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RICK STEVES' EUROPE offers a fresh perspective on the best travel advice, including where to stay, what to see and how to get around in Europe. Rick Steves shares his extensive knowledge of European history, art and culture. His years as America's most popular European guidebook author blends with his relaxed but informative style to make this one of public television's most popular series.
http://www.ricksteves.com
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Upcoming Episodes
12:30 PM
Copenhagen
Episode #510
Denmark's capital is the most fun-loving in Scandinavia. As we get to know Copenhagen, we'll discover reminders of its Viking history and symbols of its proudly independent ways today. We'll stroll through Europe's first great pedestrian zone, ogle crown jewels in the palace and take a bike ride through a famous hippie squatter community, finishing at Copenhagen's full-time carnival, Tivoli Gardens.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 09, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Venice: Serene, Decadent, and Still Kicking
Episode #201
Sorting through the monuments of magical Venice, we trace its decline from Europe's most powerful city to its most hedonistic. We cruise its main street--the Grand Canal, then get lost in the back lanes. For art, it's Titian, Bellini, Donatello, and the Doge's Palace. We luxuriate in a venerable cafe on St. Mark's Square, enjoy calamari with locals in a canal-side pub, then find our own private Venice under the moonlight on a gondola.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 09, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Denmark: Beyond Copenhagen
Episode #511
Using Copenhagen as a spring board, we'll visit the very best of Denmark. Aarhus welcomes us with its ruddy affluence, charming open air museum and eerily well-preserved ancient bog man. Roskilde impresses visitors with its royal burial church and the best Viking ship museum anywhere. And the delightfully quaint Isle of Aero beckons a bike ride among thatched cottages, "snooping mirrors", and cobbled alleyways that reminds us of the world of Hans Christian Andersen.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 10, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Venice Sidetrips
Episode #202
Pulling on hip boots, we settle into the muck of Venice, then take a speedboat tour of the lagoon. On the mainland, we head for Padua to tour a once-illegal anatomy theater and track the restoration of Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel. In Vicenza, we admire elegant Palladian-style streets and villas. In Verona, we climb the Roman colosseum, jostle with tourists to rub the brass breast of Juliet, and taste-test grappa before riding the train to Ravenna for its dazzling 1500-year-old mosaics.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 10, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Istanbul
Episode #512
Where Europe comes face to face with Asia, we'll explore the fascinating, multilayered city of Istanbul. We'll lose our way in the Grand Bazaar and feast like kings with locals at a fisherman's wharf. We'll follow the fall of the Byzantium and the rise of Islam at the city's ancient wall, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. To escape the city bustle, we'll board a boat on the churning Bosphorus, make friends over backgammon, and try a traditional bath.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 11, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Florence: City of Art
Episode #203
In the birthplace of the Renaissance, we look into the eyes of Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus, learn tricks for touring the Uffizi art gallery, and climb the dome that kicked off the Renaissance-to discover how it was built. Then we delve into the Florentine good life: visiting a fragrant 400-year-old perfumery, sipping Campari on a rooftop, chasing the sunset on a Vespa, and sleeping serenely in a converted monastery.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 11, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Iran:Tehran and Side Trips
Episode #513
As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history...and mystery. Visiting Tehran, Shariz, Persepolis, and a small village, we'll get a rare present-day look at of some of civilization's most important historical sites, and a sense of Iran's 21st century culture. From architecture and art to faith and everyday living, "Iran: Tehran and Side Trips" is all about the eye-opening gift of travel.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 12, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Siena and Assisi: Italy's Grand Hill Towns
Episode #204
In red-bricked Siena, we tour its innovative medieval hospital, lavish cathedral, and a bakery that makes panforte (like fruitcake, only better). Exploring the Chianti region, we taste Brunello di Montalcino--with its makers. Spending the night at a farmhouse, we meet the family and the sheep, learn of the Slow Food Movement, and enjoy a homegrown dinner. In Assisi, we follow the footsteps of St. Francis from his humble chapel to the grand basilica--frescoed by Giotto--that holds his tomb.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 12, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Iran's Historic Capitals
Episode #514
Iran's rich history goes back millennia, to the days when Persepolis was home to "the king of kings." In this episode, Rick Steves explores three historic capitals of Iran: Persepolis, with its splendid monuments; Shiraz, with the tombs of Iran's most beloved poets; and Esfahan, with its extraordinary mosques and endearing people.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , February, 13, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Portugal's Heartland
Episode #101
