Rick Steves' Europe Video Podcast
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Fans of Rick Steves' PBS television show can now enjoy free "travel bites" on demand, using iTunes software to download and view these files. These short clips — generally a few minutes long — cover some of Rick's favorite destinations. Walk the historic streets in Edinburgh and York. Wander through Italy's hilltowns, explore Berlin "after the wall" and learn more about Vincent at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum...all on your own time. (After all, set TV schedules are so 20th century.)
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Athens, Greece: Museum Traces the Sweep of Greek History
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 8, 2012
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens is the single best place on earth to see ancient Greek artifacts. Strolling through the chronologically displayed collection — from 7,000 B.C. to A.D. 500 — is like watching a time-lapse movie of the evolution of art. You’ll go from the stylized figurines of the Cycladic Islands, to the golden artifacts of the Mycenaeans, to the stiff, stoic kouros statues of the Archaic age. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
 Download File - 49.6 MB
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Blaenau Ffestiniog, Wales: Fascinating Slate Mine Experience
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 1, 2012
Slate mining played a blockbuster role in Welsh heritage and visitors are welcome at the Llechwedd mine, nestled in the rugged terrain of North Wales. After a train ride deep into the mountain, a guide tells of the harsh working conditions and traditional mining techniques and demonstrates the art of slate splitting. While the mining culture is virtually gone, the tradition of singing survives. Welsh men's choirs are world-famous for their beautiful music. Town choirs welcome tourists at both their weekly practices and their many concerts. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 27.6 MB
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Split, Croatia: Modern City on Ancient Roots
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 25, 2012
Split's residents are literally living in a Roman palace. In the fourth century AD the Roman Emperor Diocletian retired and built a vast residence to live out his golden years here in his native Dalmatia. Later when Rome fell, Diocletian's palace was abandoned. Eventually, a medieval town sprouted from its abandoned classical shell and his mausoleum became a cathedral. To this day, the maze of narrow alleys — once literally Diocletian's hallways — make up the core of Split. Nearby, the seaside promenade is perfect for a stroll. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 49.0 MB
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Córdoba, Spain: Magnificent Mezquita
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 18, 2012
Tucked into a bend of its river, Córdoba is rich in Roman, Moorish and Christian history. Within massive old town walls, inviting courtyards and convivial squares beckon. The heart of the city is dominated by the glorious Mezquita, a mosque/cathedral complex that epitomizes a turbulent past. Yet despite long periods of conflict, the Golden Age of the 10th century saw Jews, Christians and Muslims living here in harmony. As is typical of AndalucÃa, Córdoba is a people-friendly city, bursting with energy and color. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 46.7 MB
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Belfast, Northern Ireland: A Black Cab Tour of Falls Road
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 11, 2012
A cab is the best way to tour Belfast's sectarian neighborhoods and their gripping political murals. Just west of downtown, Falls Road (Catholic) and the Shankhill Road (Protestant) are two well-known areas. And your ride can come with an education; for a reasonable hourly fee, many cabbies give visitors impromptu tours that will give you insights into the "Troubles", a conflict that is thankfully much less volatile than it has been in the past. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 38.5 MB
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Orvieto Italy: Family-run Winery
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 4, 2012
Italy is literally covered in vineyards. An hour north of Rome, near the hill town of Orvieto is the Tenuta le Vellete winery. A tour of this family-run property includes the main house with its atmospheric Etruscan cellars, stunning views from the terrace and a chance to taste several wines including the famous Orvieto Classico. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 45.9 MB
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Hillerød, Denmark: Stunning Frederiksborg Castle
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 28, 2011
Just outside of Copenhagen is Frederiksborg castle, built in the early 1600s by Denmark's greatest king, Christian IV. Many consider this "Danish Versailles" to be the grandest castle in all of Scandinavia. The king imported Dutch Renaissance architects to create his own striking "Christian IV style" used here and in fancy buildings all over Copenhagen. Inside the castle you'll find an excellent museum of Danish history. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 28.6 MB
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Rothenburg, Germany: Christmas Tree Traditions
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 21, 2011
Christmas in Europe is rich with tradition. About 500 years ago Germany was the first place where decorated trees became a part of Christmas celebrations, though the use of trees during a winter festival predates the birth of Christ. In the 1800s, when candles became affordable, the tree of lights arrived along with the tradition of the family gathering around the tree for gift-giving. Rothenburg is a German town infused with the Christmas spirit year-round. It’s a great place to learn about history of the holiday and to buy a special ornament to bring home for your own tree. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Basque Country: St. Jean-de-Luz
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 13, 2011
The colorful, compact Basque region hugs the Atlantic coast, straddling northeast Spain and southwest France. St. Jean-de-Luz, France is a relaxing little port to "come home" to, with its mellow ambience, fine strolling, unique architecture, sandy beach, and enticing restaurants. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 21.0 MB
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Bergen, Norway: Salty Harbor Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 7, 2011
With 250,000 people, Bergen has big-city parking problems and high prices, but visitors sticking to the old center find it charming. Enjoy Bergen's salty market, then stroll the easy-on-foot old quarter, with cute lanes of delicate old wooden houses. And, for a modern contrast, head for the urban heart of Bergen — which has a thriving personality all its own. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 61.9 MB
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Barcelona, Spain: Parc Güell
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 30, 2011
For a playful dose of architectural genius, visit GaudÃ's colorful Parc Güell. Gaudà intended this 30-acre garden to be a 60-residence housing project — a kind of gated community. As a high-end housing development, the project flopped. But a century later, as a park, it's a huge success. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 14.7 MB
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Delphi, Greece: Spectacular Ancient Site
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 23, 2011
Ancient Delphi, perched high on the slopes of Mt. Parnassos, was not a city. It was the site of the oracle of Apollo, god of the sun. People would journey here from all over the known world to seek wisdom from the gods on vital affairs of state. Tourists today zig-zag up the ancient Sacred Way to the Temple of Apollo. The path is flanked by the remains of Delphi's famous treasuries — monuments erected by city-states in gratitude for the oracle's advice. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 37.3 MB
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Conwy, Wales: Charming Garrison Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 16, 2011
The fortified castle town of Conwy was a safe base in the 13th century for the English invaders as they tried (and tried) to put down the angry Welsh insurgency. Today the harbor — once vital for military purposes — is now a laid back zone that locals treat like a town square. The scene is mellow, multigenerational, and perfectly Welsh. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rouen, France: A Mix of the Gothic and Contemporary
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 9, 2011
During the middle ages Rouen — with 40,000 residents — was France's second largest city. Only Paris was bigger. In the 12th century, half of today's France was ruled by England. Caught in the middle, Rouen walked a political tightrope between England and France for centuries. And because this was an important English base during the Hundred Years' War, this was the place where Joan of Arc was burned. Today, Rouen mixes dazzling Gothic architecture and contemporary bustle beautifully. It's a thriving port with a pedestrian-friendly old town and a grand cathedral standing as a reminder of the town's historic importance. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 44.0 MB
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KorÄula, Croatia: Laid-back Island Village
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 2, 2011
Like other Croatian coastal towns, KorÄula has two parts: The practical side where most people park, eat, and sleep — and the time-warp old town, where narrow lanes come with an atmospheric, easygoing charm. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Slovenia: Julian Alps and SoÄa River Valley
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 26, 2011
This northwestern corner of Slovenia is busy with visitors both winter and summer. The Julian Alps, laced with hiking paths and alpine villages, and the milky-blue SoÄa River flowing down into the peaceful valley below offer plenty of diversions for nature-lovers. This terrain also has a terrible war history—it was the SoÄa Front during World War I; a nearby museum tells the story. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Switzerland's Jungfrau Region: Interlaken and Swiss Military Secrets
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 19, 2011
Interlaken, one of the Alps' original resorts, is a useful springboard for alpine thrills. And, when the famous peaks get socked in by clouds, you can choose from some interesting lowland options. In this town, four innocent-looking hay barns conceal a network of tunnels connecting several big guns. Many of these once top-secret sites are now open to the public as museums. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 49.2 MB
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Rothenburg, Germany: Medieval Wonders
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 12, 2011
Rothenburg — Germany's best-preserved medieval walled town — houses the country's best wood carving, a vivid dose of medieval punishment, and an entertaining tour into the past with the Night Watchman. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 21.4 MB
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Vienna, Austria: St. Stephen's Cathedral
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 28, 2011
The massive St. Stephen's Cathedral is the Gothic needle around which Vienna spins. While heavily damaged in WWII, the church survived. Today it symbolizes the city's freedom and proud spirit. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 30.6 MB
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Positano, Italy: Jewel of the Amalfi Coast
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 28, 2011
Specializing in scenery, shopping and sand, the resort town of Positano hangs on the most spectacular stretch of the coast. It's a pleasant gathering of cafés, galleries, and boutiques. There's little to do here but eat, window-shop, and enjoy the beach and views...and that's exactly the way its many visitors like it. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 17.3 MB
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Stockholm, Sweden: Nobel's Home
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 21, 2011
Opened in 2001 for the 100-year anniversary of the Nobel Prize, Stockholm's wonderful Nobel Museum tells the story of the world's most prestigious award. The annual Nobel Prize banquet is held a short walk away, in Stockholm's City Hall — particularly enjoyable and worthwhile for its entertaining guided tour. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 36.7 MB
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Dubrovnik, Croatia: Restored and Thriving
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 14, 2011
Confined within its walls as it has been for centuries, Dubrovnik juts out from the rocky Croatian coastline looking inviting from both the land and the sea. Though the war killed tourism in the 1990s, today the crowds are most decidedly back. And understandably so — Dubrovnik is a living fairy tale that shouldn't be missed. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 57.5 MB
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Derry, Northern Ireland: Pivotal City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 7, 2011
When Ireland was being divvied up, the Foyle River was the logical border between the North and the Republic. But the North kept Derry (or Londonderry to Unionists), which is on the Republic's side of the river. Consequently, this predominantly Catholic city has been much contested throughout the Troubles. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 42.9 MB
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Albi, France: Worthy Stop in the Languedoc
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 31, 2011
Albi's massive Roman Catholic cathedral, St. Cécile, looks less like a church and more like a fortress — on purpose. It was built in a time when the pope felt compelled to make it clear that the only acceptable Christianity was Roman-style. Next to the church is the world's largest collection of art by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec. The museum displays his work chronologically, letting you follow the evolution of his art with his fascinating life's story. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 41.0 MB
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Northern Spain: Walking the Camino de Santiago
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 24, 2011
The Camino de Santiago — literally the "Way of St. James" — is Europe's ultimate pilgrimage route. Since the Middle Ages, pilgrims have walked hundreds of miles across North Spain to pay homage to the remains of St. James in the city named for him, Santiago de Compostela. And in our generation the route has been rediscovered, and more and more pilgrims are traveling this ancient pathway. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 34.9 MB
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Istanbul, Turkey: Enjoying a Turkish Bath
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 17, 2011
Istanbul is a city of experiences and one of the most memorable is enjoying a Turkish bath. Turks brought the steam bath with them from Central Asia, blended it with the Roman bath culture they found here, and created the Turkish bath. Today, baths welcome tourists and give a peek into a rich tradition. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Helsinki, Finland: Relaxing by Boat and Sauna
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 10, 2011
Helsinki is set in a natural wonderland, and the several-hundred islands of its archipelago provide a delightful playground for a boat tour. We also visit a sauna, which, for the Finns, is a lifestyle. Popular year around, it's especially appealing in the long cold winters. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 16.4 MB
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Zugspitze, Alps: Germany's Highest Mountain
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 3, 2011
