Burt Wolf, an internationally syndicated television journalist and prolific public television host, provides an overview of the area and its history, then introduces the people, architecture, art, culture, food and tourist attractions of some of the world's most interesting locations. His relaxed, personable and irreverent style makes the episodes both informative and entertaining.
http://www.BurtWolf.com
Episode # 301
The biggest technical breakthrough in human history was figuring out how to grow our own food. The second may be writing. The Zapotecs of Mexico appear to be the only society that, on their own, developed both. Burt visits their city of Oaxaca, tours their ancient settlements, learns about their crafts, and explains their food. We also see the oldest tree in the world and visit the most elaborate Baroque church in the New World.
Monday, April 02, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 302
By the time the California gold rush of 1849 was over, Sacramento Valley, where it all started, had become one of the world's great agricultural centers. Burt takes us to a walnut grove to see some of the most ecologically advanced farming, tours the state capital, explains how the citizens of Sacramento tricked the legislators into moving there, and discovers why Nancy Reagan refused to live in the governor's mansion.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 303
Sonoma, California was the most northerly mission in the Spanish Mission system and the place where the United States took control of California from Mexico. Burt tours the county, explains its history and takes viewers to some of the area's most interesting sights, including the home of the garden wizard of North America, the redwood forest, the Russian River kayaking course, and the Jim Russell NASCAR drivers school. We get an overview of the area from a 1940 vintage biplane.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 304
Within 5 years of the initial strike, over 50 billion dollars worth of gold was taken out of the hills near Sacramento, California. Burt takes us to the exact spot where the gold was found and explains how that gold funded The War Between the States, built the transcontinental railroad, and brought California into the Union. We tour Old Sacramento, visit the only remaining rural Chinese village in the United States, and find out why The Pony Express only lasted 18 months.
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 101
Visit the most popular beer garden in Europe, enjoy some Bavarian snacks, discover why Bavarian maypoles must be guarded 24 hours a day, visit a palace that didn't quite turn out the way the king expected, and take a driving tour through some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 504
Burt goes to Guadalupe, Mexico to uncover the Story of Juan Diego and the patron Saint of Mexico. We discover how Christian groups separated themselves from Jews during the first century after Christ. We go to Seville, Spain to take part in the Holy Week processions, learn why Baroque churches were built to save Catholicism, and find out that after centuries of tradition, the people of Mexico have come to believe in only two things: Our Lady of Guadalupe and The National Lottery.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 306
The Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina, is the largest private home in the United States. It was built by George Vanderbilt, the grandson of the wealthiest man in the world. We tour the estate with Burt and see how they prepare for Biltmore's Christmas celebration. From Santa Claus and Eggnog to Wreaths and Poinsettias, Burt explains what became part of our Christmas tradition and why.
Saturday, April 07, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 307
Burt returns to The Biltmore Estate for the second part of his investigation into our Christmas traditions. Why do we have Christmas Trees and why are they covered with electric lights? Who introduced the glass tree ornament and why? How did we get into the habit of wrapping our presents and what do they really symbolize? These and dozens of other Christmas customs are explained in this fascinating and surprising program.
Monday, April 09, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 308
Columbus visited these islands during his second voyage and thought they were so beautiful that he named them after the 11,000 virgins of Saint Ursula. Burt tours the three major islands of St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, explains why they are the freest free ports in the Caribbean, what to buy, what to eat, why Bluebeard's beard was blue, what are the advantages of a yacht charter vacation, what it's like to take a guided tour of a coral reef in a diver's helmet, and how to have a virtual wedding on the internet.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 309
As Burt guides us through The Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland we visit the top of one of Europe's highest glaciers, tour the Castle of Chillon_home of the Dukes of Savoy, and meet the only town crier still working in Switzerland. We also stop into a shop that reproduces Charlie Chaplin's shoes in chocolate, and discover the village that saved the music box.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 310
Burt takes us through Geneva, Switzerland, explaining the key role that the city played in the protestant reformation, how it became the watch-making center of the world and why it is the home of the United Nations. We discover how the International Red Cross got started, take a paddle wheel boat along the lakeside to look at the homes of some of the wealthiest people in the world and discover the rules for fondue eating.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 311
The Italian speaking Ticino is the most southerly part of Switzerland and one of the most beautiful parts of Europe. Burt takes viewers on a helicopter tour of the ancient castles, visits a 1000 year old mystic church, rides the Centrovalli railroad into mountain villages that have become national treasures, presents the traditional foods of the region, tours the open markets, and guides us through the towns of Gandria, Locarno, Lugano, and Ascona.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 801
River cruising has become one of the best ways to see Europe and at a great price. Burt takes viewers on a cruise down the Danube. He started in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and returned back to Budapest eight days later. While the ship was on the river it made stops in Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, Vienna the capital of Austria, Durnstein, Melk, as well as Grein, Linz and Passau. This show gives you a unique insight into river cruising while stopping for all the sites on the way.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 312