Leaving Lisbon for the countryside, we eat barnacles in a salty old fishing town, march with pilgrims on the anniversary of a miracle, ponder the local Romeo and Juliet, sample university life, and rummage through the riches of Portugal's Golden Age.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 15, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Cinque Terre: Italy's Hidden Riviera
Episode #205
In these five idyllic port towns, we sample village life: fishing for anchovies at midnight, savoring the best pesto, picking grapes, and cheering cliff divers as we hike the "walkway of love." Each pastel town is a delight, but my favorite is Vernazza--where Giovanni makes pasta and Granelli sells porcini mushrooms at the tiny street market. We sidetrip to Carrara's quarries where Michelangelo selected his marble, then return to Vernazza to stroll the only street with the entire village as the sun sets.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 15, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Paris: Grand & Intimate
Episode #102
After marveling at masterpieces in the Louvre and strolling the Champs-Elysees, we explore a delightful Parisian neighborhood. We meet a pipe organist, drop by a butcher shop, design our own perfume, and cruise the Seine.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 16, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Amsterdam and Dutch Sidetrips
Episode #206
With Rembrandts and stately architecture from its Golden Age, hidden churches and holocaust memorials from its troubled times, and Van Goghs and titillating street life from its modern age, Amsterdam stimulates all the senses. Then, side-tripping from Europe's capital of tolerance into the countryside (and below sea-level), we hike dikes, climb windmills, tour the world's biggest flower market, and see how in Holland, "Everything's just so Dutch!"
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 16, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
South England; Dover to Lands' End
Episode #103
From the white cliffs of Dover to Land's End, we ponder Roman, Norman, and Nazi invasions. After exploring Admiral Nelson's flagship, we chase wild ponies across the moors and discover an ancient stone circle. For refreshment, it's cream tea and Cornish pasties.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 17, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Prague and the Czech Republic
Episode #207
Newly energized Prague, slinky with sumptuous Art Nouveau facades, is perpetually playing Mozart and Vivaldi. Eastern Europe's top destination has Europe's best beer, biggest castle, liveliest pedestrian bridge, and most evocative Jewish Quarter. From Prague, we sidetrip to Kutna Hora, once a silver-mining boomtown, to descend into its medieval mine and ponder its eerie chapel, decorated centuries ago with 40,000 bones.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 17, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Heart of England and South Wales
Episode #104
After King Arthur country at Glastonbury, we go back in time to prehistoric Stonehenge. We sample hard apple cider in Wells, meet an eccentric lord in the Cotswolds, and visit an evocative ruined abbey in South Wales.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 18, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Dublin and Mystical Sidetrips
Episode #208
Dublin's story is of feast and famine: from its 18th-century Golden Age to its 20th-century struggles for independence to its boomtime today. We explore the town's foreboding castle, patriotic jail, and Trinity College with its illuminated Book of Kells--a bright light from the Dark Ages. At night we party in Temple Bar, awash with Celtic music and frothy pints of Guinness. We sidetrip to the prehistoric necropolis of Newgrange and the medieval monastery at Glendalough, tucked in the scenic Wicklow Mountains.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 18, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Caesar's Rome
Episode #105
Rome welcomes the new millennium spiffed up as never before. We tour Rome's ancient sights from the Forum and Colosseum to the glorious Pantheon. Then, after exploring the catacombs and a cat hospice, we track down the best ice cream in Rome.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 19, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
South Ireland: Waterford to the Ring of Kerry
Episode #209
We find the story of Ireland strewn along its fascinating south coast: Waterford's much-loved crystal factory; the Kennedy family homestead; the Dunbrody famine ship; and Kinsale's star-shaped fortresses. After learning why locals don't kiss the Blarney Stone, we savor the scenic charms of the Emerald Isle-driving the Ring of Kerry.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 19, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Germany's Black Forest and Cologne
Episode #106
Rick teams up with his wife and kids to enjoy the good life, dipping into a classy mineral spa, trying our luck at a fancy casino, devouring chocolate-cherry cake, and exploring Germany's most romantic forest.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , February, 20, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Scotland's Islands and Highlands
Episode #107
In Scotland, legends of Bonnie Prince Charlie swirl with pipers and kilts around crumbling castles. After tossing a caber (log) at a Scottish clan gathering, we remember Highland massacres. We play hide-and-seek with the Loch Ness Monster, tour a whiskey distillery, and take a ferry to sacred Iona.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 22, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Iran's Historic Capitals
Episode #514
Iran's rich history goes back millennia, to the days when Persepolis was home to "the king of kings." In this episode, Rick Steves explores three historic capitals of Iran: Persepolis, with its splendid monuments; Shiraz, with the tombs of Iran's most beloved poets; and Esfahan, with its extraordinary mosques and endearing people.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 22, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Scotland's Islands and Highlands
