Program 738: Christmastime in Bavaria, Croatia, Sweden, Rome, Sardinia, Costa Rica, Amsterdam

Brighten your holidays with an international perspective on Christmas celebrations: Learn about Europe's Old World holiday traditions, and meet some of Santa's cousins, as some of Rick's friends drop by to discuss the sometimes sublime, often quirky ways they observe the season in Bavaria, Sardinia, Croatia, Stockholm, Amsterdam, and Rome. And get a taste of a tropical Christmas in Costa Rica.

• Munich-based journalist Stefan Wagner
• Croatia/Slovenia-based tour guide Marijan Krišković
• Stockholm-based tour guide Marita Bergman
• Rome-based tour guides Susanna Perrucchini and Francesca Caruso
• Historian Jeff Biggers, author of "In Sardinia" (Melville House)
• Costa-Rica based tour guide Nikki Solano, author of the "Moon Costa Rica" guidebook
• Amsterdam-based tour guide Dennis Gerrits

• Rick Steves' "European Christmas" one-hour TV special airs on public TV stations this time of year. You can also view European Christmas on demand from our website.
• Tour guide Marita Bergman can be reached through the Guide Stockholm website.
• Jeff Biggers writes about the people and attractions of the island of Sardinia in his book "In Sardinia: An Unexpected Journey in Italy."
• Nikki Solano writes the Moon Costa Rica guidebooks. She and her husband Ricky also provide custom tours and write the Costa Rica Travel Blog.
• Dennis Gerrits offers custom tours of Amsterdam and Holland.