers investigating genealogical roots and history and explains some of the soul of Poland, as reflected in the music of native-born Frederick Chopin. Also, Cameron Hewitt, co-author of Rick's Eastern European guidebook, found himself in Krakow on the April night word spread that the Pope had died. He describes the scene and its place in mod ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Wales and North America Road Trips Rick learns about the charms of Wales from Welsh tour guide Martin de Lewandowicz, and attempts to speak some otherwise undecipherable phrases in the Welsh Celtic language. Then, Rick chats with Jamie Jensen, author of an extensive guidebook on road trips in the USA and Canada, and takes listener calls on their recommended back highway trips. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Cuba Rick discusses travel to Cuba, and how and why Americans vacation there despite the official embargo. Christopher P. Baker, author of Moon Handbooks: Cuba, will join Rick in explaining what travelers will discover when visiting this fascinating destination. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website European Food Traditions Rick shares some of his delicacy discoveries found in different parts of Europe that make travel a gastronomic treat. Tour guide Jamie Blair Gould discusses different kinds of Italian olives and olive oils, and describes where he lives. Then, he and Rick field listener calls on such topics as white asparagus, porcini mushrooms, in-season tomatoes, paella, truffles, and finding a smoke-free ambiance in European restaurants. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Egypt Rick will interview tour guide Colin Clement about the highlights of traveling to Egypt, and travel agent Elizabeth Holmes about recent changes to the travel industry. We'll also take calls from travelers planning their summer vacations, and listen to some of our winning haiku entries. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Traveling By Bike and Nepal Rick learns how a bicycle can get you into more places than you'd ever expect from adventure bicycling enthusiast Willie Weir, and explores the magic of trekking the Himalayans in Nepal with Moon Handbook author, Kerry Moran. Enjoy these guests, as well as phone calls and e-mails from listeners eager to talk about their travel plans. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Spain and the Spring Festivals of Andalucia Local guides from Madrid and Seville share tips on how to experience Spain's colorful southern festivals, from lively cities to white-washed hill towns, explain how Spaniards maintain traditions in Seville, and discuss why many consider it the most romantic city in the country. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Music Festivals in Europe; Ask Arthur Frommer Budget travel guru Arthur Frommer joins Rick to compare notes on recent travel trends, and share ideas for seeing the world in a down economy. Also, Margret Hemmen provides tips on how to research for some of the year's biggest music festivals, since 2009 will include anniversaries of many major classical composers. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves -- including episode descriptions, program archives and related details -- visit www.ricksteves.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website