Episode #107
In Scotland, legends of Bonnie Prince Charlie swirl with pipers and kilts around crumbling castles. After tossing a caber (log) at a Scottish clan gathering, we remember Highland massacres. We play hide-and-seek with the Loch Ness Monster, tour a whiskey distillery, and take a ferry to sacred Iona.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 23, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Surprising Bulgaria
Episode #108
Bulgaria is a time warp of old and new_from chic shops in the city to donkey cars in the country. We hike to a mountain monastery, meet two sculptors (dad does Stalin, son does nudes), and enjoy a traditional dinner feast at a local home.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 24, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Rome: Baroque, After Dark
Episode #109
After a pilgrimage to Michelangelo's Pieta, we climb to the top of St. Peter's Basilica. We seek out tucked-away Renaissance paintings and a cleverly-painted false dome. At the Borghese Gallery, it's exquisite sculptures by the master of marble, Bernini. Then we join the locals on an after-dark stroll, lacing together Rome's Baroque and bubbly nightspots.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 25, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Eastern Turkey
Episode #110
After a Mount Ararat sunrise, we visit Abraham's 4000-year-old home town, tour one of the world's biggest dams, cheer on grease wrestlers, meet the gods atop Mount Nemrut, and dance with new friends in a village.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 26, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
London: Royal and Rambunctious
Episode #111
We whisper secrets across the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral and eat our way through Soho. Then we check out the treasures of the new British Library, roll with the drums at the Changing of the Guard, and cruise the Thames to Kew Gardens.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , February, 27, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Slovenia and Croatia
Episode #112
We discover that Dubrovnik is still the "jewel of the Adriatic" while nearby villages decorate their dreamy archipelago with small-town Venetian charm. Ljubljana is like Salzburg without tourists. The Julian Alps glisten with pristine lakes as Lipizzaner stallions are eager to strut their stuff.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 01, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Slovenia and Croatia
Episode #112
We discover that Dubrovnik is still the "jewel of the Adriatic" while nearby villages decorate their dreamy archipelago with small-town Venetian charm. Ljubljana is like Salzburg without tourists. The Julian Alps glisten with pristine lakes as Lipizzaner stallions are eager to strut their stuff.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 02, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
The Best of Sicily
Episode #113
After going fishing for anchovies off Cefalu, we land in rough-and-tumble Palermo. Marveling at the eerie skeletons in a Cappuccin crypt, airy mosaics of Monreale, enchanting ruins of Segesta, and the fiery rim of Mount Etna, we enjoy the best of Sicily.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 03, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Three-Part Travel Skills Special, Pt.1/3
Episode #114
Rick's expertise is travel specifically, how to travel smoothly and affordably. These specials parlay his 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. Shot on location in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, the Rhine, and Swiss Alps, the show covers Rick's favorite 3000-mile European loop while providing viewers with essential travel skills.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 04, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Three-Part Travel Skills Special, Pt.2/3
Episode #115
Rick's expertise is travel specifically, how to travel smoothly and affordably. These specials parlay his 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. Shot on location in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, the Rhine, and Swiss Alps, the show covers Rick's favorite 3000-mile European loop while providing viewers with essential travel skills.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 05, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
The Best of West Ireland: Dingle, Galway, and the Aran Islands
Episode #210
Ireland in the extreme is best experienced on its west coast in Gaeltachts, where the people speak Gaelic and the rugged villages have changed little over the generations. After exploring the rugged and remote Aran Islands, we settle into Galway, dance in a castle at a medieval folk banquet and delve into Ireland in the extreme: Dingle Peninsula. Ringing with traditional music from its rustic pubs, dotted with prehistoric "fairy forts," if you'll fall in love with Ireland, chances are it'll be right here.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 05, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Three-Part Travel Skills Special, Pt.3/3
Episode #116
Rick's expertise is travel specifically, how to travel smoothly and affordably. These specials parlay his 25 years of travel experience into practical tips on: planning a trip, overcoming the language barrier, getting around, finding accommodations, staying safe, and more. Shot on location in London, Paris, Amsterdam, Venice, the Rhine, and Swiss Alps, the show covers Rick's favorite 3000-mile European loop while providing viewers with essential travel skills.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , March, 06, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Venice: Serene, Decadent, and Still Kicking