While there are many higher mountains in the Alps, Zugspitze is unique — standing alone with a view of over 400 peaks in four countries: Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and even Italy. The mountain marks the border between the German state of Bavaria and the Austrian state of Tirol. And today, no passports are necessary to enjoy this high-altitude resort destination on what feels like the top of Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Amalfi Coast, Italy: Serene Sorrento
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 27, 2011
Wedged on a ledge under the mountains and over the sea, spritzed by lemon and orange groves, Sorrento is an attractive resort; well-located both as a springboard for regional sightseeing and as a fine place to simply stay and stroll. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 58.1 MB
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Bruges, Belgium: The Art of Flemish Fries
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 20, 2011
French fries, called Flemish fries in northern Dutch-speaking Belgium, are a local specialty. They taste so good because they're deep-fried twice — once to cook and once to brown. To eat like a local add mayonnaise, not ketchup. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 128.0 MB
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Honfleur, France: Easy-going Marina
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 13, 2011
Honfleur escaped the bombs of World War II, and feels as picturesque as it looks. For over a thousand years, sailors have enjoyed Honfleur's ideal location, where the Seine River meets the English Channel. The town was also a favorite of 19th-century Impressionists and artists still come here to catch the light playing on the harborfront and reflecting in the water. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 40.6 MB
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Oslo, Norway: Maritime History in Bygdøy
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 6, 2011
Oslo's Bygdøy neighborhood is a thought-provoking and exciting cluster of sights on a park-like peninsula just across the harbor from downtown. Within a short walk you can visit many museums exploring Norway's maritime history, including three Viking ship museums. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Karst, Slovenia: Dramatic Å kocjan Cave
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 29, 2011
Slovenia's Karst region — a high, fertile, and windblown plateau — is honeycombed with a vast network of caves and underground rivers. The most dramatic cave to tour is Škocjan, with a breathtaking footbridge 150 feet above a crashing river. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 21.9 MB
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Jerez, AndalucÃa: Dazzling Horses and Velvety Sherry
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 22, 2011
AndalucÃa's rich heritage is alive in today's culture and it expresses itself in iconic themes. The town of Jerez is famous for three of them: dazzling horses, velvety sherry, and a spring fair that brings out the entire city for a week long party. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rovinj, Croatia: Istria's Old World Oasis
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 15, 2011
Like the rest of the Croatian coast, Rovinj was part of the Venetian Empire for centuries. And Istria remained part of Italy until after WWII. That's why this region is enthusiastically bi-lingual and an engaging mix of Croatia and Italy. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Taormina, Sicily: Spectacular Resort
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 8, 2011
Sicily's most spectacular resort, Taormina, hangs high above the sea with handy cable car access to the beach. Taormina was a favorite aristocratic escape in the 19th century. Today its main drag is made to order for good living. Enjoy the views, great people watching, and a freshly-filled cannoli. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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London, England: The National Gallery
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 1, 2011
London's greatest collection of European paintings is in the National Gallery. From medieval to Renaissance to Impressionist, you can tour the sweeping story of European art without ever crossing the Channel. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Peloponnese, Greece: Rugged Mani Peninsula
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 25, 2011
While most visitors to Greece's Peloponnese enjoy the same tourist stops, a three-hour drive takes you off the beaten path to the timless and rustic south coast. Its southernmost point, the Mani Peninsula, still harbors remote corners where centuries-old art is tucked away, and where the curious traveler can be alone with a bit of bygone culture. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Portrush, Northern Ireland: The Playground of Ulster
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 18, 2011
Portrush is North Ireland's favorite resort, filled with family-oriented amusements, fun eateries and cheap and cheery B and Bs. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Giverny, France: Monet's Gardens
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 11, 2011
Claude Monet, the father of the Impressionist movement, spent his last 40 years in Giverny finding inspiration in these gardens. He diverted a stream, made a pond, filled it with water lilies and built a footbridge which eventually became overgrown with wisteria. Today, museums all over the world bloom with these garden paintings. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Munich, Germany: Imperial Grandeur in the Residenz
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 4, 2011
The Residenz was the palace of the Wittelsbach family, who ruled Bavaria for more than 700 years. The Wittelsbachs were always trying to keep up with the Habsburgs — their Austrian imperial rivals — and this extravagant, rococo palace was designed for maximum "show off." For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Oban, Scotland: Classic Scottish Port Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 27, 2011
Oban, the "Gateway to the Isles," is a busy little ferry terminal. The wind, boats, gulls, layers of islands, and the promise of a wide-open Atlantic beyond give a shiver-and-bustle vitality to this classic Scottish port town. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Istanbul, Turkey: The Topkapı Palace
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 20, 2011
Our storybook image of the Ottomans — sultans, harems, eunuchs — is best experienced here, in the Topkapı Palace. Built in the late 15th century, this was the power center of the Ottoman Empire for almost four hundred years. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Mürren, Switzerland: Exploring the Swiss Alps by Bike
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 13, 2011
Mürren is a good starting point for mountain biking, popular here in the Alps. Small service roads and well-marked intersections make biking easy. Follow Rick on his loop trip down into the valley floor where he passes through Lauterbrunnen, Trümmelbach Falls, a cozy campground, and takes a funicular ride back up the mountain. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Cortona, Italy: Rustic and Romantic
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 6, 2011
Cortona has a history that goes back 2500 years to Etruscan times. It grew to its present size between the 13th and 15th centuries, when it was a colorful and crowded city. And while an extremely popular travel destination for Americans today, Cortona's rustic and gritty personality survives. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Basque Country: Seaside San Sebastián
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 30, 2011
Shimmering above its breathtaking bay, elegant and prosperous San Sebastián — or Donostia as locals call their town — is your best home base for exploring Basque country. It boasts one of Europe's loveliest stretches of sand, an elegant promenade, and a fascinating culture. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Galicia, Spain: Santiago de Compostela
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 23, 2011
Santiago, the final destination of an ancient pilgrimage route, has long had a powerful and mysterious draw on travelers. Strolling across its squares and under its grand churches, you can imagine a time when the city was a religious and cultural powerhouse. But, apart from all the pilgrim action and its venerable architecture, Santiago is a work-a-day town. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Tallinn, Estonia: Old World Meets New
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 16, 2011
Tallinn is a mix of east and west. Its Nordic Lutheran culture and language connect it with Scandinavia's Stockholm and Helsinki. But two centuries of Tsarist Russian rule and nearly 50 years as part of the Soviet Union have blended in a distinctly Russian flavor. Tallinn has modernized at an astounding rate since the fall of the Soviet Union, while also remaining one of the best-preserved medieval cities in the north of Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Stockholm, Sweden: Vasa Warship Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 9, 2011
Djurgården is Stockholm's lush island fun center and has several of the city's top museums, including the Vasa Museum. This is where the Vasa is housed, a 1628 war ship that sank to the bottom of the harbor just minutes into its maiden voyage. Rescued after 300 years under the sea, it's now the best-preserved ship of its kind. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Norway's West: A Sognefjord Safari
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 2, 2011
Glaciers spent eons carving up western Norway as they worked their way to the sea. Slowly, they gouged u-shaped valleys that later filled with water, creating the defining feature of Norway's landscape — fjords. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 31.1 MB
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Oslo, Norway: Discussing Norway's Social System
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 23, 2011
For the people of Oslo, their fjord is a natural wonderland. And it's a beautiful backdrop for Rick to discuss Norway's social system with his Norwegian cousin. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 28.8 MB
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Gibraltar: The Rock
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 16, 2011
The Rock of Gibraltar stands like a fortress at the gateway to the Mediterranean. With its strategic setting, Gibraltar has an illustrious military history and remnants of its martial past are everywhere. But within a generation the economy has gone from one dominated by the military to one based on tourism. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 35.8 MB
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Nerja, Spain: Holiday in the Costa del Sol
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 9, 2011
Nearly every country from Europe's drizzly north tucks an expatriate community somewhere along the Costa del Sol. Rick's favorite stop is the resort town of Nerja, which has kept some of its charm despite capitalizing on its vacation culture. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 44.4 MB
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Ljubljana, Slovenia: Happy Hodgepodge
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 2, 2011
Being the midpoint bewteen the Slavic, Germanic and Italian worlds gives Ljubljana a special spice. This tiny town has only about a quarter-million people, but it's by far the country's largest city, cultural capital, and a charming place to kick off any Slovenian trip. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 66.1 MB
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Montenegro: Country of Contrasts
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 26, 2011
One of Europe's newest and smallest countries, Montenegro is about the size of Connecticut, with well under a million people. It's a country of contrasts: an intriguing combination of rugged landscapes, communist-era decrepitude, and an emerging Mediterranean hotspot that's quite popular with the cruising crowd. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 42.9 MB
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Hvar, Croatia: Made for Relaxing
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 19, 2011
Handy boat connections make the island of Hvar a popular stop off the Dalmatian coast. Activities are low energy. Expertly enjoying this town, seemingly made for relaxing, yachters stern tie into the good life. Visitors nurse drinks on the main square, or stroll the back lanes. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 39.0 MB
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Basque Country: Bilbao and the Guggenheim Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 12, 2011
Bilbao has recently been transformed from a gritty steel town to a happening cultural center like no other Spanish city. A modern light rail line conveniently laces the old town with points along the river and to the sight which spearheaded Bilbao's urban renaissance: the Frank Gehry-designed Guggenheim Museum. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 34.5 MB
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Pamplona, Spain: Running of the Bulls
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 5, 2011
For nine days each July, throngs of visitors come to run with the bulls, and a whole lot more, at Pamplona's Festival of San Fermin. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 73.5 MB
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Helsinki, Finland: Suomenlinna Island and Fortress
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 29, 2010
Helsinki's most important sight is Suomenlinna, an island guarding Helsinki's harbor that served as a strategic fortress for three countries: Sweden, Russia, and then Finland. It's now a popular park, most appreciated by locals for its scenic strolls. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Stockholm, Sweden: Cruising the Archipelago
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 22, 2010
Stockholm's vast archipelago is an amazing playground of literally thousands of islands stretching 80 miles from the city. Catch a ferry with the locals and grab a perch on the breezy sundeck with the Swedes as they enjoy their island wonderland. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 35.9 MB
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Jotunheim, Norway: Home of the Giants
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 15, 2010
Norway's Jotunheim, or, "home of the giants," is a high plateau that feels like the top of the world. These are northern Europe's highest mountains, steeped in Norse legends and folk lore, and home to Europe's biggest surviving glacier, Jostedal. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Oslo, Norway: Frogner Park
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 8, 2010
Oslo's vast Frogner Park is a perfect place to share a moment with Norwegian families at play. Strolling here, you feel a positive spirit — both rugged and pragmatic, celebrating life. The park showcases a lifetime of work by Norway's greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 24.3 MB
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Tangier, Morocco: Europe Meets Africa
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 1, 2010
Most visitors to Tangier take a tour, daytripping in from Spain for a predictable series of experiences. But wandering through this delightfully disorienting town, at your own pace, is more fun. And to enjoy it with maximum understanding, you can hire a local guide. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Granada, Spain: The Exquisite Alhambra
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 24, 2010
Granada's dominant sight is the Alhambra, the last and greatest Moorish palace. For two centuries, until 1492, Granada reigned as the capital of a dwindling Moorish empire. As Christian forces pushed the Moors farther and farther south, this palace was the last hurrah of a sophisticated civilization. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Piran, Slovenia: Adriatic Resort
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 17, 2010
