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Rick Steves'
Eastern Europe 2000-2007
- Travel Video. DVD.
 Five
Shows: 2½ hours
(+ bonus features), closed captioned, NTSC format, all region
compatible.
Here's where we'll take
you...
Prague
and the Czech Republic
Newly energized Prague, slinky with sumptuous Art Nouveau facades, is
perpetually playing Mozart and Vivaldi. Eastern Europe's top destination
has Europe's best beer, biggest castle, liveliest pedestrian bridge, and
most evocative Jewish Quarter. From Prague, we side-trip to Kutna Hora,
once a
silver-mining
boomtown, to descend into its medieval mine and ponder its eerie chapel,
decorated centuries ago with 40,000 bones.
Poland:
Krakow, Auschwitz
and Warsaw Poland is ready to be rediscovered as the old "east"
transforms itself into the new heart of Europe. Krakow, with its bubbly
Baroque and cobbled charm, is emerging as the exciting "next Prague."
Nearby, a visit to Auschwitz teaches us a timeless, soul-searching
lesson. Systematically destroyed during World War II, Warsaw is a
lively, thriving capital once again.
Budapest:
The Best of Hungary Budapest, once Vienna's partner in ruling the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, feels like the capital of Eastern Europe. It's
actually two cities busy Pest and noble Buda straddling the Danube
and laced together by mighty bridges. Capitalism has taken hold with
gusto as shopping boulevards thrive and stone Lenins and cast iron
Stalins litter a theme park at the edge of town. Today Gypsy orchestras
feature smoking violins, venerable mineral baths are the rage, and 19th
century coffeehouses enjoy a renaissance. For a taste of the countryside
castles, cathedrals, and riverside villages we cruise the Danube
bend.
Slovenia
and Croatia We
discover that Dubrovnik is still the "jewel of the Adriatic" while
nearby villages decorate their dreamy archipelago with small-town
Venetian charm. Ljubljana is like Salzburg without tourists. The Julian
Alps glisten with pristine lakes as Lipizzaner stallions are eager to
strut their stuff.
Surprising
Bulgaria
Bulgaria is a time warp of old and new from chic shops in the city to
donkey cars in the country. We hike to a mountain monastery, meet two
sculptors (dad does Stalin, son does nudes), and enjoy a traditional
dinner feast at a local home.
Bonus:
Interview
Milwaukee Public Television's Jim Peck interviews Rick about his travel
career (1/2 hour).
Bonus:
Outtakes On
location, it's just another day at the office: Rick bangs his head,
muffs his lines, and gets stuck in the mud, and left in the dark.
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