Episode #201
Sorting through the monuments of magical Venice, we trace its decline from Europe's most powerful city to its most hedonistic. We cruise its main street--the Grand Canal, then get lost in the back lanes. For art, it's Titian, Bellini, Donatello, and the Doge's Palace. We luxuriate in a venerable cafe on St. Mark's Square, enjoy calamari with locals in a canal-side pub, then find our own private Venice under the moonlight on a gondola.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 08, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Berlin: Resilient, Reunited, and Reborn
Episode #211
Berlin is back, resuming its place as a great European capital. We climb the Reichstag's new glass dome, sway at a modern-day cabaret, and pop a few chocolates in the now thriving eastern sector. Along with Germany's finest art, complicated Berlin also has hidden remnants of its fascist and communist past. In a city that's rebounding and rebuilding, we crane our necks at Europe's newest Times Square-Potsdamer Platz.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 08, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Venice Sidetrips
Episode #202
Pulling on hip boots, we settle into the muck of Venice, then take a speedboat tour of the lagoon. On the mainland, we head for Padua to tour a once-illegal anatomy theater and track the restoration of Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel. In Vicenza, we admire elegant Palladian-style streets and villas. In Verona, we climb the Roman colosseum, jostle with tourists to rub the brass breast of Juliet, and taste-test grappa before riding the train to Ravenna for its dazzling 1500-year-old mosaics.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 09, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Florence: City of Art
Episode #203
In the birthplace of the Renaissance, we look into the eyes of Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus, learn tricks for touring the Uffizi art gallery, and climb the dome that kicked off the Renaissance-to discover how it was built. Then we delve into the Florentine good life: visiting a fragrant 400-year-old perfumery, sipping Campari on a rooftop, chasing the sunset on a Vespa, and sleeping serenely in a converted monastery.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 10, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Germany's Romantic Rhine and Rothenburg
Episode #212
Cruising the Rhine River, we dodge riverboat traffic and the legendary siren, Lorelei. After climbing castles and descending into dungeons, we relax with Rhine wine. We tour Burg Eltz-a lived-in castle where the noble lady still puts out fresh flowers. Then we enter the walled town of Rothenburg for Germany's best wood carving, a vivid dose of medieval punishment, and a tour with the night watchman of the town's lamp-lit ramparts.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 10, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Siena and Assisi: Italy's Grand Hill Towns
Episode #204
In red-bricked Siena, we tour its innovative medieval hospital, lavish cathedral, and a bakery that makes panforte (like fruitcake, only better). Exploring the Chianti region, we taste Brunello di Montalcino--with its makers. Spending the night at a farmhouse, we meet the family and the sheep, learn of the Slow Food Movement, and enjoy a homegrown dinner. In Assisi, we follow the footsteps of St. Francis from his humble chapel to the grand basilica--frescoed by Giotto--that holds his tomb.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 11, 2010
MPT2
03:26 PM
Munich and the Foothills of the Alps
Episode #213
In Munich, where locals specialize in good living, we visit boisterous markets and go for Baroque palaces...while office workers surf in the Isar River. Heading into the foothills of the Alps, we take a spin around a Maypole; drop by Oberammergau-the Shirley Temple of Bavarian villages; and tour the fairy-tale castles of "Mad" King Ludwig. After hiking up to a desolate ruined castle, we soar even higher in a glider over the Tyrol.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 11, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Cinque Terre: Italy's Hidden Riviera
Episode #205
In these five idyllic port towns, we sample village life: fishing for anchovies at midnight, savoring the best pesto, picking grapes, and cheering cliff divers as we hike the "walkway of love." Each pastel town is a delight, but my favorite is Vernazza--where Giovanni makes pasta and Granelli sells porcini mushrooms at the tiny street market. We sidetrip to Carrara's quarries where Michelangelo selected his marble, then return to Vernazza to stroll the only street with the entire village as the sun sets.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 12, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Switzerland's Jungfrau Region: Best of the Alps
Episode #214
If Heidi is alive, she's in this sky-high corner of the Swiss Alps, with cows on breathtaking ridges. After settling into a traditional village where locals scythe hay by hand, we hike, bike, and parasail. We blast an alphorn, get sprayed by waterfalls raging deep inside a mountain, and munch muesli for breakfast at 10,000 feet. For a finale, we ride Europe's highest lift up the mighty Jungfrau for hot cocoa, glacier sledding, and oh-wow views.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 12, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Amsterdam and Dutch Sidetrips
Episode #206
With Rembrandts and stately architecture from its Golden Age, hidden churches and holocaust memorials from its troubled times, and Van Goghs and titillating street life from its modern age, Amsterdam stimulates all the senses. Then, side-tripping from Europe's capital of tolerance into the countryside (and below sea-level), we hike dikes, climb windmills, tour the world's biggest flower market, and see how in Holland, "Everything's just so Dutch!"