Burt takes us to a 500-year-old divorce court, a 2000-year-old Roman kitchen, and a ferry that offers travelers a short course in philosophy as they cross the Rhine River. We take a look at Basil's carnival, learn why cookies are sold in tins, see how paper was first made and discover why calligraphy survived the invention of the printing press and the computer.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 313
Burt shows us where, how and why Sherlock Homes died at the height of his fame, takes a look at the most representative government in the world, visits the home of the wool-covered pigs, and discovers why some Swiss farmers painted fake windows on their homes. Burt also stops into a restaurant that has been in the same family for over 600 years and has over 600 corkscrews to open your wine.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 314
Burt takes us on a helicopter tour of Switzerland's most beautiful Alpine peaks, discovers why glaciers form and why the earth will get warmer during the next four decades, no matter what. We ride the highest cogwheel railroad in Europe, go to the top of the Matterhorn and find out why people started climbing mountains in the first place, meet the dogs of St. Bernard, watch the championship battle of the fighting cows and hear the oldest playable organ in the world. We also get an introduction to the traditional foods and wines of the area.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 315
Burt finds out how avalanches are predicted, and takes us for a safe ride on the Bernina Express -one of the world's 10 best train trips. We learn the secrets of yodeling, cross the most dangerous mountain pass in the Alps, walk through the untouched forests of the Swiss National Park and tour St. Moritz-the original Alpine winter resort. Burt also visits one of the area's finest restaurants and gets the recipes for their most famous dishes.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 401
The first residents of Boston arrived in 1630 which gave the city an early start in our nation's history. Burt retraces some of the city' s historic sites and tells us what really happened during the midnight ride of Paul Revere. You'll visit the first Dunkin Donut shop and see what their donuts once looked like, tour the world's oldest commissioned warship still afloat, learn about the most complex highway construction project ever undertaken in the United States and find out who's cooking the best lobster and how.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 802
Milan has been an influential city for well over 2,000 years. It was a significant political and commercial center for the Roman Empire, and it has maintained that position ever since. Today, Milan is an industrial powerhouse. It is the financial and commercial center of Italy, a focus for electronics, publishing, television, textiles, international trade-fairs, fashion and food. Burt takes viewers to a 16th century Italian palazzo, filled with authentic furnishings and objects from the Renaissance. We'll also find out why Milan is the source of some of Italy's best cooking.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 404
The Yucatan peninsula, on the east coast of Mexico, juts out into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf. It is home to the most impressive concentration of Mayan ruins. Burt takes us to Uxmal, the intellectual and cultural center of the Maya, tells us the best places to shop for hammocks and panama hats, explores the capital which at one time had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the world, and explains what makes flamingoes pink.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 801
River cruising has become one of the best ways to see Europe and at a great price. Burt takes viewers on a cruise down the Danube. He started in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and returned back to Budapest eight days later. While the ship was on the river it made stops in Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, Vienna the capital of Austria, Durnstein, Melk, as well as Grein, Linz and Passau. This show gives you a unique insight into river cruising while stopping for all the sites on the way.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 404
The Yucatan peninsula, on the east coast of Mexico, juts out into the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf. It is home to the most impressive concentration of Mayan ruins. Burt takes us to Uxmal, the intellectual and cultural center of the Maya, tells us the best places to shop for hammocks and panama hats, explores the capital which at one time had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the world, and explains what makes flamingoes pink.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 405
One of the best-kept secrets in European travel, Eastern Switzerland is picturesque and uncrowded. You'll visit the finest Baroque abbey in Switzerland, a textile center that still produces some of the best embroidery, and one of the greatest couture houses in Europe. You meet a group of sculptors who are uncovering the history of a famous Greek statue, discover how dulcimers are made and played, and see the ultimate democracy in action.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 406
In the heart of Switzerland, the Jungfrau region is considered to be one of the most remarkable spots for lovers of nature. You'll take a steamer to the ancient villages on Lake Thun, visit the site of Clint Eastwood's film The Eiger Sanction, ride the highest railroad in Europe to a research station that is studying the earth atmosphere, and climb inside a million year old waterfall.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 501
The island of Taiwan just off the coast of mainland China has held on to most of the ancient principles of Chinese culture while incorporating the most modern aspects of western society. We visit the most important temples, find out how the gods direct your future behavior, and discover the secrets of getting the best flavor when you make a cup of tea. We also find out what's cooking.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 502
Burt goes to Washington, DC to tour our nation's National Shrine, then to Tepeyac, Mexico to join 5 million pilgrims who are taking part in the Feast Day of the patron saint of the Americas. We see how a revered picture - Our Lady of Guadalupe - became a symbol of hope and freedom for native Indians of Mexico as well as the Spanish settlers. We discover the history of Tequila and join Burt as he sits down to a meal of fried ants and grasshoppers. And you thought life is tough on "Survivor".
