Program 346: Walking Budapest; Open Phones: Iran & Palestine

It may be Europe's most under-rated city. Expert guides to Budapest tell us about their favorite places in the neighborhoods of Hungary's capital. We'll learn why each side of the Danube feels like a different city, and where you can find everything from Habsburg-era elegance, to the latest trend for enjoying a late night drink and conversation. Plus, listeners tell Rick about their recent forays into Iran and Palestine, where American tourists are uncommon, but not unwelcome. Discover your next favorite destination, each week on Travel with Rick Steves.

• Eszter Bokros, tour guide based in Budapest
• Cameron Hewitt, co-author of Rick Steves' Eastern Europe and Budapest guidebooks

• See recent updates to Rick's latest Budapest guidebook. 
• Wikipedia lists the Soviet-era statues on display in Budapest's Memento Park.
• The "Rick Steves' Iran" TV special can be viewed on ricksteves.com.

• Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, with Sergio and Odair Assad, “Gypsy Songs” (from traditional Hungarian melodies), Classical Violin & Guitar Selections / Nonesuch
• Marta Sebestyen, "Da Je Visjna," The Best of Marta Sebestyen / Hannibal
• Tapiola Sifonietta, Hanna Juutilainen, "Suite paysanne hongroise:  Vielle Danses XI-Allegretto (Bartok),"  Bartok:  Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Divertimento and Other Works / Bis
• Tárkány-Müvek, "Csiririp," The Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary, disc 2 (collection) / World Music Network
• Unspecified artists, "Onward Red Guards, Proletarians,"  The Best of Communism: Revolutionary Songs (collection) / Gong (Hungary)
• * Kalman Balough & Gipsy Cimbalom Band, "Keserédes Kávé (Bittersweet Coffee)," The Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary, disc 1 (collection) / World Music Network
• Thomas Dolby, "Budapest By Blimp," The Best of Thomas Dolby:  Retrospectacle / Parlophone
• Muzsikas, “Dunántuli Ugrosok (Transdanubian ‘Urgos’),” Bartok Album / Hannibal
• Tárkány-Müvek, "Csípd + (Bite it)," The Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary, disc 2  (collection) / World Music Network
• Parno Graszt, "Rávágok A Zongorára (Hit the Piano)," The Rough Guide to the Music of Hungary, disc 1  (collection) / World Music Network
• Symfunny Orchestra, "What a Wonderful World," Jazz Classics on Toys / Atma (Quebec)
• * Olivier Bernet, Benoit Guérin, Gilles Lahonda, "Téhéran Disco (version éditée)," Persepolis (bande original de film) / EMI France
• Hossein Farjami, “Gol,”  Traditional Folk Music from Iran / Arcmusic
• Nass El Ghiwane, "Palestine," Double Best:  Nass el Ghiwane  / MLP

• At 14:50, Cameron says that Budapest's "ruin pubs" have been growing rapidly in number in the past couple of years.
• Caller William says, at 20:24, that he was thinking of visiting Budapest "in March," but that he's not so sure now.
• Regarding night lighting of monuments and buildings, Eszter says at 35:05, and in this week's promo, that Budapest "is the second-most illuminated city after Paris."
• Callers in segment C discuss recent visits to Iran and Palestine. Caller Norma says, starting at 42:23 that Americans traveling to Iran are required to have a guide or be part of a tour group, after arranging their visa through an authorized tour agency. She adds that Americans are free to make souvenir purchases while in Iran. Norma states at 44:23 that Iran "is actually one of the most pro-American countries in the Middle East."
• At 46:54, caller Garin says he went to Iran "over the summer" on the date Iran celebrates Ali's birthday.
• In describing her experience in Ramallah, caller Stacey says there were many other European students there, but very few other Americans were evident in Palestine or Jordan.