Rebroadcast
Saturday , March, 13, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Prague and the Czech Republic
Episode #207
Newly energized Prague, slinky with sumptuous Art Nouveau facades, is perpetually playing Mozart and Vivaldi. Eastern Europe's top destination has Europe's best beer, biggest castle, liveliest pedestrian bridge, and most evocative Jewish Quarter. From Prague, we sidetrip to Kutna Hora, once a silver-mining boomtown, to descend into its medieval mine and ponder its eerie chapel, decorated centuries ago with 40,000 bones.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 15, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Dublin and Mystical Sidetrips
Episode #208
Dublin's story is of feast and famine: from its 18th-century Golden Age to its 20th-century struggles for independence to its boomtime today. We explore the town's foreboding castle, patriotic jail, and Trinity College with its illuminated Book of Kells--a bright light from the Dark Ages. At night we party in Temple Bar, awash with Celtic music and frothy pints of Guinness. We sidetrip to the prehistoric necropolis of Newgrange and the medieval monastery at Glendalough, tucked in the scenic Wicklow Mountains.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 16, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
South Ireland: Waterford to the Ring of Kerry
Episode #209
We find the story of Ireland strewn along its fascinating south coast: Waterford's much-loved crystal factory; the Kennedy family homestead; the Dunbrody famine ship; and Kinsale's star-shaped fortresses. After learning why locals don't kiss the Blarney Stone, we savor the scenic charms of the Emerald Isle-driving the Ring of Kerry.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 17, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
The Majesty of Madrid
Episode #301
Madrid is studded with riches from its glory days. We tour the lavish Royal Palace, enjoy art-packed museums, and look deep into Picasso's greatest masterpiece. Experiencing Madrid at its fun-loving best, we' re mesmerized by flamenco dancers and munch on pigs' ears. Then, for a dose of Spain's dramatic history, we side-trip to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 17, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
The Best of West Ireland: Dingle, Galway, and the Aran Islands
Episode #210
Ireland in the extreme is best experienced on its west coast in Gaeltachts, where the people speak Gaelic and the rugged villages have changed little over the generations. After exploring the rugged and remote Aran Islands, we settle into Galway, dance in a castle at a medieval folk banquet and delve into Ireland in the extreme: Dingle Peninsula. Ringing with traditional music from its rustic pubs, dotted with prehistoric "fairy forts," if you'll fall in love with Ireland, chances are it'll be right here.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 18, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Berlin: Resilient, Reunited, and Reborn
Episode #211
Berlin is back, resuming its place as a great European capital. We climb the Reichstag's new glass dome, sway at a modern-day cabaret, and pop a few chocolates in the now thriving eastern sector. Along with Germany's finest art, complicated Berlin also has hidden remnants of its fascist and communist past. In a city that's rebounding and rebuilding, we crane our necks at Europe's newest Times Square-Potsdamer Platz.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 19, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Highlights of Castile: Toledo and Salamanca
Episode #302
Castile sparkles with Roman Segovia, walled Avila, student-filled Salamanca, and holy Toledo! We marvel at El Greco, pop some explosive pickles, and ramble Spain's most awe-inspiring medieval walls. Then, just for fun, we drop in on a bachelorette party with local troubadours, slice and savor tasty jamon, stroll with the crowd, and grab a front-row seat to enjoy Europe's most enchanting square.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 19, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Germany's Romantic Rhine and Rothenburg
Episode #212
Cruising the Rhine River, we dodge riverboat traffic and the legendary siren, Lorelei. After climbing castles and descending into dungeons, we relax with Rhine wine. We tour Burg Eltz-a lived-in castle where the noble lady still puts out fresh flowers. Then we enter the walled town of Rothenburg for Germany's best wood carving, a vivid dose of medieval punishment, and a tour with the night watchman of the town's lamp-lit ramparts.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , March, 20, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Munich and the Foothills of the Alps