Friday, April 27, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 405
One of the best-kept secrets in European travel, Eastern Switzerland is picturesque and uncrowded. You'll visit the finest Baroque abbey in Switzerland, a textile center that still produces some of the best embroidery, and one of the greatest couture houses in Europe. You meet a group of sculptors who are uncovering the history of a famous Greek statue, discover how dulcimers are made and played, and see the ultimate democracy in action.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 503
Guided by Taiwan's most famous television cook (the Emeril of the Orient), Burt tours the city's night market. We visit the traditional shops, and an extraordinary weekend jewelry market. We learn how practicing the martial arts can help keep your body young and how the ancient art of Chinese Medicine works. We are introduced to the world's most famous Chinese dance group and a television network devoted to Kung Fu puppets. We also get a riverside seat for the annual dragon boat races.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 504
Burt goes to Guadalupe, Mexico to uncover the Story of Juan Diego and the patron Saint of Mexico. We discover how Christian groups separated themselves from Jews during the first century after Christ. We go to Seville, Spain to take part in the Holy Week processions, learn why Baroque churches were built to save Catholicism, and find out that after centuries of tradition, the people of Mexico have come to believe in only two things: Our Lady of Guadalupe and The National Lottery.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 505
The two questions travelers ask most often are, "Where should I eat?" and "Where should I shop?" In this program, Burt takes a look at the history of shopping from its beginnings in 17th century London and the first department store in Paris, to New York's Fifth Avenue and the auction of a 92-million dollar painting at Sotheby's. We find out how the brains of men and women make them shop differently, who introduced the idea of ready-to-wear clothing and why. We see how the French Revolution changed the way people shopped, how the shopping bag and the price tag were invented, and why the survival of a nation can depend on how it shops.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 506
We discover how shopping kept our original 13 colonies together during the Revolutionary War. How shopping is used not to make each of us different but to let us become part of a community. What the future of shopping might look like on the Internet. We meet a woman who closed her antique business on earth and opened one in cyberspace, a man who designed an Internet business that sells a car a minute and interview Meg Whitman, the President of eBay.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 507
The destination for pilgrims for over 600 years, this monastery houses a painting of the Virgin and Child thought to have been painted by St. Luke. We tour a 15th century library, discover the three essential elements that connect an image to a miracle and what gives an image its supernatural powers. We also find out what makes places like the Vietnam Memorial, The Alamo, our Civil War Battlefields, and Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace popular locations for a pilgrimage.
Thursday, May 03, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 508
Burt takes us on a tour of the city of Toulouse, discovers why the color blue terrified the soldiers of ancient Rome and how the cloth dyers of Toulouse used blue to make a fortune. They don't call royal families blue bloods for nothing. We visit the largest Romanesque Church in Europe, find out how in 1222 the King of France set the pattern for Donald Trump's real estate deals. We take a look at a group of 35,000-year-old cave paintings that were used to teach young men to hunt. We find out where to rent a houseboat and wander along one of the most beautiful canals in the world. We are guided through the largest collection of works by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, visit Carcassonne, a walled city for over 2,500 year, and stop into one of the finest restaurants in the area to check out the local specialties.
Friday, May 04, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 406
In the heart of Switzerland, the Jungfrau region is considered to be one of the most remarkable spots for lovers of nature. You'll take a steamer to the ancient villages on Lake Thun, visit the site of Clint Eastwood's film The Eiger Sanction, ride the highest railroad in Europe to a research station that is studying the earth atmosphere, and climb inside a million year old waterfall.
Friday, May 04, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 509
For hundreds of years Krakow has been one of the great cultural centers of Eastern Europe. We tour the city, visit the ancient castle and Cathedral on Wawel Hill, discover the origin of the croissant, look at some of the 2 « million works of art in the city's museums and find out how the immodest sight of a woman's legs saved the town'sMedieval wall. Burt also checks out what's cooking and visits the Jewish quarter of Krakow that was founded in the 14th century.
Saturday, May 05, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 510
In the southwest corner of France, Lourdes is one of the most important shrines in the Christian world. Famous as a site for healing miracles, over 7,000 cures have been documented. Burt takes us on a tour of the churches of Lourdes, discovers the story of the shrine's beginnings, visits the mysterious grotto, takes part in a torch light procession, uncovers the shrine's political significance in the history of France and its role in the story of woman's rights. He also interviews the doctor who was in charge for the investigation of the most recent medical miracle.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 601
In 1854, two real estate promoters turned a windswept island off the coast of New Jersey into America's favorite seaside resort. Burt Wolf looks at the history of Atlantic City, America's first official lifeguard service, the invention of Salt Water Taffy, and the workings of the modern slot machine. He also tours Atlantic City's hotels, casinos and restaurants, including the shop were the sub-sandwich was invented. Finally, we discover how Atlantic City helped invent "Monopoly", the world's best selling board game.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 602
For over 700 years Dublin lived under foreign domination. Today, however, it is an independent Republic with one of the highest per capita incomes in Europe and a fashionable destination for tourists. Burt Wolf explores the city's Viking history, visits the Guinness brewery to learn how to "pull" a perfect pint, discovers the origin of the Guinness Book of Records, tours the town's classic pubs, and finds out why the ancient Book of Kells is the most valued cultural object in Ireland.
Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 603
During the 5th century, Saint Patrick arrived in Ireland and changed the course of the nation's history. Burt Wolf investigates the real story of Patrick's life, visits Patrick's original church, treks to the mystic pilgrimage sites of Lough Derg and Croagh Patrick and explores the reasons why St. Patrick became the patron saint of the Irish. He also examines the diaries of the ancient monks who chronicled the attacks of the Vikings.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 604
As boats sail west on the Danube River, from the Austrian city of Vienna, they stop at some of the most magnificent monasteries in Europe. The abbeys at Melk and Klosterneuburg are two of the most famous. Klosterneuburg has been home to a group of Augustinian clergy for over 900 years and contains the Verdun Altar, which is one of the world's most important medieval works of art. Melk was founded as a Roman garrison and became the cradle of Austrian history. Its library contains hundreds of colorfully illustrated books and was probably the inspiration for Umberto Eco's medieval murder mystery, "The Name of the Rose". It also has the only working model of a reusable coffin that was promoted by the King of Austria. Burt Wolf tours both monasteries and stops for lunch at the restaurant of one of Europe's most talented women chefs.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 501
The island of Taiwan just off the coast of mainland China has held on to most of the ancient principles of Chinese culture while incorporating the most modern aspects of western society. We visit the most important temples, find out how the gods direct your future behavior, and discover the secrets of getting the best flavor when you make a cup of tea. We also find out what's cooking.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 605
A pilgrimage is a trip to a place that was made holy by a special event, or because it held a magical object, or both. People have been making pilgrimages for tens of thousands of years, and one of the most famous is the road to Santiago across Northern Spain. It is like walking through a continuous museum. You cross two-thousand-year-old bridges that were built by the Romans. You sit down to lunch in the reconstruction of a five-thousand-year-old Iron Age hut. You are in constant contact with the great art and architecture of the Middle Ages. Burt Wolf walks the sacred road, looks at the legend of Santiago, and discovers why, even in modern times, over 200,000 people make the trip every year.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 606
Today, sacred travel is more popular than it has been since the Middle Ages. Each year, millions of people travel to the world's holy sites, and one of the most popular destinations is Santiago de Compostela in the Northwest corner of Spain. Burt Wolf tours its 1, 000-year-old Cathedral and explains the stories behind its art and architecture and watch as an eight-man team swings the world's largest flying incense burner through the structure. We see the world's oldest travel guide, and visit the Hospital of the Kings of Spain that was built in 1499---the world's oldest hotel still in operation. We also call on a jeweler who works in Jet, an ancient gemstone so black that describing it caused the phrase "jet black" to become part of the English language. It is a city that can connect you with the divine.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 607
During the 9th century, the hill town of Siena in central Italy became a major stopping point on the road between Rome and Paris. During the 12th century, the city began building a series of outstanding churches, towers and public squares, and since most of the modern construction has taken place outside the old city, Siena's character remains relatively unspoiled. Burt Wolf tours the narrow winding streets and ancient buildings, looks at the history of St. Catherine and St. Bernardino, investigates a horse race that's been used to settle grudges for over 700 years, and learns how a church, a synagogue or a mosque can help us counter the effects of time.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 608
The town of Assisi, in the center of Italy was built on a hill that has been inhabited for about 4,000 years, and for almost as long it has been a religious center. They say that the stones that were used to build Assisi have absorbed the prayers of the millions of pilgrims that have come there over the centuries. And now, it is believed that the stones radiate a sense of peace and quiet that has a spiritual effect on visitors. Burt Wolf tours the city, discovers the true story of the life of St. Francis and the founding of the Franciscan order, visits the sites sacred to St.Clare, explains the art in the Basilica of St. Francis, where the Italian Renaissance was born, and traces the creation of the Nativity scene.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 609
Collecting things might be part of an innate human desire to own stuff---to gather physical evidence of our lives and the natural world around us, and for thousands of years, people have collected and brought back stuff from their travels. But in 1837, something was created that was easy to collect and gave the collector the sensation of having traveled. It was the first postage stamp. Today, there are over 200 million stamp collectors. Burt Wolf looks at the history of stamp collecting, the most popular stamp ever printed, the most valuable stamp (over one million dollars), and the great forgeries. Then Burt travels to China to find out why the government has an official policy encouraging stamp collecting.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 610
In the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico there is a small adobe sanctuary that is visited by over 300,000 people each year. It is known as the "Lourdes of America", and for thousands of years the land under the church has been considered magical by the local Native Americans. Burt Wolf tours the site, looks into the conflicting legends of its history, and investigates the miraculous healings that have been attributed to its sacred soil.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 502
Burt goes to Washington, DC to tour our nation's National Shrine, then to Tepeyac, Mexico to join 5 million pilgrims who are taking part in the Feast Day of the patron saint of the Americas. We see how a revered picture - Our Lady of Guadalupe - became a symbol of hope and freedom for native Indians of Mexico as well as the Spanish settlers. We discover the history of Tequila and join Burt as he sits down to a meal of fried ants and grasshoppers. And you thought life is tough on "Survivor".