Slovenia enjoys a 29-mile stretch of Adriatic seafront, and its best stop is the town of Piran. As with most towns on the Adriatic, Piran was long ruled by nearby Venice and retains its Venetian flavor. In fact, the town's officially bilingual: Slovene and Italian. Today, its town square is enjoyed by visitors and locals of all generations — savoring the good life where the Slavic world, the Alps, and the Mediterranean all come together. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 74.5 MB
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Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina: Rebuilt and Healing
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 10, 2010
Mostar, straddling its beloved river, is the leading city of the southern part of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Its 400-year-old stone bridge was once a symbol of multi-cultural community but collapsed under artillery shells when Yugoslavia fell apart in the 1990s. Today, Mostar is rebuilding, and ethnic divisions are gradually fading. And the new Old Bridge, rebuilt using the original materials, is a promising sign of reconciliation. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 74.5 MB
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Central Croatia: Plitvice Lakes National Park
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 3, 2010
One of Europe's top natural wonders is Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park. Imagine Niagara Falls sliced and diced and sprinkled over a vast and heavily forested canyon. It's a lush and unforgettable valley of 16 terraced lakes, laced together by waterfalls and miles of pleasant plank walks. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Dordogne, France: Lascaux's Prehistoric Cave Paintings
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 28, 2010
From about 18,000 to 10,000 b.c., long before Stonehenge and the pyramids, back when mammoths and saber-toothed cats still roamed the earth, prehistoric people painted deep inside caves in what is today the Dordogne region of France. These cave paintings are huge and sophisticated projects executed by artists and supported by an impressive culture — the Magdalenians. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bath, England: Neoclassical Royal Crescent and Circus
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 21, 2010
Bath has long been famous for its hot springs, and it was a popular spa town for the ancient Romans. When revitalized in the 18th century, local architects were inspired by the Italian architect Andrea Palladio to build a "new Rome." Bath's Royal Crescent and Circus are fine examples of this neoclassic style. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice, Italy: Island Hopping in the Lagoon
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 13, 2010
After Rome fell, farmers on Venice's mainland were sick and tired of being overrun by barbarians and moved out into this lagoon, and hoped the barbarians didn't like water. Today, these towns' back lanes give you a candid peek at a peaceful slice of the Venetian lagoon most visitors miss. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bacharach, Germany: Castles and Cozy Beds
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 6, 2010
The historic town of Bacharach makes a fine home base for exploring Germany's Rhine River Valley. Like other towns along the river, Bacharach has a long tradition of vintners making wine and offering their label to the thirsty public. And its castle has become one of Germany's top hostels, with plenty of beds and a warm welcome. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Cashel, Ireland: The Rock of Cashel
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 29, 2010
The dramatic Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most evocative sites. On this historic rock, you can stroll among the ruins in the footsteps of St. Patrick, and, wandering through Rick's favorite Celtic cross graveyard, feel the soul of Ireland. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 12.0 MB
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Berner Oberland, Switzerland: Hiking in the Alps
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 22, 2010
In the Alps, get an early start when the peaks are clear. Gondola lifts take you to the high points effortlessly, where level trails are thoughtfully signposted, and dotted with tame cows and goats. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 22.9 MB
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Cefalù, Sicily: Romantic Port Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 15, 2010
Cefalù, dramatically situated on the north coast, is one of Sicily's many romantic port towns. Rick tours the medieval-walled town by Vespa, samples Mediterranean cuisine, and meets a local fisherman. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 61.5 MB
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Hebrides, Scotland: The Isles of Iona and Mull
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 8, 2010
Regardless of the weather, a tour of Iona and Mull offers the best one-day look at dramatic and historic Hebrides Island scenery. After bussing across Mull, it's a one-mile ferry ride to the sleepy island of Iona, a great place for a break from a busy itinerary. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 42.4 MB
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Peloponnese, Greece: Magnificent Monemvasia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 1, 2010
Often referred to as the "Gibraltar of Greece," Monemvasia is a virtual showcase of Byzantine, Turkish, and Venetian history dating back to the 13th century. Worth climbing: the steep zigzag path that leads up and up, out of the lower town, to ruins of the fortified upper town, and sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Budapest, Hungary: Great Market Hall
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 25, 2010
Budapest's Great Indoor Market Hall is a commotion of produce stands, butcher stalls, peppers and spices. Paprika — a dominant spice in Hungarian cuisine — is everywhere, in varieties ranging from very sweet to very hot. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Vienna, Austria: Austria's Greatest Art Collection — The Kunsthistorisches Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 18, 2010
At their peak of power in the 1500s, the Habsburg family ruled Austria, Germany, northern Italy, the Netherlands, and even Spain. And Vienna's Kunsthistorisches (Art History) Museum offers great art from throughout the realm. The Italian collection is particularly strong. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Coimbra, Portugal: Concentrated Culture
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 11, 2010
Coimbra is Portugal's third-largest city and home to the country's oldest and most prestigious university. Coimbra is a mini-Lisbon: everything good about urban Portugal without the intensity of a big city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Istanbul, Turkey: Cosmopolitan New Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 4, 2010
To get a full and balanced appreciation for today's Istanbul, you must leave the old town and explore the lively, more cosmopolitan neighborhoods. Experience urban Istanbul by hiking the entire length of its main pedestrian boulevard, immersed in a fascinating sea of people: a melting pot of twenty or so different ethnic groups, with styles from the very traditional to the latest. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 41.0 MB
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Barcelona, Spain: A Trip Down the Ramblas
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 28, 2010
Barcelona's ever-popular strolling boulevard is the Ramblas. While souvenir shops and crowds of tourists have diluted its former elegance, it still offers an entertaining introduction to the city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 28.0 MB
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Great Swiss Cities: Zürich
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 21, 2010
Switzerland's biggest city, Zürich, consistently ranks as one of the world's most livable cities. Its lake front is a spring board for romantic walks, and the old town is lively night and day with cafes, galleries, and a colorful cobbled ambiance. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 32.3 MB
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Rome, Italy: An Evening Stroll
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 14, 2010
Modern Rome's main street Via Del Corso becomes a pedestrian boulevard late in the day. As the sun goes down, the people come out for their evening passegiata, or stroll. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 62.8 MB
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Kraków, Poland: Countryside and the Wieliczka Salt Mine
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 7, 2010
After eight centuries of producing salt, the remarkable Wieliczka Salt Mine is busy not with miners, but with tourists. They come to see the sculptures, 20 chapels, and enormous church, all carved out of salt by the miners themselves. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Languedoc, France: Carcassonne — Europe's Ultimate Fortress City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 30, 2010
The Languedoc region's hard-fought past and independent spirit is evident in its old fortifications, fine art, and a culture distinct from the rest of France that survives to this day. Its fortified city of Carcassonne is a 13th-century world of towers, turrets, and cobblestone alleys. Visit early or late in the day to avoid the mid-day tourist crowd. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Kenmare, Ireland: The Ring of Kerry
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 23, 2010
See Rick's full show, South Ireland: Waterford to Ring of Kerry, on your local public television station. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 16.6 MB
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Munich, Germany: The Old Center and Viktualienmarkt
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 16, 2010
Munich is considered Germany's most livable city. While packed with history, it's also this country's Hollywood and Silicone Valley, all rolled into one. This city celebrates its traditions with gusto, and at the same time, it remains a modern cultural force. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Staying Healthy
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 9, 2010
Being on vacation can be exhausting. Get plenty of sleep, eat healthy, drink lots of water and juice, and pace yourself. If you do get sick, a good first stop for medical advice is the neighborhood pharmacy. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Hurdle the Language Barrier
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 2, 2010
Today's Europe is increasingly bilingual — and English is its second language. You can manage just fine by being polite, and starting conversations with the question, "Do you speak English?" For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Bike Away the Jet Lag
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 26, 2010
You can fight jet lag if you leave home well rested, sleep on the plane, and, once you've arrived, keep moving and stay awake late. Rick's favorite trick: rent a bicycle and take a bike hike. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 30.0 MB
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Trebon, Czech Republic: Fish Ponds and Peat Spas
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 19, 2010
Centuries ago lake-builders of Trebon employed ingenious techniques to transform flooding marshland into a clever combination of lakes, oak-lined dikes, and peat bogs. Today those peat bogs supply Trebon's other claim to fame: its peat spa. Soaking in the black, smelly peat sludge is thought to cure aching joints and spines. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 30.0 MB
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Athens, Greece: The Tranquil Anafiotika Neighborhood
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 12, 2010
Hike to the top of the Plaka and explore the charming "village" of Anafiotika, built in the 19th century by people from the tiny Cycladic island of Anafi who came here to the big city looking for work. In this oasis of tranquility, nestled beneath the walls of the Acropolis, the intensity of Athens seems miles away. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 26.7 MB
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Denmark Beyond Copenhagen: Legoland and Ã…rhus
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 5, 2010
Rick visits Scandinavia's top kids' sight: Legoland. Then it's on to Denmark's second-largest city — Århus — which bustles with a lively port, an important university, a busy pedestrian boulevard, and an old quarter filled with people living well. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 55.9 MB
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West Turkey: The Ancient City of Ephesus
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 28, 2010
Rick resurrects some Ephesian rubble with Mehlika Seval, who wrote THE guidebook on one of Turkey's greatest ancient sites — Ephesus. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 42.4 MB
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Budapest: The Communist All-Stars of Statue Park
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 21, 2010
When regimes fall, so do their monuments. Budapest saved its souvenirs of totalitarianism and shows them off here, at Statue Park. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 22.9 MB
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London: Treasures of the British Library
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 15, 2010
The British Library — Britain's national archive — houses over 12 million books and a roomful of treasures, including the Magna Carta, Gutenberg Bible, Handel's Messiah, da Vinci's Notebook, and the original Alice in Wonderland. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 27.0 MB
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Venice Side-Trips: Verona
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 7, 2010
The mainland surrounding Venice — the Veneto — is one of the overlooked corners of Italy. If you like Italy but don't need world-class sights, the Veneto's Verona is a joy, with its wealth of Roman ruins, 15th-century frescoes, and quiet, pedestrian-only ambience. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 50.4 MB
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Salzburg, Austria: Sampling Schnapps on Getreidegasse
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 31, 2010
Old Salzburg's busy and colorful main drag was, and still is, Getreidegasse. Amidst all the tourists and chain outlets, you'll find purely local hangouts like the Sporer family schnapps shop. This friendly hole-in-the-wall has been distilling and selling schnapps for just over a hundred years, and has enough flavors to keep regulars coming back again and again. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 19.0 MB
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Burgundy: The Wine of the Cote d'Or
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 24, 2010
Burgundy is a big part of why France is famous for wine. The rolling hills of the Côte d'Or are blanketed by lovingly tended vineyards which, to the connoisseur, are a kind of pilgrimage. A bike route laces together scenic villages, with signs that make it clear where visitors are welcome to drop in, enjoy a little tasting...and pick up a bottle or two. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 47.5 MB
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Vienna's Wine Gardens: Heurigen
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 17, 2010
The uniquely Viennese institution of Heurige is two things: a young wine, and a place to drink it. Long ago, when the Habsburg Emperors let Vienna's vintners sell their own new wine tax-free, several hundred families opened these charming wine-garden eateries clustered around the edge of town — and a tradition was born. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Great Swiss Cities: Luzern
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 10, 2010
Since the Romantic era in the 19th century, Luzern has been a regular stop on the "Grand Tour" route of Europe. Its inviting lake front includes a modern concert hall, picture-perfect 14th-century wooden bridges, and swans. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 33.1 MB
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North Wales: Caernarfon Castle
