Program 487: Scandinavian Solstice; Italy 2017

Hear how the summer solstice is celebrated in Scandinavia, where the official start of summer is a big deal. Then listen in as Italian friends discuss the effects of their country's high unemployment rate — and how Italians are meeting the challenge — before taking listener calls to share tips for a "dolce vita" vacation. And come along as we visit with some Tuscan craftsmen keeping traditions alive in their hill town home.

• Pal Johansen, tour guide from Oslo
• Nina Bernardo, Italy tour guide from Rome
• Cecilia Bottai, Italian tour guide and vintner
• Ann Long, Italy tour guide from Sorrento
• Feature on Montepulciano, Italy from Cameron Hewitt 

• There are traditions surrounding St. John's Eve in a number of countries, in addition to the Scandinavian ones.
• Many Swedes like to welcome in the summer with the "frog dance" around a maypole.
• Norwegians in the town of Alesund set a record for the world's tallest bonfire in 2016.
• The Economist discusses why it's so difficult to form a lasting government in Italy.
• Information about the towns of Orvieto, Volterra, Siena, and Lucca.
• Cecilia Bottai’s family winery near Orvieto is called Tenuta Le Velette.  
• Bologna is an historic university city and culinary destination, an hour north of Venice.
• Rick writes about ciccetti pub crawls in Venice, and posts a video about food tours in Rome's Testaccio neighborhood.
• Food Republic lists a number of aperitivo bars in Milan.
• Eurostar and Italo operate most of the high speed passenger trains in Italy.  
• Cameron Hewitt posts photos of the craftsmen he met in Montepulciano.

Travel Impressions Haiku

Wake to new smell dawn
Strange tongue clangs pans of breakfast
Tuscany beckons
— James Conroy, Sigourney, Iowa

Gardens aplenty
Old-fashioned farms and houses
How I'd hate to leave.
— Elliott Fullner, Wisner, Nebraska 

Bloomsday in Dublin
Straw hats, dresses sweep the streets
Slainte, to your health!
— Beth Shorestein, Jacksonville, Florida

Chocolate, Waffles, Fries
Belgium feeds my inner child
While I sip great beer!
— Bridgit Horne, Bellevue, Washington