Fact Sheet
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Rick Steves, the engaging host of five previous travel series, continues the tradition of providing informative and enlightening ways to enjoy European travel in a new virtual pledge event. "Rick Steves' Castles & Mountains" offer fresh perspectives on the best travel advice, including where to stay, what to see, and how to get around. Three episodes from the new Rick Steves' Europe series are featured in this pledge event.
Description:
Rick Steves' latest travel adventure is packed with legendary castles, half-timbered villages and dramatic Alps. After cruising the mighty Rhine and conquering Rick's favorite fortress, quench your thirst in a Munich beer hall. Then it's on to the Swiss Alps for a little slap dancing and yodeling. Rick makes alp cheese, helps out in a village fire drill, and discovers a mighty military hiding in simple village hay barns. For a thin-air finale, Rick rides as high as you can get in Europe — to the top of the mighty Jungfraujoch. For these vicarious travel thrills you don't need a passport and there's no risk of jet-lag.
During pledge breaks, Rick entertains viewers with practical travel tips and the latest travel news from Europe. He also reminds supporters that "Public television is your next best thing to a plane ticket...and it just can't happen without your support."
Program Line-up:
Intro: Pledge Event Intro, 1:00
Part One: Germany's Rhineland and Rothenburg episode #212, 25:29
Break One: 11:00
Part Two: Munich and the Foothills of the Alps episode #213, 25:29
Break Two: 14:00
Part Three: The Best of the Alps: Switzerland's Jungfrau Region episode
#213, 25:29
Break Three: 15:00
Close Credits: 00:53
Total Running Time: 1:58:20
Program Description:
Rick's Castles & Mountains Pledge Special includes three half-hour episodes.
Germany's Romantic Rhine and Rothenburg, Episode #212
Cruising the Rhine River, we dodge riverboat traffic and the legendary Lorelei. After climbing castles and descending into dungeons, we relax with Rhine wine. We tour Burg Eltz — a lived-in castle where the noble lady still puts out fresh flowers. Then we enter the walled town of Rothenburg for Germany's best wood carving, a vivid dose of medieval punishment, and a tour with the night watchman of the town's lamp-lit ramparts.
Munich and the Foothills of the Alps, Episode #213
In Munich, where locals specialize in good living, we visit boisterous markets and go-for-Baroque palaces — while office workers surf in the Isar River. Heading into the foothills of the Alps, we tour the fairy-tale castles of Mad King Ludwig, and climb to the highest point in Germany atop the Zugspitz. Then we cross into the Tyrol to conquer a desolate ruined castle.
The Best of the Alps: Switzerland's Jungfrau Region, Episode #214
If Heidi is alive, she's in this sky-high corner of the Swiss Alps, with cowbells ringing on breathtaking ridges. After settling into a traditional village where locals scythe hay by hand, we hike and bike. We blast an alphorn, get sprayed by waterfalls raging deep inside a mountain, and munch muesli for breakfast at 10,000 feet. For a finale, we ride Europe's highest lift up the mighty Jungfrau for hot cocoa, glacier sledding, and oh-wow views.
Satellite Feed Available:
November 22, 2003, Nola Code: RSCM 000 V1 - Virtual Pledge Event
If you have any questions regarding the program please contact Loretta
Davidson at APT via:
First Class
Phone: 617-338-4455 x124
Fax: 617-338-4063 or 617-338-5369
Thank You Gifts for Pledge Supporters:
Rick Steves' Castles and Mountains Pledge Special is produced as a fundraiser for public TV stations. To encourage viewers to call in pledges of support, stations and Rick are offering thank you packages of $80, $200 and $300 gift levels:
$80 level
Europe Through the Back Door 2004 guidebook
OR
Best of Europe guidebook current edition
$200 level
Smart Travel Kit
•
Europe Through the Back Door 2004 guidebook
• Best of Europe guidebook current edition
• Rick Steves' Postcards from Europe book
• Europe planning map
• Moneybelt
• French, Italian, German Phrase Book
$300 level
$200 level gifts listed above
• Germany Planning Map
• Rick Steves' Europe: 30 episode anthology DVD
A single copy of newsletter is included for all levels (free to stations). Stations pay all shipping charges.
Complete press kit is available.
Or contact:
Ashley Sytsma
Rick Steves' Europe Through the Back Door
130 Fourth Avenue North
Edmonds, WA 98020
Tel: 425/608-4293
Fax: 425/771-0833