Program 303a: Hungarian Country Vacation; Basque Country

The countryside of Hungary is a sentimental favorite for relaxing family vacations. On this week's Travel with Rick Steves, we'll get suggestions for tapping into the recreation Hungarians treasure. 

Rick also checks in with listeners planning family trips to the UK and Ireland.

And we'll get tips for exploring the Basque Country of Spain and France. It's where top-notch food, modern art, and deep-seated traditions embody its unique status as a colorful state within a state. 

Start your own family traditions, with Travel with Rick Steves.

• Péter Pölczman, tour guide based in Budapest, Hungary
• Eszter Bokros, tour guide based in Budapest, Hungary
• Francisco Glaría, tour guide based in Pamplona, Spain

• Find out about Peter Polzman
• Wikipedia has entries on the town of Pecs in southern Hungary, Lake Balaton, and the Danube Bend region.
• Check out the Museum of Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum.
• Information about Picasso's "Guernica" painting, which is displayed in a special gallery in the Museo Reina Sofia 20th century art museum, on the Paseo del Prado in Madrid. 
• An extensive guide to the pintxos of San Sebastian.  
• The website to the Guggenheim Modern Art Museum in Bilbao, Spain.
• Time magazine ran an article in early 2011 about the ETA Basque separatists declaring a cease-fire.

• Would like to take family to Hungarian countryside. "Are there farm stays or agriturismos, similar to what we find in Italy?" (Mark in Albany, California)
• Extended family of twelve spent a week traveling across Hungary. Included elderly father to re-visit his home country. "The country provides ample enjoyment for families — whether tracing family roots like us, or just getting off the beaten path and enjoying the Hungarian cuisine, history, countryside and most of all the friendly people! You don't need to know the language to have fun." (Elaine in Orlando, Florida)
• Planning a trip to Hungary, and needs public transit options. "We are in our seventies and are interested in recommended countryside trips and sites by public transportation or hired drivers."  (Diane in Ashland, Oregon)
• "I am going to England this fall with my mother. It’s my sixth trip there, and her first.  We'd like to go to Liverpool to see the dock where her grandparents sailed from on their way from Norway to America.  Is there a visitors centre there?" (Andrea in Laramie, Wyoming)
• Mother asks advice on taking her three small children to Ireland, including a good area for beachcombing.  (Deborah in Marietta, Georgia)
• "We're planning to take my mother-in-law on her life-long dream trip to UK. She has early Alzheimer's and dementia, but is oriented to people and places, and otherwise in good health. We've been overseas several times so we're confident, yet concerned about making it great for her." (Kari in St. Paul, Virginia)
• "What are the major differences in the Basque region from the rest of Spain?  Is the Spanish language there a little different as well?" (Lisa in Arroyo Grande, California)
• "A cruise I'll be taking this year will stop in Bilbao for a day. How do you recommend I spend ten hours in the city to enjoy the Basque culture?"  (e-mail from Dorothy in Fanwood, New Jersey)

• Budapest Festival Orchestra, Ivan Fischer, conductor, "Hungarian Dances No. 5 - 'Allegro-Vivace' and 'Presto' (Brahms, orchestrated by A. Dvorak)," Brahms:  Hungarian Dances / Decca
• Muzsikas, "Dunántuli Ugrosok (Transdanubian 'Urgos')," Bartok Album / Hannibal
• Young Pioneers, "The Happy Pioneer (A Climbing Squirrel in Cheer, So Joyful is the Pioneer)," The Best of Communism: Revolutionary Songs (collection) / Gong (Hungary)
• Marta Sebestyen, "Da Je Visjna," The Best of Marta Sebestyen / Hannibal
• London Festival Orchestra, "Hungarian Dances No. 7-La Mayor-Allegretto-Vivo (Brahms)," Hungarian Dances 1-21 / EMP
• * Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, with Sergio and Odair Assad, "Gypsy Songs" (from traditional Hungarian melodies), Classical Violin & Guitar Selections / Nonesuch
• Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, cond., "'Hungarian Dance (Czardas)' from 'Swan Lake, Op. 20A' (Tchaikovsky)," Russian Nights (collection) / Telarc
• Royal Ballet Sinfonia, Gavin Sutherland, cond., "Giocoso (Albert Cazabon)," English String Miniatures, 5 / Naxos
• * David Shostac, "Le Basque," The Romantic Flute, vol. 1 / Resort Music
• Claudio Colombo,  "Septième Ordre:  VI: La Basque (Couperin)," Francois Couperin: Le 27 ordres pour piano, vol. 2 (ordres 5-9) / (self released)
• Martin Irazoqui, "Fandango du Pays Basque," Folklore basque et traditions / Stick Music-Art Com JDC
• Chorale Ibaï Gorri and Groupe Vocal Lagun Arteak, "Farandole d'irrintzina (atzo atzo)," Chants profounds du pays basque / Arion
• Juan Mari Beltran and Joxan Goikoetxea, "Egurraren Kanta," The Big Bang (collection) / Ellipsis Arts
• Chorale Ibaï Gorri and Groupe Vocal Lagun Arteak, "Berceuse basque," Chants profounds du pays basque / Arion

• Rick opens the billboard saying "one of the best face lifts in Europe in recent years" is the renovation of the waterfront in Bilbao, Spain.  Francisco later explains at 50:48 that Bilbao was transformed from being one of the ugliest cities in Spain, thanks largely to the Guggenheim Museum being built. 
• At 16:04, Eszter explains that some of the older generation are nostalgic for the stability of the former communist economy, since many had no job or pension under the capitalist system that replaced it. 
• Caller Mark says at 16:59 that he was in Budapest "last spring."
• Peter says at 18:10 that there are 22 wine regions in Hungary. 
• Rick compares Peter's €180 day rate for guiding to US$250 at 26:30.
• Caller Andrea says she's planning to visit Liverpool, England "this fall" at 30:52.  Rick adds at 31:25 that Liverpool has undergone "an amazing transformation" in recent years. 
• At 50:20, Francisco says ETA is no longer in armed rebellion against the government of Spain, and decided to put their weapons down in 2011. 
• Francisco says Titin is the best jai alai player at 55:54.