Thanks for sharing, schuler. It was very interesting to hear your personal experiences with Christkindli. TV shows sure make it look easy.

When European demographics cause several European nations to become majority Muslim, I wonder if Rick will have to rename his show Rick Steves' Ramadan. And will Rick be allowed to film the insides of Westminster Mosque or the Cathedral of Miriam?

Shane, have you not seen any of Rick's middle eastern shows? I haven't watched a lot of them but in the ones that I have, I found he is educated about, and very respectful of other religions.

Dear Ronda,
I no doubt think Rick Steves is respectful of other religions. I was only quipping that, when Muslims become a majority of a nation like France in fifty years (as demographic actuarial tabulations indicate), the Cathedral of Notre Dame may be forceably be made a mosque. Islam is not very respectful of other religions.

Shane, I think that depends mostly on the particular Islamic country in question. What you said is certainly true for Nigeria or Pakistan, but not true for Turkey.

We were in Rome last Christmas, staying at the same hotel at Rick Steves' crew. (They said Rich and fam were traveling in the Scandanavian area filming, etc. there.) The RS Rome crew had made extensive plans to tape Midnight Mass at a selected church since St. Peter's wouldn't give them permission to tape. (We had tickets for Midnight Mass at St. Peter's) Then on Dec 24, the Vatican decide RS crew could tape. They dropped previous plans, and we saw them in St. Peter's (The production staff was especially nice, the productor/director, well...just use your imagination.)

BUT, for obvious reasons I would like to see his show. Is/was it on PBS?
Appreciate any info although we are watching from Madison, WI

Uhhhh, Shane, check your history....Christianity isn't exactly "respectful of other religions" either...a notable example the huge cathedral in Seville where a mosque once sat.

Present day Christianity is very respectful of other religions. The late pope bent over backwards to others faiths, even Haitian voodoo "priests." Pope John Paul II treated Islam with a great deal of respect, more respect than the Mohammeds deserve.

This is for Judi. My wife and myself did a 19 day advent trip to Germany in early Dec.of 2004 returning home prior to Dec. 25. It began flying into Frankfurt and started with Bonn/Cologne area ending in Dresden but still flying out from Fra. I posted a trip report under Germany Advent trip. Do a search or click my name. Unless you are in the mountains in southern Bavaria you probably will not get or see snow. Too early in the season but you may. However we have plenty here in N. Wisc. in Dec. where I live. For more specific info please give me your e mail. It was so charming and unique to visit Germany that time of year but it's not warm if you are from Georgia but warm if you're from N. Wisc! Our flights were too low to pass up which prompted that vacation.

I hope Rick's show is on again, because I only caught the end.

Zues: You are (sadly) correct about Rule #1. Rule 2: Political correctness encourages freedom of speech, as long as your speech agrees with my speech.

Intrepid1: How far does this go? Isn't "holiday" derived from Holy day? Can we really have a suggestion that something is holy? Like political correctness, doesn't secularism ultimately become more intolerant while suggesting it is more inclusive?

Rick's show was shown on Sunday and is scheduled to air again on Friday in our area. Go to his web site and look for TV times; I'm sure it will be on again in your area. (At least I hope so!)

Thanks, hardwater, for your input. Yes, warm/cold is all relative! I do wish for snow, though.

My email is pj2592atmacdotcom. I would love to hear from you!

I loved this show, and will tape it- thanks!

But I must say that I would never be traveling and away from home on Christmas- that's how the traditions do continue.

And Christians are not the only ones fed up with the political correctness. I have Jewish friends who are as well. They want their religious observances not "sucked" into the holiday designation OR the bigger USA Christmas hullabaloo.

And Intrepid, it seems like the memory for precedent goes back eons, or at least centuries for some aspects (pick and choose) and for others the recent past (30 or 40 years) becomes "does not apply" in this supposedly "tolerance approved" language sensibility. By all standards Christians have been tolerant, much more tolerant than many other religions and sects.

We have to be home for Christmas and family as well, but we can be in Europe the first two weeks of December. My family will have to excuse me for not having the house decorated as usual.

Jesus Christ, it's all a metaphor!!!

Something I can't understand is posters who see the slightest sign of dissension, a bit of good-natured verbal biffo, as "nastiness".

I'm not a Christian either, but as far as I'm concerned it's a bloody Christmas tree. "Holiday tree"? Oh, no - please tell me that's a joke.