Rick Steves' Europe

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Portugal's Heartland Sep 30, 2001 Like no other European capital, Portugal's Lisbon has an old time charm — it feels like San Francisco but older, grittier... and less expensive.

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Episode 2 Sep 10, 2000 This time we're kicking off a South England adventure, starting at the White Cliffs of Dover and following the coast to Land's End.

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Episode 3 Sep 17, 2000 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.

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Episode 4 Sep 24, 2000 Like the Continent, Great Britain is a delight to explore. We're starting in the Cotswolds, two hours west of London. From there we circle south to Wells, Glastonbury, Stonehenge and into South Wales.

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Caesar's Rome Oct 1, 2000 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 hiking the Appian Way and exploring the catacombs, we track down the best gelato in Rome.

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Episode 6 Oct 8, 2000 Europe's our playground—and Germany's in the heart of the fun. After a stop at historic Cologne we ride the train to the resort spa of Baden Baden, then hop south through the highlights of the Black Forest.

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Episode 7 Oct 15, 2000 Crowning Britain in the Northwest of Europe, Scotland welcomes visitors. From the town of Oban, we cruise to the Isles of Mull and Iona, then follow the Caledonian Canal to Glencoe, Loch Ness and onto Culloden.

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Venice: Serene, Decadent and Still Kicking Sep 7, 2002 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 its back lanes. We drink-in the art of Titian, Bellini, Donatello, and the Doge's Palace. We luxuriate in a venerable café on St. Mark's Square, enjoy calamari with locals in a canal-side pub, then find our own private Venice: on a gondola, under the moonlight.

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Venice Side-Trips: The Best of Veneto Sep 4, 2002 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 Padova 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 arena, 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.

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Florence: City of Art Jan 3, 2001 We look into the eyes of Michelangelo's David and Botticelli's Venus, learn tricks for touring the Uffizi art gallery, and climb the amazing cathedral dome that kicked off the Renaissance. Then we immerse ourselves in 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.

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Siena and Assisi: Italy's Grand Hill Towns Jan 4, 2001 In this episode, we explore Italy's two greatest hill towns - Siena and Assisi - plus the countryside in between. If you fall in love with Italy, good chance it'll be right here.

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Cinque Terre: Italy's Hidden Riviera Jan 5, 2001 Rick returns to his favorite stretch of the entire Mediterranean coastline -- Italy's Cinque Terre --to explore its five dreamy port towns.

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Amsterdam and Dutch Side-Trips Jan 1, 2002 This time we return to the Netherlands and captivating Amsterdam-- perhaps Europe's best-preserved 17th-century city while at the same time wild and modern.

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Prague and the Czech Republic Jan 2, 2002 Prague was always beautiful, now it's fun, too. And the streets are filled with young people who seem determined to make up for their parents' Stalin-gray childhoods.

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Episode 1 Sep 4, 2004 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.

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Episode 2 Sep 11, 2004 Castile sparkles with Roman Segovia, walled Avila, student-filled Salamanca, and holy Toledo! We marvel at El Greco, pop some explosive pickles, ramble Spain's medieval walls, and enjoy Europe's most enchanting square.

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Episode 3 Sep 18, 2004 With its thought-provoking sights and memorials, delicious cuisine, and idyllic nature, it's no wonder Normandy is such a popular get-away for nearby Parisians.

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Belfast and the Best of Northern Ireland Sep 25, 2004 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.

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Episode 5 Oct 2, 2004 London is quintessentially English and yet cosmopolitan. It's a city where the new and modern seem to mingle enthusiastically with the old and traditional.

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Episode 6 Oct 9, 2004 Packing the best of Paris into one episode, we scale the Eiffel Tower, then savor classic treats- from steak tartare to crème brulée, and marvel at Monet, Manet and company in the stunning Orsay Gallery.

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Episode 7 Oct 16, 2004 Belgium is a land of contrasts. From the powerhouse headquarters of the European Union and Europe's grandest square in big-city Brussels, to quaint back lane bike rides in small-town Bruges.

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England's Bath and York Feb 1, 2006 Medieval York and Georgian Bath pack an exciting pair of sightseeing punches. Rick explores Roman hot springs, cruises quiet canals, marvels at England's finest Gothic church, and gets a surprising dose of Viking history.