Friday, May 18, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 701
For over 12,000 years, Native Americans have been living in the area around Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Spanish arrived in the 1600s and eventually the two cultures blended together to form one of the most interesting societies in America. In this program, we take a helicopter tour of some of the most beautiful parts of the Southwest, visit the oldest church in the United States, and discover how the native tribes used modern ledger paper to preserve their heroic legends and personal stories. We visit the Loretto Chapel and inspect its magic staircase, which appears to be totally unsupported. We travel through the Bandelier National Monument and see the remains of an ancient Pueblo community and take a look at a simple and inexpensive construction technique that will keep a house in good shape for hundreds of years.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 702
Christmas is observed in cities throughout the world, but the festivities in the Austrian city of Vienna are unique. Burt joins the celebration, explains the ancient history and meaning of Christmas, tours Vienna's famous Christmas markets, and discovers why we have Christmas trees. He takes us inside the magnificent castle of the Habsburg family and unravels the story of how they became the most powerful rulers in Europe by using their marriages instead of their military. We also take a look at the foods of Christmas and discover their special meanings. The program gives us a real understanding of one of the world's most popular holidays.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 703
Rome's Vatican City has a population of only 550 people and a landmass of just over 100 acres, which makes it the world's smallest independent state, but its influence is extraordinary. Burt takes viewers on a unique tour of the city and its history. There are some amazing images from the ceiling of St. Peter's Basilica as well as a look at St. Peter's Tomb below. We see the Sistine Chapel in close-up and visit the Vatican's 500-year-old mosaic studio.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 704
Built by the ancient Romans, Cologne is a mixture of old and new - 60, 000 university students keep it young, a thousand-year-old cathedral gives it maturity. In this program, Burt visits the cathedral which is Germany's most visited tourist attraction and finds out how it can reconnect travelers with their spiritual feelings. He also stops into the city's best restaurants and presents Cologne's traditional foods and drinks. He takes viewers through a chocolate museum, and a cruise on the Rhine River. He unravels the mystery of why light perfumes are called Eau de Cologne. He also takes us to Cologne's world-famous carnival celebration.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 705
During the 8th century, Charlemagne united all the Christian communities in northern Europe and centered his kingdom in the town of Aachen. The magnificent church that he built is still standing. Burt takes viewers on a tour of the city. We discover the strange legends of its ancient fountains, the reason the healing powers of its hot springs have been famous for over 2,000 years, and what made it one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Europe. We also find out about Aachen's spice cookies and why the people buy over 45,000 tons of them each year. And, of course, Burt introduces us to the signature foods of the city.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 706
During the early 1960s, Hamburg was the world's epicenter for rock music. The Beatles, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bo Diddley and the Everly Brothers were local heroes. Burt takes viewers on a musical tour of the period. He also explores the city and discovers why it has more millionaires per capita than any other city in Europe. We take an excursion through the city's famous port and end up at the Sunday morning fish market party that takes place every week. We also visit the Montblanc factory and discover why their fountain pens don't leak.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 503
Guided by Taiwan's most famous television cook (the Emeril of the Orient), Burt tours the city's night market. We visit the traditional shops, and an extraordinary weekend jewelry market. We learn how practicing the martial arts can help keep your body young and how the ancient art of Chinese Medicine works. We are introduced to the world's most famous Chinese dance group and a television network devoted to Kung Fu puppets. We also get a riverside seat for the annual dragon boat races.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 707
The eastern part of Switzerland is one of the best-kept secrets in European travel. It is picturesque, un-crowded and has one of the most interesting Baroque abbeys in the world. Burt takes viewers on a tour of the town of St. Gallen which is celebrating its 1,000-year history as an innovative center for textiles. We visit the artists that make St. Gallen a center of clothing design. Burt takes us through the extraordinary fashion exhibits that have been set-up by the city government. Also included are St. Gallen's tourist attractions, its famous marzipan bakers and its great restaurants.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 708
Tuscany is the artistic, cultural and gastronomic center of Northern Italy. In this program, Burt brings viewers to a vineyard just south of the city of Siena to take part in the fall harvest. We find out what makes the wines of Tuscany so famous, how the grapes are cared for, how the wine is produced. We also get a gastronomic tour of the region and its most famous dishes. We spend time with the owner of the vineyard who immigrated to Canada because he was starving and returned 50 years later as the millionaire founder and owner of Canada's largest trucking company. Burt makes the trip with one of America's leading authorities on Italian wine.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 709
