drifter51
"TV worth watching. The classiest and most informative travel show on the air."
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TV worth watching. The classiest and most informative travel show on the air.
-
Dec 29, 2009
- by drifter51
Rating:
For just about a decade now "Rick Steves Europe" has been delighting audiences on PBS. During that time Rick has produced a total of 83 programs. Since the show appears somewhat sporadically and at varied times I usually find it when I am channel surfing. But whenever I do happen upon "Rick Steves Europe" I invariably stop and watch. For me this is one of the most enjoyable shows on television.
+5
I have seen other travel shows on other networks and none of them begin to measure up to the high standards of "Rick Steves Europe". Of course if Rick travels to Rome you will certainly see the Coliseum and the Vatican but Rick Steves prefers to spend the vast majority of his time travelling the highways and byways and backroads in search of the real soul of the country that he is visiting. So more often than not you will find Rick staying at a hostel or a bed and breakfast and eating at the establishments where the locals dine. To Rick's way of thinking the best way to get the most out of your trip to Europe is to become what he calls a "temporary local". This is precisely the way my wife and I like to travel except we are in neighboring states or in eastern Canada rather than Europe. We are so jealous!
Rick Steves sure does get around. During the course of "Rick Steves Europe" he has produced 14 shows on Italy, 10 on Great Britain and 9 on various regions in France. He has also done numerous shows spotlighting Germany, Ireland, Spain and Turkey as well and the list just goes on and on. Meanwhile, Rick Steves has quietly built himself an impressive little empire. Aside from his shows on PBS and National Public Radio RIck has written numerous travel guides and most of his TV shows are now available on DVD as well. Needless to say, if you are planning a trip to Europe you should definitely take advantage of some of these materials. But if you are like me and your chances of ever going to Europe are slim just continue to enjoy "Rick Steves Europe" whenever you get the chance. Clearly, it is the next best thing. Very highly recommended!
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katknit
December 07, 2010
Yeah, but he's such a dweeb! : )
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cpw1952
December 29, 2009
Rick's show is definitely one of the best travel shows on television and "becoming a temporary local" is definitely the best and most enjoyable way to travel. Great review, Paul.
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DonnaL1
December 29, 2009
T.V. shows that fit in the "classy" category do not abound these days, but Rick Steves Europe definitely delivers. It truly is an excellent show to watch if you're planning a trip, or just want to live vicariously through a world class traveler like Steve. We get it here in St. Louis and I've always looked forward to watching it. I wish I would have known about it when I was traveling Europe years ago. Good job, Paul and thanks for writing about this.
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I love Rick Steve's books and his TV shows because he talks about the importance of getting to know the locals by meeting them instead of just seeing them from the window of a tour bus as you are driving by. He encourages you to eat where the locals eat and take in local farmer's markets. The only problem I have with his books or the show, is that he makes it look so easy to get around in a car. It seems like it is just like driving at home. It is if you've lived … more
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This dude knows his stuff! He helped me find Interlaken for the first time!
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About the reviewer
Paul Tognetti (drifter51)
I guess I would qualify as a frustrated writer. My work requires very little writing and so since 1999 I have been writing reviews on non-fiction books and anthology CD's on amazon.com. I never could … more
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About this tv show
Rick Steves' Europe is a television show hosted by American author and historian Rick Steve about European travel. Steves advocates independent travel. His books, radio and television shows deal with travel mainly, though not exclusively, in Europe, and are directed at an American audience. As host, writer and producer of the popular and long running Oregon Public Broadcasting television series Rick Steves' Europe, and through his travel books, he encourages Americans to become what he calls "temporary locals." He encourages his readers and viewers to discover not only major cities, but also cozy villages away from popular tourist routes.
Steves' relationship with public television began with his first series, Travels in Europe with Rick Steves. Since then, he has become one of public television's top pledge drive hosts, raising millions of dollars annually for stations across the U.S. Steves writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions. Steves' television series, guidebooks, and his company's European escorted bus tours attract fans known as "Rickniks". Steves lives in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington with his wife Anne. They've been married and traveling together for 25 years, along with their two children, Andy and Jackie, who attend out-of-state universities.
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Steves' relationship with public television began with his first series, Travels in Europe with Rick Steves. Since then, he has become one of public television's top pledge drive hosts, raising millions of dollars annually for stations across the U.S. Steves writes and co-produces his television programs through his company, Back Door Productions. Steves' television series, guidebooks, and his company's European escorted bus tours attract fans known as "Rickniks". Steves lives in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington with his wife Anne. They've been married and traveling together for 25 years, along with their two children, Andy and Jackie, who attend out-of-state universities.
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