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North Wales Feb 2, 2006 In North Wales we'll climb a mountain aboard a steam train, learn some Welsh, follow a miner deep into a slate mine, herd sheep with a very clever dog, and work in a pop pilgrimage to the Beatles' Liverpool.

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Edinburgh Feb 3, 2006 In Edinburgh we'll explore the city's castle, peek at the new parliament, dabble in the local literature,sip a little Scotch, get wrapped up in a kilt, and then stow away on Her Majesty's yacht Britannia.

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Naples and Pompeii Feb 4, 2006 Naples is Italy in the extreme. We'll prowl backstreet fish markets, dodge fast-moving Vespas, and dine on pizza where it was invented. We'll climb to the top of nearby Mount Vesuvius, then wander through the amazing ruins of Pompeii, the Roman town it destroyed.

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Italy's Amalfi Coast Feb 5, 2006 Just south of Naples, we'll experience the breathtaking Amalfi Coast, the trendy resort of Positano, the limoncello charms of Sorrento, the ancient Greek temples at Paestum, and the iridescent Blue Grotto hidden beneath the enchanting Isle of Capri.

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Milan and Lake Como Feb 6, 2006 No trip to Italy is complete without Milan and Lake Como. In Milan we'll take a peek at Italy's highest fashion, fanciest delis, grandest cemetery and greatest opera house...not to mention Leonardo's Last Supper. Then we'll cruise along Lake Como, settling down in the lakeside village of Varenna...classic honeymoon country, where Italy meets the Alps.

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Tuscany's Dolce Vita Feb 7, 2006 he rural charms of Tuscany give us a healthy dose of the "sweet life" as we hunt for truffles in an oak forest, nibble our way through an artichoke festival, and ride a classic convertible through the cypress groves of Mona Lisa's backyard.

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Episode 1 Mar 8, 2008 Burgundy is calm, cultivated, serene; where nature is as sophisticated as the people. Traditions are strong here. If you're looking for quintessential French culture, you'll find it in Burgundy.

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Episode 2 Oct 11, 2008 The Dordogne River Valley — with its dramatic castles, pre-historic cave paintings, and prized cuisine is an unforgettable blend of man-made and natural beauty. Once you get to know the region you wonder why more Americans don't visit.

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Episode 3 Oct 18, 2008 Barcelona is Spain's capital of the proud and distinct region of Catalunya. With Franco's fascism now long gone, Catalan's creative and independent spirit is on a roll. Many visitors find this to be Spain's most cosmopolitan and vibrant corner.

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Episode 4 Nov 1, 2008 Europe's

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Episode 5 Nov 8, 2008 Whether enjoying traditional culture high in the mountains or savoring the joys of modern life in its great cities, the Swiss get it right. In this episode we focus on an often overlooked side part of Switzerland — its urban charm.

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Episode 6 Nov 15, 2008 This time we're celebrating the good life in Vienna: elegant parks, romantic Danube River, imperial art collections, great music. After centuries of rule by the Habsburg family, today the people are calling the shots, and they seem to be getting it right.

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Episode 7 Nov 22, 2008 To get a fair look at any country, you need to venture beyond its dominant city. Here in the Czech Republic there's a world of cultural riches and off beat delights outside of Prague — and in this episode, that's our focus.

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Episode 1 Oct 2, 2010 Exploring Andalucía, we experience the quintessence of Spanish culture. Starting up high, in Spain's whitewashed hill towns, we roll down to the coast to enjoy the windsurfing mecca of Tarifa. Then we catch a bit of Britain on the Rock of Gibraltar, and sail to Africa for a Moroccan finale in Tangier.

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Episode 2 Oct 9, 2012 Exploring Croatia, we'll see the Pearl of the Adriatic, sample some island charm, wander Roman ruins, and hike through a watery wonderland. We'll enjoy its thriving capital city, the Italian-like charm of Istria, and that peninsula's enchanting port town.

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Episode 3 Oct 16, 2012 Exploring parts of Croatia, Montenegro, and Bosnia, we'll get to know the three major groups of the former Yugoslavia—Croats, Serbs, and Muslims. And we'll throw in a little fun in the sun in Dubrovnik.

