GMT2272

Rick Steves has a new special to be aired on PBS stations beginning shortly after Thanksgiving. I know he's not the favorite of everyone in this group, but for those who love seeing Europe at Christmastime you might be interested. There is a preview available through www.ricksteves.com.

AisleSeat

We were in Salzburg last Christmas and someone told us he was staying in their hotel while he was filming the special. It will be interesting to see what other locations they include in the show.

GMT2272

Salzburg is included, along with Paris,Rome, Nurnberg,London, Norway and Switzerland (and other places as well)

hunnym

I also saw a Rick Steves European Christmas book at the bookstore the other day. I almost picked it up for a niece, but then thought she still might be a bit young. Looked pretty good, though.

BTilke

Does anyone know if copies of the video Christmas in Germany narrated by Lorette Swit can still be found? It was by far the best video of Christmas traditions in Germany that I've ever seen. If anyone knows where I could get a copy, I'd be very grateful.
Also, as someone else posted, the Dec. Gourmet mag has articles on Christmas in London, Paris and Megeve (I think). I've asked my mother to pick up a copy.

fritzrl

As an aside, I have to chuckle at the PBS promos for Rick's special. Rick's voice-over is saying, "Some of our most cherished Christmas traditions come from Europe...", while in the background one of the better-known Alfred Burt carols is being sung.

Mr. Burt was a 20th-century American composer.

RufusTFirefly

The tradition of singing Christmas carols was passed on from Europe to the Americas--as was the tradition of writing new Christmas carols. So the use of Mr. Burt's American carol might well illustrate the point.

bowen

I have often wondered why Rick Steves is "not the favorite of everyone in this group" and I've decided it's because we're jealous!

platzman

Well maybe we would like him a little more if he'd stop opening that moving train window and sticking his head out. I tried that once and the conductor started yelling at me in German.

viaggio_sempre

bowen - I cannot truly answer for others, but I have my thoughts and impressions.

1. RS runs a business. Sure, he has some good and great insights, but he also has alot of hype.

2. He gets boring.

3. At his seminars, I was glad to hear him speak about travel and travel skills. What I didn't appreciate were his zealous, negative views of Americans as compared to Europeans. About everything came down to what he could sell, too.

4. I really didn't appreciate being fed his view of Americans, when I had signed up for other information. Also, since that is his view of Americans, he puts himself in the "other" category.

I am glad to have purchased RS products and books. I mostly like to watch and re-watch his shows.

Londonlover

what did Rick say about Americans?

oldie

I have occasionally been to his website of of curiosity and must say that he can display massive ignorance.
He said that Nelson had one leg!
He didn't say anything about a parrot on his shoulder ;-)

Edward2005

RS evidently has a subtle sense of humor. In his Germany guidebook in the section on the Rhine River cruise, he says he erected all those numerical signs so his tour groups could follow along in the book easier. In another book he comments on how often people thank him for what must have been some very hard work. He also comments on how people will believe anything a tour guide tells them. Nelson with one leg? Maybe he was being ignorant or maybe he was pulling yours!

viaggio_sempre

LondonLover - I know Rick has paid his dues out there, and he seems like a nice person to me and I am glad that he has traveled and built a network for gathering information. As to his view of Americans, are you familiar with the worldview adopted by many "MK's" (missionaries kids), who come back to America for a brief visit? Rick's worldview smacks of that type of attitude with the belief that their adoptive country has made superior lifestyle choices. There is also the belief that because they have traveled, they have a better understanding of how things should be done and how we should relate and more. I believe that their schema is skewed by their experience and that they do not have a more well-rounded experience just because they live in another culture.

Voyager2006

How could anyone NOT have a "more well-rounded" experience by living in another culture? Notice I said "experience" and not "viewpoint."

I notice that despite claims that Rick Steves thinks other cultures are "better" he still manages to tough it out and live in the Seattle area doesn't he?

viaggio_sempre

Indeed, and he stills earns a "chunk of change" from us Americans.

viaggio_sempre

Isn't there anyone else out there in fodorite land that has been to his seminars? My DW and I both found ourselves squirming in our seats and blushing at times, as we felt embarassed when he went off-subject to espouse his comparative views of Americans, their lifestyles, and the way they predominantly trample on others while traveling. What can I say, my wife and I felt we were in the minority, in our love for America, if the response by the majority of those in attendance was any indication. He received applause quite often.

viaggio_sempre

I will watch the Christmas special.

It is funny, as I have always dreamt of "seeing London at Christmastime". Does that come from seeing movies? I saw a recent post that mentioned that things are closed during Christmas and that travel during this time has to be planned knowing that. Will we see that in Rick's Special, or will my Christmas fantasy be fed more? In my London fantasy, I inevitably see snow lightly falling and Londoners are quaintly dressed.

KarenM26

i come from the island of malta and will rich steves be aired on the travel channel if not what channel shall we look for?

Edward2005

Steves' travel shows are aired in the USA on public television.