These two programs take a new approach to television travel. In each half-hour, three people, who have come to the United States from Taiwan and achieved considerable success, describe the reasons they immigrated to America, what they have accomplished in the U.S. and what they recommend to visitors in their native country. Chien-Ming Wang (star pitcher for the New York Yankees), Dr. Henry Lee (the world's leading forensic scientist who appeared as an expert witness in the O.J. Simpson trial), Dr. David Ho (foremost authority on AIDS research), and others tell us what to see, eat, drink, visit and shop for in Taiwan. Burt takes his video team to Taiwan and follows their advice. The programs give you a unique insight into Taiwan and are equally entertaining - either for those staying at home or for the seasoned traveler.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 710
These two programs take a new approach to television travel. In each half-hour, three people, who have come to the United States from Taiwan and achieved considerable success, describe the reasons they immigrated to America, what they have accomplished in the U.S. and what they recommend to visitors in their native country. Chien-Ming Wang (star pitcher for the New York Yankees), Dr. Henry Lee (the world's leading forensic scientist who appeared as an expert witness in the O.J. Simpson trial), Dr. David Ho (foremost authority on AIDS research), and others tell us what to see, eat, drink, visit and shop for in Taiwan. Burt takes his video team to Taiwan and follows their advice. The programs give you a unique insight into Taiwan and are equally entertaining - either for those staying at home or for the seasoned traveler.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 801
River cruising has become one of the best ways to see Europe and at a great price. Burt takes viewers on a cruise down the Danube. He started in the Hungarian capital of Budapest and returned back to Budapest eight days later. While the ship was on the river it made stops in Bratislava the capital of Slovakia, Vienna the capital of Austria, Durnstein, Melk, as well as Grein, Linz and Passau. This show gives you a unique insight into river cruising while stopping for all the sites on the way.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 802
Milan has been an influential city for well over 2,000 years. It was a significant political and commercial center for the Roman Empire, and it has maintained that position ever since. Today, Milan is an industrial powerhouse. It is the financial and commercial center of Italy, a focus for electronics, publishing, television, textiles, international trade-fairs, fashion and food. Burt takes viewers to a 16th century Italian palazzo, filled with authentic furnishings and objects from the Renaissance. We'll also find out why Milan is the source of some of Italy's best cooking.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 504
Burt goes to Guadalupe, Mexico to uncover the Story of Juan Diego and the patron Saint of Mexico. We discover how Christian groups separated themselves from Jews during the first century after Christ. We go to Seville, Spain to take part in the Holy Week processions, learn why Baroque churches were built to save Catholicism, and find out that after centuries of tradition, the people of Mexico have come to believe in only two things: Our Lady of Guadalupe and The National Lottery.
Friday, June 01, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 803
Platinum is a naturally white metal that's been around for a long time but its only found in a few places including a few meteorites that crashed to earth 2 billion years ago. Platinum is an extraordinary metal---thirty times rarer than gold. And it is virtually impossible to corrode. Most of the Crown Jewels of England and the world's most valuable diamond, the Hope Diamond, are set in platinum. Why is the highest honor in the music business the award of a platinum record? Burt travels around the world to find out why the highest level of respect many credit card companies offer is the platinum card.
Saturday, June 02, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 804
In contrast to New York as The Big Apple, Rome has been called The Big Lasagna, and it's a perfect description. Like lasagna, Rome is all about layers -- layers that could easily stand on their own, and yet being together in the same pot has made the entire dish more interesting. Burt takes viewers shopping through the famous streets of Rome to the international fashion houses... the great Italian tailors... the jewelry makers. And, of course he visits some of the city's great restaurants.
Monday, June 04, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 805
Burt takes viewers on a gastronomic tour of Western Switzerland. The most mountainous region in Switzerland is called the Valais and it is the home of Switzerland's most famous mountain ---the Matterhorn and that is where our gastronomic tour begins. We'll learn about a chocolate bar shaped like the Matterhorn. Why this is one of the great cheese producing regions of Switzerland and why raclette is the ultimate melted cheese dish. The Valais is also the largest wine producing area in Switzerland. Viewers also discover Charlie Chaplin's contribution to chocolate, the gastronomic specialties of the Lake Geneva Region and why Geneva has some of the best restaurants in Europe.