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Episode 4 Oct 23, 2012 Tiny Slovenia—with just two million people—is one of Europe's most unexpectedly delightful destinations. Located where the Germanic, Mediterranean, and Slavic worlds come together, Slovenia has a unique appeal.

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Episode 5 Oct 30, 2012 For many travelers, the quintessence of Spain is found here—Andalucía. Join us as we enjoy the food, history, art, and dance of perhaps Europe's most passionate corner.

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Episode 6 Nov 7, 2012 Enjoy attractions of Andalucia—prancing horses, whitewashed hilltowns, kite surfing on sunny beaches. Then summit the Rock of Gibraltar with its thieving apes and sample Morocco: from tribal musicians and busy artisans to the magic of its markets.

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Episode 7 Nov 14, 2012 Oslo is Norway's capital and cultural hub. Its many attractions tell an exciting story. They give an insight into a people who, in a thousand years, have evolved from Viking marauders to proud hosts of the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Episode 1 Oct 6, 2012 Part one of three on the Eternal City, this episode resurrects the rubble and brings back to life the capital of the ancient world. Focusing on the grandeur of classical Rome, we'll marvel at the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the empire's exquisite art. Then we'll go offbeat by bicycle to see the Appian Way and marvels of Roman engineering.

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Episode 2 Oct 13, 2012 This second of three shows on Rome reveals a city busy with life and bursting with Baroque. We'll ramble through the venerable heart of Rome, admire breathtaking Bernini statues, ponder sunbeams inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, and mix and mingle with the Romans during an early-evening stroll. Following an exquisite Roman dinner, we'll join locals after dark, lacing together the Eternal City's most romantic nightspots.

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Episode 3 Oct 20, 2012 In this third of three shows on the Eternal City, we'll explore this grand metropolis — so rich in art and culture — on a more intimate scale, delving into its back lanes and unheralded corners. Venturing through the crusty Trastevere district, visiting the historic Jewish Ghetto, and enjoying art treasures in a string of rarely visited churches, we uncover charms of hidden Rome that compete with its marquee sights.

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Episode 4 Oct 27, 2012 Fifteenth-century Florence was the home of the Renaissance and the birthplace of our modern world. In this first of two episodes, we'll gaze into the self-assured eyes of Michelangelo's David, enjoy Botticelli's Birth of Venus, delve into the 3-D wonders of Ghiberti's Gates of Paradise, appreciate Fra Angelico's serene beauty, and climb the dome that kicked off the Renaissance. Then we'll cross the Arno to where Florentine artisans live, work, and eat…very well.

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Episode 5 Nov 3, 2012 In this second of a two episodes on Florence, we'll enjoy more of the exquisite artistic treasures of the city that propelled Europe out of the Middle Ages. Then we'll side-trip to a couple of rival cities and cultural capitals in their own right, Pisa and Lucca, where we'll marvel at a tipsy tower, circle a city on its ramparts, and enjoy some Puccini in his hometown.

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Episode 6 Nov 10, 2012 In Paris, amidst all of its grandeur, the little joys of life are still embraced. In this first of two episodes on Paris, we'll cruise the Seine River, visit Napoleon's tomb, and take in the Louvre. Then we'll feel the pulse of Paris — shopping in village-like neighborhoods, attending church in a grand pipe organ loft, and celebrating the mother of all revolutions with a big, patriotic Bastille Day bang.

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Episode 7 Nov 17, 2012 In this second of two episodes on Europe's "City of Light," we'll ride a unicorn into the Middle Ages at the Cluny Museum, take a midnight Paris joyride in a classic car, get an extremely close-up look at heavenly stained glass in Sainte-Chapelle, go on a tombstone pilgrimage at Père Lachaise Cemetery, and savor the Parisian café scene. Few cites are so confident in their expertise in good living—and as travelers, we get to share in that uniquely Parisian "joie de vivre."

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Western Turkey Oct 4, 2014 The streets of ancient Ephesus; natural spa at Pamukkale; lunch in a Turkish pizzeria; cruising the Mediterranean on a traditional Turkish gulet.