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 03, 2010
Caernarfon was the most expensive castle an English king ever built, and one of few to achieve architecture, art and defensibility at the same time. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Side Trip: Barcelona to Montserrat
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 24, 2010
An hour inland from Barcelona, the heart of Catalyuna beckons with the impenetrable monastery of Montserrat. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 25.8 MB
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Istanbul's Grand Bazaar
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 17, 2010
In many ways Istanbul's Grand Bazaar remains much as it was centuries ago: enchanting and perplexing visitors with its mazelike network of more than 4,000 colorful shops, fragrant eateries, and insistent shopkeepers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 22.9 MB
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Dordogne, France: Perfectly Medieval Beynac
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 10, 2010
The feudal village of Beynac is a perfectly preserved medieval village, with the Dordogne River at its doorstep. In villages like this, there's nothing to really "tour." It's just plain pretty. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Naples' Archaeological Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 3, 2010
For lovers of antiquity, the National Museum of Archaeology by itself makes Naples a worthwhile stop. The city's one essential museum visit offers the best possible peek into the art of Pompeii. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rural Egypt and the Nile
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 27, 2010
A ten-minute bike ride takes Rick beyond the famous sights of Egypt into a timeless village untouched by tourism. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Czech Republic: Bohemia and the Time-Warp Town of Cesky Krumlov
Author: Rick Steves
Fri, Jan 22, 2010
The enchanting town of Cesky Krumlov — buried in the hills of Bohemia, lassoed by its river and dominated by its castle — feels lost in a time warp. Its delightful Old Town of shops and cobbled lanes, characteristic little restaurants, and easy going canoeing options, makes it a favorite with tourists. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Lisbon, Portugal: Belem District
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 13, 2010
Rick visits Lisbon's Belém District, a stately pincushion of important sights, including one of Europe's top coach museums. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Poland: Auschwitz
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 6, 2010
The biggest and most notorious concentration camp in the Nazi regime, Auschwitz can be difficult for visitors, but victims and their families want tourists to visit. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Greece's Peloponnese: Nafplion
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 30, 2009
The city of Nafplion — one of Greece's prettiest towns — is the perfect base for exploring the northeast corner of the Peloponnesian Peninsula. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 30.0 MB
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Best of the Alps: Gimmelwald
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 23, 2009
Unlike neighboring resort towns, Switzerland's Gimmelwald remains a vital community of families — locally owned and proud of it. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bulgaria: A Na Gosti Dinner
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 16, 2009
Bulgaria's ultimate cultural treat is "na gosti" — an elaborate dinner served to guests, heavy on the peppers and homemade brandy. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: Chowing on Cicchetti
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 09, 2009
For an appropriate meal during your back lane adventure, pop into a bar serving cicchetti — Venetian hors d'oeuvres. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Amsterdam: Pickled Herring in Haarlem
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 02, 2009
Rick visits a herring stand to learn the Rotterdam and Amsterdam styles of eating this healthy and delicious pickled fish. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Edinburgh: Contemporary Scottish Cuisine
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 25, 2009
Rick's guide treats him to a French-influenced Scottish meal. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Highlights of Paris: Lunching on the Seine
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Rick's guide takes him through an iconic Parisian afternoon, topped off with a "cliche" Parisian lunch. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Naples: The Birthplace of Pizza
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 11, 2009
In Naples, pausing at any street corner gives you the chance to enjoy a vivid slice of Neapolitan life, and the perfect pizza. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Salzburg and Surroundings: Hohensalzburg Fortress and Monchsberg Mountain
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 4, 2009
Hohensalzburg fortress towers over the Salzach river, dominating Salzburg's skyline as one of Europe's mightiest castles. Through the forest, Monchsberg Moutain offers commanding views and a respite from the city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Alps of France and Switzerland: Alpine Thrills in Chamonix
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 28, 2009
Chamonix makes a great homebase for cable cars rides, day-hikes, glacier cave strolls, and Swiss-infused French cuisine. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Cinque Terre: Riomaggiore and Monterosso al Mare
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 21, 2009
We visit two of the "five lands" along Italy's Mediterranean coast: Riomaggiore--a cozy collection of homes nestled in a valley, and Monterosso--the most resort-y of the towns. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Highlights of Castile: Toledo
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 14, 2009
Toledo is so well-preserved and packed with cultural wonder that the entire city has been declared a national monument. It's an ideal place to savor the delights of Spain: cultural, historic and tasty. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Appenzell Region: Traditional Switzerland
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 7, 2009
Maintaining its folk culture, Appenzell delights travelers as one of Switzerland's most traditional regions. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Alps of France and Switzerland: Mont Blanc and the Aiguille du Midi Gondola
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 30, 2009
Experience breathtaking views of Mount Blanc in the French Alps and take a gondola ride over the border to the Italian side. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 49.2 MB
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The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Scrubbing the Script
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 23, 2009
The dynamic process of watching a script take shape includes a final scrubbing to ensure that every word earns its keep and bountiful footage exists to bring those words to visual life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Appreciating the Art
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 16, 2009
Rick and the film crew describe the challenges and rewards of filming great art masterpieces. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Adapting to Conditions
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 09, 2009
Rick and the film crew stay organized yet open to change while filming in Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: Keeping Up With Rick
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 02, 2009
Rick's film crew describes how hard it is to keep up with Rick's intense work pace. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Making of Rick Steves' Europe: A Collaborative Process
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 26, 2009
Rick explains that he is the tour guide and his film crew are the artists, working as a collaborative team to make good television. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Majesty of Madrid: Side-trip to El Escorial
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 19, 2009
El Escorial is more than an impressive palace for a divine monarch. It's packed with art and history — offering an evocative trip back to Spain's most fascinating age. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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London: A Soho Dinner Crawl
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 12, 2009
Rick and his producer go on a dinner crawl through London's Soho, sampling Japanese sushi, Belgian mussels and oodles of noodles. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Caesar's Rome: Capitoline Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 5, 2009
Rick strolls through Rome's Capitoline Museum, highlighting a selection of sculpture, mosaics, and the idealized beauty of the Capitoline Venus. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice Side-trips: Padova
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 22, 2009
Padova's old town, even when crowded with today's students, is a colonnaded time-tunnel experience. And Padova's museums and churches hold their own in Italy's artistic big league. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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South Ireland's Wicklow Mountains
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 15, 2009
Ten miles south of Dublin, Ireland's Wicklow Mountains offer nature lovers some of Ireland's richest scenery and refuge from the hustle and bustle of big-city travel. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Munich: Hofbräuhaus
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 8, 2009
Munich is Germany's beer capitol, and the Hofbräuhaus is its ultimate beer hall. It comes complete with rivers of beer, cheap food, boisterous atmosphere, and raucous oompah music. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Eating with the Locals
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 1, 2009
When in Europe, seek out restaurants filled with locals and order your meal with a spirit of adventure. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Driving in Europe
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 23, 2009
Renting a car in Europe is a breeze; cars get great milage, distances are short, and roads are in excellent conditions. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Riding the Rails
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 17, 2009
Using Europe's train system may feel daunting, but if you take things step by step, you'll do fine. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Getting Cash
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 10, 2009
While credit cards are widely accepted throughout Europe, smart travelers use hard cash. ATMs are everywhere and offer great rates 24 hours a day. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Packing Light
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 3, 2009
Packing light is essential for happy travel. Learn the importance of being mobile with your luggage. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Travel Skills: Itinerary Planning
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 27, 2009
Developing a thoughtful itinerary not only helps make the most of a trip, it also helps nurture travel dreams. Brainstorming a must-see wish list, reading books, and watching movies about destinations allow travelers to embark on the experience before reaching Europe by enjoying the planning phase. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Sicily's Villa del Casale
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 20, 2009
In about 300 A.D., Emperor Maximilian built the imperial Roman villa of Casale--an obscenely lavish country escape--covering it wall-to-wall in some of the finest Roman mosaics found anywhere. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Eastern Turkey: Erzurum's Oil Wrestling
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 13, 2009
For 1500 years, the fortress town of Erzurum has stood like a breakwater, holding back wave after wave of armies from the East. Today, young Turks skilled in the combat sport of wrestling pay homage to history in the town's civic center, where battles of the past become a celebration of life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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London's British Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 6, 2009
At the peak of its empire, England collected art and artifacts as fast as it collected colonies. The British Museum is the showcase for those extraordinary treasures, and is "The" chronicle of western civilization. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome's Catacombs and Appian Way
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 29, 2009
Rome's San Callisto catacombs housed early Christian heroes later recognized as martyrs and saints as early as the 3rd century. Along with the catacombs, which were abandoned and forgotten in the Middle Ages, Rome's ancient Appian Way is enjoying resurgence as a well-known attraction for locals and tourists alike. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Helsinki's Lutheran Cathedral and the Church in the Rock
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 22, 2009
Helsinki's sky-lit copper dome of the Church in the Rock and pure, clean, neoclassical Lutheran cathedral offer unique architectural treats while delighting travelers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Little Europe: Andorra
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Just little more than a generation ago, Andorra morphed from a rough-and-tumble smugglers' haven to a high tech, high altitude shoppers' haven, with pockets of old-world charm hiding out in the town center. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Santorini's Black Sand Beaches and Romantic Sunsets
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 8, 2009
Boasting the best sunbathing and swimming on the island, Santorini's black sand beach also reminds visitors of the island's once-volcanic history. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Stockholm's Skansen Open-Air Folk Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 1, 2009
Visitors to Skansen, Europe's original and best open-air folk museum, are treated to over 150 historic homes, shops, churches, and school houses transplanted from all over Sweden; folk dancing nearly every evening; and a variety of historical characters describing daily life from specific regions and periods. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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West Turkey: Konya and the Whirling Dervishes
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 25, 2009
For people living in more modern cities, Konya is a bit conservative. This city is one of the oldest in the world, with settlements dating back 5000 years. And it's a good place to start if you're looking for Turkey in the extreme. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Little Europe: The Vatican City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 18, 2009
The Vatican is home to the most glorious church in all Christendom, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museum, which displays some of the greatest art of western civilization. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 65.0 MB
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Outside Oslo
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 11, 2009
Oslo is surrounded by a vast forest dotted with little lakes, idyllic huts, joggers, bikers, and sun-worshippers. Family values are taken seriously here, and Norway's social programs are particularly woman- and family-friendly. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Central Turkey: Cappadocia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 4, 2009
Cappadocia is rightly known as that bizarre and fascinating bit of Central Turkey, noted for its centuries-old customs, and its unusual terrain. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Little Europe: Monaco
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 25, 2009
