Program 423: Backdoor Balkans; World War I Travel Sites; Kraków

As Europe observes the centennial of the "Great War," learn about the WWI sites you can visit to better understand American doughboys' role on the battlefields. We'll also share tips for visiting Kraków, the cultural and spiritual capital of Poland. And we'll get insider advice for enjoying WWI sites in some less-visited corners of the Balkan Peninsula.

• Amir Telebećirović, journalist and tour guide based in Sarajevo
• Ben Curtis, author of "A Traveler's History of Croatia" (Interlink Books) and "The Habsburgs: The History of a Dynasty" (Bloomsbury)
• Mark D. Van Ells, author of "America and WWI:  A Traveler's Guide" (Interlink)
• Cameron Hewitt, researcher and co-author of the Rick Steves guides to eastern central Europe
• Beata McCommas, tour guide to Poland

• Smithsonian Magazine discusses the possible discovery of ancient pyramids in Bosnia.  
• In addition to Sarajevo, Rick recommends visiting Mostar, and Ben suggests Bihać as an alternative "backdoor" destination in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Other Balkan destinations our guests recommend include Prizren in Kosovo and the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.
• Mark Van Ells is the author of "America and World War One: A Traveler's Guide." 
• Mark recommends the American Battle Monuments Commission for discovering First World War monuments and sites that honor American troops in Europe.
• Online resources for planning a visit to World War One museums mentioned in the Mark Van Ells interview include the Paris Military Museum at Les Invalides, The HGM in Vienna, Musée de la Grande Guerre du Pays du Meaux, the Imperial War Museums in London, and the National World War One Museum in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Here is a description of the American doughboys role in the battle of Chateau-Thierry, and a virtual tour of the U.S. Marines' victory at Belleau Wood, in France.
• The Kazimierz neighborhood is the historic Jewish Quarter of Krakow.
• Rick blogs about visiting the factory where Oskar Schindler employed Jews during the Nazi rule in Poland.
• Recommendations for visiting the Auschwtiz-Birkenau concentration camps near Krakow.
• A map to the Nowa Huta area of Krakow.
• A list of sites related to John Paul II in Krakow, including the John Paul II Sanctuary that is being built.