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Central Turkey Oct 11, 2014 We marvel at the fascinating landscape of Cappadocia from high above in a balloon...and from deep below, prowling an underground city where Christians once hid out. We'll join a circumcision party, explore troglodyte ghost towns, shop for sheep at the market, and chat with an imam. Then we enjoy the modern capital, Ankara, and pay our respects to the father of modern Turkey, Atatürk.

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France's Loire: Chateau Country Oct 18, 2014 Along the Loire River Valley, the beautiful French countryside is studded with evocative châteaux. Home-basing in Amboise, we visit four unique castles: elegant Chenonceau, massive Chambord, stately Cheverny, and fragrant Villandry. Along the way, we tour Leonardo's home, feed hunting dogs, enjoy the local cuisine, and savor a princely garden.

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Paris Side-Trips Oct 25, 2014 Side-tripping from Paris into the Ile-de-France, we indulge in the world of royal and aristocratic extravagance in the pre-Revolutionary playground of France's elite. We explore Versailles, Europe's palace of palaces; exquisite Vaux le Vicomte; and extravagant Fontainebleau, home to centuries of French rulers. We'll also marvel at the glass and statuary of Chartres cathedral and dine like kings.

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The Best of Israel Nov 1, 2014 We start in Jerusalem, alive with religious tradition and passion — Christian, Muslim, and Jewish. We then visit cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, with its in-love-with-life beaches; ponder the sad fortress of Masada; and join pilgrims at biblical sights around the Sea of Galilee. We'll also pay our respects at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, drop into an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and savor the local cuisine.

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Palestine Nov 8, 2014 Palestine is the Muslim and Arab half of the Holy Land. After visiting Jerusalem, we harvest olives near Ramallah, follow pilgrims to the place of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem, approach Abraham's tomb — as both Jews and Muslims do — in Hebron, drop in on friends for dinner, and bob in the Dead Sea. We'll also learn about walls, Israeli settlements, and the challenges facing this region.

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Italy's Riviera: Cinque Terre Nov 15, 2014 Exploring Italy's most remote and romantic stretch of Riviera, we visit five tiny port towns: dramatic Vernazza, surrounded by vineyards; reclusive Corniglia, high on its bluff; pastel Manarola; hardscrabble Riomaggiore; and the pint-sized resort of Monterosso. Fishing for anchovies, sipping wine out of rustic barrels, and savoring twinkling Mediterranean vistas, we enjoy the ultimate Riviera adventure.

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Episode 1 Oct 6, 2016 Consummate traveler, host and best-selling guidebook author Rick Steves returns for a ninth season of the travel series RICK STEVES' EUROPE. This season, join Rick as he experiences the local culture, cuisine and fun in some of Europe's most interesting places, including Italy, England, Germany, Bulgaria and Romania. Whether you want to visit Siena's wild Il Palio horse race or explore the forested mountains of Transylvania for a peek at an old German fortress, Rick provides informative and enlightening ways to enjoy Europe's great cities and off-the-beaten-path discoveries.

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Episode 2 Oct 16, 2016 Saxony, part of the former East Germany, remains a secret to most travelers. We'll visit the two great cities of the region: the capital city of Dresden, with the opulent palaces and art treasures of the Wettin dynasty, and Leipzig, with its Bach heritage, a massive monument to the day Europe beat Napoleon, and museums remembering its communist heritage.

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Episode 3 Oct 22, 2016 Skyscraper-studded Frankfurt — with so much commerce it's nicknamed "Bankfurt" — has a delightful-to-explore old center. We'll also visit Nürnberg, a capital for both the First Reich (the Holy Roman Empire) and the Third. From its towering castle and playful fountains to its Nazi Documentation Center and maze of underground bomb shelters, Nürnberg is a fascinating study in contrasts.

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Episode 4 Oct 30, 2016 Bulgaria is a fascinating, rapidly changing corner of Europe, where shiny BMWs compete for lane space with horse-drawn carts. This nation's European dream is still taking shape from its roots in a custom-blend of Ottoman, Orthodox, and Soviet soil. Explore Bulgaria's modern capital of Sofia, and its trendy second city of Plovdiv, then stroll through rustic mountain villages with the tang of wood smoke in the air. Relax in valleys of vineyards and sleek seaside resorts. Be pleasantly surprised by the rich local cuisine — an offbeat blend of Slavic and Mediterranean — and taste wines that are the toast of the Balkans. Throughout, marvel at Bulgaria's ancient Tracian tombs, impressive Roman ruins, mystical medieval monasteries, and traditional mosques — nowhere in Europe will you see such colorful, perfectly preserved treasures of iconic religious art.