On the Mediterranean Sea, basking between the French and Italian Rivieras, the principality of Monaco barely fits on its one square mile of territory. From the famous casino to the palace atop its fortified hill, a visit to Monaco is a Riviera "must." For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Norway in a Nutshell: Journey to the Fjords
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 18, 2009
"Norway in a Nutshell" is a series of well-organized train, ferry, and bus connections, laying Norway's most beautiful countryside on a scenic platter. Deep forests, countless lakes, and rugged wilderness engage nature lovers both on and off the train. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 65.4 MB
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Budapest's Parliament and Thermal Baths
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 11, 2009
Hungary's Parliament is enormous, with literally miles of grand halls. Originally housing the sprawling multi-national Habsburg empire, it's now a palace of democracy. And locals enjoy a communal soak in traditional mineral baths. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bruges: History and Sweet Surprises
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 4, 2009
In the 14th century, Bruges was an economic powerhouse with a population matching London's. When its sea trade dried up in the 16th century the economy collapsed, but today tourism, and chocolate shops, have rejuvenated this uniquely well-preserved gothic city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Istanbul: The Blue Mosque
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 28, 2009
Istanbul offers a good opportunity to better understand Islam. Visitors are welcome to visit historic mosques — such as the Blue Mosque, nicknamed because of its blue tiles — and at the same time experience a religion that still packs the house. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 49.8 MB
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Denmark Beyond Copenhagen: Roskilde
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 21, 2009
Denmark's roots, both Viking and royal, are on display in Roskilde. This historic capital’s centerpiece is its imposing cathedral, with paintings surviving from before the Reformation. And the Viking Ship Museum is a hands-on center for experiencing Denmark's seafaring heritage. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Copenhagen: Rosenborg Castle
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 14, 2009
Copenhagen has lots of idyllic parks. Its most royal is the King's Garden surrounding the Rosenborg Castle, summer residence to Denmark's "big personality" king, Christian IV, who ruled from 1588 until 1648. The castle's basement holds cases of treasures to dazzle visitors, including the finest renaissance crown in Europe, from Christian IV's coronation in 1596. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Greece's Peloponnese: Country Delights
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 7, 2009
Settle into the pace of Greek country life in Kardamyli. We visit a shopkeeper serving up chamomile and olives harvested from his backyard: the hills of the Peloponnese. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Athens and Side Trips: Hydra
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 31, 2008
Only a 90-minute hydrofoil ride from bustling Athens, Hydra is the prettiest of the Greek isles. The community is an easy blend of work-a-day commerce, fancy yachts and lazy tourists meandering through traffic-free streets, alongside the occasional donkey. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 47.1 MB
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The Czech Republic Beyond Prague: A Taste of Olomouc
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 24, 2008
The astronomical clock of Olomouc--destroyed by the Nazis in World War II--was rebuilt under Communism in 1953. In good social realist style, you see earnest chemists and heroic mothers rather than holy saints and Virgin Marys. And this is where you can sample the notorious cheese of Moravia, purportedly the stinkiest in the whole country. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Vienna and the Danube: Melk Abbey
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 17, 2008
The Danube River valley is at its romantic best between Melk and Vienna. This stretch is easily explored by bike and boat, and is ornamented with cute villages, fabled castles, colorful pubs, and capped with a 900-year-old abbey. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Great Swiss Cities: Mountain Fortress
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 10, 2008
Near Lake Lucerne, visitors interested in Switzerland's secret defenses can tour Fortress Furigen, one of nine forts buried within the mountains. Wandering through this hidden fortress, you are reminded how perilous Switzerland's position was in the 21st century and how committed the Swiss were to defending their freedom. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Little Europe: Liechtenstein
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 3, 2008
Nestled between Switzerland and Austria, the principality of Liechtenstein is defined by the mighty Alps to the east, the baby Rhine River to the west, and a stout fortress protecting the mouth of its valley to the south. This quirky remnant of medieval feudal politics, where women were not given the vote until 1984, holds 11 villages in its 62 square miles. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Barcelona: Dali's Catalunya
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 26, 2008
Catalunya's town of Figueras is home to the trailblazing artist Salvador Dali and the museum that displays his life's work. The nearby fishing village Cadaques features another museum of sorts, Dali's home, where even the furniture is a work of provocative and playful surrealist art. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Dordogne: A Taste of Sarlat
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 19, 2008
Sarlat is the pedestrian-friendly main town of France's Dordogne River valley. It's just the right size: everything in town is within an easy meander along traffic-free, cobblestone lanes lined with foie gras shops, and tourists. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 32.8 MB
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Burgundy's Community of Taize
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 12, 2008
Burgundy's Taize community, founded in 1940, welcomes visitors who'd like to spend a few days getting close to God through meditation, singing and simple living. At any given time there are several thousand here from about a hundred countries, enjoying a week-long retreat. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Istanbul's Golden Horn
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 5, 2008
Istanbul's Golden Horn offers panaramic views of the Old Town, a chance to see how the fishermen are doing, and plenty of options for a meal, including Istanbul's version of fast food: fresh mackerel sandwiches. For urban energy, join the million commuters who ferry over and back daily from the Asian side to the European. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Denmark's Isle of Aero
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 29, 2008
The best way to explore Aero, Denmark's charming 22-mile island, is by bicycle. Aero's 7,000 residents enjoy local produce sold roadside on the honor system and save on heating costs using one of the world's largest solar power plants. The island also features prehistoric burial sites, one of which holds a full Viking ship. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Copenhagen's Christiania
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 22, 2008
In 1971, several hundred squatters took over an abandoned military barracks in Christiania and attempted to create their own utopia. Two generations later, 800 idealists still live here, defending their right to enjoy life on their terms, while real estate developers set their sights on this now desirable piece of land. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Greece's Peloponnese: The Sanctuary of Olympia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 15, 2008
For over a thousand years, the Sanctuary of Olympia was primarily a religious place and only open to people during the Olympic games, started here in 776 B.C. These games were held to honor the gods and to unify the Greeks, and the Sanctuary hosted them for 1,200 years. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Athens' Ancient Acropolis and Agora
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 8, 2008
Crowned by the mighty Parthenon temple, the Acropolis rises above modern Athens; a lasting testament to Greece's glorious golden age. The Acropolis was the center of ritual and ceremony, and the religious heart of the city. The marketplace at its base is Agora, and was the hub of commercial, political and social life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Czech Republic Beyond Prague: Konopiste
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 1, 2008
30 miles south of Prague is Konopiste, the lavish residence of the arch duke Franz Ferdinand, heir of the Habsburg throne. While waiting his turn to become emperor, Ferdinand turned this castle into a palace with all the latest comforts, amassed one of the world's best collections of arms and armor, and lined the walls with over 4,000 hunting trophies. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Vienna and the Danube: Schonbrunn Palace
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 24, 2008
Among Europe's grandiose palaces, only Schonbrunn rivals Versailles, with over 1,400 rooms in the Baroque and Rococo style. In room after luxurious room, the palace heralds the story of the Habsburg's powerful reign. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Great Swiss Cities: Lausanne's Olympic Spirit
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 17, 2008
The real charm of Lausanne lies in its charming lakefront. From local office workers to roller bladers strutting their stuff, the promenade is a great place for tourists to catch a glimpse of city life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 33.0 MB
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San Marino
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 10, 2008
Located just a few miles inland from the Adriatic coast, the Republic of San Marino brags it's the world's oldest and smallest republic. It's remained sovereign and independent from Italy through almost all its 1700-year history. Located in the rugged Apennine Mountains, San Marino takes you back to the age of city-states, an era of pageantry, pride and fierce independence. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Gaudi's Barcelona
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 3, 2008
Barcelona's Eixample neighborhood is an architectural showcase for residents and tourists alike. Buildings adorned with, and inspired by Modernisma, Catalan's version of Art Nouveau, line the Block of Discord with characteristic, colorful, leafy, flowing and blooming shapes, ending with Gaudi's triumphant Casa Mila. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Dordogne: Relaxing River
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 27, 2008
Six centuries ago, the Dordogne River separated warring England and France during the Hundred Year's War. Today, tourists float along the lazy Dordogne exploring riverside castles and villages. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Barging in Burgundy
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 20, 2008
Burgundy, like much of France, is laced with canals just made for spending lazy afternoons gliding by pastoral scenes. From small captain-it-yourself boats to full-service barges complete with captain and crew, cruising a canal is a great option for a relaxing trip through one of France's most popular regions. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Amsterdam's Flower Auction
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 13, 2008
Flowers are big business in Holland. Every day, 21 million flowers are sent from Aalsmeer's flower auction hall to destinations across Europe and around the world. Visitors can take in all the action from the building's five auction halls where over a thousand wholesalers bid on trainloads of flowers as they cruise slowly by. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Netherlands: Working Windmills
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 30, 2008
300 years ago, half of what we know as The Netherlands was under water. Slowly, the former seabed was reclaimed and the Dutch went to work drying the ground with the country's leading natural resource - the wind. Over 1000 windmills, some still functioning, survive in the Netherlands today, reminding locals and tourists alike of the clever engine that powered the creation of this land. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Slovenia: Ljubljana
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 23, 2008
Sitting on the sunny side of the Alps, Slovenia feels almost Tyrolean. In Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital and largest city with over 300,000 people, festivals fill the summer, sophisticated cafes thrive, and people enjoy Sunday strolls any day of the week. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bulgaria: Plovdiv
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 15, 2008
In the mid nineteenth century, Bulgaria underwent a cultural revival. Bulgaria's new-found wealth led to ornate buildings complete with fine furnishings and opulent sitting rooms. Today, folk groups keep traditional Bulgarian culture alive through dance and music performances. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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North Wales: Country of Poetry
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 9, 2008
While visitors to Wales are greeted with bi-lingual signs and English-speaking locals, the Welsh language and culture remain alive and vibrant through the many songs and poetry composed and recited in the native language. A trip to Wales isn't complete without a jaunt into the beautiful countryside where dogs tend sheep and happy travelers leave with woolly sweaters. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Scotland's Loch Ness
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 2, 2008
Made up of 3 lakes spanning more than 20 miles in length, the Caledonian Canal slices Scotland in half, and provides a shipping route through, rather than around, the country. The canal's most famous stretch, Loch Ness, thrives on tourism surrounding the lake's famous so-called resident Nessie. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Helsinki
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 24, 2008
In 1812, after Russia won Finland in a battle against Sweden, the capital moved to Helsinki. Just over 100 years later, Finland gained independence from Russia in 1917 and began developing into what would become a crowning highlight of the Baltic coast. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Egypt's Great Pyramids
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 18, 2008
The only surviving wonder of the ancient world, Egypt's pyramid of Cheops takes up 13 acres of land, and overlooks the neighboring pyramids belonging to this pharaoh's son and grandson. Experts speculate it took one hundred thousand laborers roughly 20 years to build the pyramid of Cheops alone. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Jerusalem's Temple Mount
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 11, 2008
Jerusalem's most important site to those of the Jewish faith, Temple Mount operates as an open-air synagogue. The Western wall of Judaism's most sacred site is actually an extension of Solomon's original temple, rebuilt by King Harod in 31 b.c. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Day Trip to Tangier
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 4, 2008
Spending a day in Tangier might not be the ideal way to experience Morocco, but at just an hour's crossing by boat from Spain it makes for a day full of adventure. To make the most of your time in Africa, consider a reliable and well organized tour out of Tarifa, Spain that will cover sights and activities in and around Tangier. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Austria's Ehrenburg Ruins
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 28, 2008