Episode #213
In Munich, where locals specialize in good living, we visit boisterous markets and go for Baroque palaces...while office workers surf in the Isar River. Heading into the foothills of the Alps, we take a spin around a Maypole; drop by Oberammergau-the Shirley Temple of Bavarian villages; and tour the fairy-tale castles of "Mad" King Ludwig. After hiking up to a desolate ruined castle, we soar even higher in a glider over the Tyrol.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 22, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Normandy: War-Torn Yet Full of Life
Episode #303
After exploring the half-timbered charm of Rouen, we reflect on Monet's lily ponds, peek in on local artisans, and set up an easel at Honfleur's harbor. We venture into composer Eric Satie's eccentric world and feast on the finest of Normandy cuisine. After pondering sacrifice and celebrating freedom on the D-Day beaches, we hike with pilgrims to the enchanted island abbey of Mont St. Michel.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 22, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Switzerland's Jungfrau Region: Best of the Alps
Episode #214
If Heidi is alive, she's in this sky-high corner of the Swiss Alps, with cows on breathtaking ridges. After settling into a traditional village where locals scythe hay by hand, we hike, bike, and parasail. We blast an alphorn, get sprayed by waterfalls raging deep inside a mountain, and munch muesli for breakfast at 10,000 feet. For a finale, we ride Europe's highest lift up the mighty Jungfrau for hot cocoa, glacier sledding, and oh-wow views.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 23, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland
Episode #304
No trip to Emerald Isle is complete without a visit to Northern Ireland. We tour bustling Belfast, sneaking a peek at its politically charged neighborhoods. Then we head for the Antrim Coast and go wild in Portrush, Ulster's Coney Island. We taste-test Irish whiskey, scramble over six-sided rock columns, putter through a world-class golf course, and stomp our feet to Irish music in rough-and-tumble Derry.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 23, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
The Majesty of Madrid
Episode #301
Madrid is studded with riches from its glory days. We tour the lavish Royal Palace, enjoy art-packed museums, and look deep into Picasso's greatest masterpiece. Experiencing Madrid at its fun-loving best, we' re mesmerized by flamenco dancers and munch on pigs' ears. Then, for a dose of Spain's dramatic history, we side-trip to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 24, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
London: Mod and Trad
Episode #305
London is quintessentially English...yet cosmopolitan. We check out the new - the Millennium Bridge and the British Museum's Great Court, and admire the old - well-wrapped mummies and a rare Leonardo. After bantering with Beefeaters at the Tower of London, we do some riverside beach-combing. Strolling the trendy South Bank of the Thames takes us from the Tate Modern to the dizzying London Eye.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 24, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Highlights of Castile: Toledo and Salamanca
Episode #302
Castile sparkles with Roman Segovia, walled Avila, student-filled Salamanca, and holy Toledo! We marvel at El Greco, pop some explosive pickles, and ramble Spain's most awe-inspiring medieval walls. Then, just for fun, we drop in on a bachelorette party with local troubadours, slice and savor tasty jamon, stroll with the crowd, and grab a front-row seat to enjoy Europe's most enchanting square.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 25, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Creme Brulee
Episode #306
Packing the best of Paris into one episode, we scale the Eiffel Tower, then savor classic treats - from steak tartare to creme brulee. We marvel at Monet, Manet and company in the stunning Orsay Gallery. Tracing the sad steps of Marie Antoinette, we relive French history from its bloody revolution to its extravagant belle epoch.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , March, 25, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Normandy: War-Torn Yet Full of Life
Episode #303
After exploring the half-timbered charm of Rouen, we reflect on Monet's lily ponds, peek in on local artisans, and set up an easel at Honfleur's harbor. We venture into composer Eric Satie's eccentric world and feast on the finest of Normandy cuisine. After pondering sacrifice and celebrating freedom on the D-Day beaches, we hike with pilgrims to the enchanted island abbey of Mont St. Michel.
