Rick Steves' Europe Video - TopPodcast.com

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Tallinn, Estonia: Two Medieval Towns Jun 13, 2012

Show notes

Tallinn, like many parts of the Baltic states, has modernized at an astounding rate since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Yet the Old World ambience within its walled town center has been beautifully preserved. In the 15th century, Tallinn consisted of two feuding medieval towns: The hill-topping upper town — called Toompea — is from where the country of Estonia has long been ruled. The lower town was an independent city, filled with mostly German merchants who hired Estonians to do their menial labor. Today, Tallinn is a fascinating blend of pleasing towers, ramparts, facades, "striptiis" bars, churches, shops, and people-watching. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Berlin, Germany: Postdamer Platz and the Reichstag Jun 06, 2012

Show notes

Potsdamer Platz, once the busiest square in Europe, was sliced in two by the Wall in 1961, leaving a deserted no-man's-land. Today, this immense commercial/residential/entertainment center, perched atop a futuristic transportation hub, is home to several companies' European corporate headquarters. Nearby, the Reichstag — Germany's historically charged parliament building — is a great example of striking and meaningful contemporary architecture. The building combines old and new, just like the reunited Berlin. While the original (late 19th c) cupola was stone and steel, the new one is glass, symbolizing the need for transparency in government. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Brú na Bóinne, Ireland: Prehistoric Burial Mounds May 30, 2012

Show notes

One hour north of Dublin in the Boyne River valley, evocative 5000-year-old (older than the pyramids!) burial mounds sprout from the lush Irish countryside. The best place for a glimpse of prehistoric Ireland is Brú na Bóinne, an archaeological site with two amazing ancient passage tombs — Newgrange and Knowth. Upon arrival, visitors receive appointments to tour the tombs, spend waiting time in the state-of-the-art museum, then catch their shuttle bus to the site where a local guide explains their purpose and significance. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Barcelona, Spain: Inviting Beaches and Intriguing Gothic Quarter May 23, 2012

Show notes

Barcelona's once-seedy waterfront was completely transformed when the Olympics were held here in 1992. The man-made beaches — a series of golden crescents that stretch for miles along the Mediterranean — are a huge hit. Each comes with lively cafes and bars and all are laced together by inviting promenades frequented by strollers, joggers and bikers. Surprisingly nearby is Barcelona's old center — the Gothic Quarter, a tangled-yet-inviting grab-bag of charming squares, rich cultural treasures and other surprises. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Mycenae, Greece: Ancient and Mysterious May 16, 2012

Show notes

Mycenae, a hilltop fortress located on the Peloponnesian Peninsula SW of Athens was the hub of a mighty civilization that dominated the Greek world between 1600 and 1200 B.C., a thousand years before Athens' Golden Age. The Mycenaeans were as distant and mysterious to the Golden Age Greeks as Plato and Socrates are to us today. Mycenae lay unappreciated until the 19th century when a treasure trove of gold was unearthed in the necropolis. Today, those treasures, including the so-called "Mask of Agamemnon" are the star attractions in Athens' National Archaeological Museum. This discovery affirmed the archeologists' theory that Mycenae was Homer's fabled city "rich in gold." For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Lake Como, Italy: Bellagio and Varenna May 09, 2012

Show notes

Lake Como — lined with palm trees and elegant pastel-colored villas, crowned by snowcapped mountains, and criss-crossed by a fleet of ferries and hydrofoils — is a great place to take a break from the intensity of Italy that one finds further south. Just an hour northeast of bustling Milan, Lake Como's ambiance seems to whisper luna di mele (honeymoon). Half the travelers you'll meet here have tossed their itineraries into the lake and are actually relaxing. Bellagio, the self-proclaimed "Pearl of the Lake" is a classy combination of Old World elegance and new world luxury. Varenna — on the less-developed side of the lake — has a romantic waterside promenade, a tiny harbor, and inviting narrow lanes. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Motovun, Croatia: Dramatic Hill Town May 02, 2012

Show notes

Perched high above vineyards and a truffle-filled forest, Motovun on the Istrian peninsula is the best-known and most-visited hill town in the region. And for good reason: Its Old Town is particularly evocative, with a colorful old church and a rampart walk with spine-tingling vistas of the rugged Istrian interior. As you wander through Motovun you may hear the beautiful a cappella sounds of local klapa music. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

York, England: Walled City Packed with Sights Apr 25, 2012

Show notes

After London, York is hands-down the best sightseeing city in England. Everything that's great about Britain finds its best expression in this manageable walled town. York delights with its cobbled lanes lined with half-timbered buildings, a towering cathedral, bevy of excellent museums, and lively streets full of welcoming locals. In or out of its museums, York's fascinating history is on full display from Roman times to the Medieval Era to the Industrial Age. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

French Basque Country: A Cultural Blend Apr 18, 2012

Show notes

The land where Spain and France meet the Atlantic is Basque Country. Compared to their more stridently Basque neighbors across the border in Spain, Basques living in France seem more integrated into French culture. Nestled in the Pyrenees, St.-Jean-Pied-de-Port has an endearing energy, with its mix of day tripping families and determined pilgrims using the town as a springboard for the time honored pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in NW Spain, 500 miles away. Visit Bayonne on the coast to feel the region's urban pulse. The cathedral marks the town's old center where tall, slender buildings, decorated with typically Basque green-and-red shutters, tower above narrow streets. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

Helsinki, Finland: Vibrant Baltic City Apr 11, 2012

Show notes

Finland's leading city, with over half a million people, is the only European capital with no medieval past. Founded in the 16th century by the Swedes, the Russians took over Finland in 1809 and modeled the city after their capital, St. Petersburg with handsome architecture and grand boulevards. The daily arrival of cruise ships from around the Baltic Sea energizes Helsinki. Visitors and locals head directly for the bustling harbor square with its colorful outdoor market — "the" place for a casual, quick-and-cheap lunch. After that, a stroll down the lively park-like Esplanadi leads to the center of town. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.

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