13th Century Ehrenburg castle was located strategically along the Via Claudia Augusta, a thoroughfare which connected Venice to Germany by way of the Alps. Today, the stark and brooding ruins of Ehrenburg Castle provide a striking contrast to King Ludwig's fantastical Neuschwanstein. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Switzerland's Jungfrau Region
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 21, 2008
Tourists and adventurers alike flock to Switzerland's ultimate perch - the Jungfraujoch. At 11,000 feet, the station sits between two of the region's highest mountain peaks. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice: The Doge's Palace
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 14, 2008
More than any other city, Venice is the place to get out early, or stay out late, where around each corner is an excuse to savor the magic of the city. Venice's Doges Palace, built to remind visitors that Venice was number one, showed off the wealth and power of the republic. From 1150 to 1550, the Doge's Palace was the most powerful piece of real estate in Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Copenhagen, Denmark: Royalty, Resistance, and a Mermaid
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 7, 2008
Copenhagen offers a peek at Denmark's Royal Family, an up-close look at the Danish underground resistance, and a photo-op with one of the most famous women in Northern Europe, the Little Mermaid, all while maintaining its values of freedom, prosperity and a distinct way of life. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Istanbul's Hagia Sophia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 30, 2008
Built under the rule of Emperor Justinian, the great church Hagia Sophia represents Byzantium at its finest, during the glory days of the 6th Century. Upon completion in 537 A.D., Hagia Sophia's dome earned the superlative of having the largest dome anywhere, until the dome atop the Cathedral in Florence was completed some 900 years later. After the fall of the Byzantium Empire, Hagia Sophia was transformed into a Mosque, which it remains to this day. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Oslo
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 23, 2008
Lined with some of the city's finest sights, Oslo's Karl Johans gate boulevard is an easily-navigable pedestrian zone made for people-watching and tourists. While street musicians line the way, helping give the city a youthful pulse, the best opportunity to mingle with locals, and experience the work of the greatest European sculptor since Rodin, can be found in Vigeland Park. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Hiking the Cinque Terre
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 16, 2008
Much enjoyed by visitors, the five villages of the Cinque Terre are connected by a series of scenic trails. What some fans of the region don't know is that the villages, Corniglia in particular, produce more than just breathtaking views. Perched along the hillsides, small family vineyards are tended with care; the white wine produced is just another reason to visit Italy's most famous back door. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Stockholm
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 9, 2008
Built in the early 20th Century as a romantic tip-of-the-hat to Sweden's past, Stockholm's city hall is an impressive mix of eight million bricks, and local pride. Today, city hall is not only a government building meant to remind officials of their Viking past, but it is also the site of the Nobel prize banquet each December. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Amsterdam's Easygoing Hedonism
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 2, 2008
In the 13th Century, engineers built a dam on the Amstel River and the community which gathered there would be named for the Amstel Dam, or what we know as present-day Amsterdam. Today, the city's sprawling and lively Vondel Park offers a fun look of locals at play. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Highlights of Prague
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 26, 2008
Commissioned in the 14th Century by the Holy Roman Emperor, the Charles Bridge in Prague offers one of the most pleasant 500-yard strolls in Europe. A gauntlet of sights, shops, and restaurants lead from the bridge to Wenceslas Square, but for many the top Czech tourist attraction is beer. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome: The Ancient Forum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 19, 2008
Classical Rome lasted for about 1000 years - the first half, run by elected senators, was known as the Republic, while the second half, run by un-elected emperors, is what we call the Empire. The reign of Julius Caesar marked the turning point between Rome the Republic and Rome the Empire when he established a no-nonsense, more disciplined government appointing himself dictator for life and immortalizing his name in what today we call the month of July. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Germany's Castle-studded Rhine
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 12, 2008
Since ancient times, the Rhine has been one of the world's busiest rivers and major trading routes. Robber-baron castles placed strategically along the Rhine collected taxes that helped towns get rich. Today, under the watchful eye of once-mighty castles, barges carrying thousand-ton loads and busy trains transport goods and tourists along the river. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Brunelleschi's Dome
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 5, 2008
Brunelleschi's dome, topping the Duomo in Florence, is the highlight of the often-overlooked, first century of the Italian Renaissance. Built in 1420, Brunelleschi's dome ignited an architectural Renaissance that can still be experienced today. Tourists climb 500 steps to the top in a hollow space Brunelleschi devised to make the dome lighter, therefore ultimately able to stand. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Dubrovnik: Pearl of the Adriatic
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 27, 2008
Five hundred years ago, Dubrovnik was a major power with the third biggest navy in the Mediterranean. Today, Dubrovnik is the pearl of the Adriatic, jutting confidently out the sea. The city's 15th Century walls, kid-friendly squares, and traffic-free old town are just some of the chrams Dubrovnik has in store for travelers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Paris' Magnificent Louvre
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 20, 2008
Once the biggest palace for the ultimate King, the Louvre now houses the world's grandest art gallery with over 300,000 works of art. First open to the pubic after the French Revolution in 1793, the Louvre is one of the oldest museums in the world. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rothenburg
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 13, 2008
Rothenburg once one of Germany's largest cities with a population of 6,000 residents, is today a charming tourist destination. For great views and a good orientation, hike Rothenburg's mile-long wall and climb the city's tower. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Athens' Parthenon and Agora
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 6, 2008
The power of Ancient Greece is best felt wandering around the remains of its temples. Built in the 5th Century B.C. for the Goddess Athena, the Parthenon is considered the greatest Classical temple in the Greek world. Nestled at the foot of the Acropolis, the modern agora, or market, surrounds the ancient agora where Athenians have traded for over 3000 years. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Nice: The Riviera's Big City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 30, 2008
With its sea-front promenade, fine museums and sunny coastline, Nice is the enjoyable, big-city highlight of the Riviera. Much loved for its blues seas and blue skies, since the Nineteenth Century, Nice is the place for Europeans to socialize, gamble and escape the dreary weather. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Michelangelo's David
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 23, 2008
Florence's city hall, once the palace of the ruling Medici family, towers over the main square and overlooks a copy of Michelangelo's David. The original David is the centerpiece of the nearby Accademia gallery, which houses a series of Michelangelo's unfinished statues as well. Looking at David in this temple of humanism is looking at Renaissance man. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Paris: Icons of the City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 16, 2008
The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral top tourists' lists as the great icons of Paris. Built in 1889 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower is a marvel of the Industrial Age and trumpets progress and man's ingenuity. Meanwhile, centered on the Isle de la Cite, Notre Dame sits atop what centuries ago was a Roman temple. Construction began in 1163 and lasted 200 years, resulting in one of the city's most notable sites. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Germany's Black Forest
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 2, 2008
The Black Forest is a hit with holiday goers, city folk, and families. Fresh air, great views, and wide-open spaces attract travelers looking for a bright and sunny vacation spot where local dialects still survive, and traditions are strong. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Prague: City of Music
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 26, 2007
Prague has long been a Mecca for musicians, and today there's music everywhere. The Prague Castle Orchestra entertains locals and tourists by playing typical love songs while powdered-wigged Mozarts peddle daily concerts tickets. Box offices sell tickets to Theater, Opera, Jazz and Classical performances. Tickets are cheap, and the venues are elegant. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Split: Ancient Dalmatian City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 19, 2007
Teeming with a quarter million people, the Dalmatian coastal town of Split feels fresh and modern, but its history goes way back — today's city began within the protective walls of what was a palace built by Emperor Diocletian in about 300 a.d. Split may have Roman roots, but the vibrant city is all about today. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome's Borghese Gallery
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 12, 2007
The Borghese Gardens — Rome's version of Central Park — offer locals and travelers alike a breezy escape from the big-city noise and intensity. Formerly a Cardinal's palace, the Borghese Gallery, the park's centerpiece, now abounds with famous statues and paintings by masters such as Bernini, Canova, Caravaggio and others. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Arles: Crossroads in Provence
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 5, 2007
With its strategic bridge over the Rhone River, Arles was a key stop on Roman road from Italy to Spain. By the 1700s, Arles became a sleepy town of little importance, but today Arles thrives again with Roman ruins, an assortment of museums and welcoming pedestrian zones. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Germany's Neuschwanstein Castle
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 28, 2007
At the foothills of the Alps, King Ludwig of Bavaria's fairy-tale castles attracts thousands of tourists each day. 'Mad King' Ludwig built the castle of his dreams, Neuschwanstein, a mere fifteen minute walk from Hohenschwangau, his boyhood castle home. Shortly after setting into Neuschwanstein, Ludwig was declared mentally unfit to rule and eventually found dead; the circumstances of his death remaining a mystery to this day. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Paris' Musee d'Orsay
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 21, 2007
The Orsay Gallery, famous for its much-loved collection of Impressionist masterpieces, fills a magnificent building once used as a train station with art from 1848 to 1914. Old World meets the modern world in these halls, resulting in conservative and revolutionary pieces side by side. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Madrid's Tapas Tango
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 14, 2007
A moveable feast awaits travelers in Madrid where dinners become a tapas tango. When it comes to variety, Madrid is Spain's tapas capital. Munching, drinking, and socializing, hopping from one bar to the next is a time-honored tradition that maximizes fun, people and atmosphere. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Warsaw's Heroes
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 7, 2007
Before the war, Warsaw's old town square was one of the most happening spots in central Europe. By 1945, nearly two-thirds of the Warsaw's pre-war population was dead and not a building was standing in the old town. Today, the thriving city of Warsaw has been painstakingly restored and is a living memorial to its two heroic uprisings during WWII. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Backstreets of Lisbon
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 31, 2007
Lisbon's Alfama tumbles from the castle to the river and dates back over a thousand years to Moorish times. Surviving the great Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the tangled streets of the Alfama today present a cobbled playground of old-world color. Traditions survive in Fado, the passionate folk music of Lisbon's backstreets. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The French Riviera: Villefranche and Villas
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 24, 2007
The snug port of Villefranche, in spite of luxury yachts glistening in its bay, offers travelers an easy-going slice of small-town Mediterranean life just minutes from bustling Nice and jet-setting Monaco. Some of the Riviera's priciest real estate stretches from Villefranche to Monaco, and the coast is studded with the floating toys of millionaires. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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El Greco in Toledo
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 17, 2007
No painter before or since has captured the mystery of the spiritual world like the painter El Greco. His unique style of painting developed in Toledo, Spain. Join Rick on a visit to the Santa Cruz Museum, which houses many of El Greco's 16th century works. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Provence: Cotes du Rhone
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 10, 2007
The sunny Cotes du Rhone region of France has tempted travelers with its wines practically since it was settled in 600b.c. by the Greeks. Today, family-run wineries offer an enticing selection of wines that are delightful on your palate, yet easy on your pocketbook. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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London: Cruising the Thames to the Tower
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 3, 2007
Many of London's top sights front the river Thames, which has become a transportation thoroughfare for tourists. Join Rick as he sails from Westminster, under Big Ben to the Tower of London. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Lisbon: The Age of Discovery
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 26, 2007
King Manuel built the Jeronimos monastery and church in Lisbon on the site of a humble sea-farers chapel as thanks for overseas discoveries. Richly ornate, with motifs from the sea, the style of the building reflects the wealth of the times and the many cultural influences of the age of discovery. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Belfast: New Morning in Old Smoke
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 19, 2007
A few hours north of Dublin, Belfast straddles the Lagan River. Nicknamed "Old Smoke," Belfast was only a village in the 17th Century, but with the influx of Scottish and English settlers, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, the city boomed. The inviting public park at Queens University, named after Queen Victoria who granted Belfast with city status in 1888, hosts Ulster Museum, the city's one major museum. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Riviera's High Corniche
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 12, 2007
