Program 417a: Scandinavian Smackdown; Green Book Road Trips

Did you hear the one about the Swede, the Norwegian, and the Dane? On the next Travel with Rick Steves, we'll hear what people tend to think about their neighbors in the Nordic countries, and the sometimes not-so-subtle differences among the Scandinavians. 

We'll also learn about the special travel guide known as "The Green Book," that African-Americans relied on in the mid-20th century, to find a welcome when traveling out of town. 

• Åsa Danielsson, tour guide from Sweden
• Pål Johansen, tour guide from Norway
• Jane Klausen, former tour guide, originally from Denmark
• Travel writer Christopher Solomon
• Playwright Calvin Alexander Ramsey, author of "Ruth and the Green Book" (Carolrhoda Picture Books) 

• The Sons of Norway maintain a blog about contemporary Norway on their website.
• The official tourism sites for Iceland, for Denmark, and for Sweden.
• Contact information for Asa Danielsson in Stockholm is on the Viator tour guide website. 
• Christopher Solomon describes his adventure in Alaska's Aniakchak National Monument, with photos, in the article "Baked Alaska" in the May 2014 edition of Outside magazine.  
• Calvin Alexander Ramsey authored "Ruth and the Green Book" to illustrate how African-Americans relied on The Green Book as a travel guide in the mid-20th century. 
• Here is a PDF copy of the Green Book, officially "The Negro Motorist Green Book," from 1949. 

• "I have Swedish relatives and very good friends in Norway. My experiences visiting them offer some highlights of both cultures. After conducting genealogy research in Sweden and meeting my Swedish cousin for the first time, he took us to visit some other relatives. I don't want to say our reception was cold, but it was very reserved. On the other hand, my Norwegian friends and their friends are much more outgoing and friendly. While visiting many parts of Norway, I have found the Norwegians much more open and receptive to visitors."  (Michael in Denver, Colorado)
• "Generally Norwegians and Danes are said to be more friendly and outgoing than Swedes, who are more reserved. Do you think this is true?"  (Frank in New Port Richey, Florida)
• "In 1971, I was stationed in then-West Berlin, and was invited to spend a few days with a Norwegian friend of my sister's in their cabin on the fjord west of Trondheim. The father had participated in partisan activity against the Germans in the mountains around Trondheim. He also had many fine memories about living in the USA, and had funny stories about Norwegians who immigrated to the USA."  (Tom in Duluth, Georgia)

• R.L. Burnside, "Come On In, part 2," Come On In / Fat Possum Records
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, cond., "Dance of the Shepherd Girl (Hugo Alfven)," The Nordic Experience, disc 2 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Susanne Lundeng, "Havella (Old Squaw)," Wizard Women of the North (sampler) / Northside
• Hege Rimestad, "Krishna's Kusine (Krishna's Cousin)," Wizard Women of the North (sampler) / Northside
• Gunnar Madsen, "Se manens solvbro I vandet," "Ganglat fra Samso," Drommen der blev til virkelighed / (self-released - Denmark)
• Carl Burnett, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," Life Before MIDI / (self-released)
• * Vasen, "30 Year Jig," Nordic Roots (sampler) / Northside
• Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Ari Rasilainen, cond., Harald Aadland, violin, Jon Sønsebø, viola, "Vision (from Suite No. 3, op. 19) (Kurt Atterberg)," The Nordic Experience, disc 1 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Wimme, "Adventures in the Scandinavian Skin Trade," Hector Zazou:  Songs of the Cold Seas / Columbia
• Ireland National Symphony Orchestra, "Midsommarvaka (from "Swedish Rhapsody No. 1" -  Hugo Alfven) ,"  Midsummer Vigil: Orchestral Favourites of Hugo Alfven /   Naxos
• Annbjorg Lien, "Fenix," Wizard Women of the North (sampler) / Northside
• Paul Winter, "Moose Walk," Prayer for the Wild Things / Living Music
• Cha-Das-Ska-Dum Which-ta-lum (Lummi) and Dean Everson, "Cry of the Forest," Arctic Refuge:  A Gathering of Tribes (collection) / Soundings of the Planet
• * Den Fule, "Pals Karls Vals," Quake / Northside
• Intro to Aretha Franklin, "Tiny Sparrow (You Fair and Tender Maidens)," Tiny Sparrow:  The Bobby Scott Sessions / Columbia-Legacy
• Warner Williams, "Step It Up and Go," Blues Routes (collection) / Smithsonian Folkways
• Elizabeth Cotton, "Washington Blues," Shake Sugaree / Smithsonian Folkways
• Little Walter, "Juke," Chess Pieces:  The Very Best of Chess, disc 1 (collection) / Chess
• Aretha Franklin, "Hard Times," The Essential Aretha Franklin / Columbia-Legacy
• Stevie Wonder, "A Place in the Sun," At the Close of a Century / Motown
• Bob James and Earl Klugh, "New York Samba," Cool / Warner Bros.
• Queen Ida and her Zydeco Band, "My Girl Josephine," Zydeco (collection) / Putumayo
• The Don Baker Trio, "Dansero," Ultra-Lounge (collection) / Capitol
• Mose Vinson, "Three-Hand Boogie," Piano Man / Center for Southern Folklore

• Pal says, at 32:27, that the Norwegian government consults with the king every Friday. 
• Rick introduces the Chris Solomon feature, at 35:20, by noting that Chris backpacked in Alaska's Aniakchak wilderness "a couple of summers ago." 
• At 42:55, Rick says Calvin Alexander Ramsey is working on a film of "Ruth and the Green Book."  At 53:50, Calvin says it will be a documentary, featuring people who actually used the Green Book in their travels. 
• During his reset at 49:10, Rick promotes a link at ricksteves.com/radio to a pdf file of The Green Book.
• This week's segment C interview and haiku first aired on program #328 in June 2013.

USA Road Trip Haiku Awards

Graffiti on freights
High up in the Siskyous.
Travelling art show.
— Phyllis Baker, Seattle 

Louisiana's longest street
Great people along the way to meet
500 miles peddled to complete.
— Jeff Sibley, Central City, Louisiana   

Choose Sand or Asphalt
Cars along Shore or Race Track
Daytona Beach, Wow!
— Gail Weinstein, Port Orange, Florida  

Up to Michigan
Ah, sullen teenage daughter
Karma strikes again.
— Karen Albright, Fort Wayne, Indiana