Rick Steves' Mona Winks: Self-Guided Tours of Europe's Top Museums [Rick Steves] on Amazon.com.>

well to put his name on a book that he presumably had some hand in writing would lead me to think he knows more about art than Ma Theresa knows about sex - not sure but I would give him the benefit of the doubt.

That said I think it was a jolly god joke. rick is a polarizing figure in the travel world - jealousy plays a part I think and some of his early books suggestions were over the line - like his advice to on a crowded train back when there were only 8-person compartments on many trains was to keep your socks stinky and then simply take off your shoes and the compartment would soon be all to yourself.

Rick Steve's writing, about art is uneducated and lazy. You cannot fault someone on a trip report for making those type of errors but Little Ricky is a well-paid professional travel writer.

We wrote in his Spain book that Velázquez was the photojournalist of the Court. Velázquez was a seminal painter who influenced western art. This is no way demeans photojournalists and portrait painters, but his skill and vision were greater than that. If you do not know the basics of art, you are unqualified to advise others, even if those others just have just a passing interest in art. He also encourages what I call the Mona Lisa Effect.

A few years ago, I revisited the Louvre during the Da Vinci Code craze. The gallery with the Mona Lisa was crowded while the surrounding galleries were virtually empty. People came to see what they knew and that was it. Little Ricky does the same. But he also does it with sights and towns.

As far as jealousy is concerned, I applaud people who have talent and have put in the time and are successful, especially those in the arts. I do resent people the success of those whose primary talent is marketing, not the skill or product they are marketing.

The real problem with Rick Steve's is that appears on PBS so he has their imprimatur.

Well, I do think some are too harsh with Rick Steves. Did he claim to be an art expert? What he is indeed is a travel guide. And I suppose he does quite well with his books.

Oddly I had a recent Fodors entry entitled "Thanks Rick" which no longer appears! Erased! It was why I do enjoy seeing the travel videos on TV because they remind me of places I have enjoyed seeing but would not see again. And I mentioned appreciating his explanations of art in museums and churches.

<i>IMDonehere on Jan 10, 14 at 11:47am
The real problem with Rick Steve's is that appears on PBS so he has their imprimatur.</i>

Rick's PBS shows are simply infomercials, broadcast for free by publicly supported TV across the nation.

Well, I do think some are too harsh with Rick Steves. Did he claim to be an art expert? What he is indeed is a travel guide. And I suppose he does quite well with his books.
___________
If you had a bad teacher, who imbued his students with incorrect information would you defend him?

He is not an art expert but you pay for his book or services. Is he an amateur accepting money under false pretenses? How often in your life are you willing pay for services from someone who is not expert in his/her field.

I will do your taxes because I live near an H & R Block.

And there is one argument that never works, since he successful, it must be OK. McDonald's sells the most burgers but they are clearly not the best burger or the best value.

Rick Steves took many Art classes in college after his first trip to Europe with his parents so he would appreciate the art more. He wanted to know why the art was considered a masterpiece and what is represented. So, yes he is technically an art expert.

He needs remedial courses.

You might pencil in a visit to The Emigration Exhibit at the Red Star Line Museum...many notables, including Einstein and Berlin went through the port at Antwerp. I mentione before that the Diamond Museum off Pelikanstraat and the Rubenshuis, are both good take-ins. You'll se that Rubens was the Henry Ford of the art world..used an assemply line techinque with dozens of helpers to help him finish a painting.
stu

Thanks Tower, I hope to get over there. Not only did Rubens have an active studio, he was also the first person to put sauerkraut on a corned beef sandwich.

Antwerp also has a mini Amsterdam red-light district a short walk from the town center - gals behind red neon-lit windows - if you want to experience that type of thing, also found in Brussels and Gent.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's I worked in an area filled with hookers. And the last time I was propositioned was a few years ago in the Montmartre. The charm of a red light district is limited.

<i>IMDonehere on Jan 14, 14 at 10:16pm
Thanks Tower, I hope to get over there. Not only did Rubens have an active studio, he was also the first person to put sauerkraut on a corned beef sandwich.</i>

LOL. One of my favorites, when done right.

Thanks Spaarne. I was afraid someone was going to take that literally and start to argue about sandwiches.