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Episode 5 Nov 5, 2016 We'll tour Romania's vibrant capital, Bucharest, with its "Little Paris of the East" architecture and lingering reminders of a brutal communist dictator. Then we'll head into Transylvania, where we'll visit fortified churches, cobbled merchant towns like Sighișoara, and castles made famous by an imported German king and the real-life Dracula. Finally we'll explore Maramureș, where everyday life still feels like an open-air folk museum.

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Episode 6 Nov 12, 2016 In the Italian countryside, we'll connect with rustic, traditional culture: enjoying an agriturismo (farmhouse inn), seeing how prosciutto and pecorino cheese are made, and hiking to the bottom of deep and ancient wine cellars. We'll end in Assisi — the hometown of St. Francis — which retains its spiritual aura to this day. Like pilgrims, we'll explore its stony center before trekking to its awe-inspiring basilica, built on the tomb of the beloved saint.

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Episode 7 Nov 22, 2016 Siena, once a proud and independent city-state, retains its confidence and unique traditions. We'll enjoy a front-row seat at its wild horse race — the venerable Palio — and marvel at cultural treasures from the days when it rivaled Florence for leadership of Tuscany. Then we'll head into wine country for a little dolce vita under the Tuscan sun.

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The Heart of England Oct 15, 2018 At Oxford and Cambridge, we'll see where kings and prime ministers studied. Then we'll wander through Blenheim Palace and visit the Industrial Revolution at Ironbridge Gorge.

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Lisbon Oct 28, 2018 Lisbon, built with the riches of Portugal's New World discoveries, has a rustic charm. We'll remember great navigators, eat lots of cod, enjoy pastries hot out of the oven, stroll the city's back lanes and its reinvigorated waterfront, marvel at an exquisite church built with spice taxes, and enjoy some soulful fado music. Then we'll side-trip to Sintra to explore the fanciful castles of Portuguese royalty and climb hilltop ramparts with grand views.

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Portugal's Heartland Oct 29, 2018 Let's dance on the beach at Nazar, marvel Batalha's abbey, revel with students in Coimbra, savor port wine, and get to know Portugal's fascinating second city of Porto.

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Travel Skills: Cruising Nov 5, 2018 Setting sail on the Mediterranean, we'll explore the ins and outs and pros and cons of cruising. We'll learn how to get the most out of a cruise and exercise our independence to make smart use of limited time on shore by planning well, avoiding lines, and eating quick-but-local meals on the go. Along with the joys and efficiencies of cruising, we'll consider the downsides, including the inevitable congestion and commercialism that comes with mass tourism.

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Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes Nov 12, 2018 We'll island-hop through the Aegean, sampling three classic Greek getaways — Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes — and basking in their dramatic beauty. We'll tour ancient ruins, trace the vestiges of the Crusaders, sample rustic cuisine, savor classic Greek-island views, and compare beaches — from the ultimate party beach to idyllic quiet hideaways. And we'll see how a cruise ship can be an efficient way to link up great island stopovers.

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European Festivals I Nov 19, 2018 In this first of two episodes on Europe's greatest festivals, we'll cheer with the masses at Siena's crazy Palio horse race, toss a caber at a Scottish Highland Games, don a mask for Carnevale in Venice, and celebrate Easter in Greece. Dropping in on some of the Continent's top parties, we discover that each one is a celebration of traditional culture, and all of them are full of opportunities to sing and dance, feast on traditional food, and party with locals.

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European Festivals II Nov 26, 2018 In this second of two episodes on Europe's greatest festivals, we'll dance with Spaniards at Sevilla's April Fair, celebrate Bastille Day in Paris, run with the bulls at Pamplona, and hoist a frothy stein at Munich's Oktoberfest. And we'll celebrate a traditional family Christmas, browsing the holiday market in Nürnberg and sledding down alpine slopes by torchlight in Switzerland. With the entire Continent as our playground, fun is our mission.