This region's breath-taking coastline is traversed by three coastal routes: the low, middle, and high corniche. Sitting upon the Via Aurelia, the grand, or high, corniche caps the cliffs with staggering Mediterranean vistas. High above the sea, Eze, touristy yet magnificent, offers art and gastronomy in its medieval center. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Small-Town Andalucia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 5, 2007
The route of the Pueblos Blancos, or white towns, is a charm braclet of characteristic towns perched in the hills and mountains of Andalucia. The queen of the hill towns, Arcos de la Frontera, smothers its hilltop and tumbles down its back like the train of a wedding dress. Towns with de la Frontera in their names, like Arcos, were established on the frontier during the battle to reclaim Spain from the Muslims. As the Moors retreated into Northern Africa, the frontier towns, though no longer on the frontier, kept the de la Frontera as part of their names. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Budapest's House of Terror
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 29, 2007
The House of Terror, housed in the former headquarters of both the Nazis and, later, the communist secret police, displays the dark underside of Hungary's 20th century story. Welcoming travelers with a Soviet tank and a towering wall covered with portraits of the victims of this building, this museum offers a disturbing look at the grim terror of both the far right, and the far left, inflicted on the people of Budapest, and makes clear that while the uniforms changed in 1945, the terror did not. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Mont St. Michel: Island Abbey
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 22, 2007
Through the ages, Mont St. Michel has been among the top pilgrimage sites in all Christendom. For over one thousand years, the silhouette of the island abbey has sent pilgrims' weary spirits soaring. Today, it does the same for tourists. The town of Mont St. Michel, with only 30 residents, entertains more than two million visitors a year. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Lisbon: Port in the High Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 15, 2007
The rebuilt center of Lisbon, known as the Baixa, is today a flat, inviting shopping area of grid-patterned streets. The main boulevard is a pedestrian only zone, lined by post-earthquake structures/architecture that allowed Lisbon to do a lot of rebuilding without a lot of money in the years following the earthquake. Today, trams, funiculars, and the city's famous 20th century elevator move tourists and locals alike from the lower town to the high town. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Brussels: Belgium's Cultural Capital
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 8, 2007
600 years ago, Brussels was nothing more than a handy place to buy a waffle on the way to Bruges. Then, it was given free trade status and its economy took off. By 1830, it was the capital of an exuberant and newly independent country booming with the industrial age. Today, with over one million people, it is the headquarters of NATO and the capital of the European Union. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Portugal's Laid-back Algarve
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 1, 2007
Portugal's south coast was once known as Europe's last undiscovered tourist frontier. Lagos, the major town on this stretch of Algarve coast, is now well discovered, the darling of tour brochures, and as enjoyable as a big city resort can be. Capital of the Algarve in the 13th and 14th centuries, Lagos was the starting off point for the first great Portuguese maritime expeditions. West of Lagos, the simple fishing village of Salema has just enough restaurants, a classic beach, and endless sun. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Sevilla's Alcazar: The Moors in Spain
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 25, 2007
In 711, Muslim Moors swept in from Northern Africa and conquered the Iberian Peninsula, ruling Spain for five centuries and inspiring a Europe-wide crusade among Christians to re-conquer the land. Though Muslim rule stretched as far as France, bit by bit the Moors were pushed back, and eventually expelled from Western Europe in 1492, but not before leaving a distinct mark on Andalusian culture. A prime example of Moorish influence, Seville’s Alcazar provides a thought-provoking glimpse at a graceful Moorish world. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Salamanca: Bull Boards to Tuna Bands
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 18, 2007
Immerse yourself in the high and vast plateau of central Spain. Visit the sunny, sandstone city of Salamanca and the finest square in spain - Plaza Mayor. Savor some of Europe's best people-watching and take in the centuries old troubador tradition of "Tuna Bands." For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Drinking Beer Belgian Style
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 11, 2007
Belgium is right up there with Germany, England and the Czech Republic as one of the great beer countries. And, when it comes to variety, Belgium is number one. Join Rick for an entertaining and informative tour of a Belgian brewery. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Nimes: Bullfighting French-style
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 4, 2007
Nimes arena, which is still in use, is considered the best conserved from ancient Rome. It's another example of fine Roman engineering and propaganda. The arena still hosts colorful pageantry and macho-men still face dangerous beasts, a la Provencal style — meaning the bull dies of old age, not via the sword. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Northern Ireland's Antrim Coast
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 27, 2007
The Antrim Coast is one of the most popular and scenic drives in the whole of Ireland. Homesteads are pristine; visitors explore desolate trails, evocative castle ruins, and dramatic beaches. A popular vacation getaway from Belfast, the leading attraction along the coast is the Giant's Causeway, a 4-mile long stretch of shoreline famous for its bizarre rock columns. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Latin Quarter Cafe Culture
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 20, 2007
In the 13th century, the University of Paris was founded on the south bank of the Seine River. Soon after, the area became to be known as the Latin Quarter for the language passers-by would hear on the street. Today the Latin Quarter makes up the core of Paris' Left Bank, offering a variety of ethnic restaurants, tangled lanes, and the city's famous cafe scene. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Madrid's Prado Museum
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 13, 2007
The Prado Museum in Madrid houses paintings that give an eye-pleasing overview of Spain's rich history from its golden age to its slow fade. Highlights include multiple works by Titian, Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, Velazquez's Las Meninas, and Goya's Second of May. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Normandy: Remembering D-Day
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 6, 2007
Along the 75 miles of Atlantic coast you'll find countless memories of the largest military operation in history. It was on these beautiful beaches at the crack of dawn Jun 6, 1944 that the allies finally gained a foot-hold in France and Nazi Europe began to crumble. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Cape Sagres: The End of the World
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 30, 2007
On the rugged Southwestern tip of Portugal, Cape Sagres was the closest travelers could get to the edge of our flat Earth in the days before Columbus. Today, merchants sell their wares next to a lighthouse that marked what was referred to as the end of the world, while fishermen brave dizzying cliffs for the catch of the day. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Montepulciano: Tuscan Dolce Vita
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 23, 2007
Montepulciano welcomes visitors with views, villas, and vino. Streets are lined with nobel palazzos because Florentine nobility favored Montepulciano as a breezy and relaxed place for a summer residence. Thanks to aristrocratic egos, each palace was built to outdo its neighbor. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Civita: Jewel on the Hill
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 16, 2007
Perched on a pinnacle, in a grand canyon, the traffic-free village of Civita is Italy's classic hilltown. In a town so full of history, exploring Civita becomes a cultural scavenger hunt. Every lane tells a story, from 12th century arches to one-time Renaissance palaces and Roman temples. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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San Gimignano: Towering Hill Town
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 9, 2007
San Gimignano, with its distinctive skyline, stands like a medieval mirage on its hilltop. With walls built in the 13th century and 12 surviving towers, what was once a stop for pilgrims en route to Rome is now a popular tourist destination. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Capri: Isle of Hidden Delights
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, May 2, 2007
First made famous as the vacation hideaway of Roman emperors, and once the haunt of romantic-age aristocrats during their grand tour of Europe, the isle of Capri is a great day trip from Naples, Positano, or Sorrento. The small island, 4 miles by 2 miles, offers plenty to see and do, including the fabled Blue Grotto. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The First Tuscans
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 25, 2007
Tuscany is named after the Etruscan people who lived here centuries before the region was conquered by ancient Rome. Over 2500 years ago, long before anybody had heard of Julius Caesar, and back when Rome was just a small town, the Etruscan civilization flourished in this part of Italy. What little we know about the Etruscans we've learned mostly from their fresco-covered tombs. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Snowdonia: Wild Wales
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 18, 2007
Arguably Britain's most rugged and beautiful area, Snowdonia National Park is nature at its wild and Welsh Best. Britain's second largest park, with over 800 square miles of pristine hiking country, and a dozen of its highest peaks, is one of Wales' scenic wonders. Each year, half a million people scale Mt. Snowdon, the park's centerpiece and tallest mountain in England or Wales. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Edinburgh: The Scottish Spirit
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 11, 2007
Serious connoisseurs of the Scottish spirit will want to pop into Cadenheads Whisky Shop. Founded in 1842, Cadenheads prides itself on bottling fine whisky from casks straight from the best distilleries without all the compromises that come with more profitable mass production. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Waltzing in Vienna
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Apr 4, 2007
Vienna's parks have been filled with the sound of music for centuries. In the late 1800s, Johann Strauss, the waltz king himself, directed wildly popular concerts. Today, the tradition continues to the delight of music lovers from around the world. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Milan's Artful Cemetery
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 28, 2007
While there are many evocative cemeteries in Europe, this one, with its emotional portrayals of the departed and their heavenly escorts in the melodramatic art styles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, is in a class by itself. It’s a vast garden art gallery of proud busts and grim reapers, heart-broken angels and weeping widows, soldiers too young to die, acres of grief, hope and memories. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Orvieto: Signorelli's Masterpiece
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 21, 2007
Famous for its colorful ceramics and gleaming cathedral, Orvieto, Umbria's grand hill town, sits majestically high above the valley floor on a big chunk of volcanic stone. The cathedral's lively façade and mass of mosaics houses the Chapel of St. Brizio — Orvieto's must-see artistic site. Inside the chapel, Luca Signorelli's frescoes of the apocalypse depict events at the end of the world and reflect the turbulent atmosphere of Italy in the late 1400s. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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York: England's Second City
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 14, 2007
York offers a fascinating collection of great sites mixed with an easy-going pedestrian ambience all lassoed within its formidable wall. Its rich history goes back to ancient Roman times when York was a provincial capital, the northernmost city in the Empire. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Salzburg: Baroque Splendor
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Mar 7, 2007
Constructed in the early 1600's, Salzburg's cathedral was one of the first grand Baroque buildings north of the Alps. Immersed in pure Baroque grandeur, visitors experience harmonious art and architecture while taking in a Mozart Mass. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Pompeii: Window on Ancient Rome
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 28, 2007
Life in Pompeii stopped in its tracks in 79 a.d. when the thriving city was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. Today, excavations of this once booming city offer the best look anywhere at ancient Rome and remains of homes give a glimpse into Roman lifestyles. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Liverpool: Home of the Beatles
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 21, 2007
Many people visit Liverpool just to remember John, Paul, George and Ringo, but Liverpool is a surprisingly enjoyable city. It's an interesting stop both for Beatles fans and for those who like to look urban Britain straight in the eye. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Milan, Italy: Leonardo da Vinci
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 14, 2007
Epitome of Renaissance genius, Leonardo da Vinci spent some of his most productive years in Milan, enjoying the patronage of the Sforza family. In fact, Leonardo is identified with Milan more than any other Italian city, and contributed to Milan's reputation for design and aesthetics. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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La Feria: Seville's Ultimate Party
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Feb 7, 2007
It's no surprise that Seville is famous for letting loose in vibrant festivals, and no festival is bigger than the one celebrated in April. Much of Seville is packed into the vast fairgrounds for this spontaneous, real, and friendly fair where the Andalusian passion for horses, flamenco and sherry is clear. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Krakow: Poland's Cultural Capital
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 31, 2007
Krakow emerged from WWII virtually unscathed. As a result, today the city is Poland's leading tourist attraction, with plenty of top notch sights. From its gasp-worthy public spaces, to Cloth Hall, and Wawel, travelers find plenty to see and do in this beautiful city. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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London: South Bank Sites
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 24, 2007
The south bank of the Thames thrives with restaurants, condos, and cultural centers, all tied together by the Jubilee Promenade. From St. Paul's Cathedral to the Tate Modern Museum, the millennium bridge connects the city of London with the south bank of the Thames, bridging old and new, traditional and modern. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Pipes in Paris
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 17, 2007
For organ lovers, a visit to St. Sulpice in Paris is a pilgrimage. On Sunday mornings, the magnificent organ thrills tourists and locals alike. After mass, organ enthusiasts can step into a world of 7,000 pipes and meet Daniel Roth, the current organist. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Laid Back Munich