Tuesday, June 05, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 806
The two most powerful forces in the history of Holland are wind and water. For over a thousand years, the people living in this part of the world have had an amazing ability to take advantage of these two forces. We'll explore the use of windmills, Holland's trading empire and how the nation's wealth was used to commission great works of art. Burt visits the Vincent van Gogh Museum, takes a canal tour and tastes Amsterdam's famous street foods.
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 807
Fragments of the earth's crust drifted together to form Alaska. And they are still very much in the process of drifting and forming. And what they have formed is already the largest state in the United States of America. It's twice as large as Texas and has fifty percent more coastline than all the states in the lower 48 put together. We'll tour the Red Onion Saloon; ride the White Pass and Yukon Railroad and check out 1,500 square miles of ice cap.
Thursday, June 07, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 808
Hong Kong is a small island just off the southern coast of the Chinese mainland. It's a bustling metropolis and one of the world's most important financial centers. It is also a focal point for traditional Chinese history and culture. Burt shows viewers Hong Kong's Chinese music, Chinese art, Chinese theater, and of course, Chinese food. The city's unusual blend of western high-tech with Chinese high-touch has made Hong Kong the most important tourist destination in Asia.
Friday, June 08, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 505
The two questions travelers ask most often are, "Where should I eat?" and "Where should I shop?" In this program, Burt takes a look at the history of shopping from its beginnings in 17th century London and the first department store in Paris, to New York's Fifth Avenue and the auction of a 92-million dollar painting at Sotheby's. We find out how the brains of men and women make them shop differently, who introduced the idea of ready-to-wear clothing and why. We see how the French Revolution changed the way people shopped, how the shopping bag and the price tag were invented, and why the survival of a nation can depend on how it shops.
Friday, June 08, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 809
Burt has spent most of his life as a stranger reporting from strange lands and trying to understand what was going on. A few years ago he decided to look at his own country and try to discover the true history of our population. Each year the United States grants permanent residency to more immigrants than all the other nations of the world combined. Most people come here believing that with hard work and determination they will end up with a better life---more money and more freedom. In fact, everyone who is in the United States today is either an immigrant or the descendant of an immigrant.
Saturday, June 09, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 810
Every person who lives in the United States is an immigrant or the descendant of someone who immigrated here. In some cases they were travelers looking for a place where they would be free to practice their traditions. In every case they were looking for a better life. Social tensions were always part of the immigrant experience. Burt explores how immigration has created social difficulties and also produced a new vitality. This program will show how immigration has transformed American society and culture and demonstrated that diversity, as well as unity, and is a source of our national strength.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 901
During the last few years river cruising in Europe has become a popular form of travel. In this episode, Burt begins a cruise that starts in Amsterdam, a city filled with art, architecture and places to shop. Next stop is Schoonhaven, famous for its silver jewelry. Then Dordrecht to discover how windmills really work, and Antwerp, which is the world epicenter for diamonds. We also visit Brussels for great food and beer.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 902
The islands of Bermuda are the result of a volcanic eruption that took place about 70 million years ago. It sent up a three mile high needle of rock that topped out just below the surface of the water. The rock was in the middle of the Gulf Stream which comes up from the Caribbean and keeps the water warm throughout the year. Burt scoots around the city capital of Hamilton, learns about The Royal Dockyards where the British kept their fleet during the Revolutionary War, visits an outstanding Aquarium, and checks out the local food.
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 903
The Rhine is one of the world's great rivers. It starts in the Swiss Alps and flows for 865 miles through six European countries ending up in the Netherlands and the North Sea. It connects to dozens of other rivers and canals forming a vast inland waterway. Burt visits Cologne's chocolate museum, sails through the Rhine Gorge, stops for Rudesheim's specialty coffee drink, explores Heidelberg's castle and ends with a tour of Strasbourg.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 904
Burt starts his trip in Paris France. Then cruises to Beaune for their famous wine auction and a visit to a 700 year old hospital that has become one of the great architectural landmarks of France. Next we tour the Chateau De Cormatin in Tournus which was built by the finance minister to a king of France. It was good to be king and perhaps even better to handle his money. Then to Lyon once the silk capital of Europe. Lyon is also the town where modern French cuisine was invented.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 506
We discover how shopping kept our original 13 colonies together during the Revolutionary War. How shopping is used not to make each of us different but to let us become part of a community. What the future of shopping might look like on the Internet. We meet a woman who closed her antique business on earth and opened one in cyberspace, a man who designed an Internet business that sells a car a minute and interview Meg Whitman, the President of eBay.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 905
People have been living in Scotland for at least 6,000 years. Burt tours Edinburgh's Old Town, one of the oldest communities in Great Britain and finds out that much of it has remained intact. The national beverage of Scotland is whiskey -- a whiskey of such importance that the rest of the world simply calls it Scotch. There are about one hundred different Scotch whiskey producers in Scotland and each one has their own particular approach to the craft and we find out why.