Rebroadcast
Friday , March, 26, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland
Episode #304
No trip to Emerald Isle is complete without a visit to Northern Ireland. We tour bustling Belfast, sneaking a peek at its politically charged neighborhoods. Then we head for the Antrim Coast and go wild in Portrush, Ulster's Coney Island. We taste-test Irish whiskey, scramble over six-sided rock columns, putter through a world-class golf course, and stomp our feet to Irish music in rough-and-tumble Derry.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , March, 27, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
London: Mod and Trad
Episode #305
London is quintessentially English...yet cosmopolitan. We check out the new - the Millennium Bridge and the British Museum's Great Court, and admire the old - well-wrapped mummies and a rare Leonardo. After bantering with Beefeaters at the Tower of London, we do some riverside beach-combing. Strolling the trendy South Bank of the Thames takes us from the Tate Modern to the dizzying London Eye.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 29, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Belgium: Bruges and Brussels
Episode #307
Belgium is a land of contrasts. From the powerhouse headquarters of the European Union and Europe's grandest square in big-city Brussels, we go quaint with delicate lace and back lane bike rides in small-town Bruges. We check into a medieval hospital, savor the exquisite art of Memling, and climb a bell tower to get up close and fortissimo at a carillon concert. Then passionate chefs - creators of French fries and Europe's finest chocolate-give us a taste of their art.
Rebroadcast
Monday , March, 29, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Highlights of Paris: Eiffel and Monet to Creme Brulee
Episode #306
Packing the best of Paris into one episode, we scale the Eiffel Tower, then savor classic treats - from steak tartare to creme brulee. We marvel at Monet, Manet and company in the stunning Orsay Gallery. Tracing the sad steps of Marie Antoinette, we relive French history from its bloody revolution to its extravagant belle epoch.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 30, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Provence: Legendary Light, Wind and Wine
Episode #308
Provence, known for its soft light and fierce wind, is as loved by Americans as it is by the sun. We climb Roman ruins in Nimes, explore a papal palace in Avignon, and savor vivid views immortalized by van Gogh in Arles. Crossing acres of wispy vineyards, we explore the Cotes du Rhone and more wonders of the South of France.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , March, 30, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Belgium: Bruges and Brussels
Episode #307
Belgium is a land of contrasts. From the powerhouse headquarters of the European Union and Europe's grandest square in big-city Brussels, we go quaint with delicate lace and back lane bike rides in small-town Bruges. We check into a medieval hospital, savor the exquisite art of Memling, and climb a bell tower to get up close and fortissimo at a carillon concert. Then passionate chefs - creators of French fries and Europe's finest chocolate-give us a taste of their art.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 31, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
French Riviera: Uniquely Chic
Episode #309
A longtime favorite escape of Europe's elite, the Riviera coastline still sparkles with yachts. We follow in the footsteps of 19th century aristocrats along Monaco's harbor and Nice's promenade des Anglais. Then we visit the picturesque, artist hangouts of Chagall, Matisse and Picasso.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , March, 31, 2010
MPT2
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Previous Episodes (Shows that would have been aired by March 16, 2010)
04:30 PM
Iran's Historic Capitals
Episode #514
Iran's rich history goes back millennia, to the days when Persepolis was home to "the king of kings." In this episode, Rick Steves explores three historic capitals of Iran: Persepolis, with its splendid monuments; Shiraz, with the tombs of Iran's most beloved poets; and Esfahan, with its extraordinary mosques and endearing people.
Monday , February, 08, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Greece's Peloponnese
Episode #509
Island getaways are fun, but the real heart of Greece is found in the Peloponnese Peninsula. After enjoying the charming old port town of Nafplio, we'll time-trip through the ruins of Olympia, take center stage at the remarkably preserved theater at Epidauros, and explore the ancient capital of Mycenae. Then we'll wander off the beaten path along the rustic, rough-and-tumble Mani Peninsula, relax in the idyllic beach town of Kardymli and marvel at Greece's Rock of Gibraltar: the fortress town of Monemvasia.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 08, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Athens and Side Trips
Episode #508
The thriving capital of Greece sprawls out from the foot of its magnificent Acropolis. We'll tour the must-sees of ancient Athens, including the Parthenon, Agora, and amazing National Archaeological Museum. We'll take the fast-paced pulse of the modern city, but waste no time getting to my favorite side trip destinations: the ruins of the mystical oracle at Delphi, and a fast boat to the romantic, traffic-free Isle of Hydra.