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 10, 2007
Students, office workers, and families alike enjoy a sunny break from everyday life in Munich's 200 year old English Garden. Sprawling over three miles through the city, it's the largest urban park on the continent. In August, surf's up where the stream enters the park, and sunbathers enjoy their own private bank. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Avebury: Megalithic Playground
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jan 3, 2007
While England is sprinkled with stone circles, the megalithic playground at Avebury gives travelers a truly hands-on experience. Unlike Stonehenge, which is roped off and only viewable at a distance, Averbury is 16 times larger than its better known counterpart, and welcomes kids, sheep, and anyone else interested a chance to interact with this engineering marvel. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Dingle: Irish Saints, Stone
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 27, 2006
Dingle peninsula, dotted with more than 2,000 monuments dating back to 4000 b.c., sorts out some of Ireland's ancient and complex history. The soil, itself, reveals the struggles of the Irish people, where, patch by patch, they created fertile fields for potatoes. In 1845 they planted, but blight swept across the land and nothing grew. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Switzerland's Cow Culture
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 20, 2006
Milk cows spend their summers munching wild herbs and flowers in the high meadows; their milk destined to become the treasured Alp cheese, or Alp Kase. Alpine farms welcome travelers for a peek at the cheese making action and each village takes pride in its own cheese. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Venice by Gondola
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 13, 2006
For open-air art in Venice, you need only to look at the canals. Sleek and graceful, gondolas are a symbol of this most serene city. On a gondola, romantics glide through their own parallel Venice, experiencing echoes of the past, and reflections of once-upon-a-time grandeur. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Sicily's Singing Salesman
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Dec 6, 2006
Palermo, Sicily's main city and historic capital, comes with a whiff of Arabia. With the 9th century Arab conquests, Palermo soon had 200,000 people, 300 mosques, and several busy markets. Today, the beat of bootleg CDs at the Ballaro market competes with singing salesmen. Whether you understand the lyrics or not, this slice of life Sicilian market action is some of the best in Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Rome's Ancient Wonders
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 29, 2006
Rome's ancient wonders are at tourists' fingertips when they visit the Eternal City. Step inside Rome's Pantheon for a look at the splendor of ancient Rome, and marvel at the colossal Colosseum, Rome's greatest engineering feat. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Ravenna: Bits of Byzantium
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 22, 2006
Imagine, it's 500 A.D., Rome has been sacked, the land is crawling with barbarians, and the infrastructure of Rome's thousand year empire is crumbling fast. Into this chaotic world comes the emperor of the East, Justinian, bringing stability and order, briefly reassembling the empire, and making Ravenna a beacon of civilization. During this time of transition, Ravenna also begins to make its mark on the art world, blending ancient roman and the first medieval styles and perfecting the craft of mosaics. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Portugal: Petticoats and Barnacles
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 15, 2006
In Nazare, locals renting spare rooms clamor for business. Women camp out at the bus station and the road into town waving signs advertising rooms for rent in five languages hoping to snare arriving tourists. From quartos to barnacles, Rick discovers what makes this Portuguese fishing town so alluring and a definite Back Door destination. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bulgaria: Sacred, Rustic
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 8, 2006
While Bulgaria welcomes westernization, traditional ways persist. From time-warped villages and donkey carts, to the formidable fortress and spiritual sanctuary of Rila monastery, locals are quick to share a smile as Rick travels the countryside in search of Bulgaria's back doors. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Scotland's Roadside Piper
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Nov 1, 2006
The beauty of the highlands is powerfully felt in Scotland's vast Rannoch Moor. In this windy expanse, bagpiping feels right at home. Along the road to Glencoe, pipers play for tips — and sometimes give impromptu lessons to adventurous travelers. See how Rick handles the pipes for the first time, on camera. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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The Making of Rick Steves Europe
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 25, 2006
After 16 years and more than 100 travel shows, Rick takes you behind the scenes to show just how they produce this series. Join the crew as they scamper through Milan, and follow the creative process as the challenges and surprises that come with travel are shaped into a finished show. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Salzburg and Surroundings
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 18, 2006
Salzburg is a world-class destination for live music, with over 2,000 performances bringing life to its churches and palaces year-round. Join us in the opulent Mirabell Palace for Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, performed with gusto by a string quartet visiting from Russia. Then, we'll take a train and boat to the lovely lakeside town of Hallstatt. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Vienna Preview
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 11, 2006
Vienna has been called "a head without a body." For 600 years the capital of the mighty Habsburg Empire, it started and lost World War I, and with it, its far-flung holdings. Today you'll find an elegant capital ruling the relatively insignificant little landlocked country of Austria. But Vienna's imperial past still dazzles in an eye-popping stroll through Schonbrunn Palace. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Italy's Great Hill Towns Preview
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Oct 4, 2006
When Italy erupted in chaos after the fall of Rome, people moved to the high ground to escape the marauding barbarians of that dark age. Over time, hill towns such as Siena, Assisi, Volterra and San Marino were fortified and functioned as independent city states. Weakened by plague centuries later, Italy's hill towns became backwaters, stuck in the middle ages — which makes them fascinating for travelers today. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com
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Tuscany's Dolce Vita
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 27, 2006
When travel dreams take people to Italy, Tuscany is often their first stop. There's something almost seductively charming about this region and its rustic good living. We'll experience two classic examples of "la dolce vita" (the sweet life): joining an early-morning truffle hunt through an oak forest, and tasting the bounty of a small-town artichoke festival. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Milan & Lake Como
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 20, 2006
While it's overlooked by many travelers to Italy, Milan has lots to see, and is a joy to visit. After you've taken in the city's renaissance art treasures, people-watch in Milan's high-fashion shopping zone to see Italy's 21st century prosperity on parade. An hour away by train is Lake Como, Rick's favorite of Italy's northern lakes, with the best mix of accessibility, scenery, offbeat-ness — and a heady whiff of aristocratic romance. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Amalfi Coast: A Cliff Top Drive
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 13, 2006
Just south of Naples you'll find one of Italy's most beautiful slices of scenery: the Amalfi coastline. To take it all in, you'll want to follow the coast road…and let someone else do the driving. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Naples, Italy: Street Life and Vesuvius
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Sep 6, 2006
Naples is Italy in the extreme, If you enjoy Italy as far south as Rome, go further south — it gets even better. A tangled mess of a city, Naples still manages to breathe, laugh, and sing, with a captivating Italian accent. We'll wander through the city's colorful, narrow streets, then climb up to the steamy crater of nearby Mt. Vesuvius. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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North Wales: Conwy Castle
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 30, 2006
Wales must have more castles per square mile than any other place in Europe. However, the lion's share were not built by the Welsh, but by English invaders. In the fortified castle town of Conwy, we learn from a local expert how these castles were carefully engineered to discourage and withstand Welsh rebellions. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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East Turkey: Hay, Ducks and Dung
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 23, 2006
Most travelers visit the West of Turkey. But the rural East offers friendly glimpses into lifestyles and traditions that go back centuries. Harvested hay is still piled atop roofs for the winter, cow pies are stacked for fuel, donkeys pull buckboard wagons, and ducks seem to wander everywhere. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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South England: Country Charm
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 16, 2006
England's South Downs Way offers a classic hike along cliff tops, over meadows, and through charming villages. Considered a birthright by local hiking enthusiasts, the public right of way is reinforced every year by a "mass trespass" across privately held lands. Small, friendly pubs along the way keep walkers properly hydrated and up-to-speed on the local lore. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Wedding Day in Slovenia
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 9, 2006
Tucked within the picturesque Slovenian Alps, Lake Bled offers travelers a fairy-tale island, a cliff-hanging castle, scenic walks, creamy desserts...and non-stop Slovenian wedding parties. Oar-powered gondolas deliver couples to the lake's steep-sided island, where grooms are expected to carry their brides up the 99 stairs from the dock to the church. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Kinsale: Bad Day for Ireland
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Aug 2, 2006
Wherever you travel in Europe, a local guide, like Kinsale's Don Herlihy, can bring the region's history to life. In 1601, Irish patriots, chafing under English rule, conspired with the Spanish fleet to drive the English out. In a dramatic battle around the port of Kinsale, the Irish and Spanish were routed, and Ireland would be denied its independence for three centuries. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Tuscany: Farmhouse Dolce Vita
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 26, 2006
Rick stays at a farmhouse B&B in Tuscany's hilly Crete Senese country, where generations of the same family have celebrated "the sweet life" with locally-produced pecorino cheese, prosciutto ham, and Chianti wine. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Germany's Romantic Mosel River
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 19, 2006
Meandering 300 miles from its source in France to where it merges with the Rhine in Germany, the relaxing Mosel treats travelers to quaint villages, hill-hugging vineyards and towering castles. The town of Cochem makes a good home-base for day-tripping along the river and over the hill to magnificent Burg Eltz castle. Decorated and furnished as it was 500 years ago, this is Rick's favorite castle in all of Europe. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Florence: Bella Renaissance
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 12, 2006
No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to the masterpiece-packed Uffizi Gallery. On a single floor, travelers experience a thrilling sweep through art history, spanning the 12th through the 17th centuries. No painter better captured the revolutionary shift from Gothic symbolism to Renaissance realism than Sandro Botticelli, whose Birth of Venus stands at the center of this amazing array of art. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Dublin's Alamo
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jul 5, 2006
A trip to the downtown post office in Dublin offers travelers a chance to step into a dramatic chapter in Ireland's history. As a set of murals inside vividly explains, it was here that the Proclamation of Irish Independence was first read in 1916, leading to the failed Easter Rising, and the martyrdom of its leaders. Nearby, at the former prison and execution yard of Kilmainham Gaol, today's guided tours bring the life-and-death drama of that era into sharp focus. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Italy's Rustic Riviera
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 28, 2006
Tucked along a series of rugged ravines lining the Mediterranean coast, the five pastel villages of Italy's Cinque Terre welcome travelers with traffic-free lanes, glorious views, and plenty of excuses to relax in the sun. While the region has been well-discovered, and can be crowded in peak season, you'll be hard-pressed to find happier, more laid-back tourists anywhere else. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Van Gogh's Life and Art
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 21, 2006
Amsterdam's impressive Van Gogh Museum shows how closely the artist's work and life were intertwined as he moved from the Netherlands to Paris, and ultimately to Provence. Driven to paint with unparalleled intensity, his moments of color-splashed optimism alternated with loneliness and depression, culminating with his most powerful masterpiece, Wheat Field with Crows, on the eve of his death in 1890. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 16.4 MB
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Berlin: After the Wall
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 14, 2006
At Berlin's "Museum Haus am Checkpoint Charlie" we'll learn how freedom-seeking Easterners were smuggled past armed guards and into West Berlin before the wall came down in 1989. Located at the former border checkpoint between the Soviet and American sectors, the museum pays tribute to these brave smugglers and their passengers. Exhibits show how creative they could be, modifying tiny cars, boats — even shopping carts — to fit illegal passengers into unlikely hiding places. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Edinburgh, Scotland: Royal Mile
Author: Rick Steves
Wed, Jun 7, 2006
Old Edinburgh's Royal Mile — a dense tangle of historic buildings, quaint shops and fun museums — winds its way downhill from the medieval castle to Holyrood Palace. During the city's 17th century boom times, ten-storey skyscrapers blotted out the sun while workers toiled in darkness. Today, Edinburgh's striking new parliament building celebrates Scotland's independence from London, and its progressive outlook on the future. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
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Bath and York
Author: Rick Steves
Thu, Jun 1, 2006
In the town of Bath, we'll visit the social center of that community 2,000 years ago — its elegant Roman bath. Then, after a relaxing break in a local park, we'll drift along an old canal, complete with still-functioning self-service locks. Built for commerce in the early 1800s, today these canals are popular for pleasure boaters, and the canal-side paths invite bikers, dog-walkers and sightseers. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
Download File - 14.0 MB
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