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 906
Burt starts his trip in Amsterdam, and makes his way south to Middelburg in Holland where we visit its Norbertine Abbey. Next we stop into Keukenhof Gardens, the world's largest outdoor exhibition of flowers and learn about Tulip Mania which was the economic crises of the 1600s. Next we visit Middelburg and the Abbey of Our Lady to find out how the Dutch Delta Works saved the country. Then we say cheese in the town of Edam.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 907
The early maps of the New World show the islands of the Bahamas as a chain that runs in an arc from the east coast of Florida to the top of Hispaniola. It was where Columbus first arrived in the Americas and each of its islands has a distinct culture. Burt takes us on a tour of the Grand Bahamas to find out what's grand.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 908
Burt cruises the French Riviera and Provence along a Mediterranean coastline that made it a playground for the rich and famous. The region is filled with ancient ruins, 2000 year old towns, unique shops and good things to eat and drink. The warm weather, intense sunlight, and magnificent scenery attracted artists like Van Gogh, Cezanne, Picasso and Matisse. Burt takes us to the places were Van Gogh painted and contrasts the paintings with today's landscape.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 909
As Christopher Columbus was sailing back to Spain at the end of his fourth and final voyage to the New World, a storm came up between Panama and Haiti and pushed him off course. It pushed him to the west, directly into the islands that are now known as the Cayman Islands. Burt tours the island and discovers the history of scuba diving as he swims with the stingrays.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 910
For over 30 years Burt has been living in hotels around the world. And many times he has stayed in some of the greatest hotels in the world. Each of these famous hotels bases its success on different elements and yet there is a common approach to attending to the needs of each quest. In this program Burt shows you some of his favorites and why he considers them best of class.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 507
The destination for pilgrims for over 600 years, this monastery houses a painting of the Virgin and Child thought to have been painted by St. Luke. We tour a 15th century library, discover the three essential elements that connect an image to a miracle and what gives an image its supernatural powers. We also find out what makes places like the Vietnam Memorial, The Alamo, our Civil War Battlefields, and Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace popular locations for a pilgrimage.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 1001
Burt has been living in hotels for over 30 years -- and often in the greatest hotels in the world. Each of these famous hotels bases its success on different elements and yet there is a common approach to attending to the needs of each guest. In this program Burt shows you some of his favorite hotels in Switzerland and Germany and explains why he considers them best of class.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 1002
New York City is the world epicenter for money, creativity and culture. Burt takes a bite of the Big Apple, tells you how it came to be and takes you from the tip of the island to Central Park. Learn about the city's architectural heritage and how a nation of immigrants contributed to the gastronomy of the island.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 1003
Philadelphia is one of America's oldest and most interesting cities and the birthplace of our nation. Find out how it was founded as a Quaker colony and why it's the guardian of The Liberty Bell. Learn why Philadelphia is considered the city of brotherly love, tour the largest collection of outdoor murals and visit a Masonic Temple. Take a taste of Philly's traditional foods.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 1004
Chicago is famous for many things including talented chefs, specialty bakers and authentic ethnic foods. Burt untangles the history of Chicago, laughs at Second City's food joke, and visits the House of Blues.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
Episode # 1005
Napa Valley is the home to some of our most innovative chefs. Burt tours the valley and introduces us to some of the signature dishes at the best restaurants. We find out why California is the nation's leading dairy state, meet one of the most successful wine makers and find out how prohibition saved the business. We'll also take a look at the ancient process for making barrels and how they changed the taste of wine.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Length : 28 min
MPT2
Episode # 1006
The Basque country of northeast Spain has the oldest culture in Europe and they are determined to keep their traditions. In Bilbao we'll visit the museum that revitalized the city. In San Sebastian, on the Northwest coast of Spain, we'll check out the fastest ball game in the world and learn why it's home to some of the finest Basque cooking in Europe.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Length : 27 min
MPT2
Episode # 508
Burt takes us on a tour of the city of Toulouse, discovers why the color blue terrified the soldiers of ancient Rome and how the cloth dyers of Toulouse used blue to make a fortune. They don't call royal families blue bloods for nothing. We visit the largest Romanesque Church in Europe, find out how in 1222 the King of France set the pattern for Donald Trump's real estate deals. We take a look at a group of 35,000-year-old cave paintings that were used to teach young men to hunt. We find out where to rent a houseboat and wander along one of the most beautiful canals in the world. We are guided through the largest collection of works by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, visit Carcassonne, a walled city for over 2,500 year, and stop into one of the finest restaurants in the area to check out the local specialties.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Length : 25 min
MPT2
Episode # 1007
Miami Florida is a sophisticated, subtropical city on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert. It has been described as the American city of the future. There's fun in the sun but there's also a major infusion of performing arts. We'll visit some of the local art galleries and taste the local flavors.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Length : 26 min
MPT2
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