Rebroadcast
Saturday , February, 06, 2010
MPT2
04:30 PM
Iran:Tehran and Side Trips
Episode #513
As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history...and mystery. Visiting Tehran, Shariz, Persepolis, and a small village, we'll get a rare present-day look at of some of civilization's most important historical sites, and a sense of Iran's 21st century culture. From architecture and art to faith and everyday living, "Iran: Tehran and Side Trips" is all about the eye-opening gift of travel.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 05, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
The Czech Republic Off The Beaten Path
Episode #507
Few travelers venture beyond Prague to experience the Czech Republic's many cultural riches and offbeat delights. We'll get you started with a whirlwind of Art Nouveau, local pub music, stinky cheese-tasting, river-rafting, and peat-bathing in places like Olomouc, Moravsky Krumlov, Telc, Trebon and Konopiste. We'll also tour a remarkable memorial to the holocaust in Terezen, and the charming castle town of Cesky Krumlov.
Rebroadcast
Friday , February, 05, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Vienna and the Danube
Episode #506
For centuries, Vienna was the crown jewel of the rich and powerful Habsburg Empire. A century after that empire's fall, the Viennese appreciates their imperial legacy as a cultural wellspring and an excuse to live in style. We'll take in the city's wealth of elegant gardens, great art and fine music. Then we'll explore the city's surroundings, with a trip along the romantic Danube River and a hike up to the breathtakingly Baroque Melk Abbey.
Rebroadcast
Thursday , February, 04, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Denmark: Beyond Copenhagen
Episode #511
Using Copenhagen as a spring board, we'll visit the very best of Denmark. Aarhus welcomes us with its ruddy affluence, charming open air museum and eerily well-preserved ancient bog man. Roskilde impresses visitors with its royal burial church and the best Viking ship museum anywhere. And the delightfully quaint Isle of Aero beckons a bike ride among thatched cottages, "snooping mirrors", and cobbled alleyways that reminds us of the world of Hans Christian Andersen.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 03, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Great Swiss Cities: Luzern, Bern, Zurich and Lausanne
Episode #505
In this episode we'll focus on an often overlooked side of Switzerland its urban charms. We'll get some exercise, from ringing a very big bell to floating down an urban river. We'll also enjoy a variety of eye-opening art, from Chagall and Klee to inmates of an asylum. Then we'll ponder a few Swiss innovations, from their open-minded drug policies to their hush-hush underground arsenals. And it'll all before a backdrop of Switzerland's stunning natural beauty.
Rebroadcast
Wednesday , February, 03, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Copenhagen
Episode #510
Denmark's capital is the most fun-loving in Scandinavia. As we get to know Copenhagen, we'll discover reminders of its Viking history and symbols of its proudly independent ways today. We'll stroll through Europe's first great pedestrian zone, ogle crown jewels in the palace and take a bike ride through a famous hippie squatter community, finishing at Copenhagen's full-time carnival, Tivoli Gardens.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 02, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Little Europe: San Marino, Monaco, Vatican City, Liechtenstein, and Andorra
Episode #504
Don't blink as we blitz through Europe's tiniest countries: Vatican City, the world's smallest country, comes with the planet's biggest church. The fairytale princedom of Monaco lures visitors with its fancy casino and glamorous views. Italy's last independent hill town, San Marino still looks formidable, as does the castle-guarded principality of Liechtenstein. And tiny Andorra entertains shoppers and hikers alike, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Pyrenees.
Rebroadcast
Tuesday , February, 02, 2010
MPT2
03:30 PM
Greece's Peloponnese
Episode #509
Island getaways are fun, but the real heart of Greece is found in the Peloponnese Peninsula. After enjoying the charming old port town of Nafplio, we'll time-trip through the ruins of Olympia, take center stage at the remarkably preserved theater at Epidauros, and explore the ancient capital of Mycenae. Then we'll wander off the beaten path along the rustic, rough-and-tumble Mani Peninsula, relax in the idyllic beach town of Kardymli and marvel at Greece's Rock of Gibraltar: the fortress town of Monemvasia.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 01, 2010
MPT2
12:30 PM
Barcelona and Catalunya
Episode #503
The creative spirit of Spain's Catalunya the land of Picasso, Gaudi and Salvador Dali is on a roll. We'll get caught up in the festivity of Barcelona, enjoying the vibrant street scenes, tasty tapas and pedestrian-friendly Gothic Quarter. Then we'll take a scenic side trip to mountaintop Montserrat, and finish with an artist's pilgrimage along the Costa Brava to Salvador Dali country seaside Cadaques to visit his home and nearby Figures to experience his playfully surreal mausoleum/museum.
Rebroadcast
Monday , February, 01, 2010
MPT2
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